上海建桥学院大学英语制作 unit eight protecting our environment

上海建桥学院大学英语制作

Unit Eight

Protecting Our Environment

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Saving Nature, But Only for Saving Nature, But Only for ManMan

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Background InformationBackground Information Warm-up ActivityWarm-up Activity Text OrganizationText Organization Sentence StudySentence Study Words and PhrasesWords and Phrases AbstractAbstract

Background InformationBackground Information


Greenhouse effect– The retention of heat by the lower layer of the Earth’

atmosphere, which, it is believed, will cause a rise in temperature of the Earth and its atmosphere, know as global warming.


– Just as the glass of a greenhouse lets in the ultraviolet radiation from the sun while trapping the infrared radiation emitted within, so gases in the atmosphere (such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs) absorb infrared radiation from the Earth’s surface and reflect it back on to the planet. With the addition of solid pollutants, the capacity of the lower layers to absorb and re-radiate heat is increased.


Green Party– A British political party

that aims to protect the environment. It is against the use of nuclear power and other forms of industry and transport which it considers harmful. It was formed in 1973 as the Ecology Party, and changed its name to the Green Party in 1985., Other countries also have parties that share the same name and ideas.


Greenpeace– A large international

pressure group that aims to protect the environment. Its members are well known for taking direct action and putting their own lives in danger in order to stop people from harming the environment. For example, they often go out in small boats to stop people from killing whales or throwing poisonous material into the sea.


The Environmental

Protection Agency

– A United States

government organization

that established rules

and standards for

protecting the

environment, e.g.

against pollution.

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Warm-up ActivityWarm-up Activity

empty

b

readbaskets

flooded coastlines disturbed climate

dried up plains

Are we ready to Which we can hardly endure ?

melting ice caps

Warm-up ActivityWarm-up Activity

Are we ready to take the terrible Are we ready to take the terrible

consequences?consequences? How can we undo the suffering How can we undo the suffering

caused by the pollution?caused by the pollution? It is It is urgenturgent for us to protect for us to protect

the environment. And protecting the environment will win the environment. And protecting the environment will win universal public support. However , in our universal public support. However , in our currentcurrent life , life , sentimental environmentalism sentimental environmentalism appear !!! It considers that appear !!! It considers that we should protect the environment though we may we should protect the environment though we may sacrifice sacrifice the the well-beingwell-being of human. of human.

How to balance

benefitsProtecting nature certainly has benefits,

but it has costs as well.

costs

man’s well-being

Today , it is a great honor for us to invite professor Charles Krauthammer here to fight our way through the jungle of environmental argument .( 指点迷津 )

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Text OrganizationText Organization


Structure of the textStructure of the text

Parts Central Argument Supporting Details

Part 1 (Para. 1-5) It is important to distinguish between environmental necessities and environmental luxuries and apply the fundamental principle of sensible environmentalism.

1. The ozone layer: skin cancer; plankton

2. The green house effect: melting ice caps; disturbed climates; dried up plains; empty breadbaskets

3. Man’s self-preservation


Parts Central Argument Supporting Details

Part 2 (Para. 6-11) A sensible environmentalism does not sentimentalize the earth.

1. The so-called “Gala theory”

2. Protagoras’ principle3. Oil war and the reindeer4. The spotted owl and

logging families

Part 3 (Para. 12-14) Man is the master of nature.

1. Man’s well-being first2. Who should

accommodate and how3. Humanistic

environmentalism


To drive home his argument the author To drive home his argument the author mainly uses contrast. The contrasting points mainly uses contrast. The contrasting points of view the author discusses in the essay are of view the author discusses in the essay are as follows.as follows.

– environmental luxuries vs. environmental necessitiesenvironmental luxuries vs. environmental necessities– sensible environmentalism vs. sentimental environmentalismsensible environmentalism vs. sentimental environmentalism– man vs. natureman vs. nature

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Sentence studySentence study


(L1) Environmental sensitivity is now as required an (L1) Environmental sensitivity is now as required an attitude in polite society as is, say, belief in democracy or attitude in polite society as is, say, belief in democracy or aversion to nylon.aversion to nylon.

【【解析及译文解析及译文】】1.1.How important is environmental sensitivity in the How important is environmental sensitivity in the author’s eyes?author’s eyes?

It is as important as people’s belief in democracy It is as important as people’s belief in democracy or their aversion to nylon.or their aversion to nylon.

2. 2. 环境意识，正如对民主制度的信奉，或是对尼龙的厌恶，环境意识，正如对民主制度的信奉，或是对尼龙的厌恶，已成为当今上流社会一种必备的态度。已成为当今上流社会一种必备的态度。


(L2) But now that everyone has claims to love Mother (L2) But now that everyone has claims to love Mother Earth, how are we to choose among the dozens of Earth, how are we to choose among the dozens of conflicting proposals, restrictions, projects, regulations and conflicting proposals, restrictions, projects, regulations and laws advanced in the name of the environment?laws advanced in the name of the environment?

