选修六 unit4 reading 逐句翻译

Unit 4

THE EARTH IS BECOMIG WARMER-BUT DOES IT MATTER?

全球在变暖——这会带来什么影响吗？

During the 20th century the temperature of the earth rose about one degree Fahrenheit. 在20世纪期间，地球温度大约升了华氏1度。That probably does not seem much to you or me, but it is a rapid increase when compared to other natural changes. 这个数值对你我来说很可能是无所谓的，但是，跟多数自然变化相比较而言，这却是种快速的增长。So how has this come about and does it matter? 这种温度的增长是怎么产生的呢，它要紧吗？ Earth care’s Sophie Armstrong explores these questions. “关爱地球”组织的索菲·阿姆斯特朗就在探究这些问题。

There is no doubt that the earth is becoming warmer(see Graph 1) and that it is human activity that has caused this global warming rather than a random but natural phenomenon. 毫无疑问，地球是在变暖。但是全球变暖的原因是人为的呢，或者仅仅是一种自然现象呢？

All scientists subscribe to the view that the increase in the earth’s temperature is due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal,

natural gas and oil to produce energy. 所有的科学家认为，人们为了生产能量而燃烧化石燃料（如煤、天然气和石油等），从而引起了地球温度的升高。Some byproducts of this process are called “greenhouse” gases, the most important one of which is carbon dioxide. 这个升温过程的副产品就叫做“温室”气体，其中最重要的就是二氧化碳。 Dr Janice Foster explains: “There is a natural phenomenon that scientists call the “greenhouse effect”. .贾尼丝·福斯特博士解释说：“你知道，有一种科学称之为‘温室效应’的自然现象。This is when small amounts of gases in the atmosphere, like carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour, trap heat from the sun and therefore warm the earth.这种现象发生在大气层中少量的气体（如二氧化碳、甲烷、水蒸气等）吸收太阳的热量，因而，使地球变暖。

Without the‘greenhouse effect ，the earth would be about thirty-three degrees Celsciu cooler than it is. 如果没有这种‘温室效应’，地球的温度将比现在的温度还要低33摄氏度左右。So, we need those gases. 因此，我们需要这些气体。The problem begins when we add huge quantities of extra carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. 而当我们因为燃烧化石燃料而使大气层中增加了大量额外的二氧化碳时，问题就来了。It means that more heat energy tends to be trapped in the atmosphere causing the global temperature to go up.二氧化碳含量的增加意味着更多的热量被困在大气层中，从而引起了全球温度上升。

We know that the levels of carbon dioxide have increased greatly over the last 100 to 150 years. 我们知道，在过去100~150年期间，二氧化碳的含量急剧增加了。It was a scientist called Charles Keeling, who made accurate measurements of the amount of

carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from 1957 to 1997. 有一位名叫查尔斯·奎林的科学家曾经把1957~1997年期间大气层中二氧化碳的含量做了精确的统计。 He found that between these years the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere went up from around 315 parts to around 370 parts per million(see Graph 2)他发现，在这些年里，大气层中的二氧化碳含量从百万分之三百一十五上升到百万分之三百七十。

All scientists accept this data. 所有科学家都接受这个数据。They also agree that it is the burning of more and more fossil fuels that has resulted in this increase in carbon dioxide. 他们还认为，正是由于燃烧的化石燃料越来越多而导致了二氧化碳的增加。So how high will the temperature increase go? 那么温度会到达多高呢？ Dr Janice Foster says that over the next 100 years the amount of warming could be as low as 1 to 1.5 degrees Celsius, but it could be as high as 5 degrees. 贾尼丝·福斯特博士说，在今后的100年里，全球变暖的量可能低到1~1.5摄氏度，但是也有可能高达5摄氏度。

However, the attitude of scientists towards this rise in completely different. 然而，科学家们在对待这个问题的态度上却是大不相同的。

On the one hand, Dr Foster thinks that the trend which increases the temperature by 5 degrees would be a catastrophe？一方面,福斯特博士认为气温升高5度的趋势 可能是一场大灾难。

She says, “ We can’t predict the climate well enough to know what to expect, but it could be very serious.” 她说\对于未来的气候,我们不可能作出精确的预测,但是那时的天气可能是很糟糕的.\Others who agree with her think there may be a rise of several metres in the sea level, or predict severe storms, floods, droughts, famines, the spread of diseases and the disappearance of species. 同意她的观点的其他科学家认为,全球变暖会导致海平面上升好几米:也有人预言会出现严重的风暴、洪涝、干旱、饥荒、疫病和物种的绝灭.On the other hand, there are those, like George Hambley, who are opposed to this view, believe that we should not worry about high levels of carbon dioxide in the air. 在另一方面,还有一些人,像科学家乔治·汉布利,反对上面的观点,他们认为我们不必担心空气中会有高含量的二氧化碳.They predict that any warming will be mild with few bad environmental consequences. 他们预言说,变暖的情况不会很严重, 对环境的影响也不会太坏.In fact, Hambley states, “More carbon dioxide is actually a positive thing. 汉布利实际上是这样说的: \二氧化碳含量的增加实际上是件好事。It will make plants grow quicker; crops will produce more; it will encourage a greater range of animals-all of which will make life for human beings better. ”它使植物成长更快,庄稼产量更高,还会促进动物的生长 一一所有这些都能改善人类的生活.\

Greenhouse gases continue to build up in the atmosphere. 温室气体继续在大气层中聚集.Even if we start reducing the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, the climate is going to keep on warming for decades or centuries. 即使我们开始减

少二氧化碳和其他温室气体的含量,在(未来)几十年或几个世纪内,气候仍会持续转暖.No one knows the effects of global warming. Does that mean we should do nothing? 没有人知道全球变暖会带来什么样的影响.这是不是意味着我们就不必采取任何措施昵?Or, are the risks too great?

还是说,这样不采取任何措施危险性会很大呢?

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