1、Nature in the balance Let us not, however, flatter ourselves overmuch on account of our human victories over nature. For each such victory nature takes its revenge on us. Friedrich Engels Welcome to the unit The human race has done much harm. We have polluted our soils and seas, And cut down too man
2、y trees. Now is the time to sound the alarm. We want to live in a world thats clean; We want to live in a world of green. The human race has done much harm; Now is the time to sound the alarm. Lets be thankful for the skies above; Lets plant new trees and stop pollution; Lets work together to find t
3、he solution; The Earths our home to protect and love. We want to live in a world thats clean; We want to live in a world of green. Lets be thankful for the skies above; The Earths our home to protect and love. Reading The Amazon rainforest：a natural treasure Welcome to the jungle, a huge sea of gree
4、n alive with the sounds of animals. This is the Amazon rainforest. As the largest rainforest in the world, it plays a significant role in maintaining the fine balance of the Earths ecosystem. The Amazon rainforest crosses into eight countries, including Brazil and Peru, and one overseas region of Fr
5、ance, all on the South American continent. With an area of around 6 million square kilometres, the Amazon rainforest is more than half the size of China. The Amazon River, from which the rainforest gets its name, is close to 6,400 kilometres in lengthroughly 100 kilometres longer than the Yangtze Ri
6、ver. On its journey from the mountains to the ocean, the river supports many different ecosystems. They give this area the richest biodiversity on the Earth: one in ten known species in the world can be found here. Of the 390,000 plant species known to us, more than 40,000 can be found in the Amazon
7、. This tall and ancient brazil nut tree produces nuts that we can eat; these water lilies are big enough to lie down on. The forests different levels support an unbelievable variety of wildlife. At the bottom, there is a system of roots beneath the ground. Above that is the mass of leaf litter on th
8、e dark forest floor. The next level is made up of shorter plants with large leaves. Then there are the towering ancient hardwoods, and finally the tops of the tallest trees many metres above the ground. Each level of the forest forms its own little world, home to different kinds of living things. Mo
9、re than 1,300 species of birds and over 400 species of mammals hide among the jungles plant life. This jaguar is one example. It has a yellowish-brown coat with black spots. While a significant number of jaguars survive here, they are only one element of this forests food chain. They feed on at leas
10、t 87 species, including frogs. These frogs, in turn, feed on insects which eat leaves and fruit. When a jaguar dies, a tiny army of microorganisms helps break down its body and return the nutrients to the earth. The Amazon rainforest breathes life into the planet by fixing carbon and producing over
11、20 per cent of all the Earths oxygen. Thus, it is often known as the “lungs of the planet”. Moreover, the Amazon rainforest is a treasure house of species that can be used for food or medicine. Yet there is one major danger to these irreplaceable plants and animals: us. Over the past 50 years, about
12、 17 per cent of the rainforest has disappeared due to human activities such as agriculture and cattle farming. As the impact of human activities continues to grow and the list of species in danger of extinction becomes longer, we are left with a question: can we afford to damage the “lungs of the pl
13、anet”? Extended reading HOST: Good evening and welcome to News that Matters. Our topic today is pollution in Norgate. Joining us in the studio tonight are James Smith, a local resident; Vincent Brown, senior manager of a local factory; and Julie Archer, chief of the Norgate Environmental Protection
14、Committee. Welcome. Norgates rapid development has had significant environmental costs. Mr Smith, youve lived in this city for over 20 years. How would you describe the effects of pollution over that time? SMITH: Its been awful, really. When I first moved here, the air was fresh, the grass green and
15、 the water clear. Then heavy industry factories moved in, and things became entirely different. I dont enjoy outdoor activities any more. The river is dirty and smelly. The smog in the air has coloured the sky a smoky grey; its also given me a cough that I cant get rid of. For health and safety reas
16、ons alone, heavy industry has to go. HOST: Mr Smith protested against heavy industry. Mr Brown, would you liketo respond? BROWN: Well, Im sorry you feel that way, Mr Smith. People tend to connect factories with pictures of clouds of dirty smoke and irresponsible businessmen eager to make huge profit
17、s. In defence of the factories, however, Id like to point out that we also try to control the amount of pollution we produce. I think I speak for all factory managers when I say were deeply concerned about the environment. Weve been taking various measures, including the use of new technologies, to
18、reduce pollution in the production process, even though these measures raise our production costs. Id also like to draw your attention to the economic benefits factories have brought to Norgate. Weve created many jobs for local residents and helped the citys economy grow. HOST: Thank you, Mr Brown.
19、With pollution levels on the rise, the Norgate Environmental Protection Committee is searching for ways to fight the problem. Mrs Archer, what are your thoughts on how to deal with pollution? ARCHER: Well, our committee has a major role to play in maintaining air and water quality. We have to achiev
20、e a balance between environmental protection and economic development. Weve made environmental policies for businesses to observe, like strict clean-up requirements. We also work hand in hand with other branches of government to ensure that development strategies are followed in an environmentally f
21、riendly way. However, fighting pollution isnt just a task for factories and the government. It has to be a community-wide effort, and everyone can help by following the golden rule: reduce, reuse and recycle. For example, you can save energy by taking the bus or the subway, or using the bike-sharing
22、 system. HOST: Thank you, Mrs Archer, and thanks again to all of our guests. A former UN official once said, “Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth . these are one and the same fight.” The fortunes of our environment and our economy are inseparable. Its our duty to protect the environment while we aim for economic development. Its our duty to leave a better, cleaner and healthier planet to our children. Its our duty to build a human community with a shared future.
