cycle n.
a number of related events happening in a regularly repeated order 循环，周而复始 e.g. 1. There seems to be an endless cycle of violence in this troubled part of the world. 2. The figures marked the final low point of the present economic cycle. 这些数据显示了目前经济周期的最低点。
destruction n.
[U] the act of destroying or state of being destroyed 破坏；毁灭；消灭；灭亡 e.g. 1. The enemy bombs caused widespread destruction to the city.
2. Some scientific discoveries have been perverted to create weapons of destruction.
某些科学发明被滥用来生产毁灭性武器。
as yet
fml [with negatives] until now 〖正式〗［与否定式连用］到目前为止（还没有），至今（仍不） e.g. 1. The extract is taken from an as yet unpublished novel. 2. We have not as yet received a response.
我们还没收到回复。
threaten vt.
be a danger or threat to; seem likely (to harm, spoil, ruin, etc.) 威胁到，危及
e.g. 1. Our rainforests are being threatened with destruction, and the consequences will be severe. 2. The unity of our society is threatened by troublesome and restless minorities.
我们社会的团结遭到了一小撮滋扰生事、不安分守己的群体的威胁。
eternal n.
lasting forever; without beginning or end 永远的；永恒的
e.g. 1. The possibility of eternal life is a principal belief of many religions.
2. Honesty and diligence should be your eternal mates. (Benjamin Franklin) 诚实与勤勉，应该成为你永久的伙伴。（本杰明·富兰克林）
Difficult Sentences for Text A
1. We are connected with nature by “blood” ties and we cannot live outside nature. (Para. 1)
Q: Please paraphrase this sentence.
A: Nature is the mother to mankind. She nurtures mankind with her rich resources. Without nature, man could not survive at all. Q: Translate this sentence into Chinese.
A: 我们与大自然血肉相连，离开大自然，我们将无法生存。
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2. Nature was also changed through interaction with man. (Para. 3)
Q: Please paraphrase this sentence.
A: As a result of man’s transformation, nature has changed geographically. Human activities such as cutting down forests, removing mountains and filling up seas and lakes have resulted in the geographical changes of nature. Q: Translate this sentence into Chinese.
A: 在与人类的相互作用中，大自然也发生了改变。
3. Its solution lies in rational and wise organization of both production itself and care for
Mother Nature, not just by individuals, enterprises or countries, but by all humanity. (Para. 8) Q: What is the implied meaning of the italicized part of the sentence?
A: To solve the global ecological problem, we must plan our production activities in a rational and sensible manner so as to ensure that economic development is coordinated with environmental protection.
Q: Translate this sentence into Chinese.
A: 这一问题的解决之道在于理性而明智地协调生产和对大自然的关爱之间的关系，这不仅要依靠个人、企业或者某些国家的力量，而且要依靠全人类的力量。
4. How apt then are the words of ancient Oriental wisdom: live closer to nature, my friends, and
its eternal laws will protect you! (Para. 9)
Q: What is the implied meaning of the italicized part of the sentence?
A: If we live in harmony with nature and obey its laws, we can always rely on it for survival. Q: Translate this sentence into Chinese. A: 古代东方智者的话讲得真是恰如其分：朋友们，亲近大自然，大自然就会用那永恒不变的规律永远呵护你！
Extended Questions
▇ Extended questions (Para. 1)
Q: Can you find a proper Chinese idiom to indicate the idealized relationship between man and
nature?
A: A well-known example is “天人合一”, which means “harmony of man with nature” or “man is
an integral part of nature.”
Q: What does the author imply by the phrase “blood ties” in the last sentence of Paragraph 1? A: “Blood ties” usually refer to the relationship among family members. By using this phrase, the
author implies that the connection between man and nature is as inseparable as that of family members.
▇ Extended questions (Para. 2)
Q: What do you think are the consequences of man’s transformation of nature?
