Sustainability

文章大意

讲座讨论可持续发展概念的由来与常见误解：该词1987年由联合国环境与发展委员会报告首次提出，原意是让当代与后代满足需求，重点在帮助贫困国家获得水、食物、能源等资源以改善生活水平，而非单纯环保；讲座还辨析了可持续与绿色、环保的区别，并提到人口增长与电动汽车、风力涡轮机、太阳能电池等技术的作用。

题目与答案

1. Sustainability: Term first used in 1987 by writers of United Nations Report

   Lecture Aim: Analysis of the 31_____ surrounding sustainability.

   答案：confusion

   原文定位：I want to analyze what seems to me to be the confusion that surrounds sustainability

2. Sustainable development: Development that will meet the needs of both present and future 32_____

   答案：generations

   原文定位：That UN document defines sustainable development as development that allows both the present and all future generations to meet their needs

3. Myth 1:

   ·No mention of the 33_____ in original definition.

   答案：environment

   原文定位：Sustainability is not simply about the environment, which may come as a surprise to you. In fact, the original definition says nothing about it at all

   同义替换：「No mention of」↔「says nothing about it」

4. ·Original focus: poorer nations should have the same 34_____ to natural resources as richer nations.

   答案：right

   原文定位：The original focus was on finding ways to help poor nations catch up with richer nations, which primarily meant giving them similar rights to natural resources

   同义替换：「same」↔「similar」

5. ·This would help them achieve better 35_____ conditions.

   答案：living

   原文定位：The consequence and ultimate goal was improving living standards for all

   同义替换：「achieve better」↔「improving」，「conditions」↔「standards」

6. Myth 2: “Green” vs “Sustainable”

   ·Key difference: unlike “green”, “sustainable” is not always associated with things that are natural.

   ·For the sustainability body, the key problem is finding 36_____ to develop technology.

   答案：time

   原文定位：The main problem, they state correctly, is time. With six billion people on the planet now and a billion more expected in the next thirty years, only technology will be able to provide everyone with an acceptable and safe lifestyle

   同义替换：「key」↔「main」

7. ·Sustainability lobby is prepared to 37_____ unclear energy.

   答案：accept

   原文定位：Nuclear power, too, is something the sustainability lobby has come to accept, unlike most greens

8. Myth 3: Role of technology

   ·Introduction of battery stations on 38_____ is an example of new business thinking, not new technology.

   答案：roads

   原文定位：But a better way of thinking is perhaps to have battery stations for drivers to use on roads

9. ·Agriculture: some farmers plant crops like sunflowers which don`t use much water, unlike 39_____

   答案：corn

   原文定位：So many farmers who believe in sustainability are now planting crops like sunflowers and wheat instead of corn, which are happy with much less water

   同义替换：「don`t use much」↔「much less」，「unlike」↔「instead of」

10. ·Greater use of water is a result of changes in our 40_____ .

    答案：diet

    原文定位：In terms of water consumption, one of the biggest problems is that our diet is changing

    同义替换：「use」↔「consumption」