常春藤解析英语【17】光害危机

by Ilse van Wyk

In both modern and ancient thinking, light and brightness are viewed positively¹. _(1)_
The ideal situation for any astronomer² is to be able to observe the sky when there is no interference from artificial light. In the modern world of streetlights and neon signs, this is nearly impossible. The overuse of lights in populated areas causes a phenomenon called skyglow.
_(2)_ For an astronomer, it is vital to see the reflected light from stars, planets, and other objects in deep space. These difficulties frustrate³ both amateur and professional astronomers⁴. Even the Royal Observatory⁵ in Greenwich, England, has been affected⁶. _(3)_

An amateur astronomer in the US became so frustrated⁷ with light pollution that she decided⁸ to campaign for one week of dark skies every year. Although she was only a high school student, she managed to set up a website to raise public awareness⁹. _(4)_

The National Dark-Sky Week is supported by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). This association has aimed to cut down on light pollution for almost 20 years. _(5)_ Addressing the problem of light pollution is helpful not only to astronomers but also to millions worldwide. There is mounting evidence that light pollution may contribute to health problems as well.

On a starry¹⁰ night, when we look up to the North Star and all the others visible to the naked eye, we have to use our imaginations. There are millions of other things in space that we would be able to see if we just turned off the lights.

(A) Her efforts eventually yielded National Dark-Sky Week, which was first held in April 2003.

(B) However, too much light can be a hindrance¹¹ to science.

(C) The IDA also advises governments, cities, and companies on how they can light outdoor areas with minimal¹² skyglow.

(D) The site of the observatory had to be moved since light pollution limited the observations that could be made.

(E) Skyglow lowers the ability to see the contrast between light and dark.

原来如此

1. 第一题空格应选 (B)
理由：

a. 空格前说无论古代或现代，都对光抱持正面的想法（In both modern and ancient thinking, light and brightness are viewed positively.）。

b. 选项 (B) 却说，太多光线会妨碍科学（However, too much light can...）。两句均有关键词 light，而 However 为承接前后语意的转折，并带出本文的主题『光害』，故为正选。

大补丸：
be a hindrance to N/V-ing　是……的障碍∕绊脚石
hindrance n. 障碍（物），妨碍
例： A lack of education can be a hindrance to your dreams.
（缺乏教育将会是你追求梦想的绊脚石。）

2. 第二题空格应选 (E)
理由：

a. 空格前提及人口密布的地区过度使用光线造成所谓『天空辉光』的现象（The overuse of lights...causes a phenomenon called skyglow.）。

b. 选项 (E) 进一步阐述天空辉光会降低看见明暗对比的可能性（Skyglow lowers the ability to...），承接前面语意，且两句中的 skyglow（天空辉光）为关键词，故为正选。

大补丸：
the contrast between A and B　　A 与 B 之间的对比
contrast n. 对比
例： The photographer likes to show the contrast between the rich and the poor.
（那名摄影师喜欢呈现贫富之间的对比。）

3. 第三题空格应选 (D)
理由：

a. 空格前提到，就连在英国的格林威治天文台都受影响（Even the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England, has been affected.），推测下一句应说明该机构受到的影响。

b. 选项 (D) 进一步说明天文台的观察活动受限于光害而必须迁移台址（The site of the observatory had to be moved...），其中 observatory（天文台）指的便是空格前提及的格林威治天文台，故为正选。

大补丸：
a.site n. 地点
b.limit vt. 限制
limit A to B　　将 A 限制在 B
例： You cannot limit yourself to your own hometown. There's a whole world out there.
（你不能将自己限制在家乡里。外面的世界很辽阔。）
c.observation n. 观察，观测
make an observation　　观察，观测

4. 第四题空格应选 (A)
理由：

a. 空格前说一位女中学生设法架设网站提高大众对光害的认知（Although she was only a high school student, she...）。

b. 选项 (A) 接着说，她的努力（Her efforts）最后使『暗天周』在 2003 年四月首次实行，其中的所有格 Her 即指空格前提到的女中学生，故为正选。

大补丸：
yield vt. 产生；得出（结果）
例： The researchers' analysis yielded the conclusion that cranberries¹³ are beneficial to everyone.
（研究人员的分析得到一项结论，证明小红莓有益健康。）

5. 第五题空格应选 (C)
理由：

a. 空格前提及国际暗天协会致力于减少光害逾二十年（This association has aimed to cut down on light pollution...）。

b. 选项 (C) 则进一步指出，该协会同时也提供意见，如何在产生最少量的天空辉光下，照亮户外的方法（The IDA also advises...on how they can light outdoor areas with minimal skyglow.），其中两句主词 This association 和 IDA 指的都是国际暗天协会，故为正选。

大补丸：
a.advise sb on sth　就某事给予某人建议，就某事提供某人意见
例： My accountant always advises me on how to invest my money.
（我的会计师总会给我投资方面的建议。）
b.minimal a. 最小∕少的
maximal a. 最大∕多的

精解字词词组

1. observe vt. 观察
例： The doctor observed the child to see how he would react to the medicine.
（医生观察那名儿童对该药物的反应为何。）

2. frustrate vt. 使挫折，使丧气
be frustrated with...　　因……感到挫折∕沮丧
例： All of us were frustrated with the outcome of the meeting.
（我们都对会议的结果感到很沮丧。）

