世界屋脊上的绿色巨龙

――论青藏铁路与环境保护

Emory CHN 401

王悦(Selina Wang )

 在中国的西南边疆，有一片被称为“世界屋脊”和“地球第三极”的圣洁之地――青藏高原。她曾是那么的遥远和神秘，然而在科技发达的今天，它却变的近在咫尺：青藏铁路，这条贯穿青藏高原的巨龙揭掉了她神秘的面纱。把昆仑山、唐古拉山的险峻, 三江源、可可西里的美丽，通天河、沱沱河的神秘连成一串的青藏铁路给青藏高原带来了生机，同时也带来了危机。被予为“世界上最后一块净土”的青藏高原不仅是中国乃至世界的气候调节器, 而且是中国和南亚地区的“江河源”、“生态源”, 是世界上仅有的独特生态系统和世界山地生物物种一个重要的起源和分化中心。青藏铁路的修建将会对这个原始、独特而脆弱的生态环境带来极大的挑战。由于修建青藏铁路对自然环境的破坏是不可避免的，所以有很多人都对这项工程怀有疑问。特别是有些环保人士，更是极力反对，他们声称修建青藏铁路会破坏这片“世界上最后一块净土”。可是在我看来，青藏铁路的修建却是利大于弊。

背景资料

青藏高原是一个位于中国西南部，占地250万平方公里的高原地区。它的平均海拔高度在4000米以上，是世界上最高的高原。长期以来，地域偏远、交通不便一直是制约青藏高原地区发展的重要因素。交通运输设施的落后，已经严重制约了青藏高原地区经济、社会的发展，使之成为中国主要的贫困地区之一。为了克服青海、西藏目前的交通“瓶颈”，加快两省区的经济发展，2001年中国政府投资巨额资金262.1亿元建造青藏铁路。青藏铁路全长1956公里，北起青海省西宁市，南至西藏自治区拉萨市，翻越唐古拉山的铁路最高点海拔5072米，经过海拔4000米以上地段960公里，成为了世界上海拔最高、线路最长的高原铁路。

青藏铁路的修建对青藏高原环境的影响

为了尽可能地减少对青藏高原环境的破坏，青藏铁路在修建过程中采取了多项有效的保护措施。其中对三个这些保护措施最大限度地把青藏铁路施工期间以及通车以后对自然环境的破坏降低到了最低程度。

1.自然保护区和野生动物

青藏铁路的施工要穿过青藏高原上的两个自然保护区——三江源自然保护区和可可西里自然保护区300多公里。这里高寒低氧，生态环境独特、原始而又敏感脆弱，一旦遭到破坏，就很难再恢复。因此这里被世界自然基金会列为“全球生物多样性保护”的最优先地区。青藏铁路经过地区动物物种较少，但珍稀特有种物种较多，种群数量大。为了保护青藏高原的自然保护区和野生动物生活环境，青藏铁路在修建时绕避了三江源自然保护区和可可西里自然保护区。同时，根据沿线野生动物的生活习性、迁徙规律等，青藏铁路还在相应路段设置了野生动物通道，以保障它们的正常生活、迁徙和繁衍。

2.高原湖泊、湿地生态系统在青藏高原逐渐隆起的漫长过程中，这里生成了草甸、湿地、冻土、荒漠的独特高原生态系统，是长江、黄河、澜沧江、怒江、雅鲁藏布江的发源地。为保护高原湖泊和湿地生态系统，工程尽量绕避湿地，无法绕避时，对通过湖泊、湿地进行桥路方案比选，并尽量选择以桥代路方案。为了避免路基建筑对地表径流的切割影响，在相应路段加大了涵洞设置数量，以保证地表径流对湿地水资源的补充，防止湿地萎缩。青藏铁路古露车站位于西藏自治区北部羌唐草原，需要占用14万平方米的湿地。在车站施工前期，建设者就考虑如何保护这片湿地。专家提出，湿地上的牧草不同于普通牧草，离开充足的水分后将不能成活，除非再造一个与原来相同的湿地环境。“再造湿地”方案于2003年春天实施。 “人造湿地”建成后，经过多年观测和比较，目前古露湿地草皮移植成活率达98%以上，已与高原自然湿地基本适应并浑然一体。

3.高原、高寒地表植被

青藏高原保存有相对完好的原始高原面，随着高原内部水热条件的差异，青藏铁路沿线自东南向西北，形成了由高寒灌丛向高寒草甸、高寒草原、高寒荒漠过渡的高寒生态系统。在这个独特的高寒自然环境和高寒生物区系中，尤以高寒草原、高寒草甸分布最广。高寒草原和高寒草甸不仅是亚洲中部高寒环境中典型的生态系统之一，而且在世界高寒地区也具有代表性。为了保护青藏高原特殊的植被系统，青藏铁路在施工时有针对性地采取了多项措施：合理规划施工便道，施工场地、取弃土场和施工营地；严格划定施工范围和人员、车辆行走路线，防止碾压和破坏施工范围之外区域的植被。从2003年开始，青藏铁路参建单位着手在宽3至10米、长约1110公里的新建青藏铁路格拉段路基两侧边坡种植或移植草皮，使现在的青藏铁路变成了一条“绿色巨龙”。

