Fighting the hidden enemy — a war we must win
An enemy appeared without warning, attacking its unsuspecting victims with efficiency. This silent and invisible enemy moved swiftly through communities and secretly crossed borders.The world soon learnt that the enemy we faced was Covid- 19.
Covid-19 is caused by a new strain of coronavirus. Once entering the body, the virus multiplies inside the cell quickly and infects neighbouring cells. Common symptoms can include fever, tiredness, a dry cough, a headache, loss of taste or smell. However, in some cases, the virus causes the body’s own immune system to overreact, resulting in the body killing its own healthy cells. Consequently, the disease can become worse, causing damage to the body’s organs and tissues.
Covid-19 is a highly infectious disease that can be transmitted easily and swiftly from person to person. This typically happens when people take in respiratory droplets and particles from an infected person. They can also catch Covid-19 by touching a surface or an object contaminated with the virus, and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes. Research shows that there are certain settings that allow the virus to spread more easily. For instance, it favours cool, dry conditions and crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation. What makes this disease even more dangerous is that infected people who show no symptoms may become unknowing carriers and spreaders of the virus.
In early 2020, the threat posed by Covid-19 came to be fully recognized on a global scale. It spread rapidly across the world, affecting millions of people. More dangerously, new and even more infectious variants of the virus, such as the Delta and Omicron variants, gradually began to evolve in various parts of the world, presenting an increased threat to the health of the world’s population.
To beat this silent enemy, the world pulled together. Governments joined forces with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies so that vaccines could be produced, distributed and administered in record time. Doctors and nurses stepped forward to join the fight and went wherever they were needed, risking their own lives to tirelessly serve and care for patients. Community workers and volunteers worked round the clock to deliver food and medicines to residents. Ordinary people from all walks of life united in helping those affected by the pandemic. Simple acts of kindness and generosity were everywhere. In the darkest days when Covid-19 was doing its worst, the human spirit shone at its brightest.
While the fight against Covid-19 is a global effort, there are preventive measures that everyone can take to help control the spread of the disease. Firstly, personal hygiene is key. Clean your hands with soap and water thoroughly. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available,and avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes with unwashed hands. At home or at work, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects. Secondly, when in public places, remember to wear a face mask, practise social distancing and avoid large crowds. Thirdly, receive a Covid-19 vaccine to help your body build up immunity against the virus. Finally, seek medical
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attention if you show any of the symptoms or have reason to believe that you have been exposed to the virus. By staying alert and following government advice and regulations, we not only protect ourselves, but also help protect our fellow citizens.
Our fight against Covid-19 has shown us that we are now living in a human community with a shared future. Only by working together, while accepting our individual responsibilities, can we solve both national and global problems. We need to support each other so that we can march confidently, arm in arm, into a better and more secure future.
Extended reading
Say no to drugs
Good morning, everyone. As a police officer who has spent many years working in the front line of the fight against drugs, I have witnessed, all too often, the destructive impact that drugs can have on individuals, families and the wider community. I have seen how drugs can destroy people’s physical and mental well-being and ruin young lives before they even begin. I have seen how families are torn apart after a family member has become addicted to drugs. I have also seen how tirelessly the forces of law and order work together in fighting against drugs. I will not exaggerate the scale of the problem, as the facts speak for themselves. According to the 2021 World Drug Report, it is estimated that around 275 million people used drugs worldwide and over 36 million people suffered from drug use disorders in the last year. These shocking figures indicate that drug abuse is a very serious global problem. Therefore, it is everyone’s responsibility to say no to drugs.
Drug abuse hurts an individual drug user both physically and mentally. The most serious health conditions associated with drug abuse include heart problems, respiratory problems, kidney failure, liver damage and a weakened immune system, increasing the risk of illness and infection. Moreover, drugs interfere with a person’s ability to make sensible decisions. Consequently, people under the influence of drugs are no longer in control of their own mind and likely to put themselves or others in great danger. They also suffer from memory loss and mood disorders like depression or anxiety.
Apart from its harm to individuals, drug abuse also destroys families and impacts society as a whole. Drug users sometimes lie and steal to fuel their habit, while ignoring the responsibilities they have to their families. This can lead to not only financial hardship but also the breakdown of once strong family relationships and the loss of stability within the family. The impact drug abuse has on society is also enormous. Under the influence of drugs, drug users may exhibit violent behaviour and sometimes even commit criminal acts, threatening public safety. They are willing to do anything to get their hands on drugs. Also, because drug users need a regular supply of drugs, the criminal underworld quickly develops, eating away at the fabric of society.
Knowing the serious damage that can be caused through the use of drugs, you may be asking yourself: why would anybody be foolish enough to start taking drugs? There is no simple answer to this question, but there are well-identified risk factors for drug abuse. Some people experiment with
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drugs simply out of curiosity, some regard drug use as an escape from the stresses of everyday life, and others start to use drugs just because people around them are drug users.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to protect yourself from drug use. First of all, drug education is of vital importance. You should learn more about drugs, especially new designer drugs, which are incredibly dangerous. The more you know about the terrible consequences of taking drugs, the more likely you are to stay away from them. Secondly, you need to choose where you go and who you spend time with very carefully. Make sure you surround yourself with friends who you can really count on and turn to for support. Last but not least, should you ever come under pressure to use drugs, you must immediately seek assistance from an adult who you look up to, such as a family member, a teacher or a doctor.
In conclusion, I hope my message is clear—say no to any kind of drug. The most effective way to avoid all the problems caused by the use of drugs is not to use them in the first place.
Unit 2 Building the future
Reading
Renewable energy: a gift for the future
There was once a village surrounded by fertile fields with farmers tending their crops and farm animals grazing lazily below a mighty mountain. Then coal was discovered, and soon titanic-sized earth-digging machines circled the village. Villagers eagerly accepted the high-paid jobs the mining company provided, bringing a temporary economic boom. Meanwhile, the machines cut through everything in their path to access the coal buried beneath. Many years later, all that remained was a deserted village and an enormous hole. The scenario is tragic, but it only partly describes the damaging effects fossil fuels have on the environment when they are mined. Actually, once burnt, they produce a large quantity of carbon dioxide, which in turn traps heat and causes global warming. Humans are clearly facing a critical moment, so a move towards clean, renewable energy is inevitable. Renewable energy sources, which include solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal, biomass and geothermal energy, are perfect alternatives to fossil fuels. One of the reasons is that their carbon dioxide emissions tend to be lower. A study found that renewable energy sources emit about 50g or less of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour over their lifetime, compared to about 1,000g for coal. Besides, fossil fuels are non-renewable, whose reserves are estimated to dry up one day in the future. In contrast, renewable energy sources are basically inexhaustible and will be available to us for a few billion more years if our planet remains safe and healthy.
