常春藤解析英語 17 光害危機

by Ilse van Wyk

In both modern and ancient thinking, light and brightness are viewed positively. _(1)_

The ideal situation for any astronomer 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 frustrate both amateur and professional astronomers. Even the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England, has been affected. _(3)_

An amateur astronomer in the US became so frustrated with light pollution that she decided 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 awareness. _(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 starry 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 hindrance to science.

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

原來如此

1. 第一題空格應選 (B)

理由：

a. 空格前說無論古代或現(xiàn)代，都對光抱持正面的想法(In both modern and ancient thinking, light and brightness are viewed positively.)。

b. 選項 (B) 卻說，太多光線會妨礙科學(However, too much light can...)。兩句均有關(guān)鍵詞 light，而 However 為承接前后語意的轉(zhuǎn)折，并帶出本文的主題『光害』，故為正選。

大補丸：

be a hindrance to N/V-ing　是……的障礙∕絆腳石

hindrance n. 障礙(物)，妨礙

例： A lack of education can be a hindrance to your dreams.

(缺乏教育將會是你追求夢想的絆腳石。)

2. 第二題空格應選 (E)

理由：

a. 空格前提及人口密布的地區(qū)過度使用光線造成所謂『天空輝光』的現(xiàn)象(The overuse of lights...causes a phenomenon called skyglow.)。

b. 選項 (E) 進一步闡述天空輝光會降低看見明暗對比的可能性(Skyglow lowers the ability to...)，承接前面語意，且兩句中的 skyglow(天空輝光)為關(guān)鍵詞，故為正選。

大補丸：

the contrast between A and B　　A 與 B 之間的對比

contrast n. 對比

例： The photographer likes to show the contrast between the rich and the poor.

(那名攝影師喜歡呈現(xiàn)貧富之間的對比。)

3. 第三題空格應選 (D)

理由：

a. 空格前提到，就連在英國的格林威治天文臺都受影響(Even the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England, has been affected.)，推測下一句應說明該機構(gòu)受到的影響。

b. 選項 (D) 進一步說明天文臺的觀察活動受限于光害而必須遷移臺址(The site of the observatory had to be moved...)，其中 observatory(天文臺)指的便是空格前提及的格林威治天文臺，故為正選。

大補丸：

a.site n. 地點

b.limit vt. 限制

limit A to B　　將 A 限制在 B

例： You cannot limit yourself to your own hometown. There's a whole world out there.

(你不能將自己限制在家鄉(xiāng)里。外面的世界很遼闊。)

c.observation n. 觀察，觀測

make an observation　　觀察，觀測

4. 第四題空格應選 (A)

理由：

a. 空格前說一位女中學生設(shè)法架設(shè)網(wǎng)站提高大眾對光害的認知(Although she was only a high school student, she...)。

b. 選項 (A) 接著說，她的努力(Her efforts)最后使『暗天周』在 2003 年四月首次實行，其中的所有格 Her 即指空格前提到的女中學生，故為正選。

大補丸：

yield vt. 產(chǎn)生;得出(結(jié)果)

例： The researchers' analysis yielded the conclusion that cranberries are beneficial to everyone.

(研究人員的分析得到一項結(jié)論，證明小紅莓有益健康。)

5. 第五題空格應選 (C)

理由：

a. 空格前提及國際暗天協(xié)會致力于減少光害逾二十年(This association has aimed to cut down on light pollution...)。

b. 選項 (C) 則進一步指出，該協(xié)會同時也提供意見，如何在產(chǎn)生最少量的天空輝光下，照亮戶外的方法(The IDA also advises...on how they can light outdoor areas with minimal skyglow.)，其中兩句主詞 This association 和 IDA 指的都是國際暗天協(xié)會，故為正選。

大補丸：

a.advise sb on sth　就某事給予某人建議，就某事提供某人意見

例： My accountant always advises me on how to invest my money.

(我的會計師總會給我投資方面的建議。)

b.minimal a. 最小∕少的

maximal a. 最大∕多的

精解字詞詞組

1. observe vt. 觀察

例： The doctor observed the child to see how he would react to the medicine.

