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There’s a Hole Lot More to the Ozone Problem 臭氧问题一箩筐

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

The ozone layer is a concentration of the rare, three-atom form of oxygen (O₃). This layer surrounds the Earth and shields our planet’s surface from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In 1970s, British scientists in Antarctica discovered a depletion in the ozone layer above the Antarctica, and scientists everywhere have since concurred that Mother Nature had no hand in causing this expanding cavity. The blame lies with us.

臭氧层是氧原子带三价少数状况下所形成的一层，围绕在地球表面的气体。它的作用能保护地球表面，免于太阳的有害紫外线幅射照射。1970年代南极洲的英国科学家发现在南极洲上方的臭氧层有了缺损，而且各地科学家也从此得到了一致的结论，这日渐扩大的破洞，不是大自然所造成，而是人类造成的。

Man-made chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) – widely used in refrigerators, insulating foams, and industrial cleaners – eventually rise to the stratosphere despite being heavier than air. When this chemical reaches the stratosphere, UV radiation causes it to release chlorine atoms. One chlorine atom can rip through more than 100,000 ozone molecules before it’s exhausted – a scary ratio.

人工合成的氟氯化碳(CFCs)──广泛被使用在冷媒、绝缘泡沫橡皮和工业用除垢剂内──虽然它的比重比空气重，最终都是上升到同温层去。这些化学物质到了同温层，紫外线幅射会使得它释放出氯原子。一个氯原子消失之前能破坏十万个以上的臭氧分子──相当骇人的比率。

Given the well-documented effects of increased radiation exposure, most of the world’s governments have ratified the historic 1987 Montreal Accordwhich aims to phase out the use of ozone-depleting chemicals. However, even if the accord is rigorously enforced, global ozone levels aren’t expected to be restored until approximately 2050. Furthermore, ratifying and enforcing an accord are certainly not the same thing.

因为幅射曝晒增加的后果巨细靡遗地记载了下来，世界上大多数政府已经批准历史上所称1987年蒙特娄议定书，旨在逐渐淡出使用会破坏臭氧层的化学品。不过即使这项议定书被极力地澈底执行，全球臭氧层也必须到大约2050年时才能复原。再者，批准和执行决议之间是有距离的，再者并非同一件事。

One way you can help Mother Nature heal the ozone hole is by ensuring the products you use are labeled “CFC Free.”

有一种方式你能为大自然的臭氧层破洞尽一分力量，使用产品要确实看清楚它的标签注明为「不含氟氯化碳」的产品。

Vocabulary

单词发音

a whole lot 相当多

ozone [ˋozon] n. 臭氧

shield [ˋʃild] v. 保护；保卫[（+from）]

Antarctica [ænˋtɑrktɪkə] n. 南极洲

depletion [dɪˋpliʃən] n. 消耗；用尽

concur [kənˋkɝ] v. 同意，一致[（+with）]；赞成[（+in）]

have no hand in  跟…无关系 to be not involved in something

cavity [ˋkævətɪ] n. 洞，穴

stratosphere [ˋstrætə͵sfɪr] n.【气】同温层；平流层

rip through 横撞直闯; 裂开

exhaust [ɪgˋzɔst] v. 用完，耗尽

given [ˋgɪvən] prep.  鉴于; 考虑到

ratify [ˋrætə͵faɪ] v.（正式）批准；认可

Montreal [͵mɑntrɪˋɔl] n. 蒙特娄（加拿大东南部港市）

accord [əˋkɔrd] n.（国家之间的）协议；条约

phase out (使)逐步淘汰

rigorously [ˋrɪgərəslɪ] adv. 严厉地

Sentence of the Day

If we all pitch in, the ozone layer will heal itself.

如果我们同心协力臭氧层可以复原。

pitch in  协力, 做出贡献

课文讲解

Annie finds Frank in the kitchen trying to fix his refrigerator:  安妮发现法兰克在厨房里试着修理冰箱：

A: Frank, where are you hiding?