Countries around the world are racing towards a low-carbon future by investing in renewable energy sources. Renewable energy is now gradually being integrated into infrastructures, such as transport, communication and power supply systems. China is one of the countries embracing the renewable energy revolution. China manufactures state-of-the-art solar panels and wind turbines, and is the global leader in the production of batteries to power electric vehicles and store renewable
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energy on power grids. Renewable energy consumption accounts for more than 20 per cent of its total energy consumption, and this figure is increasing. Over the past decade, China has been ahead in the development and application of clean energy technologies.
So, with these advantages and developments, why not completely replace fossil fuels with renewable energy? The truth is that producing power from renewable energy sources can be challenging. Renewable energy sources are not available everywhere and at any given moment. For instance,tidal energy is only available in coastal areas; solar and wind energy cannot produce power 24/7. A greater challenge is storing any extra energy in batteries for later use. Most current batteries do not have a storage capacity large enough to meet our daily power demands. Certain high-capacity batteries present problems, such as high manufacturing costs and related environmental damage.For instance, mining for the rare metals used in the batteries is expensive,and when not properly recycled, the batteries leak dangerous chemicals into the environment.
With these challenges in mind, a future with renewable energy may be difficult to predict. However,it is possible. Renewable energy sources exist in all kinds of places, including space. Space-based solar power projects aim to collect solar energy in outer space and distribute it everywhere it is needed on the Earth. A solar collector would be placed in a location where there is constant sunlight to capture higher levels of solar energy for longer periods. Scientists are also working hard to solve the energy storage problems. Thermal batteries, for instance, can store the extra renewable energy as heat up to the extremely high temperature of 1,000℃ in an inexpensive storage medium like sand or water. Compared with common batteries, these thermal batteries are considerably cheaper, and have a longer life as well as a higher storage capacity. Better still, they are completely recyclable.
Without doubt, renewable energy will form a big part of our future. Looking forward, we should invest in new technologies and innovative thinking that open the door to a whole new world where we decrease reliance on fossil fuels. Renewable energy—a welcome gift for our future—will help us build a greener and healthier world.
Extended reading
Global warming:islands in hot water
The Pacific Ocean covers around one third of the Earth’s surface. Scattered across this ocean are thousands of islands. In recent years, the people of these islands have noticed tides getting higher and storms getting worse. And they wonder—is their world about to change? Sadly, the fact is that the islands in the Pacific, especially low-lying coral ones, are suffering the serious effects of global warming.
As global temperatures increase, so do sea levels. Increasing temperatures causes ice sheets and glaciers at the North and South Poles to melt, releasing additional water into the ocean. Warm water also takes up more room than cool water, so as the ocean warms, sea levels rise further. Scientists expect sea levels worldwide may rise by 0.6 to 1.1 metres or more by 2100 if the planet continues to
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warm. On the Pacific islands, the most obvious sign of rising sea levels is that at high tide, water moves further inland to flow into houses and over roads. In fact, beaches or even whole islands are disappearing: five of the Solomon Islands have already vanished beneath the waves since 1947! Increasing sea levels also contaminate the islands’ freshwater supplies. When salty seawater seeps through the ground and gets into wells, the water becomes useless for drinking and irrigation. Besides, growing sea levels interfere with some islands’ natural reshaping processes. Usually, waves gradually remove sand from one side of an island and dump new sand on the other side. Unfortunately, however, rising waves accelerate the process, and this certainly causes problems for anyone who lives on the side that is being washed away.
Meanwhile, increasing global temperatures can have disastrous consequences in other ways. Extreme temperatures generate extreme rainfall patterns. Consequently, the islands go without life-sustaining rainfall for months, leading to crop failure and reduced freshwater reserves. Then suddenly too much comes at once, and precious soil and homes are washed away by the floods. For example, on the hilly Cook Islands, storms have given rise to landslides that carry islanders’ homes down the hillsides. Additionally, the annual tropical cyclones are becoming stronger and happening more frequently, resulting in more severe flooding and landslides. What is more, as the ocean warms, many coral reefs, which act as natural barrier and are home to a rich diversity of ocean species, are dying. Heat and extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere hurt the corals that build the reefs. Without healthy reefs, fish move away, and the islanders have less to eat.
Despite the challenges, the islanders are not giving up without a fight. For many island communities, fighting climate change is not a choice; it is a matter of survival. They are working with scientists and learning to protect their homes from flooding and storm surges by building seawalls from old bits of coral reefs. They are cutting down fewer trees, since trees hold onto soil. They are also planting mangrove trees to protect the coastal areas. To keep the damaging salt away from their crops, they are growing crops in containers. They are looking for crops that do not mind salty water. Hopefully, they can find a way to stay on their islands, at least for a while.
However, some islanders have made a life-changing decision—moving away from the ocean. It is by no means easy as the ocean has been part of their lives for generations. An entire village on the island of Vanua Levu in Fiji abandoned their coastal homes to move up into the hills. Fortunately, they could begin a new life: buying land, building new houses and growing pineapples. Some miss their old life by the sea, but at least the hills provide refuge from the rising sea, and they are still together. Many of those whose islands have no hills are looking for homes on new islands, or even in new countries. Most do not want to leave, but with the ocean moving in, they feel they have no choice.
No matter what solutions the islanders develop, their islands are still in hot water. Global warming requires not only islanders to fight back. After all, we are living in a human community with a shared future. Maybe we can take a lesson from the oceans. Melting ice in the Arctic makes higher waves in Fiji because all the oceans are connected—there are no walls between them. Change one, change all. If we need to tackle the problem of climate change, we will have to work together as one.
