2020新译林版高中英语必修三unit1课文原文Word( 可编辑)
2020新译林版高中英语必修三unit1课文原文WordNature in the balanceLet 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 EngelsWelcome to the unitThe human race has done much harm. We have polluted our soils and seas, And cut down too many 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 the 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.ReadingThe Amazon rainforest:a natural treasureWelcome to the jungle, a huge sea of green 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 France, 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 River. 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. 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 the 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.More 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 least 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 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 17 per cent of the rainforesthas 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 planet”?Extended readingHOST: 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 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 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 reasons 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 profits. In defence of the factories, however, Id like to point out that we also try to control t