青藏铁路的修建为青藏高原环境带来的积极作用

虽说青藏铁路的修建给青藏高原带来了不可避免的不利影响，但它也同时对青藏高原大环境的保护起了一些积极的促进作用。首先，西藏缺乏煤炭资源，人均产煤量只有6公斤，通过青藏公路运进区内的煤炭成本非常高，每吨达600多元，而在西宁，这一价格仅为160到200元。昂贵的煤价，造成了能源结构的极度不合理。青藏铁路的建设，可以将西北地区丰富的煤炭、石油资源通过经济、便捷的通道运进西藏，满足西藏对能源的需求。其次，青藏铁路投入运营后，必然会成为旅游及进出藏物资运输的主要方式，分流目前青藏公路庞大的运输车队，从而起到减少汽车尾气排放，进一步改善青藏高原大气质量的积极作用。

总结

在我看来青藏铁路不仅是世界上海拔最高、线路最长的高原铁路，它也是世界上最环保的高原铁路。青藏铁路的建造不但克服了多年冻土、高寒缺氧、生态脆弱这三大严峻挑战，同时也通过实施有效的环保措施把对自然保护区和野生动物，高原湖泊、湿地生态系统，和高原、高寒地表植的影响与破环减少到了最小程度。而且从长远来看，青藏铁路的修建为青藏高原地区带来了便利的交通，有效地改善了西藏不合理的能源结构，而且还大力的拉动了青藏两省区经济的发展；这样不但不会破坏环境，反而对青藏高原大环境的保护具有积极的促进作用。由此看来，青藏铁路真是当之无愧的世界屋脊上的绿色巨龙！

Sources:

青藏铁路网www.qh.xinhuanet.com/qztlw/

“青藏铁路” 百度百科http://baike.baidu.com/view/2580.htm

“青藏高原” 百度百科http://baike.baidu.com/view/4979.htm

新华网专题-青藏铁路全线试运行报道http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/qztl/

聚焦青藏铁路之一：环保与铁路，一个都不能少http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2006-06/16/content_4700587.htm

 词汇（Vocabulary）

 讨论的问题：

1.为什么青藏高原被称为“世界上最后一块净土”？

Why is the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau called “the last pure land on earth” ?

2. 为什么作者认为青藏铁路的修建是利大于弊？

Why does the author believe there are more benefits instead of problems if the Qinghai-Tibet railway is built?

3.在修建青藏铁路的过程中采取了什么保护环境的措施？

What are the methods used to protect the environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau when building the railway?

4. 修建青藏铁路对环境保护的积极作用是什么？

What are the positive effects of building the railway in terms of environmental protection?

5.你是否同意作者的观点，认为青藏铁路的建设利大于弊？为什么？

Do you agree or disagree with the author’s opinion on building the railway? Why?

 Summary:

This research paper, “The Green Giant Dragon On The Roof Of The World——Qinghai-Tibet Railway and Environment Protection,” focuses on the relationship between the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet railway and the environmental protection on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The author first introduces the background information about the traffic conditions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the reason for building the Qinghai-Tibet railway. The discussion about the Qinghai-Tibet railway’s effects on the environment comes next, and is divided into three parts: the protection measures for the natural reserves and wild animals, the protection measures for the ecosystem of the plateau lakes and marshes, and the protection measures for the plateau and frozen ground floras.  In addition, the author illustrates the positive impacts of the Qinghai-Tibet railway on the environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. At the end, it is concluded that the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet railway not only solves the previous traffic problems and promotes the economy, but also helps protect the environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

自1949年以来的中国大气污染

Emory CHN 401

翁嘉 (Weng Jia) 

       自从欧洲的工业革命以来，人类对空气的污染慢慢地变得严重起来。空气的污染是随着经济的发展一起加深的。中国的空气污染其实从清朝晚期就开始了，但是大规模地影响大气层还是一九四九年中华人民共和国成立以后。

经过很多年的抗日战争和国共内战以后，中国社会贫穷，经济落后。中国共产党政府认为需要很快地，并且大量地发展工业和农业来提高人们的生活水平。在上海和一些大城市依靠过去的工业基础，政府开始了建国早期的工业生产。还比如在东北吉林，黑龙江和辽宁，政府从苏联接管了过去日本军队留下来的工厂，农场也开始了工业生产。这些基础总的来说规模还不是很大，所以当时对大气的污染还不是十分严重。 但是1958年以后污染问题就开始出现了。

中国共产党主席毛泽东在 1958年宣布全国进入“大跃进”运动。这个运动是以大力发展工业为主，最后达到跟英国甚至美国的生产水平。为快速地达到目的，政府没有考虑到对环境的破坏，使空气污染一步步严重下去。全国都开始“大炼钢铁 ”，各地都是大大小小的炼钢工厂。和炼钢铁一样，发电，取暖，都需要燃料。当时的主要原料是煤炭。煤炭被燃烧后会释放大量的二氧化碳。全国都在没有节制地用煤，各地工厂不断地把二氧化碳排到空气中。一些城市里面也都是黑色的烟雾。

由于工业发展得早而且基础比较好，东北地区的污染很严重，不但有害的气体被排到空气里，而且大量的森林树木，比如说大兴安岭，也被砍掉用来做燃料。一些大城市比如说北京，天津，沈阳人们出门的时候都需要带上厚厚的口罩，要不然就会把废气吸到体内去。最严重的是在冬天，北方的冬天都用煤取暖，一到了冷的季节整个城市都会是煤的味道，连地上的雪都会很快变成黑色。烧煤产生废气的问题一直到现在还没有被解决掉，也是中国现在面临的主要空气污染原因之一。

