1、Unit 4Saving the Amazon TogetherWarm upTell your classmates 5 things that you know about Amazon and describe them in detail. Video: amazon rainforestIntro to Amazon rainforestThe Amazon rainforest (French: Fort amazonienne), also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadlea

2、f（闊葉林）（闊葉林） forest that covers most of the Amazon basin of South America. This basin encompasses 7,000,000 square kilometres (2,700,000 sq mi), of which 5,500,000 square kilometres (2,100,000 sq mi) are covered by the rainforest. This region includes territory belonging to nine nations. The majority

3、 of the forest is contained within Brazil, with 60% of the rainforest, followed by Peru with 13%, Colombia with 10%, and with minor amounts in Venezuela(委內瑞拉委內瑞拉), Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana(圭亞那圭亞那), Suriname(蘇里南蘇里南) and French Guiana(法屬圭亞那法屬圭亞那).HistoryVideo: the brutal history of exploring the Amazo

4、nNaturalThe rainforest likely formed during the Eocene(始始新世新世) era. It appeared following a global reduction of tropical temperatures when the Atlantic Ocean had widened sufficiently to provide a warm, moist(潮濕的潮濕的) climate to the Amazon basin. The rainforest has been in existence for at least 55 mi

5、llion years.Sahara Desert dust windblown to the AmazonMore than 56% of the dust fertilizing the Amazon rainforest comes from Northern Chad in the Sahara desert. The dust contains phosphorus(磷磷), important for plant growth. The yearly Sahara dust replaces the equivalent amount of phosphorus washed aw

6、ay yearly in Amazon soil from rains and floods. Up to 50 million tons of Sahara dust per year are blown across the Atlantic Ocean.Human activityBased on archaeological evidence from an excavation(發發掘掘) at Caverna da Pedra Pintada, human inhabitants first settled in the Amazon region at least 11,200

7、years ago. Subsequent development led to late-prehistoric settlements along the periphery(外緣，邊緣外緣，邊緣) of the forest by AD 1250, which induced(引起引起) alterations in the forest cover.Biodiversity Wet tropical forests are the most species-rich biome（生態系統）（生態系統）, and tropical forests in the Americas are

8、consistently more species rich than the wet forests in Africa and Asia. As the largest tract of tropical rainforest in the Americas, the Amazonian rainforests have unparalleled biodiversity. One in ten known species in the world lives in the Amazon rainforest. This constitutes the largest collection

9、 of living plants and animal species in the world.Deforestation Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to non-forested areas. The main sources of deforestation in the Amazon are human settlement and development of the land. The soils in the Amazon are productive for just a short period of

10、 time, so farmers are constantly moving to new areas and clearing more land. These farming practices led to deforestation and caused extensive environmental damage.Deforestation In the 1970s construction began on the Trans-Amazonian highway. This highway represented a major threat to the Amazon rain

11、forest.Deforestation Between 1991 and 2000, the total area of forest lost in the Amazon rose from 415,000 to 587,000 square kilometres (160,000 to 227,000 sq mi), with most of the lost forest becoming pasture（草地，牧場）（草地，牧場） for cattle.Illegal mining Video: Gold Lures Illegal Miners to Perus Rainfores

12、tsChevron: clean up Ecuador While drilling for oil in Ecuadors Amazon rainforest region, Texaco which merged with Chevron in 2001 operated without concern for the environment or local residents. The company deliberately dumped billions of gallons of toxic wastewater into rivers and streams, spilled

13、millions of gallons of crude oil, and abandoned hazardous waste in hundreds of unlined open-air pits littered throughout the region. The result is widespread devastation of the rainforest ecosystem and local indigenous communities, and one of the worst environmental disasters in history. Video: The

14、True Story of Chevrons Ecuador DisasterB. Background infoAmazon Region Protected Areas ProgramThrough its geographic scope and financial objectives, the Amazon Region Protected Areas (ARPA) program redefines large-scale conservation.The program, set up by a range of stakeholders that include WWF(Wor

15、ld Wildlife Fund), aims to create and support a system of well-managed protected areas and sustainable natural resource management reserves over a 10-year period.Video: ARPAB. Background info2. Tumucumaque National Park Its situated in northwestern Brazil inside the Amazon Rainforest state of Amap.