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Unit 3 Helping people
Reading
The United Nations—bringing people together
In 1945, the world was on its knees. Cities lay in ruins, economies were destroyed, tens of millions of people were killed, and families across the globe were homeless and mourning the loss of loved ones. World War II, the deadliest human conflict of all time, had shattered people’s lives everywhere. From the ashes of this utter destruction rose the organization that we now know as the United Nations (UN), offering hope to a world desperate for lasting peace and security. It is my privilege and pleasure to stand before you today and share with you a little bit about this wonderful organization.
The UN was officially established on 24 October 1945, when the UN Charter, the founding document of the organization, came into force. The following year, the first meeting of the UN was held in London and was attended by representatives of 51 countries. Currently, the UN is made up of over 190 Member States. All of them work together to maintain international peace and security, protect human rights, deliver humanitarian aid, promote sustainable development and uphold international law. Over the years, the UN has been committed to fulfilling its ambition of being the one place where all the world’s nations can gather together, discuss common problems, and find shared solutions that benefit all of humanity. In the words of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “When international cooperation works, the world wins.” The UN believes that international cooperation plays an essential role in addressing many issues, such as clean water, poverty and education.
Can you believe that nearly one third of the population around the world did not have access to safe drinking water about a decade ago? The UN has recognized the critical importance of fresh water to life on our planet and recommended that every human being should have between 50 and 100 litres of water per day, for both personal and domestic uses. With this end in view, the UN has called for transboundary water cooperation through a legal framework for water resources management. Moreover, various water projects managed by the UN and its partners aim to provide clean water for needy communities. There has been remarkable progress over the past years. According to a 2021 UN report, the percentage of the global population with easy access to safely managed drinking water services increased to 74.3%. Increases have been seen in both rural and urban areas, motivating the UN to continue its tireless work of providing clean drinking water to those who need it.
With regard to poverty, the UN estimates that around 10% of the world’s population, including one in six children, live in extreme poverty, unable to fulfil their most basic needs. These figures are both depressing and distressing. Not surprisingly, therefore, ending poverty is the UN’s number one Sustainable Development Goal. To effectively fight poverty, the UN focuses on understanding how people experience poverty in other ways besides income. Health, education and standard of living are three key dimensions that can reflect whether people are being left behind. These dimensions
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comprise ten indicators, such as nutrition, years of schooling and housing. With this data, the UN can identify the root causes of poverty and work with governments and communities to ensure that those causes are efficiently addressed.
It is the belief of the UN that education is the most basic building block of every society and the single best investment countries can make to build prosperous, healthy and fair societies. However, due to various circumstances like inadequate learning materials or poor school facilities, learning is often difficult for many children. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which is a part of the UN system, has many ongoing education programmes. One of these, the Reimagine Education initiative, uses technology to create online learning opportunities, which are accessible to children anywhere and anytime. Additionally, UNICEF spares no effort to ensure more children have access to their education programmes. These programmes help remove long-standing barriers to learning, supporting every child’s right to learn.
To conclude, I do hope you have found this brief insight into the work of the UN both inspiring and stimulating. While the UN is a huge global organization, every one of us can do something to make a positive difference. To quote the famous historian and philosopher Howard Zinn, “Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.” So I urge you all to find out more about how you can make a difference to one person, one society or the world, no matter how small.
Extended reading
The chain of kindness
The rain was coming down so hard that each drop seemed to explode as it hit the roof of the car. Tom strained his eyes and looked out into the coal-black night, struggling desperately to keep his car on the road. The windscreen wipers worked furiously to clear the glass, but they were not doing much good. The rain beat down continuously, it was completely dark outside, and the road was deserted except for him and his car.
Tom glanced in his rear-view mirror. He could see his wheelchair in the back seat and quickly looked down at his thin, broken legs. He could feel a familiar wave of despair start to wash over him. The rain was still pounding on the roof of the car and he felt as if he had been trapped inside a drum. As the world outside began to close in on him, Tom gasped for breath. Suddenly, a loud noise shook Tom out of his moment of hopelessness as the car began to bump down the road. “Great,” he thought, “a flat tyre.”
With a heavy sigh, Tom brought the car to a stop, resting his head on the steering wheel, defeated! After a few seconds, he looked up and peered out of the window. The rain seemed to have eased a little, and in the distance, he could see a light twinkling in the blackness. With a sense of hopeful anticipation, Tom gently eased the car towards the light. As he got closer, he could see a long driveway leading to a solitary house.
When Tom approached the house, a young girl around ten years old was standing in the doorway. He
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pulled up as close as he could and rolled down the window. “Are your parents at home?” he shouted over the wind and rain. “I have a flat tyre and I need help,” Tom added.
“Wait a minute,” the girl replied. She turned and went into the house. A few minutes later, she returned with an old man. The girl held his arm and smiled lovingly up at him.
“How can I help?” the old man asked with a smile on his face.
Tom explained the problem and added, “I need help because my legs are paralysed.” The words came out flat. But he didn’t know how else he could convey the fact that he needed help from this weak old man in the middle of the rainstorm. The old man simply nodded his head and asked Tom to open the boot of his car. With the help of his young assistant, the old man quickly got to work. Occasionally, Tom leaned out of the window to see how they were doing with the repairs. The two were concentrating on their work, and the rain was soaking them. Once again, Tom couldn’t help but feel he was useless.
Soon the old man stepped to the window. “You’re all set,” he said. Tom had money ready and handed it to the man, but he made no move to take it.
Finally, the young girl said, “Grandfather is blind.”
Tom didn’t know what to say. He just gestured towards the girl and the old man helplessly as he stumbled through an explanation that he would like to pay them for their help.
The grandfather waved a hand in front of his face and said, “There is no need. Just be careful about getting home and continue the chain of kindness.”
Tom eased his car down the driveway and back onto the road. The rain was now only a light mist, revealing the road ahead. As he drove through the night, he found himself looking forward to the journey ahead.
When Tom eventually arrived home, he parked his car in front of the house as usual. He looked at the wheelchair ramp that led to his front door. Before today, that ramp had been a constant reminder of his own disability, and every day, he could feel it laughing at him. However, a chance encounter on a rainy night and an act of kindness from a complete stranger came to make Tom see everything differently.
