Developing ideas 课文精读 · 哪些才是真正的环保做法
一、课文原文及逐段翻译
第1段（引言）
Most of us are aware that we must take care of the environment, and the majority of us take steps to save energy and reduce waste and pollution. But recently, some "green truths" have been shown to be only half true, or even completely false. Here are some common ones. Which are really green?
我们大多数人都意识到必须爱护环境，也采取了各种行动来节约能源、减少浪费与污染。但是近来，一些"绿色环保真相"被证实只是半真半假，甚至完全错误。下面列举一些常见的说法。其中哪些是真正的环保做法呢？
第2段（说法一：纸袋比塑料袋好？）
Paper shopping bags are better than plastic ones?
纸质购物袋比塑料袋好？
第3段
Plastic bags cause litter and are a danger to wild animals, which mistake them for food. It takes hundreds of years for plastic to break down, but much less time for paper. Because of this, people think paper bags are the better environmental choice.
塑料袋会变成垃圾，并被野生动物误当成食物，对它们造成伤害。塑料的分解需要数百年，而纸要快得多。因此，人们认为纸袋是更环保的选择。
第4段
However, making a paper bag uses four times as much energy as making a plastic bag and up to three times the amount of water. The process also produces more greenhouse gases.
然而，生产一个纸袋所消耗的能源是塑料袋的四倍，耗水量多达三倍。其生产过程还会产生更多的温室气体。
第5段
In fact, both kinds of bags are bad for the environment. So, take a reusable bag with you when you go shopping.
事实上，这两种袋子都对环境有害。所以，去购物时请随身带一个可重复使用的袋子。
第6段（说法二：关掉电器就不耗电？）
When you turn off a device, it stops using power?
关掉的电器不耗电？
第7段
When we turn off a device, such as television, it goes into stand-by mode. Devices in this mode still use power, and older devices in stand-by mode can use even more. This happens because electricity continues to leak from the device, even when it is turned "off". To make sure your appliance is in fact off, remove the plug from its power supply.
当我们关掉电视等电器时，它会进入待机模式。这种状态下的电器仍然耗电，而且越旧的电器在待机时耗电越多。这是因为即使电器被"关掉"，电流仍会持续从设备中流失。为确保电器真正关闭，请从电源上拔下插头。
第8段（说法三：吃本地食物更环保？）
Eating local food is good for the environment?
吃本地食物更有利于环保？
第9段
It seems like common sense: eating local food should be better for the environment, because it does not need to be transported long distances and kept cold during transport. Unfortunately, it is not that simple. It is the production of food, not its transport, that ultimately matters. For example, eating local tomatoes grown in a heated greenhouse in winter may use far more energy than eating tomatoes imported from a sunny country. So "local" is not automatically the greener choice.
这似乎是常识：吃本地食物应该更环保，因为它不需要长途运输，也不用在运输途中冷藏。遗憾的是，事情没那么简单。最终起决定作用的，是食物的生产，而不是它的运输。例如，冬天吃在暖气温室里种出的本地番茄，可能比吃从阳光充足的国家进口的番茄耗费更多能源。所以"本地"并不自动等于更环保。
第10段（说法四：回收总是好的？及总结）
Another "green truth" says recycling is always good. But recycling uses energy too, and some materials are costly to recycle. The really green choice is to reduce what we buy in the first place, then reuse it, and only then recycle. The next time you hear a "green" claim, look a little closer. The most environmentally friendly choice is usually the one that uses the least energy and creates the least waste—not the one with the greenest label.
另一个"绿色环保真相"说回收总是好的。但回收同样耗能，而且有些材料的回收成本很高。真正环保的做法是：首先减少购买，然后重复使用，最后才是回收。下次你再听到某个"绿色"说法时，请仔细看清一点。最环保的选择，通常是能耗最少、产生废物最少的那一个——而不是贴着最绿标签的那一个。
二、重点单词
aware adj.：意识到的；知道的。Most of us are aware that ...
majority n.：大多数。the majority of us take steps
reduce v.：减少；降低。reduce waste and pollution
litter n.：垃圾；废弃物。Plastic bags cause litter
break down v.：分解；出故障。It takes hundreds of years for plastic to break down
reusable adj.：可重复使用的。take a reusable bag
device n.：装置；设备。When you turn off a device
appliance n.：电器；器具。make sure your appliance is off
leak v.：泄漏；渗漏。electricity continues to leak
transport n./v.：运输；交通。transported long distances
ultimately adv.：最终；根本上。that ultimately matters
recycle v.：回收；再利用。recycling is always good
environmentally adv.：与环境有关地。environmentally friendly choice
claim n.：说法；声称。a "green" claim
三、一词多义与熟词生义
break down 常见义"出故障、崩溃"，课文 It takes ... for plastic to break down 取"（自然）分解、降解"义，指塑料难以降解。
device 常见义"装置、设备"，课文 turn off a device 泛指"电器/电子设备"，日常义。
leak 常见义"漏（水/气）"，课文 electricity continues to leak 指"电流泄漏（待机耗电）"，物理义引申。
claim 常见义动词"声称"，课文 a "green" claim 作名词，指"说法、主张"，常带需核实的色彩。
label 此处未直接出现但 the greenest label 指"绿色标签/标识"，引申为"打着环保旗号的外表"。
四、重点词块
take care of the environment 爱护环境
take steps to 采取措施（做）
be aware that 意识到
green truths 绿色环保真相
break down 分解
be better for the environment 对环境更友好
four times as much ... as ... 是……的四倍（多）
stand-by mode 待机模式
in fact 事实上
reusable bag 可重复使用的袋子
common sense 常识
long distances 长距离
not that simple 没那么简单
reduce, reuse, recycle 减少、重用、回收
environmentally friendly 环保的
五、长难句拆解
【原句 1】... some "green truths" have been shown to be only half true, or even completely false.