(醫(yī)生觀察那名兒童對該藥物的反應為何。)

2. frustrate vt. 使挫折，使喪氣

be frustrated with...　　因……感到挫折∕沮喪

例： All of us were frustrated with the outcome of the meeting.

(我們都對會議的結(jié)果感到很沮喪。)

3. campaign vi. 從事活動，發(fā)起運動

campaign for/against...　　發(fā)起支持∕反對……的活動

例： Let's campaign for better lunches in the school cafeteria.

(咱們發(fā)起活動爭取學校自助餐廳供應更棒的午餐吧。)

4. manage to V　　設(shè)法做到……

例： John couldn't manage to save money even though he had a high income.

(盡管薪水很高，約翰還是存不了錢。)

5. cut down on...　　減少……

例： You should try to cut down on the amount of time you spend on the Internet.

(你應設(shè)法減少你上網(wǎng)的時間。)

6. address vt. 探討(問題)

例： We will address the problems at the end-of-the-month meeting.

(我們會在月底的會議上探討這些問題。)

7. be visible/invisible to the naked eye　　肉眼所能見∕肉眼所不能見

例： There are germs invisible to the naked eye everywhere.

(到處都有肉眼看不見的細菌。)

單字小鋪

1. darken vt. 使變暗

2. positively adv. 正面地

negatively adv. 負面地

3. astronomer n. 天文學家

4. interference n. 干擾，妨礙

5. artificial a. 人造的

6. neon sign n. 霓虹燈廣告招牌

7. populated a. 有人居住的

densely/sparsely populated　　人口稠密∕稀疏的

8. skyglow n. 天空輝光

9. reflected a. 反射的

10. amateur a. 業(yè)余的

11. professional a. 專業(yè)的

12. observatory n. 天文臺;氣象臺

13. mounting a. 日益增加的

詞組小鋪

1. set up...　　建立……

2. raise awareness　　喚醒意識，提高認識

3. contribute to N/V-ing　　造成∕導致……

4. turn off/on...　　關(guān)閉∕打開……(電源、電器開關(guān))

中文翻譯&標準答案

無論古代或現(xiàn)代，都對光和明亮抱持正面的想法。然而，太多光線卻會妨礙科學。

對任何天文學家來說，最理想的狀況是觀察天空時沒有任何人造光線的阻礙。在充斥著街燈與霓虹燈招牌的現(xiàn)代世界中，這幾乎是不可能的事。在人口密布的地區(qū)過度使用光線造成所謂『天空輝光』的現(xiàn)象。天空輝光會降低明暗對比的可見度。對天文學家來說，在深邃宇宙中看見由星星、星球和其它物體反射的光線是很重要的。這些困擾讓業(yè)余和專業(yè)天文學家感到很挫敗。就連英國的格林威治天文臺都受到影響。因光害限制了天文臺所做的觀測，因此必須遷移臺址。

一名美國業(yè)余天文學家因光害問題感到很沮喪，因此決定發(fā)起一年一周不開燈保持暗黑天空的活動。雖然她當時只是一名中學生，仍設(shè)法架設(shè)網(wǎng)站喚起大眾的認知。她的努力最后促使『暗天周』在 2003 年四月首次實行。

暗天周是由國際暗天協(xié)會協(xié)辦。該協(xié)會致力于減少光害逾二十年。國際暗天協(xié)會也提供意見給全球政府、城市與公司行號，如何在產(chǎn)生最少量的天空輝光下照亮戶外的方法。探討光害問題不僅對天文學家有幫助，也對全球人口有益。有越來越多證據(jù)顯示光害也會導致健康問題。

在星光熠熠的夜晚，當我們抬頭朝北極星和其它肉眼可見的星星望去之際，還必須運用想象力。因為宇宙中還有數(shù)百萬個星體，只要關(guān)上燈，我們就能親眼目睹。

標準答案:

1. (B)　2. (E)　3. (D)　4. (A)　5. (C)