【英语趣味课堂】环保小贴士-Eco Tips

 Rachel: You were talking about Earth Hour and that's switching the lights off is one way to save electricity and protect the environment. What other things do you do in your life to save for example water?

 

Steven: Well, as for me, I recycle all my waste. I also, as for water, before brushing teeth, I have a cup. I just fill the cup and then use it. I don't know if you do it. Do you do it?

 

Rachel: Actually, I have to confess¹, I don't save water very efficiently². I usually leave the tap running when I'm brushing my teeth, so I will try.

 

Do you have any other tips for saving³ water?

 

Steven: Well, start off buying a cup before you brush your teeth, and of course, try to close the tap. When you're trying to like throw trash or something, try to separate your trash, and of course turn off any electricity that you're not using. Unplug them because even if you don't use it, and you have a plug, it will use electricity.

 

Rachel: Thank you. So do you always unplug your laptop computer when you go to sleep or do you sometimes leave it running?

 

Steven: I actually plug my laptop. I will charge it fully⁴ and then I will unplug it and use it -- all the battery, so I guess I do, and especially I don't use my laptop. For my laptop I just use it for class, so pretty much yes.

 

Rachel: Well, my computers very old, and I'm always scared if I turn it off that it won't start up again, so I leave mine on all the time. I think I'm the worst environmentalist. But I do recycle a lot of our trash, and I also have never owned a car, so I take public transport everywhere. Do you have a car?

 

Steven: I do have a car. However I try not to use it, because if I use it I will just take the whole family: my parents and my sisters. And as for shopping, I will just take the public transportation because it's right almost really near to my house.

 

Rachel: In Costa Rica, do you actually need a car to travel between places or is public transport very good?

 

Steven: Compare Costa Rica with other countries, for example the United States or Japan, Costa Rica doesn't have the railroads⁵. It doesn't have the subways. But we do have a good bus, transportation, and it's pretty much really cheap.

 

Rachel: So Steven you've inspired me to be more environmentally friendly, so I think I'm gonna go and buy a cup so I can brush my teeth and save water.

 

Steven: Great idea. Thank you Rachel.

重点词汇：

 

Learn Vocabulary from the Lesson

I have to confess

 

 

Actually, I have to confess. I don't save water.

 

When we confess, we talk about something negative we do or did. Notice the samples.

 

I have to confess; I eat a lot of junk food and I never exercise.

I have to confess; I hate studying English!

leave running

 

 

I usually leave the tap running.

 

We turn things on and off. When we forget to turn something off, we ‘leave it running’. Notice the following.

 

She leaves her computer running 24 hours a day.

He left his car running while he ran into the 7-11. When he returned, his car was gone.

leave on

 

 

I leave mine on all the time.

 

To leave something on and leave something running are very similar in meaning. However, things we leave on do not have moving parts. Notice the difference

 

Our young son always leaves a light on when he sleeps.

The theater was cold so I left my jacket on during the movie.

the whole family

 

 

I will take the whole family.

 

The 'whole family' means every member of the family. Notice the following.

 

Let’s buy a DVD the whole family can enjoy.

My sister came home from school with a cold. Soon, the whole family was sick.

You've inspired me

 

 

You have inspired me to be more environmentally friendly.

 

When we inspire someone, we make them feel like they want to do something. Note the samples.

 

My mother immigrated⁶ to Australia two years ago and her English is great! She inspires me.

Al Gore⁷ inspired me to be more concerned with the environment.

 

1 confess   

vt.承认，坦白；vi.承认，坦白，忏悔

参考例句：

• Many Christians regularly confess their guilty actions and thoughts to a priest.很多基督徒都定期向牧师忏悔他们的罪行和恶念。
• I confess to some suspicion of your honesty.我承认对你的诚实有所怀疑。

2 efficiently   

adv.高效率地，有能力地

参考例句：

• The worker oils the machine to operate it more efficiently.工人给机器上油以使机器运转更有效。
• Local authorities have to learn to allocate resources efficiently.地方政府必须学会有效地分配资源。

3 saving   

n.节省，节约；[pl.]储蓄金，存款

参考例句：

• Energy saving is term strategic policy of our country.节约能源是我国长期的战略国策。
• Old-fashioned housewives were usually very saving.旧时的家庭主妇通常都很节俭。

4 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

5 railroads   

n.铁路，铁道( railroad的名词复数 )；铁路系统v.铁路，铁道( railroad的第三人称单数 )；铁路系统

参考例句：

• Water transportation was outmoded by railroads and good pikes. 水上运输已因铁路和良好的税道而变得过时了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• A severe snowstorm blocked up railroads. 一场暴风雪使铁路中断。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 immigrated   

v.移入( immigrate的过去式和过去分词 )；移民

参考例句：

• He immigrated from Ulster in 1848. 他1848年从阿尔斯特移民到这里。 来自辞典例句
• Many Pakistanis have immigrated to Britain. 许多巴基斯坦人移居到了英国。 来自辞典例句

7 gore   

n.凝血，血污；v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破；缝以补裆；顶

参考例句：

• The fox lay dying in a pool of gore.狐狸倒在血泊中奄奄一息。
• Carruthers had been gored by a rhinoceros.卡拉瑟斯被犀牛顶伤了。