【主干】... some "green truths" have been shown to be half true, or false.
【分层】have been shown to be 为现在完成时的被动+不定式（show sb/sth to be）；only half true 与 completely false 由 or even 连接作并列表语。
【译文】一些"绿色环保真相"被证实只是半真半假，甚至完全错误。
【考点】现在完成时被动；show ... to be；or even 递进并列。
【原句 2】Plastic bags cause litter and are a danger to wild animals, which mistake them for food.
【主干】Plastic bags cause litter and are a danger.
【分层】and 连接 cause 与 are 两个并列谓语；which 引导非限制性定语从句修饰 wild animals，mistake ... for ... 意为"把……误认为……"。
【译文】塑料袋造成垃圾，并对野生动物构成威胁，它们把塑料袋误当成食物。
【考点】and 并列谓语；which 非限制性定语从句；mistake A for B。
【原句 3】However, making a paper bag uses four times as much energy as making a plastic bag.
【主干】making a paper bag uses four times as much energy as making a plastic bag.
【分层】making a paper bag 为动名词作主语；four times as much ... as ... 为倍数比较结构；as 后接 making a plastic bag 作比较对象。
【译文】然而，生产纸袋消耗的能源是生产塑料袋的四倍。
【考点】动名词作主语；倍数表达 four times as ... as。
【原句 4】It is the production of food, not its transport, that ultimately matters.
【主干】It is the production, not its transport, that matters.（强调句）
【分层】It is ... that ... 为强调句型，强调主语部分 the production ... not its transport；not 引出被排除项。
【译文】最终起决定作用的是食物的生产，而不是它的运输。
【考点】It is ... that ... 强调句（强调主语）；not 排除并列。
【原句 5】The most environmentally friendly choice is usually the one that uses the least energy and creates the least waste.
【主干】The choice is the one.
【分层】that uses ... and creates ... 为 that 引导的定语从句修饰 the one；uses 与 creates 由 and 连接作并列谓语；the least 为 little 的最高级。
【译文】最环保的选择通常是那个能耗最少、产生废物最少的选择。
【考点】that 定语从句；and 并列谓语；最高级 the least。
六、语法点清单
1. 现在完成时被动语态
have been shown to be。强调"已被证实"的当下结论。
2. 动名词作主语
making a paper bag uses ...；eating local food should be ...。动名词短语充当主语。
3. 倍数表达（... times as ... as ...）
four times as much energy as ...。表示 A 是 B 的几倍。
4. 强调句型（It is ... that ...）
It is the production ..., not its transport, that ultimately matters。强调事物本质。
5. which 非限制性定语从句
wild animals, which mistake them for food。which 指代动物，引出补充说明。
6. 并列结构（and / or / not ... but）
cause litter and are a danger；half true or false；the production, not its transport。连接并列成分。
七、逻辑链
引言（第1段）：大家想环保 → 但某些"绿色真相"是伪科学
↓
说法一（第2—5段）：纸袋比塑料袋好？→ 生产纸袋更耗能耗水，两者皆有害，宜用可重复袋
↓
说法二（第6—7段）：关电器就不耗电？→ 待机仍漏电，旧电器尤甚，应拔插头
↓
说法三（第8—9段）：本地食物更环保？→ 关键是生产而非运输，温室番茄未必更绿
↓
说法四（第10段）：回收总好？→ 回收也耗能，应减—重—回；呼吁看实质而非标签
这是一篇"破除环保迷思"的说明/议论文：引言点明"绿色真相"未必真；第2—9段用三组对照（纸/塑、待机、本地食物）逐一批驳；第10段以"回收"收束并给出"减少—重用—回收"的行动层级，倡导理性辨别，而非盲信标签。
八、写作迁移
模板 1：Most of us are aware that ..., and the majority of us take steps to ...
课文：Most of us are aware that we must take care of the environment, and the majority of us take steps to save energy.
仿写：Most of us are aware that sleep matters, and the majority of us take steps to improve it.（我们大多意识到睡眠重要，也多数采取措施改善它。）——用于先肯定共识再展开讨论。
模板 2：... have been shown to be only half true, or even completely false.
课文：some "green truths" have been shown to be only half true, or even completely false.
仿写：Some old sayings have been shown to be only half true, or even completely false.（一些老话被证实只是半真半假，甚至完全错误。）——用于质疑流行说法。
模板 3：However, ... uses four times as much energy as ...
课文：making a paper bag uses four times as much energy as making a plastic bag.
仿写：Driving a car uses four times as much energy as taking a train.（开车消耗的能源是乘火车的四倍。）——用于用数据对比颠覆常识。
模板 4：It is the ... , not ... , that ultimately matters.
课文：It is the production of food, not its transport, that ultimately matters.
仿写：It is the effort you put in, not your talent, that ultimately matters.（最终起决定作用的是你付出的努力，而非天赋。）——用于强调真正关键的因素。
模板 5：The most ... choice is usually the one that ... and creates the least ...
课文：The most environmentally friendly choice is usually the one that uses the least energy and creates the least waste.
仿写：The wisest choice is usually the one that costs the least money and brings the most good.（最明智的选择通常是花钱最少、益处最多的那一个。）——用于结尾给出"最优标准"式结论。
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