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Going Green with Grassoline 青草汽油：绿色加油新主张

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There are plenty of reasons for moving away from an oil-dependent economy. There’s the issue of national ___1___, which is always in danger if a hostile country can simply cut off the supply. It is likewise economically foolish to be vulnerable to foreign suppliers. But the most pressing reason to leave fossil fuels behind is their destructive ___2___ on our environment. One of the most promising solutions is the use of biofuels and, in particular, a new biofuel concept – “grassoline.”

为何要摆脱依赖石油的经济有很多原因。国家安全的议题是其中一项，敌国只要切断石油供给，国家就会陷于险境。同样地，从经济上来看，倚赖外国供给石油使本国处于弱势更是愚昧的不智之举。不过，之所以要摒弃石化燃料，最刻不容缓的原因就是它们会对环境造成毁灭性影响。其中一项最可行的解决方案就是使用生质燃料，尤其是一个新的生质燃料概念：「青草汽油」。

First-generation biofuels, made from corn and other food crops, were never really ___3___. To produce these fuels, large areas of land would have to be diverted from producing food crops, which could drive up food prices. ___4___, the carbon emission associated with corn farming keep it from being a truly sustainable activity.

第一代生质燃料由玉米及其他粮食作物制成，一直以来都不太切合实际。为了制造这些燃料，原本生产粮食的大片土地必须改变用途，如此一来会使粮食价格上涨。除此之外，从与玉米种植相关的碳排放来看，这并非永续发展的环保活动。

Grassoline may well be the answer. This is the second generation of biofuels, fuel made ___5___ cellulosic material, which can be taken from almost any plant product. Even cast-off materials like sawdust, cornstalks, and construction scraps can be used. Better still, “energy crops” ___6___ for grassoline can be grown on marginal areas that would never be used as farmland, making fuel and food production compatible.

青草汽油很可能就是解决之道。这是一种以纤维性生质原料制成的第二代生质燃料，几乎所有的植物作物都可以当作原料，甚至像锯木屑、玉米梗和建筑碎屑等废料都能运用。更棒的是，适合提炼青草汽油的「能源作物」可种植在边缘地区，这些土地不会用来从事农耕，所以燃料与粮食生产能够兼容并行。

The first grassoline refinery is scheduled to open in 2011 in the U.S. While more research is needed, scientists hope to see cellulosic fuel soon ___7___ cars, trucks, and even jet aircraft.

美国首座青草汽油厂预定于2011年启用。虽然还需进行更多研究，但科学家希望能早日看到利用纤维性生质原料提炼出的燃料来发动汽车、卡车甚至是喷射机。

−by Barry Hall

Vocabulary

单词发音

economy [ɪˋkɑnəmɪ] n. 经济；经济情况；经济结构

issue [ˋɪʃjʊ] n. 议题

likewise [ˋlaɪk͵waɪz] adv. 同样地

vulnerable [ˋvʌlnərəb!] adj. 有弱点的; 脆弱的

pressing [ˋprɛsɪŋ] adj. 紧迫的，迫切的

fuel [ˋfjʊəl] n. 燃料

destructive [dɪˋstrʌktɪv] adj. 破坏的；毁灭性的

promising [ˋprɑmɪsɪŋ] adj. 有希望的，有前途的，大有可为的

concept [ˋkɑnsɛpt] n. 概念，观念

divert [daɪˋvɝt] v. 使转向；使改道[（+from/to）]

drive up 使...上升

marginal [ˋmɑrdʒɪn!] adj. 边缘的；边境的; 微小的；不重要的

compatible [kəmˋpætəb!] adj. 能共处的；可并立的

More Information

单词发音

biofuel ['baɪofjuəl] n. 生物燃料; 生质燃料

grassoline 草油; 青草汽油

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

cellulosic [͵sɛljəˋlosɪk] adj.有纤维质的

cast-off  被舍弃的，遭遗弃的

sawdust [ˋsɔ͵dʌst] n. 锯木屑

cornstalk [ˋkɔrn͵stɔk] n. 谷类的秆

scrap [skræp] n. 废料

energy crop 能源作物

refinery [rɪˋfaɪnərɪ] n.〔金属﹑糖或石油的〕提炼厂﹐精炼厂

Development of Cellulosic Biofuels

Biofuels - The Answer Or The Problem

MSUToday: Grassoline and other forms

Answer