讀故事記單詞第二十一篇

　　WORDS

　　overpass n.天橋，立交橋

　　override vt.1.不顧，不理睬，否決 2.壓倒，優先于

　　overt a.公開的，不隱蔽的

　　overthrow vt.1.推翻，打倒 2.使終止，摒棄 n.推翻，終止，結束

　　overturn vt.1.使翻轉，使顛覆，使倒下 2.顛覆，推翻 vi.顛覆，翻轉，翻倒

　　overwhelm vt.1,(感情上)使受不了，使不知所措 2.征服，制服

　　overwhelming a.1.勢不可擋的，壓倒的 2.巨大的

　　owl n.貓頭鷹

　　oxide n.氧化物

　　oyster n.牡蠣

　　ozone n.臭氧

　　pact n.契約，協定，條約

　　paddle n.1.短槳，槳 2.(用腳拍打)玩水，涉水 vi.1.劃槳前進，蕩槳 2.(用腳拍打)玩水，涉水 vt.1.用槳劃(船) 2.用木板打

　　pamphlet n.小冊子

　　panda n.熊貓

　　pang n.一陣(劇痛、悲痛等)

　　panorama n.1.全景 2.概括，綜述，概觀

　　pant vi.1.喘，氣喘 2.(for)渴望 vt.氣喘吁吁地說 n.氣喘，喘息

　　paperback n.平裝本，簡裝本

　　parachute n.降落傘 vi.跳傘 vt.傘投，空投

　　No Hope?

　　Some people will do anything to overturn bad policy and save the planet. Environmentalists, in particular, are known for their overt attempts to overwhelm businesses and governments to change. The issues they stand against are well known: the shrinking ozone layer, the protection of pandas, the destruction of spotted owl habitat, and even over fishing in areas where oysters beds are threatened. These people parachute into dangerous areas, paddle alongside massive fishing boats,or release pamphlets from airplanes because of their internal pact with each other to make a differnce.

　　Against the panorama of these activities, it is sometimes difficult for normal people not to feel a pang of regret for how our own needs sometimes override those of nature. We cry when we see a baby seal killed, we pant when the air feels too full of carbon dioxide, and we weep that so many trees are being cut down to print the paperback books we love to read. But we don't know what to do. It all seems so overwhelming. Sometimes we even want to throw ourselves over the overpass into oncoming traffic because it is all so sad and we know that we can't overthrow our own governments.

　　It is as if we really are like a virus on this planet, destroying all of nature to satisfy our own needs. While we may think of something to do that might make a small amount of change, we really don't know if we can make a big enough difference. And we fear that it will all be too late anyway! Have we really come this far to have it all end like this?

　　希望渺茫?

　　有些人會不惜一切推翻不好的政策、拯救這個地球。環境保護主義者在這方面尤為出名，因為他們公開想制服企業和政府，讓它們做出改變。他們關心的問題是眾所周知的：不斷縮小的臭氧層、熊貓的保護、已被發現的貓頭鷹棲息地的破壞、甚至還有在牡蠣繁殖地受到威脅的區域過度捕魚的問題。這些人跳傘到危險地區和巨大的漁船一起劃槳前進、或者從飛機上散發小冊子，因為他們相互之間有個內部協定要與眾不同。

　　綜述所有這些活動，正常人有時會發現很難不感到一陣后悔，因為我們自己的需求不知為何會那樣壓倒自然的需求。看到一只小海豹被殺死我們會哭起來，感覺空氣中有太多的二氧化碳我們會氣喘，那么多樹被砍倒印制我們喜歡看的平裝書會使我們流淚，但我們不知道該做些什么，一切都似乎那么勢不可擋。有時候我們甚至想把自己從天橋上扔到滾滾車流中去，因為一切都那么令人傷心，而我們又知道我們不能推翻我們自己的政府。

　　我們真像是這個星球上的病毒，我們破壞整個自然以滿足自己的需求。雖然我們可能會想起來做點什么、帶來一些小小的變化，我們實在不知道我們是否能夠扭轉乾坤，并且我們還擔心無論如何已經為時已晚!我們真的到了一切只能這樣結束的地步嗎?