进入六十年代以后，“大跃进”的方法被停止了。政府开始比较平稳的发展经济。即使这样，由于没有保护环境的意识和法律，对空气的污染，尤其是工业污染只是越来越严重。但是空气的污染也分自然和人为的。人为的原因当然以工业为主，一些自然的空气污染就包括沙尘暴，火山爆发或者野火燃烧时散发的烟。

中国的没有很多活火山，但是有很严重的沙尘暴问题。在中国环境保护网上的数据可以看到五六十年代的沙尘暴次数很多，而且强度也大过近几年在中国发生沙尘危害。在沙尘暴发源地和受它影响的地区，大气中的灰尘，沙粒会增加，大气污染会更加严重。有些专家认为沙尘暴的发生是因为在五六十年代中国西部太多的森林被毁掉用来做农田，所以由于没有了树，大风可以带着水土流失产生的沙尘自由地向东移动。

我们可以说，从1949年以来的中国大气污染问题层出不穷。为了改善大家的生活品质，政府、工厂和人民应该严肃地面对这个事实，而且这些问题还要刻不容缓地得到解决。

 词汇Vocabulary:

 问题讨论 Discussion Questions:

1)      你觉得目前中国的污染问题还是这样吗？

Do you think this is still an ongoing problem in China?

2)      在你的家乡有类似空气污染的问题吗？

Do you have similar a situation in your home town?

3)      面对空气污染的问题，你有什么建议？

What do you suggest that the government do in a situation like this?

4)      面对空气污染的情况，你觉得谁要付更多的责任？为什么？

Who do you think is more responsible for this situation? Why?

5)      你觉得我们的环境可以回到最初的样子吗？为什么？

Do you predict the environment will return to its original condition? Why?

 Transcript:

 Air pollution since 1949

             Since the Industrial Revolution in Europe, air pollution caused by humans has gradually become more severe.  Concurrent with the development of the economy is the worsening of air pollution.  China’s air pollution problem actually began in the later period of the Qing dynasty, however its large scale impact on the atmosphere did not occur until after 1949 with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

After many years of the Sino-Japanese War and the Civil War, China’s society became impoverished and its economy deteriorated.  China’s Communist Party believed that they needed to quickly develop the industrial and agricultural sectors in order to improve citizens’ standard of living.  While Shanghai and a few other large cities depended on previous industrial structures, the government began the early founding of the country’s industrial culture.  For example, in northeast China in Jinli, Heilongjian, and Liaoning the government assumed control of factories left behind from the Soviet Union and the Japanese troops, and farms also began to produce manufactured goods.  Generally speaking, the scale of these developments was not too large, therefore its impact on the atmosphere was not yet serious.  However after 1958, the pollution problem began to seriously emerge.

In 1958 the Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong declared “The Great Leap Forward.”  The goal of this campaign was to rapidly develop the country’s industry and ultimately achieve the same level of production as England and eventually America.  To quickly achieve its goal, the government did not take into account the damage it would do to the environment and thus the polluting of the atmosphere continued.  The entire country began “the great steel refinement” and everywhere steel factories of various sizes sprouted up.  In the same way, power generation and heating also required fuel.  At that time the primary natural resource was coal.  The burning of coal produced a large quantity of carbon dioxide and the country did not control the use of coal, and thus everywhere factories continuously released carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.  The cities were filled with black smoke.

As a result of the pre-existing industrial structures and the early development of industries, the pollution in the northeastern region is very serious.  Not only are harmful gases released into the atmosphere, but a large number of trees, such as the ones in Daxinganlin, are cut down and used as fuel.  In a few large cities such as Beijing, Tainjin, and Shenyang people have to wear thick masks to keep from breathing in exhaust gas.  It is most serious in the winter.  Northerners use coal for heating making the city air taste like coal during the winter seasons.  Even the snow quickly becomes black in color.  The burning of coal brought about the problem with pollution.  It was and continues to be the primary contributor to China’s air pollution problem, and has yet to be resolved.

In the early 1960s, the Great Leap Forward projects were abandoned. The government took a more steady approached toward the country’s economic development.  Even so there is still a lack of awareness about environmental protection and still no laws to control air pollution.  Industrial pollution continues to become more serious.  However the source of air pollution is divided into two categories: natural and manmade.  The main cause of man-made pollution is industrial related of course.  As for natural sources of pollution they include dust storms, volcanic eruptions, and wildfires caused by human activity.

China does not have many active volcanoes, but it has very strong sandstorms.  The data on China’s environmental protection online website shows records of sandstorms dating back to the 50s and 60s.  The sandstorms back then were much more intense than the ones occurring in more recent years.  In the area where a sand storm originates and the ones affected by it, there is much dust in the atmosphere, and as the amount of sand increases the pollution of the atmosphere is exacerbated.  Some experts believe that the fifties and sixties’ sandstorms are due to the destruction of forests for the development of farmland in western China.  Due to the absence of trees, water and soil are washed away by strong winds leaving only sand to move freely eastwards.