3. campaign vi. 从事活动，发起运动
campaign for/against...　　发起支持∕反对……的活动
例： Let's campaign for better lunches in the school cafeteria.
（咱们发起活动争取学校自助餐厅供应更棒的午餐吧。）

4. manage to V　　设法做到……
例： John couldn't manage to save money even though he had a high income.
（尽管薪水很高，约翰还是存不了钱。）

5. cut down on...　　减少……
例： You should try to cut down on the amount of time you spend on the Internet.
（你应设法减少你上网的时间。）

6. address vt. 探讨（问题）
例： We will address the problems at the end-of-the-month meeting.
（我们会在月底的会议上探讨这些问题。）

7. be visible/invisible to the naked eye　　肉眼所能见∕肉眼所不能见
例： There are germs invisible to the naked eye everywhere.
（到处都有肉眼看不见的细菌。）

单字小铺

1. darken vt. 使变暗

2. positively adv. 正面地
negatively adv. 负面地

3. astronomer n. 天文学家

4. interference n. 干扰，妨碍

5. artificial a. 人造的

6. neon sign n. 霓虹灯广告招牌

7. populated a. 有人居住的
densely/sparsely populated　　人口稠密∕稀疏的

8. skyglow n. 天空辉光

9. reflected a. 反射的

10. amateur a. 业余的

11. professional a. 专业的

12. observatory n. 天文台；气象台

13. mounting a. 日益增加的

词组小铺

1. set up...　　建立……

2. raise awareness　　唤醒意识，提高认识

3. contribute to N/V-ing　　造成∕导致……

4. turn off/on...　　关闭∕打开……（电源、电器开关）

中文翻译＆标准答案

无论古代或现代，都对光和明亮抱持正面的想法。然而，太多光线却会妨碍科学。

对任何天文学家来说，最理想的状况是观察天空时没有任何人造光线的阻碍。在充斥着街灯与霓虹灯招牌的现代世界中，这几乎是不可能的事。在人口密布的地区过度使用光线造成所谓『天空辉光』的现象。天空辉光会降低明暗对比的可见度。对天文学家来说，在深邃宇宙中看见由星星、星球和其它物体反射的光线是很重要的。这些困扰让业余和专业天文学家感到很挫败。就连英国的格林威治天文台都受到影响。因光害限制了天文台所做的观测，因此必须迁移台址。

一名美国业余天文学家因光害问题感到很沮丧，因此决定发起一年一周不开灯保持暗黑天空的活动。虽然她当时只是一名中学生，仍设法架设网站唤起大众的认知。她的努力最后促使『暗天周』在 2003 年四月首次实行。

暗天周是由国际暗天协会协办。该协会致力于减少光害逾二十年。国际暗天协会也提供意见给全球政府、城市与公司行号，如何在产生最少量的天空辉光下照亮户外的方法。探讨光害问题不仅对天文学家有帮助，也对全球人口有益。有越来越多证据显示光害也会导致健康问题。

在星光熠熠的夜晚，当我们抬头朝北极星和其它肉眼可见的星星望去之际，还必须运用想象力。因为宇宙中还有数百万个星体，只要关上灯，我们就能亲眼目睹。

标准答案:
1. (B)　2. (E)　3. (D)　4. (A)　5. (C)
 

1 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

2 astronomer   

n.天文学家

参考例句：

• A new star attracted the notice of the astronomer.新发现的一颗星引起了那位天文学家的注意。
• He is reputed to have been a good astronomer.他以一个优秀的天文学者闻名于世。

3 frustrate   

v.使失望；使沮丧；使厌烦

参考例句：

• But this didn't frustrate Einstein.He was content to go as far as he could.但这并没有使爱因斯坦灰心，他对能够更深入地研究而感到满意。
• They made their preparations to frustrate the conspiracy.他们作好准备挫败这个阴谋。

4 astronomers   

n.天文学者，天文学家( astronomer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Astronomers can accurately foretell the date,time,and length of future eclipses. 天文学家能精确地预告未来日食月食的日期、时刻和时长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Astronomers used to ask why only Saturn has rings. 天文学家们过去一直感到奇怪，为什么只有土星有光环。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 observatory   

n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台

参考例句：

• Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
• Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

7 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

9 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

10 starry   

adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的

参考例句：

• He looked at the starry heavens.他瞧着布满星星的天空。
• I like the starry winter sky.我喜欢这满天星斗的冬夜。

11 hindrance   

n.妨碍，障碍

参考例句：

• Now they can construct tunnel systems without hindrance.现在他们可以顺利地建造隧道系统了。
• The heavy baggage was a great hindrance to me.那件行李成了我的大累赘。

12 minimal   

adj.尽可能少的，最小的

参考例句：

• They referred to this kind of art as minimal art.他们把这种艺术叫微型艺术。
• I stayed with friends, so my expenses were minimal.我住在朋友家，所以我的花费很小。

13 cranberries   

n.越橘( cranberry的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The tart flavour of the cranberries adds piquancy. 越橘的酸味很可口。
• Look at the fresh cranberries. 你看这些新鲜的蔓越橘。 来自无师自通 校园英语会话