EZCNN 易英网

What Is Progress? 「进步」的两面刃

课文朗读

课文讲解

課文.pdf       繁體中文譯本

Everywhere we go, we hear about progress. The idea of progress can be ___1___ as a movement toward a goal or a further stage. Undeniably, our lifestyles are more advanced than they ___2___ to be. But what does this really mean, and where exactly is our ___3___ for progress taking us?

无论到何处，我们都会听到进步一词，其概念可定义为朝目标或更高的境界迈进。不可否认地，我们的生活方式较以往更先进，但这到底意味着什么？在一心追求进步的同时，人类究竟会将自己带往何处？

Developments in science, medicine, and technology have ___4___ obvious benefits. Yet in terms of living harmoniously with the Earth, we are actually ___5___ advanced than we once were. We are increasingly destroying ___6___ that are necessary to our own survival. For example, Central America had 4/5 of its old-growth forest in 1960. Now, forest destruction has left it with only 2/5. This deforestation continues as we become further removed from the ___7___ relationship with nature that our distant ancestors once had.

科学、医学与科技的发展，虽然带来明显的好处，但就与地球和谐共生的角度来看，人类事实上不如以往先进。人类破坏其生存所需的生态系统的情形，越来越严重。举例来说，中美洲1960年时仍保有其五分之四的原生森林，如今林地遭到破坏，仅剩原有面积的五分之二。在大规模伐木持续进行的同时，人类逐渐脱离祖先与大自然原有的密切关系。

Technological advancements are ___8___ about catering to essential human needs, but about making money. When pesticides were introduced, they increased production yields and non-pesticide farms could not compete. Before long, pesticide use was widespread, ___9___ its negative effects on the environment and human health.

科技的进步不再只是满足人类的基本需求而已，而是以金钱挂帅。杀虫剂的问世提高了农作物的产量，未使用杀虫剂的农场无法竞争。没有久，杀虫剂就被广泛使用，尽管这种药剂对环境及人体有负面影响。

Progress should be about creating and ___10__ a sustainable future. As it rages on around us, we should step back and carefully consider our real needs.

真正的进步应当要开创并维持永续的未来。在积极求新求变的同时，人类应当退一步，仔细思索其真正的需求。

−by Nathan Godolphin

Vocabulary

单词发音

advanced [ədˋvænst] adj. 先进的；开明的

harmoniously [hɑrˋmonɪəslɪ] adv. 和谐地

cater [ˋketɚ] v. 迎合，投合[（+for/to）]

essential [ɪˋsɛnʃəl] adj. 必要的，不可缺的

sustainable [səˋstenəb!] adj. 能长期维持的; 能持续的

More Information

单词发音

undeniably [͵ʌndɪˋnaɪəb!ɪ] adv. 不可否认地

old-growth forest 原生森林

deforestation [͵difɔrəsˋteʃən] n. 砍伐森林

pesticide [ˋpɛstɪ͵saɪd] n. 杀虫剂

rage [redʒ] v. 流行，盛行

step back 退一步 to pause in an activity, esp. to consider what to do next

bring about 引起, 造成 to cause to happen

drive [draɪv] n. 欲望

Answer