常春藤生活英语：改变世界的６度Ｃ

News about global warming is everywhere. There are a number of theories and ideas about this environmental crisis. Some of the information is true, some is false, and some is impossible to prove or disprove. Recently, Mark Lynas, a British scientist, released what might be the scariest news yet. He says if Earth warms up by just six degrees, our entire world could change. This could harm billions of people. It could also happen before the end of the century.

This month, National Geographic Channel looks at this theory in Six Degrees Could Change the World. According to the theory, a change of six degrees could cause major disasters. Numbers of wildfires and typhoons might increase around the world. Rivers and lakes might dry up in some places, and glaciers might melt. There is also evidence that this is already happening. In the UK, warmer weather is completely changing what farmers can grow. Storms in the US and fires in Australia have destroyed buildings and lives. Our world is definitely changing, and the results might be fatal.

全球暖化的新闻随处都能听到。有许多理论和想法都跟这个环保危机有关。这些信息有些是真的，有些是假的，有些则完全无法证实或反驳。英国科学家马克?林纳斯最近发布一则到目前为止，可能是最可怕的新闻。他说假如地球温度再升高六度，整个世界或许都会改变。这可能危害到几十亿人。这个现象也可能在本世纪末之前发生。

本月份，国家地理频道将在《改变世界的6度C》节目中探讨这个理论。根据这个理论的说法，六度的气温变化会引起后果不堪设想的灾害。全球野火和台风的数量也许会增加。某些地方的河川跟湖泊可能干涸，冰河也可能溶化。也有证据指出这种现象已经发生。在英国，较为温暖的天气正彻底改变农夫可以种植的作物。美国的暴风雨和澳洲的火灾则摧毁了无数的建筑物和生命。我们的世界的确正在改变，而其后果可能是毁灭性十足的。

Building Your Vocabulary

1.release　vt. 公开发表，发布

The film was released last month.

这部片于上个月上映。

2.harmvt. 危害，伤害

The dog hasn't harmed anyone.

这只狗不曾伤害任何人。

3.major　a. 严重的;重大的

If Ben's behavior doesn't change, he will face major punishments.

如果阿班的行为不改变，他会受到十分严重的惩罚。

4.fatal　a. 毁灭性的;致命的

Heart attacks could be fatal.

心脏病发作可能会致人于死。

Phrases for Learning

1.a number of...　　一些∕几个……

A number of students are in the lab.

有一些学生在实验室里。

2.dry up　　干涸

The pond dried up because there wasn't any rain recently.

因为最近都没下雨，所以池塘干涸了。

参考字词

1.global warming　n. 全球暖化

2.theory　n. 理论;学说

3.crisis　n. 危机

4.disprove　vt. 反驳;证明……是错误的

5.wildfire　n. 野火，大火灾

Tips In Use

...and some is impossible to prove...

(……有些则完全无法证实……)

1.本句中的 prove 当不及物动词用，表『证实』。

2.prove 亦可作不完全不及物动词用，表『证明是、显示』之意，等同于"turn out"，之后接 "to be + 名词∕形容词"作主词补语，而"to be"可省略。

The news proved (to be) false.

=The news turned out (to be) false.

(这则消息证实是错误的。)

3. prove 亦可作及物动词用，表『证明、证实』，之后接名词或名词子句作受词。

Scientists proved that coffee has bad effects on people.

(科学家证实咖啡对人们有不良影响。)