Over the next few days, he kept replaying the incident over and over in his mind. Inspired by this, he contacted his doctor to see if there was something he could do to increase his mobility, he pursued his long-lost dream of becoming a teacher, and he reconnected with his family. Perhaps Tom was disabled in one way, but he decided that he would not let this define who he was or what he could accomplish. Most importantly, he began to look forward to each new day and view it as an opportunity to help others so that he could continue the chain of kindness.
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Unit 4 Law and order
Reading
The rules of law
Have you ever wondered when and where the law originated? Around 12,000 years ago in the Middle East, small permanent farming communities were established,changing traditional nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles. Different groups were closely living together and dealing with unfamiliar behaviours, beliefs and attitudes. To prevent chaos and resolve conflicts, the rules of conduct and consequences for unacceptable behaviours were created. Hence, the concept of law was born.
Many ancient civilizations arose in the Middle East, so it is not surprising that law codes first appeared there. The oldest discovered, the Code of Ur-Nammu, dates back to about 4,000 years ago. The code presented laws in the cause-and-effect format, a style used in nearly all later codes. Another one discovered, the Code of Hammurabi, was composed around 300 years later, which is one of the longest, best-organized and best-preserved legal texts. This code was among the first to implement the concept “innocent until proven guilty”. Both codes have features in common. For instance, they treated a variety of matters,but often ignored some important rules, because such rules were deeply grounded in custom.
Over time, laws evolve to become more sophisticated and wide-ranging. Societies constantly transform, so legal systems respond accordingly and ensure laws remain relevant. This response happens in various ways. Outdated laws are abolished when they no longer correspond with the values or moral beliefs of the current society. The most famous example is the abolition of slavery laws in certain countries during the 19th century. Current laws are amended when aspects of a crime change, such as becoming more serious or producing additional crime-related behaviour. In Australia, a law amendment makes workplace bullying amount to a criminal offence. Besides, new laws are made as new situations develop such as those created by advances in technology or changes in societal attitudes. For instance, the advent of the Internet and social media has led to easier exchanges of information, and in turn has provided unauthorized access to personal data, so it is necessary to adopt a new law to strengthen the protection of online users’ private information.
Evolving laws may represent a progressive society, but legal systems tend to remain relatively stable. Notably, global legal systems fall into categories that share similarities, and two main categories are civil law and common law. In the civil law system,laws are created by the country’s legislature. Many European countries adopt this legal system. In the common law system, some laws are created by the legislature, but most are based on published court decisions from previous court cases, which are then implemented in future similar situations. The Unites States, the United Kingdom and Australia are examples of the common law system.
The law plays an essential part in resolving conflicts, settling disputes and making rules that everyone must follow, yet it has limitations. As the law is not applicable to all situations, it is just one instrument to regulate society. Governments usually employ other methods of social control to help society operate in a smooth and integrated fashion. Moreover, the law is not always ready or able to
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adapt to the constant changes in the society it serves. Because of its relative stability, it is unreasonable for the law to solve every newly emerging problem.
The law is more than just a set of rules as you have probably realized. It helps maintain security and stability in society, and its stable structure assists our societies to reach their full potential. The law is the compass that has guided humans from the first law-abiding communities to where we are today. As it continues to lead us into the future, the law will hopefully help us develop societies that are not just more harmonious but also more civilized.
Extended reading
The Red-Headed League
(Excerpt)
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) was a Scottish writer, whose best-known fictional character is the private detective Sherlock Holmes. The detective has the habit of paying attention to the smallest and seemingly insignificant details, which inevitably leads to him solving many mysterious crimes. “The Red-Headed League”, narrated by Holmes’s friend, Dr Watson, tells the tale of a man with red hair who joins a club for red-headed men and thus unknowingly helps a crime take place.
“You see, Watson,” he explained in the early hours of the morning as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, “it was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of the Red-Headed League, and the copying of the Encyclopaedia, must be to get Wilson, this not over-bright pawnbroker, out of the way for a number of hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, really, it would be difficult to suggest a better way. The criminal Clay’s clever plan was most certainly inspired by the colour of his accomplice’s hair. The four pounds a week was used to attract him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? They put in the advertisement; one criminal has the temporary office and the other one convinces the man to apply for it. Together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive for securing the situation.”
“But how could you guess what the motive was?”
“The man’s business was a small one, and there was nothing in his house which could account for such careful preparations and such expenses. It must, then, be something out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant’s fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the cellar. Then I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in London. He was doing something in the cellar— something which took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once more? I could think of nothing except that he was digging a tunnel to some other building.
“So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I surprised you by beating upon the
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pavement with my stick. I was establishing whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the assistant answered it. I hardly looked at his face.His knees were what I wished to see.You must yourself have noticed how worn,wrinkled and stained they were. They were evidence of those hours of digging. The only remaining point was what they were digging for. I walked round the corner, saw a bank connected to our friend’s property, and felt that I had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert, I called upon Scotland Yard and the chairman of the bank directors, with the result that you have seen.”
“And how could you tell that they would make their attempt tonight?” I asked.
“Well, when they closed their League offices, that was a sign that they cared no longer about Mr Wilson’s presence—in other words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the gold might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. For all these reasons I expected them to come tonight.”
“You reasoned it out beautifully,” I exclaimed in genuine admiration. “It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings true.”
“It saved me from boredom,” he answered, yawning. “I already feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the routines of daily life. These little problems help me to do so.”
“And you are a benefactor of society,” said I.
He shrugged his shoulders. “Well, perhaps, after all, it is of some little use,” he remarked.