16、It is bordered to the north by French Guiana and Suriname.B. Background info2. Tumucumaque National Park B. Background info 3. Amazon river The Amazon River (US /mzn/ or UK /mzn/; Spanish and Portuguese: Amazonas) in South America is the largest river by discharge of water in the world, and the seco

17、nd in length. The river enters the Atlantic Ocean in north-eastern Brazil in a broad estuary(河口河口). Because of its vast dimensions, it is sometimes called The River Sea.C. Text studyThe amazon rainforest is populated by millions of different types of insects, plants, animals, and birds, many of whic

18、h are exotic and rare (para 2).Exotic: usual and interesting, usually because sth comes from or is related to a distant country. (常因來自遙遠的他國而顯常因來自遙遠的他國而顯得得)奇異的。奇異的。e.g. Consumers are increasingly interested in the authentically exotic tastes.消費者對于真正的異國風味越來越情有獨鐘。消費者對于真正的異國風味越來越情有獨鐘。2. The threats surr

19、ounding the Amazon region are considerable enough to classify the situation as a crisis (para 3).Considerable: adj. great in amount or degree. 相當多的，相當大相當多的，相當大的。的。e.g. considerable expense相當可觀的費用相當可觀的費用 to a considerable extent or degree很大程度上很大程度上 the damage was considerable毀壞相當嚴重毀壞相當嚴重Considerate:

20、adj. someone who is considerate pays attention to the needs, wishes, or feelings of other people.體貼的，周到的體貼的，周到的e.g. to be considerate towards somebody/of somebodys feelings體諒某人體諒某人/某人的感情某人的感情3. The wholesale (大規模的大規模的) clearing and exploitation of land for settlement and industry, including mining,

21、has made the situation critical (para 3).Exploit v./Exploitation n.: 開發，開采，利用，剝削。開發，開采，利用，剝削。e.g. The islanders endured centuries of exploitation. 那個島上的居民忍受了數個世紀的剝削。那個島上的居民忍受了數個世紀的剝削。 Explore v. /Exploration n. : 探索，探測，探險。探索，探測，探險。 e.g. to explore for oil/gas勘探石油勘探石油/天然氣天然氣 to go (out) exploring去探險去

22、探險 to explore ways and means of doing sth尋找做某事的方尋找做某事的方式方法式方法4. It comes in the form of an expedition team of scientists and other conservation experts. (para 4)Expedition : 遠征，探險隊。遠征，探險隊。e.g. an expedition to/into .去去的探險的探險 to go on an expedition去探險去探險 a hunting/climbing expedition去狩獵去狩獵/登山登山5. The

23、 park is enormous about 3.8 million hectares in size (para 6)Hectare : 公頃。公頃。 Acre: 英畝英畝.1 square mile 平方英里平方英里=640 acres 英畝英畝6. The Brazilian government established the new national park as a legal entity and allocated funds for its administration. (para 7)Entity : an entity is sth that exists sepa

24、rately from other things and has a clear identity of its own.實體實體e.g. a single/separate/political/legal entity單獨的單獨的/獨立的獨立的/政治政治/法人實體法人實體Identity：身份：身份7. Its borders will have to be patrolled regularly to ensure that miners and other people dont illegally cross over the border into the protected par

25、k area. (para 8)Patrol : make regular trips around an area or along a border line to guard against trouble or crime.巡邏巡邏e.g. to carry out/make a patrol去巡邏去巡邏 the soldiers on patrol巡邏的士兵巡邏的士兵 a patrol vehicle巡邏車巡邏車 a police patrol警察巡邏隊警察巡邏隊8. This program, created and run by a panel of conservation e

26、xperts,. (para 9)Panel :專門小組；控制面板，儀表板；鑲板，嵌板專門小組；控制面板，儀表板；鑲板，嵌板e.g. a panel of experts專家組專家組 on our panel tonight we have .今晚出席座談會的有今晚出席座談會的有 an instrument/display panel儀表儀表/顯示盤顯示盤 glass/wooden panel玻璃板玻璃板/木壁板木壁板9. Maretti is joined by Christoph Jaster, a Brazilian government part warden, and Jawapuk

27、u Wayapi, a member of one of the indigenous people living on lands neighboring the park. (para 10)Warden :管理員；監獄長管理員；監獄長e.g. a wildlife/park warden野生動物保護區巡視員野生動物保護區巡視員/公園管公園管理員理員Indigenous：本土的，土著的，當地的：本土的，土著的，當地的e.g. the countrys indigenous population該國的本土人口該國的本土人口10. The expeditions mission here is

28、 twofold. (para 11)Twofold : 有兩部分的；兩倍的；兩倍地有兩部分的；兩倍的；兩倍地e.g. The case against is twofold: too risky and too expensive. 反對理由有兩點：太冒險而且太昂貴。反對理由有兩點：太冒險而且太昂貴。 a twofold increase in crime犯罪案件增加了一倍犯罪案件增加了一倍 an investment which increased twofold翻了一番的投資翻了一番的投資 Her original investment has increased twofold.她原先

