The rainforest is essential in other areas also. It is a medicine chest of unlimited potential. The US National Cancer Institute has identified 2，000 rainforest plants which could be beneficial in fighting cancer. In today's pharmaceutical market， 15 of the 125 drugs derived from plants were discovered in the rainforest.
chest： 胸膛；箱。
译：从其它方面来看，热带雨林对人类也是必不可缺的。热带雨林是一个有着无限潜力的医药资源宝库。美国国家癌症研究院已经证实了有2000种热带雨林中的植物对预防和治疗癌症有奇效。在今天的药品市场上，125种单味药中，就有15种是从热带雨林发现的植物中提取出来的。
Plant species are not the only forms of life threatened with extinction in the rainforest. Rare birds and animals that cannot be found anywhere else in the world have been disappearing at the rate of one a year since the turn of the century.
译：各种植物在热带雨林中并不是受到灭种威胁的唯一生物。世界上除了热带雨林以外，在其它任何地方都找不到的珍稀鸟类和珍稀动物，在这世纪之交正在以每年消失一种的速度逐渐灭绝。
the turn of the century 世纪之交
In the face of all these facts， it seems senseless for countries to continue destroying their rainforests.
译：面对着这些事实，这些国家还在继续毁灭他们的热带雨林，简直令人觉得他们太麻木不仁了。
Destroy v. 消灭，摧毁/damage v./n. 损害，伤害/ruin v./n. 毁灭
However， the problem is not so simple. The countries in which the rainforests are located are all quite poor and overpopulated. One of them， Brazil， has a population of 140 million， about half of whom are living in absolute poverty.
译：但是，这个问题并不简单。拥有热带雨林的那些国家都相当贫穷而且人口过剩。热带雨林国家之一，巴西，有一亿四千万人。其中约有半数人生活在绝对贫困当中。
The governments in these countries are usually also too weak to stop large companies and powerful individuals from destroying the rainforests. They have no money， so when the poor whom they cannot feed find work cutting down trees or burning forestland， the governments often have no choice but to turn a blind eye.
the +a.：表示一类人
have no choice but to do： 没有办法，只能…
译：这些国家的政府通常也都十分软弱，以致不能阻止一些大公司或有权有势的人毁坏热带雨林。那些国家的政府都没有钱，所以当政府养活不起的那些穷人，找到了砍树或在森林里烧树开荒的工作时，政府别无选择，只好睁一只眼闭一只眼。
Moreover， for many of these countries， the valuable timber and other resources found in the rainforests are also a very important source of foreign exchange， which they badly need to pay off their foreign debts and purchase foreign equipment and other goods.
foreign exchange： 外汇
译：况且，对于这些国家中的有些国家来说，热带雨林中的珍贵木材和其它资源也是他们换取外汇的重要资源，以便用来偿还外债和购买外国设备以及其它物资。
The only solution to the problem， then， seems to be for the richer countries of the world to help the countries where the rainforests are located. One way they could help would be by cancelling the international debts that countries like Brazil owe， while also working together with these countries to solve their other economic problems.
译：那么，这个问题唯一的解决办法似乎就是世界上较富裕国家应该援助那些地处热带雨林地区的国家。援助的方法之一就是放弃或取消像巴西这类国家所欠他们的国际债务，同时还要同这些国家一起协作去解决他们的一些经济问题。
At the same time， they could support programmes to teach the local people to regard the rainforests as gardens to be harvested， and not merely as places where the only way for them to make a living is by senselessly cutting down trees and burning.
译：与此同时，他们还应该举办各种培训班，教会当地居民把热带雨林看成是获得大丰收的花园、果园、菜园、动植物园，而不要只把热带雨林看成是只能用愚昧无知的砍树烧树办法来谋生的地方。
regard …as …：把…当成
see …as
Such programmes could teach the local people how to select trees worth exporting and to cut only those trees down while leaving the rest， so that the basic make-up of the forest would not be disturbed.
be worth doing sth.： 值得…。
译：这类培训班还可以教会当地居民如何精选出值得出口的树木，只把有出口价值的树木砍掉，而把其余的树都保留下来，以保证森林中基本的生态平衡不被破坏。
This would also mean that the environment needed for the survival of the many rare species of animals and plants， as well as of the Indian tribes that live in the rainforest， could be preserved.
preserve：保护，存留
译：这样做，也将意味着会把许多珍稀植物和动物赖以生存的环境以及热带雨林中的印地安各部落赖以生存的环境保存下来。
The local people could also be taught to earn more money by cutting the selected trees and making them into furniture on the spot.
select v. 选择 a.精选的
selection n. 选择
selective： a. 选择的，选择性的
In addition， they could learn how to harvest other valuable natural materials that are now being wasted， and sell them overseas to earn foreign exchange for their countries.