单词表 Unit 1
sow the seeds of sth 成为…的肇端；播下…的种子 (2) *coronavirus /kəˈrəʊnəvaɪrəs/ n. 冠状病毒(2)
*multiply /ˈmʌltɪplaɪ/ vi. & vt. 成倍增加，迅速增加；乘，乘以；（使）繁殖增殖(2)
infect /ɪnˈfekt/ vt. 传染，使感染；传染，使感染（计算机病毒）；使感染（某种感情）， 影响 (2)
*symptom /ˈsɪmptəm/ n. 症状；征候，征兆(2)
*sore /sɔː(r)/ adj.（发炎）疼痛的，酸痛的；气恼，愤慨 (2) *throat /θrəʊt/ n. 咽喉，喉咙，颈前部 (2)
transmit /trænzˈmɪt/ vt. 传播，传染；传（热、声等），透（光等）； 传送，输送 vi. 传送，输送 (2)
*respiratory /rəˈspɪrətri; ˈrespərətri/ adj. 呼吸的 (2)
*contaminate /kənˈtæmɪneɪt/ vt. 污染，弄脏； 玷污，毒害 (2)
*inadequate /ɪnˈædɪkwət/ adj. 不充分的，不足的，不够的；不胜任的，缺乏信心的(2) *ventilation /ˌventɪˈleɪʃn/ n. 通风 (2)
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*approximately /əˈprɒksɪmətli/ adv. 大概，大约，约莫(3)
underlying /ˌʌndəˈlaɪɪŋ/ adj. 潜在的，隐含的，根本的；表面下的，下层的 (3) variant /ˈveəriənt/ n. 变种，变体，变形 (3) pull together 齐心协力，通力合作 (3) join forces with 同…联合，与…合作 (3)
*pharmaceutical/ˌfɑːməˈsuːtɪkl; ˌfɑːməˈsjuːtɪkl/ adj. 制药的，配药的，卖 药的 n. 药物 (3) biotech /ˈbaɪəʊtek/ n. 生物技术 (3) in record time 以最快的速度 (3)
do one’s worst 进行最大破坏，使尽最坏的招数 (3) precaution /prɪˈkɔːʃn/ n. 预防措施，预防，防备 (3) *hygiene /ˈhaɪdʒiːn/ n. 卫生 (3) *soap /səʊp/ n. 肥皂 (3)
*sanitizer /sænɪtaɪzə(r)/ n. 杀菌洗手液，消毒杀菌剂 (3)
*mask /mɑːsk/ n. 口罩，面罩，面具；假面具； 面膜；伪装，掩饰 vt. 掩饰，掩藏 (3)
social distancing 社交距离 (3)
*vaccinate /ˈvæksɪneɪt/ vt. 给…接种疫苗(3)
*quarantine /ˈkwɒrəntiːn/ n.（为防传染的）检疫，隔离期 (3) *pandemic /pænˈdemɪk/ n.（全国或全国性） 流行病，大流行病 adj. 大范围流行的(3)
put sth aside 忽视，不理睬，忘记；储存，保留 (3)
lining /ˈlaɪnɪŋ/ n. 衬层，内衬，衬里；（身体器官内壁的）膜 (5) every cloud has a silver lining 黑暗中总 有一线光明 (5) *liver /ˈlɪvə(r)/ n. 肝 (6)
*irritate /ˈɪrɪteɪt/ vt. 刺激；使烦恼 (6) medication /ˌmedɪˈkeɪʃn/ n. 药，药物 (6)
*fatal /ˈfeɪtl/ adj. 致命的；灾难性的，毁灭性的，导致失败的(6) *dose /dəʊs/ n.（药的）一剂，一服；一份，一次，一点 (7)
*prescribe /prɪˈskraɪb/ vt. 让…采用（疗法）， 给…开（药），开（处方）；规定，命令， 指示 (7)
*excessive /ɪkˈsesɪv/ adj. 过分的，过度的(7) *cybercrime /ˈsaɪbəkraɪm/ n. 网络犯罪 (9)
*span /spæn/ n. 持续时间；范围，包括的种类 vt. 持续，贯穿；包括，涵盖；横跨，跨越(9) *phishing /ˈfɪʃɪŋ/ n. 网络仿冒，网络钓鱼(9) *malware /ˈmælweə(r)/ n. 恶意软件 (9)
part with sth 放弃，交出（尤指不舍得的东西） (9) *ransom /ˈrænsəm/ n. 赎金 vt.（为某人）交付赎金 (9)
attachment /əˈtætʃmənt/ n.（用电子邮件 发送的）附件；依恋，爱慕；信念，信仰；（机器的）附件；连接，连接物；暂时隶属于 (9)
*spam /spæm/ n. 滥发的电邮，垃圾电邮(9)
*fraudulent /ˈfrɔːdʒələnt/ adj. 欺骗的，欺诈的(9) *patch /pætʃ/ n. 修补（程序），补丁 (9) drop one’s guard 放松警惕 (9)
12
disorder /dɪsˈɔːdə(r)/ n. 失调，紊乱，疾病； 杂乱，混乱，凌乱；骚乱，动乱 (11) *kidney /ˈkɪdni/ n. 肾，肾脏 (11)
*interfere /ˌɪntəˈfɪə(r)/ vi. 干涉，干预，介入(11)
*rational /ˈræʃnəl/ adj. 合理的，理性的，明智的；理智的，清醒的 (12)
exhibit /ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/ vt. 表现，显示，显出（感情、品质或能力）；展览，展出 vi. 展览，展出 n.（一件）展览品，陈列品 (12)
underworld /ˈʌndəwɜːld/ n. 黑社会，黑道，犯罪集团 (12)
*exploit /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/ vt.利用（…为自己谋利）； 剥削，压榨；运用，利用，发挥；开发，开采，开拓 (12)
*vulnerability /ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪləti/ n. 弱点 (12) *immense /ɪˈmens/ adj. 极大的，巨大的(12)