29、她原先的投資已經增加到兩倍。的投資已經增加到兩倍。11. There are no roads in this remote area of the park, and few airstrips, . (para 14)Airstrip : a long think stretch of road for landing aircraft飛機跑道飛機跑道Aircraft：飛機，飛行器：飛機，飛行器12. At certain points along the way, the team must stop, get out and attach ropes to the sides of t

30、heir boats wo that they can pull them over rocky or fast-flowing areas. (para 14)Attach to:依附，附屬。依附，附屬。e.g. They attach to a server, then join one or more channels. 它們連接到服務器，然后加入一個或多個信道。它們連接到服務器，然后加入一個或多個信道。Pull over:把把開到路邊；靠岸開到路邊；靠岸e.g. He noticed a man behind him in a blue Ford gesticulating（用姿勢示意

31、）（用姿勢示意） to pull over.他注意到后面一輛藍色他注意到后面一輛藍色福特車里的一個男人示意他靠邊停車。福特車里的一個男人示意他靠邊停車。Pullover：套衫：套衫 e.g. His fiancee knitted him a pullover. 他的未婚妻為他織了一件套頭毛衣他的未婚妻為他織了一件套頭毛衣.13. In the past, the dangerous currents and majestic waterfalls in this region. (para 15)Current: 水、電、氣流；趨勢水、電、氣流；趨勢e.g. to go or drift w

32、ith the current隨大溜隨大溜 to go against the current逆潮流而動逆潮流而動 a current of opinion意見傾向意見傾向13. In the past, the dangerous currents and majestic waterfalls in this region. (para 15)Majesty: Using majesty in expressions such as Your Majesty or Her/His Majesty when addressing or referring to a king a queen.

33、威威嚴，最高權威；陛下；壯麗，雄偉嚴，最高權威；陛下；壯麗，雄偉e.g. His Majesty requests your presence in the royal chambers.國王陛下要求你在皇室受召見。國王陛下要求你在皇室受召見。e.g. the majesty of the mainland mountains.大陸山岳的壯美。大陸山岳的壯美。14. As the team paddles further up the river, . (para 15)Paddle: n. 劃槳劃槳 v. 用槳劃用槳劃e.g. We might be able to push ourselv

34、es across with the paddle.我們或許可以自己劃槳過去。我們或許可以自己劃槳過去。e.g. paddle the canoe劃獨木舟劃獨木舟15. They decide to construct a pulley system using ropes and wheels. (para 16)Pulley: a device used to lift or lower heavy objects滑輪滑輪e.g. The stone was lifted by means of a rope and pulley.這塊大石是用繩子和滑輪給吊起來的。這塊大石是用繩子和滑輪給

35、吊起來的。16. While it is the quickest method for mining gold, the hydraulic mining that is frequently used in the region is particularly dangerous for all living things. (para 19)hydraulic: 液壓的液壓的e.g. The boat has no fewer than five hydraulic pumps.這艘這艘船下有不下五個液壓泵。船下有不下五個液壓泵。17. In hydraulic mining, wate

36、r is carried to the mining site via canals where it is collected for used by the miners. (para 19)Canal: 水道，水渠，運河；道水道，水渠，運河；道e.g. The Grand Union Canal 大聯盟運河大聯盟運河 the alimentary canal消化道消化道17. Transportable pumps are then used to spray the water out of a hose at high pressure. (para 19)Transportable

37、:可運輸的可運輸的e.g. transportable reactor可運輸反應堆可運輸反應堆Portable: 手提的，輕便的手提的，輕便的e.g. a little portable television一臺便攜式小電視機一臺便攜式小電視機Pump：泵，抽水機：泵，抽水機 Plump：豐滿的，圓胖的：豐滿的，圓胖的Bump：腫塊，突起物：腫塊，突起物Spray：n. 噴霧，噴霧器；噴霧，噴霧器；v. 噴射噴射 e.g. pepper spray胡椒噴霧器，防狼噴霧胡椒噴霧器，防狼噴霧Hose：n. 軟管，水管軟管，水管; v. 用水管沖洗，用水管澆灌用水管沖洗，用水管澆灌e.g. hose

38、 our garden 澆灌我們的花園澆灌我們的花園18. Due to the scale of production and speed of extraction . (para 20)Extraction: n.萃取，取出；血統，出身萃取，取出；血統，出身e.g. a dental extraction拔牙拔牙 British/French etc. by extraction英裔英裔/法裔等法裔等19. It erodes the soil, . (para 20)Erode: 腐蝕，侵蝕；削弱；降低腐蝕，侵蝕；削弱；降低e.g. The storm washed away buil