【【解析及译文解析及译文】】1.1.该句主干为：该句主干为： …… how are we to choose…? how are we to choose…? 句中句中 now now that that 作连词，意为：现在已经作连词，意为：现在已经……，既然，既然…… ..2.2.可是，在人人都有权利热爱地球母亲的情况下，面对以保可是，在人人都有权利热爱地球母亲的情况下，面对以保护环境的名义而提出的许多相互冲突的建议、限制、规定、护环境的名义而提出的许多相互冲突的建议、限制、规定、工程和法律之中，我们该如何选择？工程和法律之中，我们该如何选择？


Example

1. Now that you are grown up, you should not rely on your parents. 既然你长大了，就不应该依靠你的父母。

2. Now that he is well again, he can go on with his English study. 既然回复了健康，他就可以继续学习英语。


(L26) A sensible environmentalism, the only kind of (L26) A sensible environmentalism, the only kind of environmentalism that will win universal public support, environmentalism that will win universal public support, begins by unashamedly declaring that nature is here to begins by unashamedly declaring that nature is here to serve man. serve man.

【【解析及译文解析及译文】】1.1.在该句中，在该句中， the only… support the only… support 作作 environmentalismenvironmentalism 的的同位语；同位语； declaring…mandeclaring…man 是一个现在分词短语作状语，是一个现在分词短语作状语， thatthat 从句作从句作 declaringdeclaring 的宾语。的宾语。2.2.理性的环境保护论，也是唯一能赢得大众广泛支持的环境理性的环境保护论，也是唯一能赢得大众广泛支持的环境保护论，首先就坦然宣称大自然是为人类服务的。保护论，首先就坦然宣称大自然是为人类服务的。


(L34) Ask hardworking voters to sacrifice in the name of (L34) Ask hardworking voters to sacrifice in the name of the snail darter, and, if they are feeling polite, they will give the snail darter, and, if they are feeling polite, they will give you a shrug.you a shrug.

【【解析解析】】1. Why does the author say that hardworking voters will 1. Why does the author say that hardworking voters will give you a shrug?give you a shrug?

Because they are sure that hardworking voters’ Because they are sure that hardworking voters’ interests should be more important than the snail interests should be more important than the snail darter.darter.


(L73) And when man has to choose between his well-being (L73) And when man has to choose between his well-being and that of nature, nature will have to accommodate.and that of nature, nature will have to accommodate.

【【解析及译文解析及译文】】1. How do you understand this sentence?1. How do you understand this sentence?

If man has to choose between his own well-being If man has to choose between his own well-being and that of nature, he will choose his well-being and that of nature, he will choose his well-being but not nature’s.but not nature’s.

2. 2. 当人必须在自身的利益和自然的利益之间作出选择时，当人必须在自身的利益和自然的利益之间作出选择时，自然就得迁就人。自然就得迁就人。

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Words and PhrasesWords and Phrases


aversion: n.1. strong dislike (followed by to) 厌恶，嫌恶 2. thing that is disliked 厌恶的事

He took an immediate aversion to his new roommate.

Smoking is one of my pet aversions.

我从来就厌恶早起 . I’ve always had an aversion to getting up.

蛇是我特别讨厌的动物 . Snake is one of my pet aversions.

Example

Translation


conflict: vi. be in opposition ， collision or disagreement

矛盾，冲突

Our findings conflict with the results of the government’s survey.

There are conflicting reports about the identity of the hostage.

个人道德有时会与职业道德发生冲突 .

Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict.

Example

Translation


distinguish ： vi. recognize the difference (between or from)

区别 , 辨别

He is too young to distinguish right from wrong.

Fingerprints can be used to distinguish the two suspects.

不能辨别颜色的人称为色盲 .

People who cannot distinguish between colors are said to be color-blind.

Example

Translation


on the grounds of: for reasons of 因为，以为…理由

She is suing the company on the grounds of unfair dismissal.

John was not employed by the company on the grounds of his age.

他因没路费，春节未回家。 He didn’t go home on the grounds of lack of money.

Example

Translation


resistance: n. opposition (followed by to)

反对，反抗

There is strong resistance to the plan for a new chemical plant in this area.

Any attempt to influence our decision will be met with the strongest resistance.

这家公司必须克服对采用新技术的阻力。 The company has to overcome its resistance to new technology.

Example

Translation


come through: experience, survive or overcome (a

difficulty, etc.) 经历；从…活下来 / 挺过来

It’s a miracle that some of the people working in the World Trade center came through the terrorist attacks.

The Chinese football team was in trouble at the beginning of the match but in the end it came through.

假如我们能度过这次经济危机，公司的前景将是光明的。 If we can come through this financial crisis, the company’s future will

be bright.

Example

Translation

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AbstractAbstract

AbstractAbstract

Write an abstract for the text with the key Write an abstract for the text with the key words given.words given.

distinguish fundamental sensible sentimentalize to the point of excess regardless consequence fatal distinctions environment bind well-being on the grounds of In the name of

Saving Nature, But Only for Man It can be argued that some people show

concern for the environment to the point of excess. They seek to protect anything and everything, regardless of the economic consequences. Many people bind their own well-being to that of nature and try to preserve nature on the grounds of self-preservation. While we can all agree that threats which may prove fatal to man need our full attention. We should distinguish between environmental necessities and environmental luxuries and apply the fundamental principle of sensible environmentalism, because a sensible environmentalism doesn’t sentimentalize

Sample

the earth and doesn’t ask people to sacrifice for the environment. In making such distinctions, the fundamental point to keep in mind is that we should save nature not for nature’s sake, but for our own.

上海建桥学院大学英语制作 unit eight protecting our environment

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