*tempt /tempt/ vt. 引诱，诱惑；劝诱，鼓动，怂恿，利诱 (12) *whirlpool /ˈwɜːlpuːl/ n.（河水或海水的）旋涡 (12) fight off 抵抗，击退 (13)
*chill /tʃɪl/ n. 着凉，受寒；寒冷，寒意，凉意(13) *rash /ræʃ/ n. 皮疹，疹 adj. 轻率的，鲁莽的 (13)
Unit 2
*graze /ɡreɪz/ vi.（牛、羊等）吃青草
vt. 放牧，放牛，放羊；（牛、羊等）吃青草 (16)
*majestic /məˈdʒestɪk/ adj. 雄伟的，威严的，壮观的 (16) *titanic-sized /taɪˈtænɪk saɪzd/ adj. 巨型的(16)
scenario /səˈnɑːriəʊ/ n.(pl.scenarios) 设想，方案，预测；（电影或戏剧的）剧情梗概 (16) partially /ˈpɑːʃəli/ adv. 部分地，不完全地(16) *fossil /ˈfɒsl/ n. 化石 (16)
*dioxide /daɪˈɒksaɪd/ n. 二氧化物 (16) *inevitable /ɪnˈevɪtəbl/ adj. 不可避免的，不能防止的；总会发生的，照例必有的， 惯常的 (16) *biomass /ˈbaɪəʊmæs/ n. 生物质；生物量(16) *geothermal /ˌdʒiːəʊˈθɜːml/ adj. 地热的(16) *emit /iˈmɪt/ vt. 发出，射出，散发 (16) *kilowatt /ˈkɪləwɒt/ n. 一千瓦 (16)
dry up 枯竭，耗尽；干涸；（河流、湖泊等）干涸(16)
*infrastructure /ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃə(r)/ n.（国家或机构的）基础设施，基础建设 (16)
13
*turbine /ˈtɜːbaɪn/ n. 涡轮机，汽轮机 (17)
*hydroelectric /ˌhaɪdrəʊɪˈlektrɪk/ adj. 使用水力发电的，水力产生的 (17)
*grid /ɡrɪd/ n. 系统网络，输电网，煤气输送网；网格，方格；格子，格栅，栅栏 (17) *neutral /ˈnjuːtrəl/ adj. 中立的，持平的，无倾向性的；中立国的，中立的；不含褒贬义的；不受影响的，没有倾向的；（化学）中性的；中性的，不带电的 (17) *discard /dɪˈskɑːd/ vt. 丢弃，抛弃 n. 被抛弃的人（或物） (17) foresee /fɔːˈsiː/ vt.(foresaw, foreseen) 预料， 预见，预知 (17) *ultra-high /ˈʌltrə haɪ/ adj. 极其高的 (17)
open the door to sth （为…提供）达到目 的的手段，（为…创造）机会 (17) dominant /ˈdɒmɪnənt/ adj. 首要的，占支配 地位的，占优势的，显著的 (17)
*deplete /dɪˈpliːt/ vt. 大量减少，耗尽，使枯竭 (19) *accelerate /əkˈseləreɪt/ vi. 加速，加快 vt.（使）加速，（使）加快 (19)
*array /əˈreɪ/ n. 大堆，大群，大量；数组，阵列 vt. 布置，排列；配置（兵力）(19)
*surplus /ˈsɜːpləs/ adj. 过剩的，剩余的，多余的 n. 过剩，剩余，过剩量；盈余，顺差(19) *façade /fəˈsɑːd/ n.（建筑物的）正面；表面， 外表 (19)
*optimize /ˈɒptɪmaɪz/ vt. 使最优化，充分利用；优化（数据、软件等） (19) *insulate /ˈɪnsjuleɪt/ vt. 使隔热，使隔音，使绝缘 (19)
*circulation /ˌsɜːkjəˈleɪʃn/ n.（气、水等的） 环流，循环；血液循环；传递，流传，流通；（报刊）发行量，销售量 (19)
*tonne /tʌn/ n. 吨（等于 1000 公斤） (19)
*implement /ˈɪmplɪment/ vt. 使生效，贯彻，执行，实施 (19) *whittle /ˈwɪtl/ vt. 把（木头等）削成… (19) whittle away 削减，减少，降低 (19)
decomposition /ˌdiːˌkɒmpəˈzɪʃn/ n. 分解 (20)
degrade /dɪˈɡreɪd/ vt. 降低，削弱（尤指质量）；使退化，使降解；降低…身份，侮辱…的人格，使受辱 vi. 退化，降解，分解(20)
*taint /teɪnt/ vt. 污染，使腐坏，玷污，败坏（名声） n. 腐坏，污染，玷污 (20) *ingest /ɪnˈdʒest/ vt. 摄入，食入，咽下 (20)
*toss /tɒs/ vt. & vi. 扔，抛，掷；甩；摇匀，翻 动；（使）摇摆，挥动 n. 掷硬币决定(21) wind up 以…告终（或终结）(21)
landfill /ˈlændfɪl/ n. 垃圾填埋池（或场）；垃圾填埋；填埋的垃圾(21) edible /ˈedəbl/ adj. 适宜食用的，（无毒而） 可以吃的 (21) *compost /ˈkɒmpɒst/ n. 混合肥料，堆料 vt. 把…制成堆肥；施堆肥于 (21)
*dough /dəʊ/ n.（用于制面包和糕点的）生面团 (21) *oven /ˈʌvn/ n. 烤箱，烤炉 (21)
*hoe /həʊ/ vt. & vi. 用锄头锄地（或除草） n. 锄头 (23) *alas /əˈlæs/ exclamation.（表示悲伤或遗憾）哎呀，唉 (23)
safeguard /ˈseɪfɡɑːd/ vt. & vi. 保护，保障，捍卫 n. 安全措施，保护措施 (23) *opt /ɒpt/ vi. & vt. 选择，挑选 (23)
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leftover /ˈleftəʊvə(r)/ n. 吃剩的食物，残羹
剩饭；遗留物，残存物 adj. 剩下的，多余的 (23) in hot water 处在困境之中 (25)
*scatter /ˈskætə(r)/ vt. & vi. 撒，撒播；散开， 四散 (25)
*tide /taɪd/ n. 潮，潮汐，潮水；潮流，趋势，动向；（难以控制的）恶潮，怒潮；高涨的情绪 (25)