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A: On the one hand, man has made great achievements in transforming nature and has benefited a
great deal from his efforts. On the other hand, he has robbed nature of its resources and has destroyed it to such an extent that he will have to suffer from the consequences caused by his own efforts.
▇ Extended questions (Para. 3)
Q: Can you cite some examples to show man’s indirect dependence on nature as society develops? A: For example, with the development of society man tends to depend less on nature for her
ready-made gifts for food and shelter. We now have processed foods and we build houses of different styles. We wear clothes made of synthetic materials. However, we still have to take raw materials from nature for production and we depend on nature more than ever for irreplaceable resources such as coal and oil.
▇ Extended questions (Paras. 4-5)
Q: Can you list some irreplaceable natural resources?
A: The irreplaceable natural resources are: natural gas, oil, coal, minerals, etc.
Q: Do you think it a good thing for a country to develop its industrial production at an ever
increasing speed?
A: No, I don’t think so. For any country, industrialization is absolutely necessary, but it should not
be achieved by upsetting the balance between man and nature. The growth of industrial production should adapt to social development as well as to the preservation and protection of natural resources.
▇ Extended questions (Paras. 6-7)
Q: Can you find any other reasons to justify “an ever increasing abundance of produced and used
synthetic goods” in modern times? A: Some possible reasons are:
● Goods made of synthetic materials are cheaper than those made of natural fabrics;
● Some people, especially the young, know little about the harmfulness of synthetic goods, or even if they do know it, they tend to ignore it and care more about their physical attraction than health.
Q: Can you name some artificial goods used in our daily life?
A: Yes. Plastic bags, plastic furniture, plastic kitchen ware, nylon clothes, to name only a few. Q: Can you give an example to illustrate the first sentence in this paragraph?
A: The first sentence tells us that when synthetic products become worn out and are discarded as
waste, the substances that are used to produce them will turn to be toxic agents though they used to be harmless in their original form. Take crude oil for example, it is not poisonous when it lies naturally beneath the earth’s surface. But then it is used as a raw material in making plastics, which will eventually turn into waste. As plastic is not biodegradable (能进行生物降解的), it finally becomes a harmful substance in the cycle of natural processes.
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Q: Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the result of the industrial development? A: Possible answers:
● I’m quite optimistic about the result of industrial development because I believe man will surely find a way to keep the balance between man and nature and between nature and society. Man has come to know the harm of industrial activities and has taken some effective measures to protect his living environment.
● I’m really pessimistic about the result of excessive industrial development because industrial development has brought so much harm to nature, which is very difficult or even impossible to heal. For example, global warming is mainly caused by excessive industrial development. I’m afraid, as long as industry exists and develops, pollution will become more serious.
▇ Extended questions (Paras. 8-9)
Q: Can you give some specific suggestions to deal with the crisis of the present ecological
situation? A: Sample answers:
● People all over the world must be made aware of the significance of protecting Mother Nature, and take effective measures to balance the environment.
● Industrialized countries should take the lead in reducing the amount of discharged industrial pollutants and stop exploiting nature for resources so ruthlessly.
● Take immediate action to preserve and protect nature, such as planting more trees.
● Cultivate environment-friendly living habits and way of life, such as stopping an excessive use of synthetic goods.
Q: How do you think man can get on well with nature?
A: To get on well with nature, man should be conscious that the fates of man and nature are bound
together. Nature can be man’s friend or enemy, which depends on how man treats nature. Be good to nature, and nature will reward man. Man has left some enduring scars on Mother Earth. What man must do now is to stop his destructive activities and take the initiative to heal Mother Nature. Only by doing so can man live in perfect harmony with nature.
Section C Voicing Your Views
▆In our everyday life, we may find lots of instances of nature-unfriendly behaviour. Now work in pairs or groups and fill in the table with some such instances and then offer your suggestions or possible solutions. Share your views with the whole class.
Nature-unfriendly Behaviour Suggestions and Solutions 1) Driving private cars is becoming 1) Promoting the use of public fashionable. transportation. 2) 16
2)