1、 Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai Spring,2012Professional English for environmental engineeringPart Unit 24Energy Consumption and PollutionEvery barrel of oil,ton of coal,and kilogram of uranium consumed represents multiple sources of environmental disruption.Land is preempted and defaced in
2、 mining and the establishment of transportation routes.The refining of petroleum and the consumption of fuel cause serious air pollution and the waste heat produced has the potential to disrupt ecosystems or alter world climate.消耗的每桶石油、每吨煤炭、每千克铀说明环境破坏有各种各消耗的每桶石油、每吨煤炭、每千克铀说明环境破坏有各种各样的来源。土地在采矿和造路时被占用和
3、损坏。炼油和消耗燃样的来源。土地在采矿和造路时被占用和损坏。炼油和消耗燃料引起严重的大气污染,产生的热能有可能破坏生态系统,改料引起严重的大气污染,产生的热能有可能破坏生态系统,改变全球气候。变全球气候。Is it necessary to pollute the environment so severely?Would it be possible to preserve the amenities of civilization and simultaneously improve the quality and cleanliness of the planet?The answer
4、is definitely yes,for there are a great many ways to reduce pollution without undue sacrifice of personal conveniences or comforts如此严重的污染环境是必需的吗?还有可能保护人类文明,如此严重的污染环境是必需的吗?还有可能保护人类文明,同时让这个星球变得漂亮和干净吗?答案当然是肯定的,因同时让这个星球变得漂亮和干净吗?答案当然是肯定的,因为有相当多的办法来降低污染,而且不用牺牲人的方便性和为有相当多的办法来降低污染,而且不用牺牲人的方便性和舒适度。舒适度。Part P
5、art One approach to reducing pollution is to reduce the source-that is,to reduce energy consumption.We could accomplish this goal by a concerted,widely practiced conversation program 降低污染的一个途径就是减少污染源,也就是减少能源消耗。我降低污染的一个途径就是减少污染源,也就是减少能源消耗。我们可以通过协调的、广泛的有可操作性的协商来达成此目标。们可以通过协调的、广泛的有可操作性的协商来达成此目标。If a la
6、rge proportion of population lowered their thermostats to 20t in winter and raised their air conditioner settings to 25t in summer,chose to live in smaller house that were easier to heat,drove fewer miles,turned off unused lights and recycled valuable products,significant quantities of fuel could be
7、 saved.假如大部分的居民能在冬天将空调温度降到假如大部分的居民能在冬天将空调温度降到20度,夏天调高到度,夏天调高到25度,选择居住在易于取暖的小房子里,行驶更少的路程,关闭度,选择居住在易于取暖的小房子里,行驶更少的路程,关闭不用的电灯,循环使用还有价值的产品,就可以节约大量的燃不用的电灯,循环使用还有价值的产品,就可以节约大量的燃料。料。Part Unfortunately,these altruistic solutions have not been particularly effective in recent years.After the fuel shortage of
8、 1973 was alleviated,people in the United States started driving more than ever before,demands for home heating increased,the number of air conditioner increased,and industrial use of energy climbed.不幸的是,这些无私的举措在近些年还没有明显的成效。不幸的是,这些无私的举措在近些年还没有明显的成效。1973年年石油危机解决后,美国人开始比以前驾驶得更多,家庭取暖需求石油危机解决后,美国人开始比以前驾
9、驶得更多,家庭取暖需求也增长了,空调的数量也增加了,工业上使用的能源攀升了。也增长了,空调的数量也增加了,工业上使用的能源攀升了。Part In the developing nations the rate of increase of energy use has risen even faster than it has in the United States.Such trends are alarming.However,it is unrealistic to exhort the affluent to do with less,and it is unfair to ask
10、the poor to accept their lot.Therefore,planners must search for other type of answers to the problems of energy and pollution.在发展中国家,能源消耗增长的速度甚至比美国还要快。这种在发展中国家,能源消耗增长的速度甚至比美国还要快。这种趋势拉响了警报。但是,提倡富有的人消耗更少的能源是不切趋势拉响了警报。但是,提倡富有的人消耗更少的能源是不切实际的,要求穷人认命也是不公平的。因此,决策者们必须寻实际的,要求穷人认命也是不公平的。因此,决策者们必须寻找其他解决能源和污染的方
11、法。找其他解决能源和污染的方法。Part lA second approach,which would allow us to maintain or ever increase our lavish dependency on machines,would be to improve and extend technological methods of reducing energy consumption and controlling pollution.Is it reasonable to expect success from such effort?l第二种途径:就是允许我们保
12、持,甚至是提高对机器的过第二种途径:就是允许我们保持,甚至是提高对机器的过分依赖,就应该提高和加强降低能源消耗和控制环境污染分依赖,就应该提高和加强降低能源消耗和控制环境污染的技术方法。从这样的努力中期待成功是合情合理的吗?的技术方法。从这样的努力中期待成功是合情合理的吗?Part lHow difficult and controversial this question is!Some people feel that technological solutions can solve environmental problems.They argue,for example that s
13、cientists and engineer can build large comfortable pollution-free automobiles that use energy efficiently.Such solutions,they say,simply require time.l这个问题具有多大的困难和争议啊!有些人认为技术可以这个问题具有多大的困难和争议啊!有些人认为技术可以解决环境问题。例如,他们觉得,科学家和工程师能造出解决环境问题。例如,他们觉得,科学家和工程师能造出大型的舒适的能有效利用能源的汽车。他们认为这只是时大型的舒适的能有效利用能源的汽车。他们认为这只是
14、时间问题。间问题。Part These technical arguments may be valid,but most scientists do not believe that we have the time to wait for their realization.Automotive smog is a serious health problem right now,and priceless energy supplies are dwindling at an alarming rate.这些技术观点也许是对的,但是绝大多数科学家认为我们已这些技术观点也许是对的,但是绝大
15、多数科学家认为我们已经没有时间等到它们的实现了。汽车烟雾现在就是一个严重经没有时间等到它们的实现了。汽车烟雾现在就是一个严重的危害健康的问题,昂贵的能源供应正在以一个警报的速度的危害健康的问题,昂贵的能源供应正在以一个警报的速度降低降低。Part Perhaps the most promising solution to energy conservation and reduction of pollution involves some compromise-a union of technical,social,and economical changes.可能最值得期待的解决能源问题
16、和降低污染的方法是技术、可能最值得期待的解决能源问题和降低污染的方法是技术、社会和经济变革互相妥协的结果。社会和经济变革互相妥协的结果。If some significant technical improvements can be realized,and if people will accept some changes in their patterns of living,only a small fraction of the energy used today will be needed and only a small fraction of the pollution will be produced,with very little loss of comfort or convenience.假如某个技术上的重大突破能够实现,假如人们能接受生活假如某个技术上的重大突破能够实现,假如人们能接受生活方式上的一些改变,就将只需消耗现在使用能源的一小部分,方式上的一些改变,就将只需消耗现在使用能源的一小部分,产生很少的污染,而仅仅牺牲很少的舒适度和便捷性产生很少的污染
copyright@ 2008-2022 冰豆网网站版权所有
经营许可证编号:鄂ICP备2022015515号-1