研究生英语精读教程(第三版_上)第5单元英文原文与翻译和课后答案.docxVIP

----- ----- Unit Five The End Is Not at Hand The environmental rhetoric overblown. The planet will survive Robert J. Samuelson 并非末日来临 环境问题言过其实，地球生命仍将继续。 罗伯特· J·塞缪尔森 [ 1 ] Whoever coined the phrase save the planet is a public relation genius. It conveys the sense of impending* catastrophe* and high purpose that has wrapped environmentalism in an aura* of moral urgency. It also typifies environmentalisms rhetorical excesses, which, in any other context, would be seen as wild exaggeration* or simple dishonesty. 无论是谁杜撰了 “拯救地球” 这一说法， 他都是一位公共关系方面的天才。这一说法既表达了对即将来临的灭顶之灾的意识， 也满怀着使环境保护论带有道义紧迫感这一大的目 标。同时这种说法也表明环境保护论言过其实， 这种夸大在其他任何场合都会被视为是在危言耸听或愚蠢的欺骗。 [ 2 ] Up to a point, our environmental awareness has checked a mindless enthusiasm for unrestrained economic growth.We have sensibly curbed* some of growths harmful side effects. But environmentalism increasingly resembles a holy crusade* addicted to hype* and ignorant of history. Every environmental ill is depicted* as an onrushing calamity* that— if not stopped will end life as we know it. [2] 就某种程度而言， 我们的环境意识遏制了对自由经济增长所表现出的盲目热情。 我们已 明智地抑制了增长中所出现的一些有害的副作用， 但是环境保护论却越来越像一场沉湎于狂 热的宣传与对历史一无所知的圣战。 每一由环境问题引发的不幸都被描绘成一场势不可挡的 灾难。这场灾难如不加以制止，正像我们所知晓的那样，就会摧毁生命。 [ 3 ] Take the latest scare: the greenhouse effect ①. We re presented with the horrifying specter* of a world that incinerates* itself.Act now, or sizzle* later. Food supplies will wither. Glaciers* will melt. Coastal areas will flood. In fact, the probable losses from any greenhouse warming are modest*: 1 to 2 percent of our economys output by the year 2050, estimates economist William Cline ①.The loss seems even smaller compared with the expected growth of the economy (a doubling) over the same period. [3] 以最近出现的恐慌——温室效应——为例。 展现在我们面前的是一个自我焚毁、 可怕的 幽灵般的世界。即刻行动，否则世界将咝咝烧焦。食品供应即将枯竭。冰川即将溶化。沿海 地区即将淹没。 事实上， 任何温室热效应可能造成的损失都是有限的： 经济学家威廉· 克莱 恩估计， 到 2050 年只占我们经济产出的 1% 到 2%。与预想的同期经济增长 ( 翻一番 ) 相比， 这一损失更显得微不足道。 [ 4 ] No environmental problem threatens the planet or rates with the