We can say that the problem of air pollution since 1949 has been emerging in an endless stream. In order to change the quality of our daily life, the government, factories and everyone should seriously accept this fact. These problems are extremely urgent and require immediate solutions.

自1949年以來的中國大氣污染

Emory CHN 401

翁嘉 (Weng Jia)

自從歐洲的工業革命以來，人類對空氣的污染慢慢地變得嚴重起來。空氣的污染是隨著經濟的發展一起加深的。中國的空氣污染其實從清朝晚期就開始了，但是大規模地影響大氣層還是一九四九年中華人民共和國成立以后。

經過很多年的抗日戰爭和國共內戰以后，中國社會貧窮，經濟落后。中國共產黨政府認為需要很快地，並且大量地發展工業和農業來提高人們的生活水平。在上海和一些大城市依靠過去的工業基礎，政府開始了建國早期的工業生產。還比如在東北吉林，黑龍江和遼寧，政府從蘇聯接管了過去日本軍隊留下來的工廠，農場也開始了工業生產。這些基礎總的來說規模還不是很大，所以當時對大氣的污染還不是十分嚴重。 但是1958年以后污染問題就開始出現了。

中國共產黨主席毛澤東在 1958年宣布全國進入“大躍進”運動。這個運動是以大力發展工業為主，最后達到跟英國甚至美國的生產水平。為快速地達到目的，政府沒有考慮到對環境的破壞，使空氣污染一步步嚴重下去。全國都開始“大煉鋼鐵 ”，各地都是大大小小的煉鋼工廠。和煉鋼鐵一樣，發電，取暖，都需要燃料。當時的主要原料是煤炭。煤炭被燃燒后會釋放大量的二氧化碳。全國都在沒有節制地用煤，各地工廠不斷地把二氧化碳排到空氣中。一些城市裡面也都是黑色的煙霧。

由於工業發展得早而且基礎比較好，東北地區的污染很嚴重，不但有害的氣體被排到空氣裡，而且大量的森林樹木，比如說大興安嶺，也被砍掉用來做燃料。一些大城市比如說北京，天津，沈陽人們出門的時候都需要帶上厚厚的口罩，要不然就會把廢氣吸到體內去。最嚴重的是在冬天，北方的冬天都用煤取暖，一到了冷的季節整個城市都會是煤的味道，連地上的雪都會很快變成黑色。燒煤產生廢氣的問題一直到現在還沒有被解決掉，也是中國現在面臨的主要空氣污染原因之一。

進入六十年代以后，“大躍進”的方法被停止了。政府開始比較平穩的發展經濟。即使這樣，由於沒有保護環境的意識和法律，對空氣的污染，尤其是工業污染隻是越來越嚴重。但是空氣的污染也分自然和人為的。人為的原因當然以工業為主，一些自然的空氣污染就包括沙塵暴，火山爆發或者野火燃燒時散發的煙。

中國的沒有很多活火山，但是有很嚴重的沙塵暴問題。在中國環境保護網上的數據可以看到五六十年代的沙塵暴次數很多，而且強度也大過近幾年在中國發生沙塵危害。在沙塵暴發源地和受它影響的地區，大氣中的灰塵，沙粒會增加，大氣污染會更加嚴重。有些專家認為沙塵暴的發生是因為在五六十年代中國西部太多的森林被毀掉用來做農田，所以由於沒有了樹，大風可以帶著水土流失產生的沙塵自由地向東移動。

我們可以說，從1949年以來的中國大氣污染問題層出不窮。為了改善大家的生活品質，政府、工廠和人民應該嚴肅地面對這個事實，而且這些問題還要刻不容緩地得到解決。

詞匯Vocabulary:

1. 工業革命 Gōngyè gémìng Industrial Revolution (n.)
例句: 自從歐洲的工業革命以來，人類對空氣的污染慢慢地變得嚴重起來。
Example: Since the Industrial Revolution in Europe, air pollution caused by humans has gradually become more severe.

2. 加深 jiāshēn worsening (n.)
例句: 空氣的污染是隨著經濟的發展一起加深的。
Example: Concurrent with the development of the economy is the worsening of air pollution.

3. 清朝 qīngcháo Qing dynasty (n.)
例句: 中國的空氣污染其實從清朝晚期就開始了，但是大規模地影響大氣層還是一九四九年中華人民共和國成立以后。
Example: China’s air pollution problem actually began in the late period of the Qing dynasty, however the country’s large scale impact on the atmosphere did not occur until after 1949 with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

4. 成立 chénglì establishment (n.)
例句: 中國的空氣污染其實從清朝晚期就開始了，但是大規模地影響大氣層還是一九四九年中華人民共和國成立以后。
Example: China’s air pollution problem actually began in the late period of the Qing dynasty, however the country’s large scale impact on the atmosphere did not occur until after 1949 with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

5. 抗日戰爭 kàngrì zhànzhēng Sino-Japanese War (n.)
例句: 經過很多年的抗日戰爭和國共內戰以后，中國社會貧窮，經濟落后。
Example: After many years of the Sino-Japanese War and the Civil War, China’s society became impoverished and its economy deteriorated.

6. 貧窮 pínqióng impoverished (adj.)
例句: 經過很多年的抗日戰爭和國共內戰以后，中國社會貧窮，經濟落后。
Example: After many years of the Sino-Japanese War and the Civil War, China’s society became impoverished and its economy deteriorated.