39、dings and roads and eroded beaches.暴風雨沖走了建筑物和道路，侵蝕了沙灘。暴風雨沖走了建筑物和道路，侵蝕了沙灘。 His critics say his fumbling on the issue of reform has eroded his authority. 他的批評者們說他在改革問題上的拙劣做他的批評者們說他在改革問題上的拙劣做法已經削弱了他的權威。法已經削弱了他的權威。 Competition in the financial marketplace has eroded profits. 金融市場的競爭降低了利潤。金融市場的競爭降低了利潤。20

40、. Preventing gold mining in the delicate and valuable environment of the Amazon rain forest is a high priority on almost everyones agenda. (para 21)On the agenda: 在議事日程上在議事日程上e.g. Whats the next item on the agenda?議程表上的下一議程表上的下一項是什么？項是什么？21. The ARPA program is trying to establish innovative partner

41、ships with the indigenous peoples. (para 21)Innovation 是創新的意思，而是創新的意思，而invention是發明。所以是發明。所以innovation一般是對已經發明出來的東西進行改良、改進。一般是對已經發明出來的東西進行改良、改進。e.g. The touch screen dashboard is the latest innovation in this new model four wheel drive.（觸摸式儀表屏是這新款四輪驅（觸摸式儀表屏是這新款四輪驅動汽車的最新創意。）動汽車的最新創意。）而一項發明（而一項發明（an i

42、nvention）則是以前從來沒有看見過的方式或）則是以前從來沒有看見過的方式或產品。產品。e.g. Thomas Edison was one of the worlds greatest inventors. His inventions include the phonograph, the motion picture camera and the electric light bulb.（湯瑪斯（湯瑪斯愛迪生是世愛迪生是世界最偉大的發明家之一。他的發明涵蓋留聲機、電影攝像機和界最偉大的發明家之一。他的發明涵蓋留聲機、電影攝像機和電燈泡。）電燈泡。）22. While plans ar

43、e in the works for implementing programs to stop illegal mining . (para 22)Implement: v. 實施，執行實施，執行/n. 工具工具e.g. The government promised to implement a new system to control financial loan institutions. 政府許諾要實施新的制度來政府許諾要實施新的制度來控制金融貸款機構?？刂平鹑谫J款機構。 a farm/household/gardening implement農具農具/家庭用具家庭用具/園園藝工具

44、藝工具a set of implements一套工具一套工具23. a fact that underlines just how crucial patrolling the rain forest areas actually is. (para 24) The miner highlights the fact that(para 25)Underline, highlight: 強調強調e.g. This report underlined his concern.這個報告強調了他這個報告強調了他的擔憂。的擔憂。 This highlight the plight of the hom

45、eless. 這個突出描這個突出描寫了無家可歸者的苦境。寫了無家可歸者的苦境。highlights24. ., mining gold with a samll dredge, and surviving by farming, hyunting, and fishing in the rain forest. (para 28) Dredge: n. 挖泥船，挖泥船， 疏浚機疏浚機/v. 清淤清淤e.g. Police have spent weeks dredging the lake but have not found his body.警察已經花了幾周時間在湖里打撈，但是仍警察已經花

46、了幾周時間在湖里打撈，但是仍未發現他的尸體。未發現他的尸體。25. ., but theres no way around the rules, or is there .? (para 29) Theres no way around:是不可避免的是不可避免的,沒辦法的沒辦法的e.g. Theres no way Im agreeing to that! 這件事我決不同意這件事我決不同意! Theres no way around this one. 這沒什么可說的。這沒什么可說的。 There is no way around the fact that +從句：這是一個從句：這是一個不爭

47、的事實不爭的事實26. . and the basic parameters for monitoring it established. (para 33) Parameter:參數，界限參數，界限e.g. some of the parameters that determine the taste of a wine.一些決定葡萄酒味道的參數。一些決定葡萄酒味道的參數。D Reading comprehension What is the main purpose of the discussion in paras 1 and 2? A. To provide background i

48、nfo about the Amazon. B. To introduce whats unique about the country of Brazil. C. To offer details about numberous species of plants and birds. D. To explain what scientists do not know about the Amazon.D Reading comprehension2. In para 3, the word “critical” is closest in the meaning to _. A. floral B. rational C. possibly disastrous D. abstractD Reading comprehension3. What opinion is expressed by Jawapuku Wayapi in para 12? A. He thinks there are some benefits to mining.