还可以教会当地居民通过采伐精选的树木并用这些树木在当地加工成家具的办法去赚到更多的钱。此外，当地居民在培训班还可以学会怎样去采集现在被浪费掉的其它珍贵天然材料，然后把这些材料卖到国外去，以便为他们的祖国赚回外汇。
Last but not least， people in the richer countries of the world could also help save the rainforests by using wood-derived products such as paper more carefully and by recycling used paper products to help reduce the demand for newly cut wood.
译：最后，同样重要的是，世界上较富裕国家的人民，要更加注意节约使用以木材为原料的纸张之类的产品，回收利用纸制产品，以帮助减少新的砍伐树木的需求量，从而帮助拯救热带雨林。
Ⅲ.Vocabulary Exercises ：
ⅰ.Choose the proper words given at the beginning.
1.economy economic economical
a.The war is a fatal blow to the economy of both countries.
b.It is important to bring about a new economic order in the world.
c.The newly invented machine is economical of time and energy.
2.consequence consequent consequently
a.The farmers suffered a drought and there was a consequent shortage of food in the market.
b.If you behave so foolishly， you must be ready to take the consequence.
c.She was a bright and eager student and， consequently， did well in school.
3.contribute contribution contributor
a.His involvement contributed effectively to the solution of the dispute.
b.All contributors to the church will have a meeting today.
c.The young policeman made a remarkable contribution to public safety.
4.overpopulate population populate
a.If we didn't carry out family planning， our country would be much more overpopulated.
b. The centre of the city is a densely populated area.
c. The country is adopting radical measures to control the growth of its population.
ⅱ.Fill in the following blanks with the words listed below in their proper forms.
local massive upset senseless recede threaten export recycle select pay off
1.Empty bottles are recycled in order for the glass to be used.
2.The news that he failed the final exam upset him emotionally.
3.Tea， grain and sugar are among the most important exports.
4.The doctors made massive efforts to save the dying patient.
5.Columbus' idea of going east by sailing west was thought to be senseless by the Spanish nobles.
6.The coast was receding / receded slowly as our ship sailed out to sea.
7.Many rare species of animals are being threatened with extinction.
8.It's almost certain that our plan will pay off； it is a wonderful idea.
9.“When in Rome， do as the Romans do” means that one should behave according to the local customs.
10.Why didn't you select a better topic for your conversation？
Text B Life on the Tundra
Ⅰ.New words：
1.含有前缀的单词：
subsoil n. 下层土，底土
2.含有后缀的单词：
marshy a.沼泽般的，湿软的
→marsh n.沼泽
→表示地形的单词：maintain/sea /desert /plain /plateau
continous a. 连续不断的，不停歇的，表示动作或物体不间断地进行下去
eg： They chattered continuously for an hour. 他们不间断地聊了一个小时。
continual a. 连续的，频繁的，表示多次重复的动作（有可能有间断）
eg： Please stop your continual questions. 请不要再接二连三的提问题了。
permanently ad. 长久地，永久地
→permanent （a.） 反义词：temporary a. 暂时的
lifeless a. 1.无生命的，死的；2.没有生气的，单调的
disturbance n. 1.骚动，动乱；2.打扰，干扰
deep a. 深的
depth n. 1.深度2.深处[常pl.] 3.深奥，深刻
seemingly ad. 1.表面地 2.近乎真实地
shortage n. 不足，缺少
explorer n. 探索者，考察者
3.合成词：
daylight ： 1.日光 2.日间
pipeline ： 管道，管线
4.特殊记忆：
minor 比较小的；少数的 ←→ major 比较大的；多数的
1）这两个词本身就有比较意味，用比较级时不需要变形加er
2）在用比较级的句子中，不用比较连词than，而用介词to
bay海湾 / port 海港 / coast 海岸，海滨/ gulf 海湾
5.本单元课文中出现的单词：
1.horizon n. 1.地平线；2.（喻）眼界，见识
E.g.： the horizon 地平线
Travel broadens one's horizons. 旅游可以开阔人的眼界。
2.continuous & continual
E.g.： They chattered continuously for an hour. 他们足足聊了1个小时。
Please stop your continual questions. 请不要再接二连三地提问题了。
3.hunt vt. 1.追猎，猎取；2.追赶，搜索
vi.（for）1.打猎；2.猎食；3.搜寻
n.打猎
E.g.： go hunting 去打猎
He's been hunting for a lost book. 他一直在找那本丢失的书。
Phrases：
1.be known as 以…而闻名，通常名叫
E.g.： Mark Twain was known as a great novelist. 马克· 吐温作为一个伟大的小说家被人们熟知。
→be known for 因为…而出名
2.in search of 寻找…，寻求…
责任编辑：小草
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