7. 生活水平 Shēnghuó shuǐpíng standard of living (n.)
例句: 中國共產黨政府認為需要很快地，並且大量地發展工業和農業來提高人們的生活水平。
Example: China’s Communist Party believed that they needed to quickly develop the industrial and agricultural sectors in order to improve citizens’ standard of living.

8. 規模 guīmó scale (n.)
例句: 這些基礎總的來說規模還不是很大，所以當時對大氣的污染還不是十分嚴重。
Example: Generally speaking, the scale of these developments were not too large, therefore their impact on the atmosphere was not yet serious.

9. 目的 mùdì goal (n.)
例句: 為快速地達到目的，政府沒有考慮到對環境的破壞，使空氣污染一步步嚴重下去。
Example: To quickly achieve its goal, the government did not take into account the damage it would do to the environment and thus the polluting of the atmosphere continued.

11. 煉鋼工廠 Liàngāng gōng chǎng steel refinement (n.)
例句: 全國都開始“大煉鋼鐵 ”，各地都是大大小小的煉鋼工廠。
Example: The entire country began “the great steel refinement” and steel factories of various sizes sprouted up everywhere.

12. 燃料 ránliào fuel (n.)
例句: 和煉鋼鐵一樣，發電，取暖，都需要燃料。
Example: Like steel refinement, power generation and heating also required fuel.

13. 煙霧 yānwù black smoke (n.)
例句: 一些城市裡面也都是黑色的煙霧。
Example: The cities were filled with black smoke.

14. 口罩 kǒuzhào masks (n.)
例句: 一些大城市比如說北京，天津，沈陽人們出門的時候都需要帶上厚厚的口罩，要不然就會把廢氣吸到體內去。
Example: In a few large cities such as Beijing, Tainjin, and Shenyang, people had to wear thick masks to keep from breathing in exhaust gas.

15. 煤 méi coal (n.)
例句: 最嚴重的是在冬天，北方的冬天都用煤取暖，一到了冷的季節整個城市都會是煤的味道，連地上的雪都會很快變成黑色。
Example: Pollution is most serious in the winter. Northerners use coal for heating which makes the city air taste like coal during the winter seasons. Even the snow quickly becomes black.

16. 法律 fǎlǜ laws (n.)
例句: 即使這樣，由於沒有保護環境的意識和法律，對空氣的污染，尤其是工業污染隻是越來越嚴重。
Example: Even so, there is still a lack of awareness about environmental protection and no laws to control air pollution.

17. 沙塵暴 shāchén bào dust storms (n.)
例句: 人為的原因當然以工業為主，一些自然的空氣污染就包括沙塵暴和火山爆發等等。
Example: Natural sources of pollution include dust storms and volcanic eruptions, etc..

18. 火山爆發 Huǒshān bàofā volcanic eruptions (n.)
例句: 人為的原因當然以工業為主，一些自然的空氣污染就包括沙塵暴和火山爆發等等。
Example: Natural sources of pollution include dust storms and volcanic eruptions, etc..

19. 活火山 huó huǒ shān active volcanoes (n.)
例句: 中國的沒有很多活火山，但是有很嚴重的沙塵暴問題。
Example: China does not have many active volcanoes, but it has very strong sandstorms.

20. 地區 dìqū area (n.)
例句: 在沙塵暴發源地和受它影響的地區，大氣中的灰塵，沙粒會增加，大氣污染會更加嚴重。
Example: In the area where a sand storm originates and the areas affected by it, there is much dust in the atmosphere, which exacerbates the pollution problem.

20. 農田 nóngtián farmland (n.)
例句: 有些專家認為沙塵暴的發生是因為在五六十年代中國西部太多的森林被毀掉用來做農田。由於沒有了樹, 大風可以帶著水土流失產生的沙塵自由地向東移動。
Example: Some experts believe that the sandstorms in the fifties and sixties’ were due to the destruction of forests for the development of farmland in western China. Due to the absence of trees water and soil are washed away by strong winds leaving only sand to move freely eastwards.

21. 層出不窮 céngchūbùqióng emerge in an endless stream (v.)
例句: 從1949年以來的中國大氣污染問題層出不窮。
Example: The problem of air pollution since 1949 has been emerging in an endless stream.

22. 生活品質 Shēnghuó píngzhì the qualities of life (n.)
例句: 為了改善大家的生活品質，政府、工廠和人民應該嚴肅地面對這個事實。
Example: In order to change the quality of our daily life, the government, factories and everyone should seriously accept this fact.

23. 刻不容緩 céngchūbùqióng to be extremely urgent (v.)
例句: 這些問題應該刻不容緩地得到解決。Example: These problems are extremely urgent and require immediate solutions.
問題討論 Discussion Questions:

1) 你覺得目前中國的污染問題還是這樣嗎？

Do you think this is still an ongoing problem in China?

2) 在你的家鄉有類似空氣污染的問題嗎？

Do you have similar a situation in your home town?

3) 面對空氣污染的問題，你有什麼建議？

What do you suggest that the government do in a situation like this?

4) 面對空氣污染的情況，你覺得誰要付更多的責任？為什麼？

Who do you think is more responsible for this situation? Why?

