节约水资源和少吃牛肉
过去的25年，由于人口的增长和农作物对水资源的大量需求，全世界对水资源的需求比原来增加了两倍。而气候的改变，污染的加剧又使地球上的水资源更加缺乏。人类正面临严重的水危机。
遗憾的是，并不是所有的人都认识到这一点，很多国家仍然不注意节约用水。以美国为例，只有不到50%的水用于灌溉，其余的水都白白地浪费了。现在是世界各国应该认真考虑保护和节约水资源的时候了。
美国纽约的一位水资源专家戴维先生在一份报告中说，如果你想节约水资源，那么你就应该少吃牛肉，多吃鸡肉。他经过研究后发现，生产1公斤鸡肉大概需要用3500升水，生产1公斤牛肉需要的水却高达10万升。换句话说，一个汉堡包里的牛肉需要11的水。其实牛喝的水并不多，绝大部分的水是用于生产喂牛的饲料。在农作物中，水稻是最费水的，生产1公斤稻谷需要1900升以上的水，而生产1公斤土豆只需要500升水。他还说，一盘牛肉米饭所需的水是一盘鸡肉土豆的25倍。所以，节约水资源的一个方法是：少吃牛肉，多吃鸡肉。
课文选自中级汉语阅读教程, 35-36页(北京语言大学出版社)
词汇Vocabulary:
| 1.资源 | zī yuán | resource (n.) |
| 例句: 全世界对水资源的需求比原来增加了两倍。
Example: The need for water resources around the world has doubled. |
||
| 2.需求 | xū qiú | demand (n.) |
| 例句: 由于人口的增长和农作物对水资源的大量需求。
Example: (This is) due to the increase in the world population and the resultant increase in agricultural demands on water. |
||
| 3.加剧 | jiā jù | intrusion (n.) |
| 例句: 污染的加剧是地球上的水资源更加的缺乏。
Example: The intrusion of pollution has led to a decrease in clean water. |
||
| 4.缺乏 | quē fá | lack (n.) |
| 例句: 污染的加剧是地球上的水资源更加的缺乏。
Example: The intrusion of pollution has led to a decrease in clean water. |
||
| 5.面临 | miàn lín | to be faced with (v.) |
| 例句: 人类正面临严重的水危机。
Example: Human beings are facing a serious water shortage crisis. |
||
| 6.危机 | wēi jī | crisis (n.) |
| 例句: 人类正面临严重的水危机。
Example: Human beings are facing a serious water shortage crisis. |
||
| 7.遗憾 | yí hàn | shameful, regrettable (adj.) |
| 例句: 遗憾的是，并不是所有的人都认识到这一点。
Example: It is shameful that not everybody recognizes this crisis. |
||
| 8.灌溉 | guàn gài | irrigation (n.) |
| 例句: 以美国为例，只有不到50%的水用于灌溉。
Example: In America, for example, almost fifty percent of the country’s clean water resources are used for irrigation. |
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| 9.饲料 | sì liào | forage (n.) |
| 例句: 其实牛喝的水并不多，绝大部分的水是用于生产喂牛的饲料。
Example: In fact cattle do not drink a lot, so most of the water involved in beef production goes towards watering the forages. |
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| 10.水稻 | shuǐ dào | paddy rice(n.) |
| 例句: 在农作物中，水稻是最费水的。
Example: In agriculture, rice paddies consume the most water. |
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讨论的问题：
1. 人类为什么正面临严重的水危机？
Why are human beings facing a serious water shortage crisis?
2. 为什么应该少吃牛肉多吃鸡肉？
Why should people eat chicken instead of beef?
3. 作者建议稻谷与土豆选择哪个？
Which one does the author suggest that we should consume: rice or potatoes?
4. 你觉得在吃的方面，你可以做些什么事来帮助保护环境？
As for eating habits, what things can you do to help protecting environment?
Transcript:
Conserving Water Resources and Eating Less Beef
Due to the increase in the world population over the past twenty five years and the resultant increase in agricultural demands on water, the need for water has doubled. In addition, climate change and pollution have led to a decrease in clean water sources. Human beings are facing a serious water shortage crisis.
It is shameful that not everybody recognizes this crisis. In many countries, people still don’t pay attention to conserving water. In America, for example, almost fifty percent of the country’s clean water resources are used for irrigation. Other water is wasted. It is time for every country in the world to consider protecting and saving water resources.
In New York, an expert on water resources, Mr. Davis, wrote a paper positing that one could conserve water by consuming chicken instead of beef. Mr. Davis concluded from his research that it takes 3500 liters of water to produce one kilogram of chicken. On the other hand, it takes 100,000 liters of water to produce one kilogram of beef. Most of the water involved in beef production goes towards watering the grass that cows consume.
In agriculture, rice paddies consume the most water. It takes 1900 liters of water to irrigate one paddy. However, it only takes 500 liters of water to produce one kilogram of potatoes. A plate of beef and rice requires 25 times the water needed to produce a plate of chicken and tomatoes. Therefore, one method of conserving water resources is to eat less beef and more chicken.