蕾切尔·卡逊（1907-1964）的环保作品让她一跃成为了全球环保运动先驱。1962年，《寂静的春天》取得成功。该书讲述了农药对人类环境产生的不利影响。《寂静的春天》也被广泛认为是首部讲述人类影响农耕，自然的著作。

Carson’s career started as a biologist in the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries. In 1951 she published her first book, ‘The Sea Around Us’, which became a bestseller. It made her rich enough to quit her job and devote her life to writing. She was a gifted writer. Her next two books were also about the oceans and both topped the book sales charts.

起初，卡逊是渔业管理局的一名生物学家。1951年，首部畅销著作《海风的下面》问世。她的稿酬足可以让她不用上班，一门心思专攻创作。她是一位极具天赋的作家。她的另两部书籍全部与海洋有关，并全部荣登销量榜首。

Carson’s book ‘Silent Spring’ transformed the way America thought about nature. It painted a bleak future for the whole natural world. It led to a nationwide ban on the use of a deadly chemical called DDT, and other toxic pesticides that farmers sprayed on their crops. Many people say the book inspired the creation of America’s Environmental Protection Agency.

《寂静的春天》让美国人改变了对自然的看法。它对大自然的未来进行了负面描写。全国也因此而禁止使用滴滴涕，以及其他农作物杀虫剂。许多人认为《寂静的春天》成就了美国环保局。

Since her death, Carson’s name has continued to be associated with protecting the environment. There is now an annual Rachel Carson Book Prize. Norway awards the Rachel Carson Prize to women who have made worthy contributions to the field of environmental protection. In 1980, 16 years after her death, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in America.

卡逊去世后，她的名字并没有与环保分开。如今，人们设立了蕾切尔·卡逊年度图书奖。挪威创建了蕾切尔·卡逊奖，授予那些为环保事业做出杰出贡献的女性。1980年，卡逊死后16年，她被授予了总统自由勋章，这是美国最高荣誉的文职勋章。

1.make contribution to 为…作贡献

例句:What's more, improve our ability to make contribution to the human beings.

还有提升自己的能力来为人类做贡献。

2.toxic chemical 有毒化学品

例句:They're promising to trace any other products that might have been tainted by the toxic chemical.

他们承诺查处任何可能受这种有毒化学品污染的其他产品。

3.associated with 与…有关系

例句:Cigarette smoking has been associated with lung cancer.

肺癌被认为与吸烟有关。

4.lead to 导致

例句:Heart failure led to her father's death.

心力衰竭导致她父亲的死亡。