*vanish /ˈvænɪʃ/ vi. 突然消失；不复存在，消亡，绝迹 (25) *seep /siːp/ vi.（尤指液体）渗，渗透 (25)
*dump /dʌmp/ vt.（尤指在不合适的地方 ) 丢弃，扔掉，倾倒；丢下，抛弃 n. 垃圾场，废物堆 (25)
*devastating /ˈdevəsteɪtɪŋ/ adj. 破坏性极大的，毁灭性的；令人震惊的，骇人的；给人印象深刻的 (25)
*tropical /ˈtrɒpɪkl/ adj. 热带的，来自热带 的，产于热带的(26) *cyclone /ˈsaɪkləʊn/ n. 气旋，旋风 (26)
*surge /sɜːdʒ/ n. 奔涌向前，突然的向上运 动；（强烈感情的）突发；（数量的）急 剧上升，激增 vi.涌，汹涌；使强烈地感到；急剧上升， 飞涨 (26) *mangrove /ˈmæŋɡrəʊv/ n. 红树林植物(26) *pineapple /ˈpaɪnæpl/ n. 菠萝，凤梨 (26)
*refuge /ˈrefjuːdʒ/ n. 庇护，避难；收容所，避 难所；庇护者，慰藉
15
2020新牛津译林版高中英语选修第二册课文原文 Unit 3
*mourn /mɔːn/ vt. & vi.（因失去…而）哀悼，忧伤 (30)
*shatter /ˈʃætə(r)/ vt. & vi.（使）破碎，破裂； （使感情、希望或信念等）粉碎，破灭， 被粉碎，被破坏 (30)
*ash /æʃ/ n. (pl.) 灰烬，废墟；灰，灰烬 (30) *utter /ˈʌtə(r)/ adj. 完全的，十足的，彻底的(30)
humanitarian /hjuːˌmænɪˈteəriən/ adj. 人道主义的；慈善的 (30)
uphold /ʌpˈhəʊld/ vt. 支持，维护；（尤指法 庭）维持（原判），受理（申诉） (30)
*fulfil /fʊlˈfɪl/ vt. 实现；履行，执行，符合，具 备；起…作用，目的是；使有成就感，使 满足 (30) *litre /ˈliːtə(r)/ n. 升 (31)
*framework /ˈfreɪmwɜːk/ n.（体系的）结构，机制；信念，观念，准则；（建筑物或物体的）构架，框架，结构(31)
*distressing /dɪˈstresɪŋ/ adj. 使人痛苦的，令人苦恼的 (31) building block 组成部分，构成要素；积 木，塑料积木 (31) *prosperous /ˈprɒspərəs/ adj. 繁荣的，成功的，兴旺的 (31) 101*helmet /ˈhelmɪt/ n. 头盔，防护帽 (33)
*deploy /dɪˈplɔɪ/ vt. 部署，调度（军队或武器）；有效地利用，调动 (33) *profound /prəˈfaʊnd/ adj. 巨大的，深切的，深远的；知识渊博的，理解深刻的；艰深的；严重的，完全的，彻底的 (33)
*sacrifice /ˈsækrɪfaɪs/ n. 牺牲，舍弃；祭献，祭祀 vt. 牺牲，献出 (33) displace /dɪsˈpleɪs/ vt. 使（某人）离开家园； 取代；移动，转移；撤职，免职 (34) *flee /fliː/ vi. & vt. (fled, fled) 迅速离开，（尤 指害怕有危险而）逃避，逃跑 (34) *refugee /ˌrefjuˈdʒiː/ n. 避难者，逃亡者，难 民 (34) chickpea /ˈtʃɪkpiː/ n. 鹰嘴豆(34)
*dual /ˈdjuːəl/ adj. 双重的，双的，两部分的(34) *proverb /ˈprɒvɜːb/ n. 谚语，格言(34)
*harsh /hɑːʃ/ adj.（天气或生活环境）恶劣的， 艰苦的；残酷的，严酷的，严厉的 (35)
*arid /ˈærɪd/ adj. 干旱的，干燥的；枯燥的， 乏味的，毫无新意的 (35) *toll /təʊl/ n.（道路、桥梁的）通行费；毁坏， 伤亡人数；钟声 (35) take its toll on 产生恶果，造成重大损失 （或伤亡、灾难等）(35) *hydroponics /ˌhaɪdrəˈpɒnɪks/ n. 水培，溶液栽培 (35) *livestock /ˈlaɪvstɒk/ n. 牲畜，家畜 (35)
*persistent /pəˈsɪstənt/ adj. 连绵的，持续的， 反复出现的；执着的，不屈不挠的，坚 持不懈的(37)
windscreen wiper /ˈwɪndskriːn waɪpə(r)/ n. 挡风玻璃刮水器，风挡雨雪刷，雨刮器 (39)
*furiously /ˈfjʊəriəsli/ adv. 愤怒地，狂怒地，暴怒地 (39) *rear-view mirror n. 后视镜 (39) *despair /dɪˈspeə(r)/ n. 绝望
vi. 绝望，失去希望，丧失信心 (39)
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2020新牛津译林版高中英语选修第二册课文原文 *drum /drʌm/ n. 鼓 vi. 打鼓，击鼓(39)
*gasp /ɡɑːsp/ vi. & vt. 透不过气，气喘吁吁地说；喘气，喘息，倒抽气 n. 深吸气，喘息，倒抽气 (39)
*bump /bʌmp/ vi. & vt. 颠簸行进；（无意地）碰，撞；（尤指身体部位）碰上，撞上 n. 碰撞（声），撞击（声）；肿块；隆起，凸块；轻微撞车事故 (39) *tyre /ˈtaɪə(r)/ n. 轮胎 (39)
*steering /ˈstɪərɪŋ/ n.（车辆等的）转向装置(39) steering wheel 方向盘，（操）舵轮 (39)
*peer /pɪə(r)/ vi. 仔细看，端详 n. 身份（或地位）相同的人，同龄人，同辈 (39) *solitary /ˈsɒlətri/ adj. 单个的，孤单的，孤零零的；独自的，单独的；喜欢（或惯 于）独处的；唯一的，仅有的 (39) *paralysed /ˈpærəlaɪzd/ adj. 瘫痪的(39)
*lean /liːn/ vi. 前附（或后仰），倾斜；倚靠，靠在vt. 使斜靠 adj. 肉少的，瘦且健康的；脂肪少的， 无脂肪的 (40)
*soak /səʊk/ vt. & vi. 使湿透，把…浸湿；浸 泡，浸湿，浸透，湿透 (40) *stumble /ˈstʌmbl/ vi.（不顺畅地）说，读，演奏；绊脚；跌跌撞撞地走，蹒跚而行(40)