5) 你覺得我們的環境可以回到最初的樣子嗎？為什麼？

Do you predict the environment will return to its original condition? Why?

Transcript:

Air pollution since 1949

Since the Industrial Revolution in Europe, air pollution caused by humans has gradually become more severe. Concurrent with the development of the economy is the worsening of air pollution. China’s air pollution problem actually began in the later period of the Qing dynasty, however its large scale impact on the atmosphere did not occur until after 1949 with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

After many years of the Sino-Japanese War and the Civil War, China’s society became impoverished and its economy deteriorated. China’s Communist Party believed that they needed to quickly develop the industrial and agricultural sectors in order to improve citizens’ standard of living. While Shanghai and a few other large cities depended on previous industrial structures, the government began the early founding of the country’s industrial culture. For example, in northeast China in Jinli, Heilongjian, and Liaoning the government assumed control of factories left behind from the Soviet Union and the Japanese troops, and farms also began to produce manufactured goods. Generally speaking, the scale of these developments was not too large, therefore its impact on the atmosphere was not yet serious. However after 1958, the pollution problem began to seriously emerge.

In 1958 the Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong declared “The Great Leap Forward.” The goal of this campaign was to rapidly develop the country’s industry and ultimately achieve the same level of production as England and eventually America. To quickly achieve its goal, the government did not take into account the damage it would do to the environment and thus the polluting of the atmosphere continued. The entire country began “the great steel refinement” and everywhere steel factories of various sizes sprouted up. In the same way, power generation and heating also required fuel. At that time the primary natural resource was coal. The burning of coal produced a large quantity of carbon dioxide and the country did not control the use of coal, and thus everywhere factories continuously released carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The cities were filled with black smoke.

As a result of the pre-existing industrial structures and the early development of industries, the pollution in the northeastern region is very serious. Not only are harmful gases released into the atmosphere, but a large number of trees, such as the ones in Daxinganlin, are cut down and used as fuel. In a few large cities such as Beijing, Tainjin, and Shenyang people have to wear thick masks to keep from breathing in exhaust gas. It is most serious in the winter. Northerners use coal for heating making the city air taste like coal during the winter seasons. Even the snow quickly becomes black in color. The burning of coal brought about the problem with pollution. It was and continues to be the primary contributor to China’s air pollution problem, and has yet to be resolved.

In the early 1960s, the Great Leap Forward projects were abandoned. The government took a more steady approached toward the country’s economic development. Even so there is still a lack of awareness about environmental protection and still no laws to control air pollution. Industrial pollution continues to become more serious. However the source of air pollution is divided into two categories: natural and manmade. The main cause of man-made pollution is industrial related of course. As for natural sources of pollution they include dust storms, volcanic eruptions, and wildfires caused by human activity.

China does not have many active volcanoes, but it has very strong sandstorms. The data on China’s environmental protection online website shows records of sandstorms dating back to the 50s and 60s. The sandstorms back then were much more intense than the ones occurring in more recent years. In the area where a sand storm originates and the ones affected by it, there is much dust in the atmosphere, and as the amount of sand increases the pollution of the atmosphere is exacerbated. Some experts believe that the fifties and sixties’ sandstorms are due to the destruction of forests for the development of farmland in western China. Due to the absence of trees, water and soil are washed away by strong winds leaving only sand to move freely eastwards.

We can say that the problem of air pollution since 1949 has been emerging in an endless stream. In order to change the quality of our daily life, the government, factories and everyone should seriously accept this fact. These problems are extremely urgent and require immediate solutions.

人的未来

陈美君 (Meei Jiun Chan)

    晓岚今年十三岁，是一名肺癌末期的女患者。按照她学校的老规矩，患有重病的学生理所当然的不能来学校上课。但是随着地球污染的恶化，这个校规早在2100年就被迫更改了，因为学校里一半的学生都与晓岚一样，是癌症的患者。因此，这些学生忍着病痛，用他们剩下的日子享受上学的乐趣。

    下课铃终于“叮当”地响了。学生们纷纷从教室里涌出，只剩下晓岚与其他几个坐轮椅的学生还留在教室里，等待家人来接他们回家。像往常一样，晓岚的哥哥下了班就来教室接她回家。晓岚看见了哥哥，便以她微微颤抖着的手勉强得来向他打招呼。哥哥走上前，推着她往回家的方向去。外面的天空像是被一层厚厚的毛毯给覆盖住了，一片灰暗，不分日夜。城市里的大街小巷都堆满了清不完的垃圾，恶臭熏天。一路上还到处可见被酸雨腐蚀的建筑和枯树，景象一片凄凉。但是这一切对晓岚和她哥哥来说已经没有什么好大惊小怪的了，因为他们就是在这种环境下长大的。

晓岚看着天空对哥哥说道：“今天老师讲起了有关上海城的历史。据说上海是全中国最繁华美丽的城市。街道上竟没有垃圾和肮脏的积水，反而处处可见装饰着霓虹灯的大树。那里还有许多大型的公园，每到周末的时候，许多家庭都会到那里去骑自行车或在草坪上野餐。只可惜在七十年前上海跟许多大城市一样，在北极和南极的冰层溶化以后就被海水淹没了。”

“是啊，”哥哥愤怒地回答道，“如果我们的祖先肯减少他们对地球的破坏，多关心大自然的变化，那么我们今天就不会落到这种下场。总之，我们的祖先实在是太自私了。”晓岚听了点点头，沉默了好久。她多希望自己和其他生病的孩子都能过上正常的生活，天天蹦蹦跳跳的，没有因为祖先对地球的迫害而染上不可医治的病。如今，她知道自己走投无路了，只能勇敢地等待病魔结束她的生命。

词汇 Vocabulary:

 讨论的问题：

1. 学校里一半的学生都与晓岚都怎么了？

What happen to Lan and half of the students at school?

