2013年3月22日 星期五

Fields of Gold  綠色黃金,飢貧救星

單字小舖 


 



by Li Chen

As part of the Manzanar Project, mangroves are providing food and wealth for Eritrea.
『曼札納計劃』的目標是利用紅樹林為厄利垂亞帶來食物及財富。

  When American biologist Gordon Sato was 14 years old, his family was forced to become self-sufficient in the harsh conditions at the Manzanar relocation camp for Japanese-Americans in 1942. _(1)_ He has focused on the African nation of Eritrea, one of the poorest countries in the world with no sustainable economy. The aim of the Manzanar Project is to eliminate hunger and poverty while relieving global warming. _(2)_ In turn, they gain the necessary skills to be self-sufficient in producing food and wealth for themselves.
1942 年,美國生物學家戈登‧佐藤正值 14 歲,他們全家被迫在為日裔美籍人士設置的曼札納安置營艱困的環境下,過著自給自足的生活。由於歷經這段苦難的日子,佐藤用他的『曼札納計劃』致力於減少飢餓問題已超過 20 年之久。這項計劃的重點放在非洲國家厄利垂亞,它是全世界最貧窮的國家之一,缺少足以自立的經濟。『曼札納計劃』的目標在於減輕全球暖化的同時,也消弭飢餓和貧窮。達到目標的方式是教導厄利垂亞人利用科技來運用其自然資源。接著,人民獲得必要的技能,便能為自己帶來食物和財富,過著自給自足的生活。
  The answer lies in a plant native to the coastal deserts of Eritrea—the mangrove tree. _(3)_ The mangrove has an extensive root system that slows the flow of water, thus protecting the coastal areas from erosion. _(4)_ However, the main benefits for the Manzanar Project are in the mangrove leaves. Since they are rich in protein, mangrove leaves make for excellent fodder for the area's livestock. When mixed with dried mangrove seeds and a small portion of fish meal, the leaves provide enough nutrition for the animals to produce offspring as well as milk. _(5)_
要達成目標的關鍵在於紅樹林,它是一種原生於厄利垂亞沿岸沙漠的植物。紅樹林特別之處在於它生長在海水中。大片蔓延的樹根會減緩海流速度,進而保護沿岸土壤免於遭受侵蝕。此外,紅樹林的樹根也提供幼魚和其他海中生物一個繁殖的棲息地。然而,為『曼札納計劃』帶來主要益處的其實是紅樹林的樹葉。由於紅樹林的樹葉富含蛋白質,成為該地家畜絕佳的飼料來源。將樹葉混入乾燥的紅樹林種子和少許的魚粉,便可提供動物足夠的營養以繁衍後代和製造乳汁。就好比骨牌效應,紅樹林供給動物養分,動物提供人類食物,而人類生存下來回饋社會。
  Since the mid-1980s, Sato and the Manzanar Project have planted over 800,000 mangrove trees and improved the standard of living in Eritrea. Even so, the Project strives to train more people to use low-tech solutions to end hunger and poverty.
從 1980 年代中期開始,佐藤帶著『曼札納計劃』已種植超過 80 萬棵紅樹林樹木,改善了厄利垂亞的生活水平。即使如此,這項計劃還是努力訓練更多人民,不須用高科技的辦法就能終結飢餓和貧窮。
(A) The Project does this by training the locals in Eritrea to use technology to harness its natural resources.
(B) In addition, the roots provide a habitat for young fish and other sea life to flourish.
(C) Because of this trying experience, Sato has been devoted to alleviating hunger with his Manzanar Project for more than 20 years.
(D) Just like the domino effect, the mangroves feed the animals, the animals feed the people, and the people survive to give back to the community.
(E) What makes this tree special is the fact that it grows in seawater.
原來如此
1. 第一題空格應選 (C)
理由:
a. 空格前一句說到,戈登‧佐藤 14 歲時,他們全家被迫在曼札納(Manzanar)安置營艱困的環境下,過著自給自足的生活。
b. (C) 選項的句子提到,由於這段苦難的經歷,佐藤用他的『曼札納計劃』(Manzanar Project)致力於減少飢餓問題已超過 20 年之久,前後語意連貫,其中 Manzanar 形成關鍵字,故選之。
大補丸:
a. trying a. 難受的,嚴酷的
b. be devoted to + N/V-ing  獻身∕致力於……