*ramp /ræmp/ n. 斜坡，坡道；支路，匝道；活动梯，活动坡道 (40) *handicapped /ˈhændikæpt/ adj. 有生理缺陷的，残疾的，弱智的 (40)
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2020新牛津译林版高中英语选修第二册课文原文
Unit 4
*enforceable /ɪnˈfɔːsəbl/ adj. 强制的(43)
govern /ˈɡʌvn/ vt. & vi. 统治，控制，管理，治理；控制，影响，支配 (43) *dispute /dɪˈspjuːt; ˈdɪspjuːt/ n. 争论，辩论， 争端，纠纷 vi. & vt. 对…提出质疑，对…表示异议
（或怀疑）；争夺，竞争；争论，辩论，争执 (43)
originate /əˈrɪdʒɪneɪt/ vi. 起源，发源，发端于 vt. 创立，创建，发明 (44) *nomadic /nəʊˈmædɪk/ adj. 游牧的，流浪的(44)
*glimpse /ɡlɪmps/ n. 短暂的感受（或体验、领会）；一瞥，一看 vt. 瞥见，看一眼；开始领悟，开始认识到 (44) *sophisticated /səˈfɪstɪkeɪtɪd/ adj.（机器、体系等）复杂巧妙的，先进的，精密的；见多识广的，老练的，见过世面的；水平高的，在行的 (44) *abolish /əˈbɒlɪʃ/ vt. 废除，废止 (44) *amend /əˈmend/ vt. 修正，修订 (44) *bullying /ˈbʊliɪŋ/ n. 霸凌，欺凌 (45)
*legislature /ˈledʒɪslətʃə(r)/ n. 立法机关(45)
*flawed /flɔːd/ adj. 有错误的，有缺点的，有 瑕疵的 (45) *law-abiding /ˈlɔː əbaɪdɪŋ/ adj. 遵纪守法的， 安分守己的(45) *strive /straɪv/ vi. 努力，奋斗，力争，力求(47)
*conceivable /kənˈsiːvəbl/ adj. 可想象的，可 信的 (47)
*violate /ˈvaɪəleɪt/ vt. 违反，违犯，违背（法律、协议等）；侵犯（隐私等） (47) *browse /braʊz/ vi. & vt. 浏览，翻阅；随便看看；搜寻信息，浏览信息 (47) *abreast /əˈbrest/ adv. 并列，并排，并肩(47)
keep abreast of 了解最新情况，跟上 （某事物的发展）(47)
*impulse /ˈɪmpʌls/ n. 冲动，心血来潮，一时 的念头；动力，冲力，冲量；推动力，刺激(47)
*penalty /ˈpenəlti/ n. 惩罚，处罚，刑罚；（对犯规者的）判罚，处罚；（足球和其他类似体育运动）点球 (47)
*hack /hæk/ vi. & vt. 非法侵入（他人的计算机系统）；(47) *abide /əˈbaɪd/ vt. 容忍
vi. 逗留，停留，居留，居住 (47) abide by 遵守，遵循 (47)
infringement /ɪnˈfrɪndʒmənt/ n. 侵犯，违反 copyright /ˈkɒpiraɪt/ n. 版权，著作权 adj. 受版权保护的，未经准许不得复 制的 (50)
*grant /ɡrɑːnt/ vt.（尤指正式地或法律上）同 意，准予，允许；（勉强）承认，同意(50)
trademark /ˈtreɪdmɑːk/ n. 商标 vt.把…注册为商标 (50)
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2020新牛津译林版高中英语选修第二册课文原文 *exclusive /ɪkˈskluːsɪv/ adj.（个人或集体） 专用的，专有的，独有的，独占的（团 体、社团等）排外的 (50)
confidential /ˌkɒnfɪˈdenʃl/ adj. 机密的，保密的，秘密的；隐密的，秘密的；受信任的，委以机密的 (50)
*formula /ˈfɔːmjələ/ n. 配方，处方，药方；方 案，方法；公式，方程式；分子式；配方奶；方程式 (50)
*infringe /ɪnˈfrɪndʒ/ vt. & vi. 侵犯，侵害（合法权益）；（行动、计划等）违背，触犯 （法规） (50)
*mysterious /mɪˈstɪəriəs/ adj. 神秘的，奇怪的，不易解释的；神秘的，陌生的；诡秘的，故弄玄虚的 (53)
*narrate /nəˈreɪt/ vt. 讲（故事），叙述；给（纪 录片或节目）解说 (53) *whisky /ˈwɪski/ n. (pl.whiskies or whiskeys) 威士忌 (53) *soda /ˈsəʊdə/ n. 汽水，苏打水；苏打汽水； 苏打(53) *pawnbroker /ˈpɔːnbrəʊkə(r)/ n. 典当商人，当铺老板 (53)
out of the way 不再挡路，不再碍事；结束， 处理完；（用于否定句）奇特的，不寻常的，罕见的 (53)
*cellar /ˈselə(r)/ n. 地窖，地下窖 (53)
on end 连续地，不断地；竖着，直立着(53)
*tunnel /ˈtʌnl/ n. 地下通道，地道，隧道；（动 物的）洞穴通道 (53) *stained /steɪnd/ adj. 满是污痕的，沾有污 渍的 (54)
reason sth out 通过思考想出对策，推理出 （结果） (54)
*exclaim /ɪkˈskleɪm/ vi. & vt.（尤因强烈的情感或痛苦而）惊叫，呼喊 (54) ring true 给人以真实（或空洞、虚假）的印象 (54) *benefactor /ˈbenɪfæktə(r)/ n. 施主，捐款人，赞助人 (54) *shrug /ʃrʌɡ/ vt. & vi. 耸肩 n. 耸肩(54) *hazard /ˈhæzəd/ n. 危险，危害(55)
*probation /prəˈbeɪʃn/ n.（法律）缓刑制，缓刑；试用期，见习期，考察期；试读(55)
*plead /pliːd/ vi. & vt. 表明认罪（或不认罪）；乞求，恳求；声援，支持；申辩，辩护；解释，推说 (55)
punishment /ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/ n. 惩罚，处罚，刑罚；粗暴对待，虐待 (55)
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