2. 晓岚和她哥哥在怎样的环境下长大？

In what kind of environment did Lan and her brother grow up?

3. 原来的上海是什么样子的？

What was the old Shanghai like?

4. 哥哥认为是谁导致的现在的情况？

Who does the brother think are the causes of their current situation?

5. 在你的想象中，未来会是一种怎么样的世界？

Can you image the future world for human beings?

 Transcript:

 Future of Human

   Lan, a thirteen year old girl, was a victim of lung cancer. According to her school’s regulations, any student who was suffering from serious illness reasonably would not be allowed to come to school. However, as the pollution levels became more severe, this regulation was no longer effective, since almost half of the student population in school was suffering from the same illness as Lan, cancer. Therefore, disregarding their pain and illness, these students try to enjoy schooling with their remaining days, alive.

Students poured out from the classrooms after the school bell rang, only Lan and several students on wheelchairs stayed back waiting for their family to take them home.

As usual, Lan’s brother came to her classroom after work to take her home. When Lan saw his brother, she tried to use her trembling hands to greet him. Her brother came forward and pushed her wheelchair towards home.

 The sky was dark and gloomy, regardless of day and night, as if it was covered by a thick blanket. Trash plied up on the city streets, creating a horrible odor. Along the way dreary sights of acid rain corrosions on buildings and trees could be seen everywhere. However, none of these were surprising to Lan and her little brother since this was the environment they grew up in.

Lan looked up at the sky and said “Today our teacher talked about the history ofShanghaiCity. It is said thatShanghaiwasChina’s most beautiful and prosperous city. The streets were not filled with garbage and dirty water, but were decorated with beautiful trees and neon lights. There were many parks as well, where families would bike or have picnics on the lawn during weekends. Unfortunately, seventy years ago, together with many major cities of the world,ShanghaiCitywas washed out by the ocean water when the ice caps in the North and South Poles melted”

“Exactly,” Lan’s brother replied angrily, “If our ancestors tried to reduce their destructions to Earth’s environment and be more concerned about the changes in nature, things would not end up this way. In short, our ancestors were too selfish”. Lan nodded and kept silent for a long time thinking about her life. How she wished the other sick children and herself were not infected with this incurable disease and could live a normal life. Sadly, she knew there were no other solutions but to wait courageously for the disease to end of her life.

爱鸟人家

 1992年10月22日，走过将近一个世纪人生之路的老人陈秀莲告别了人间。悲哀弥漫在亲人的脸上和心上，而更大的悲哀，则笼罩在天空中。本来半月前就该到南方去过冬的一万多只鹭鸟，此时低低地盘旋在半空中，一声声，发出令人不安的哀鸣。整整一天一夜，他们一群群的落下来，聚集在屋顶和院子中央，舍不得离开。一些成年的鹭鸟，则飞到老人的床前，伤心地眨着眼睛，这是它们在向老人做最后的告别。

为什么一个普通人的死，能让鸟都伤心哀鸣？这里面有个真实而感人的故事。

陕西汉中地区城固县铁路乡，位于泰岭山下，这里山林茂密，山泉清清，汉江从山脚缓缓流过，环境十分优美。袁德山一家就住在这里

1969年3月16日，猎人袁德山的小女儿袁秀芳出生了。这天，两队白色羽毛的鹭鸟飞落在院里，袁德山拿出猎枪，他的母亲陈秀莲制止道：“鸟儿也是有生命的，只要我在，谁也别想到它们一根毛。”孝顺的儿子听从了母亲的劝告。从此，两对鹭鸟便在袁德山家门前的树上筑巢安家，当年就孵出了几只幼鸟。

起初，鹭鸟对袁家人还有些害怕，后来，见人们待它们非常友好，便消除了戒心。秋天，它们飞到了南方。第二年的春天，飞回来的鹭鸟竟有二十多对。袁德山一家依然像以前一样，与这群特殊的客人友好相处。

一年、两年、三年……这里的山山岭岭成了鹭鸟的世界。袁德山家承包的三十亩山林，到处都有白色的鹭鸟和鸟巢。

与鹭鸟一同长大的袁秀芳，从她会走路的那天起，鹭鸟就陪伴着她在院子里玩耍，甚至在她上学时也常常有几只鹭鸟在路上跟着她，令同行的小伙伴羡慕得不得了。

五月是鹭鸟繁殖的季节，刚出壳的幼鸟十分调皮，经常用力挣扎着跳出鸟巢。为了防止树林中的鹰、野猫、蛇等动物侵害鹭鸟，一进五月，袁德山一家七口人都要轮流在山上护鸟，扒掉在地上惊慌不安的小鸟送回鸟巢。