= be dedicated to + N/V-ing
例: Mr. Chen has been devoted to education his whole life.
(陳老師一生都奉獻於教育。)
c. alleviate vt. 減輕,緩和
例: To alleviate her worries, Mary always turns to her best friend.
(為了減輕煩惱,瑪麗總是尋求摯友的幫助。)
2. 第二題空格應選 (A)
理由:
a. 空格前一句提到,『曼札納計劃』的目標在於減輕全球暖化的同時,也消弭飢餓和貧窮,推測下一句應是說明達到目標的方式。
b. (A) 選項的句子接著說,達到目標的方式,是教導厄利垂亞人利用科技來運用其自然資源,符合上述推測,且前後語意連貫,故選之。
大補丸:
a. harness vt. 利用;駕馭
例: Some countries harness the sun's rays as a source of energy.
(一些國家利用陽光作為能源。)
b. resource n. 資源
natural resources  自然資源
3. 第三題空格應選 (E)
理由:
a. 空格前一句說,要達成計劃目標的關鍵在於紅樹林,可知下一句應是說明紅樹林的特色。
b. (E) 選項的句子提到,紅樹林特別之處是它生長在海水中。符合推論,且前後語意連貫,故選之。
4. 第四題空格應選 (B)
理由:
a. 空格前一句說到,大片蔓延的樹根(an extensive root system)會減緩海流速度,進而保護沿岸土壤免於遭受侵蝕。
b. (B) 選項的句子說,此外,紅樹林的樹根(roots)提供幼魚和其他海中生物一個繁殖的棲息地,補充說明紅樹林樹根的作用,前後語意連貫,故選之。
大補丸:
a. root n.(植物的)根
b. habitat n. 棲息地
c. flourish vi. 繁榮,茂盛
例: My garden flourished this summer because of the warm weather.
(今年夏天溫暖的氣候讓我花園裡的植物生長茂盛。)
5. 第五題空格應選 (D)
理由:
a. 空格前一句提到,紅樹林樹葉混入乾燥的紅樹林種子和少許的魚粉,便可提供動物足夠的營養以繁衍後代和製造乳汁。
b. (D) 選項的句子接著說,就好比骨牌效應,紅樹林供給動物養分,動物提供人類食物,而人類生存下來回饋社會,為整個利用紅樹林的效益作總結,且前後語意連貫,故選之。
大補丸:
a. domino n. 骨牌
domino effect  骨牌效應(指一件事情的發生,引致類似事情相繼發生所產生的連鎖反應)
b. mangrove n. 紅樹林
c. survive vi. 生存;活下來,倖存
例:Most underwater organisms cannot survive on land.
(大部分的水棲生物無法在陸地存活。)
d. give back to...  回饋給……
例: I plan to give back to my school once I'm successful.
(一旦有所成就,我計劃回饋我的學校。)
e. community n. 社會
精解字詞片語 
1. self-sufficient a. 自給自足的
sufficient a. 充分的,足夠的
例: Sufficient sleep is vital to one's health.
(充足的睡眠對人的健康來說極其重要。)
2. eliminate vt. 消除,消滅
例: We have to eliminate racial inequality in our society.
(我們必須消除社會中種族地位不平等的問題。)
3. relieve vt. 減輕,緩和
例: Aspirin will relieve your headache.
(阿斯匹靈將減輕你的頭痛。)
4. lie in...  在於……
= consist in...
例: A child's future lies in a good education.
(孩童的未來在於良好的教育。)
5. be native to + 地方  原產於某地,是某地特有的
= be unique to + 地方
= be indigenous to + 地方
例: The horse, not native to America, was introduced by the French.
(這種馬並非原產於美國,而是法國人引進的。)
6. make for...  能成為……;(有助於)促成……
例: Candlelight, champagne, and music can make for a romantic evening.
(燭光、香檳和音樂可以營造出一個浪漫的夜晚。)
7. provide A for B  提供 A 給 B
= provide B with A
例: My cousin provided me with a bed for the night.
(我的表哥提供我一張床過夜。)
8. strive to V  努力∕奮鬥(做)……
strive 三態為:strive , strove , striven 。
例: Every team strives to win the championship.
(每支球隊都努力要奪魁。)
單字小舖 
1. biologist n. 生物學家
2. harsh a. 艱苦的,嚴酷的
3. relocation n. 重新安置;遷移
a relocation camp  拘留營,安置營
4. sustainable a. 能長期維持的
5. coastal a. 沿海的,海岸的
6. extensive a. 廣闊的,廣大的
7. erosion n. 侵蝕,腐蝕
8. protein n. 蛋白質
9. fodder n. 飼料,糧秣
10. livestock n. 家畜(集合名詞,不可數)
11. portion n. 部分
12. fish meal  魚粉
13. nutrition n. 營養(不可數)
14. offspring n. 後代,子孫(視為複數,不可數)
15. standard n. 標準,水準
the standard of living  生活水準,生活水平
16. low-tech a. 低技術的
片語小舖 

1. focus on...  專注於……
2. in turn  接著,然後
3. be rich in...  富含……
答案: 1. (C) 2. (A) 3. (E) 4. (B) 5. (D)

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