法兰克，你躲在哪儿？

F: Here! I’m trying to save a few bucks by fixing this gas leak in my fridge

这儿！这台冰箱的冷媒会外泄，我想省点银子，自己修修看。

A: But Frank, you’re no handyman. Refrigerant gases like Freon really damage the ozone layer. You should call a certified repairman; he’ll know what to do.

但是法兰克，你又不是修理师傅。冰箱用的气体像二氯甲烷真的对臭氧层有害。你应该叫有执照的人来修；他会晓得要怎么做。

F: You’re right. You know, I sometimes wonder if I’m doing enough to prevent damage to the ozone layer.

妳说得对。妳知道有时候我怀疑自己，对保护臭氧层免于遭受破坏这件事够不够尽力。

A: Well, I’m quite impressed with how few aerosols you keep in your house. That’s a good start.

嗯，你房子里很少用喷雾剂，这点我很服气。这样做的确是个好的开始。

F: Thanks! I’ve also joined a car pool at work. Having fewer cars on the road helps the ozone layer and my wallet. You should join us.

多谢赞美！我上班坐车也和别人合作集体乘载。人人少开车，路上车子就减少，有益臭氧层，也有益我的荷包。妳应该来加入我们。

A: Actually, I don’t even own a car. Public transport gets me everywhere. That’s keeping me in Mother Nature’s good books.

说真的，我没车子。大众运输系统我去哪儿都能搭。这样大自然会给我福荫。

F: Did you read yesterday’s memo at work? The cafeteria’s banning all Styrofoam packed products, and they’ve started stocking organically grown fruit which is pesticide-free!

妳看到昨天办公室里的留言吗？自助餐厅现在谢绝所有聚苯乙烯的塑料包装品，而且开始进货不使用杀虫剂的有机水果了！

A: At least our coffee is getting ozone-friendly. Did you get that group e-mail about donations for ozone research? Maybe we could become checkbook environmentalists ….

至少我们喝的咖啡对臭氧层无伤。你是否收到那封致全体的电子信，关于捐钱给机构做臭氧研究的？或许我们能捐款来做环保…

F: Actually, my checkbook looks more like a pamphlet these days, Annie. I need to save my moolah for the repairman I’m calling.

安妮，事实上我的支票簿最近很薄，阮囊羞涩。我得先存钞票，待会儿要付给来的修理师傅。

－by Charles Thompson

Vocabulary

单词发音

fridge [frɪdʒ] n.【英】【口】电冰箱

handyman [ˋhændɪ͵mæn] n.〔尤指在做家庭小修小补活上〕手巧的人

certified [ˋsɝtə͵faɪd] adj. 被证明的；有保证的

repairman [rɪˋpɛrmən] n. 修理工

aerosol [ˋɛrə͵sɑl] n. 小型喷雾器

wallet [ˋwɑlɪt] n. 皮夹子，钱包

in someone’s good books 受欢迎的  regarded by someone with favor

cafeteria [͵kæfəˋtɪrɪə] n. 自助餐馆，自助食堂

Styrofoam [ˋstaɪrə͵fom] n. 聚苯乙烯泡沫塑料(尤用于制造器皿)

pesticide [ˋpɛstɪ͵saɪd] n. 杀虫剂

checkbook environmentalist 支票簿环保者（指完全透过向环保事业捐款或购买碳排放量来促进环保的个人或公司）Aperson or company that contributes to the protection of the environment solely by donating money to environmental causes or by purchasing carbon offsets.

pamphlet [ˋpæmflɪt] n. 小册子

moolah [ˋmulə] n.【俚】钞票（亦作moola）

Sentence of the Day

We need a hole in the ozone layer like we need a hole in the head.

我们绝对不要臭氧层破个洞，就像我们不要脑袋破个洞一样。

need something like a hole in the head:  not to need something at all