有一年，七十多岁的陈秀莲听到鸟的惊叫声，赶忙拄着拐杖，气喘吁吁的爬上鸟山查看，她赶走了两个掏鸟蛋的年轻人，小心翼翼地把鸟蛋放回鸟巢。

就这样，袁家的三十亩山林在周围十里八乡人们的心中成了鸟的天堂。大家经过鸟山时都会尽量不发出声响，更不会捕杀鹭鸟。自从鹭鸟到来后，袁德山尽然连抢也不曾摸过。从1987年到1990年，鸟的数量突破一万只。每到夏天，成千上万只鹭鸟飞舞而来，遮天盖地，构成了一番奇妙而壮观的景象，简直是一个天然鸟场！

日本有位著名的鸟类专家曾经来到这里考察。在鸟山，这位学者不由得发出了惊喜的赞叹：奇迹！奇迹！他说从来没见过如此庞大的鹭鸟群，说明这里的保护工作是做得最好的，他将向世界推广这一做法。临别时，他深情地向爱鸟人家祝福，感谢这家人为保护鸟、保护大自然所做的贡献……

1992年8月，善良的陈秀莲老人突然病倒了。那些天，鹭鸟也莫名其妙地烦躁不安，一直到老人10月22日去世。老人走了以后，袁德山猜想鹭鸟不会来了，然而，1993年初夏，鹭鸟又按期飞来了……

 课文选自中级汉语精读教程II

赵新主编，4-6页，北京大学出版社

 词汇Vocabulary:

 Discussion Questions:

1. 袁德山一家为保护鹭鸟做了哪些事情？请一一列出。

What did the family of Yun De Shan do in order to protect the herons? Please make a list.

2. 你觉得袁家为什么要为鹭鸟做这些事情呢？

Why did this family do such things for the herons?

3. 如果你是他们，你会怎么做？为什么？

If you were them, what would you do? Why?

4. 你曾经参加过某些保护动物的组织或活动吗？如果有，请跟大家分享你的经历。

Have you ever been involved with any kinds of animal protection organizations or events? If yes, please share your experiences.

5. 我们在日常生活中还可以怎样保护野生动物？

What else can we do in the daily life in order to protect the wild animals?

 Transcript：

On October 22, 2002, an old lady nearly a century old passed away. Her relatives’ hearts were full of sorrow, but the herons in the sky were sadder still. More than 10,000 herons were supposed to fly south months ago, but instead they stayed circling the sky. One by one, they cried out in mourning. The herons were reluctant to leave and stayed perched on the roof all day and all night. Some adult herons flew to the old lady’s bed and sadly blinked their eyes. It was as if they were saying goodbye to the old lady.

Why would the death of a person make birds so sad? The following is a true story. At the bottom of Qinglin Mountain in the Hanzhong area of Sanxi province, near a great forest and a slowly moving mountain spring, lived the family of Yun De Shan.

On March 16, 1969, the daughter of the hunter Yun De Shan was born. Her name was Yun Xiu Feng. On the same day that she was born, a pair white herons fell into the family’s yard. Yun De Shan took out his hunting gun. His mother, Chen Shou Lian, forbid killing the birds. She said that birds also have lives and as long she was alive, nobody could touch one feather. The son heeded his mother’s words. From then on, the pair of herons nested in the tree in front of Yun De Shan’s house. A few young herons were born there.

In the beginning, the herons feared the Yun family. Later, they saw that the family treated them well and became more relaxed. In the fall they flew to the south. The following spring, twenty pairs of herons returned with them. Yun De Shan’s family treated all the herons with the same respect.

Three years passed and the mountain and its valley became the home of many herons. Yun De Shan’s family leased thirty acres of land and the herons nested everywhere. Yun Xiu Feng grew up with the herons. From the day she began working, the herons played with her in the yard. Even when she went to school, herons would often accompany her on the road, which earned her admiration from her friends and classmates.

Baby heron are born in the late spring. As they grow bigger, baby birds try to jump out of their nests. In order to prevent predators, like eagles, cats, and snakes, from hurting baby herons, all seven Yun family members take turns going to the mountain to protect the birds. If the birds fall out of their nests, they carefully put them back.

One year, when Chen Shou Lian was more than 70 years old, she heard the birds crying out in fear. She took her cane and climbed the mountain to take a look. She found two young people trying to steal the birds’ eggs. She ordered them to leave and returned the eggs to their nests.

Through the efforts of people dedicated to protecting herons, this thirty acre forest mountain became a heaven for the birds. When visitors passed through this bird mountain, they tried not to make a sound. Also, people refrained from hunting the herons.  After the first pair of herons landed in his yard, Yun De Shan did not touch a gun again. From 1987-1990, the number of birds reached 10,000. Whenever a visitor entered the forest, 10,000 herons flew and danced in the sky and on the ground. The land became the home of the herons.

A famous Japanese ornithologist once visited to observe the herons. Once in the forest, the scholar exclaimed, “Miracle, miracle!” He said he had never before seen such a large flock of herons. He wanted to write about the benefits of the methods the family utilized in protecting the birds. When he said goodbye, he gave told the family how much he appreciated their contribution to protecting the environment and the herons.

In August of 1992, the kind old lady Chen Shou Lian suddenly became sick. The herons became very anxious without reason. After the old lady passed away on October 22, Yun De Shan guessed that the herons would not come again. But, in the beginning of the summer 1993, the herons flew back according to their migratory patterns.

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:

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.