核能超赞的3个理由！3/3：英语精读讲义

Three reasons why we should continue using nuclear energy. 表達脈絡

为什么我们应该继续使用核能的三个理由。

One,

第一，

nuclear energy saves lives.

核能拯救生命。

In 2013,

2013年，

a study conducted by NASA found that nuclear energy has prevented around 1.8 million deaths. 表達脈絡

NASA进行的一项研究发现，核能阻止了大约180万人死亡。

Even if you include the death tolls from Chernobyl and Fukushima, 講解

即使把切尔诺贝利和福岛的死亡人数算在内，

nuclear energy ranks last in death per energy unit produced. 短語搭配

每生产一个单位能源的死亡人数中，核能依然排在最后。

While nuclear waste is really toxic,

虽然核废料毒性很强，

it's usually stored somewhere.

但它们通常会被储存在某个地方。

While the toxic byproducts of fossil fuels are pumped into the air we breathe every day.

而化石燃料产生的有毒副产品却每天都被排入我们呼吸的空气中。

So, just by reducing the amount of fossil fuels burned, 語法

因此，仅仅通过减少化石燃料的燃烧量，

countless cases of cancer or lung disease

就避免了无数癌症或肺病病例

and accidents in coal mines have been avoided. 語法

以及煤矿事故的发生。

If we can choose between lots of dangerous stuff being put into a deep hole

如果我们可以在把一堆危险物品放进深坑

and lots and lots and lots of dangerous stuff being pumped into the atmosphere,

和把许许多多危险物品排入大气之间做选择，

the former seems more logical. 用詞

前者似乎更符合逻辑。

Nuclear energy feels way more dangerous though. 語氣意圖

不过，核能让人感觉危险得多。

Single catastrophic events burn into our memory 習語

单一的灾难性事件深深印在我们的记忆中，

while coal and oil kill silently.

而煤炭和石油却在无声无息地杀人。

It's like the death rate of flying versus driving. 表達脈絡

这就像飞行与开车的死亡率对比。

Even in the best case scenario, 短語搭配

即使在最理想的情况下，

it would take at least 40 years to switch to 100% renewable energy. 語法

转向100%可再生能源也至少需要40年。

So, for as long as we continue using fossil fuels, 語法

所以，只要我们还在继续使用化石燃料，

nuclear energy will save way more lives than it destroys. 語法

核能拯救的生命就将远远多于它所夺走的。

Two,

第二，

nuclear energy reduces CO2 emissions.

核能减少二氧化碳排放。

Nuclear energy is arguably way less harmful to the environment 語氣意圖

可以说，核能对环境的危害要小得多

in terms of climate change 短語搭配

在气候变化方面

than fossil fuels,

相比化石燃料，

our main source of energy.

这是我们主要的能源来源。

Since 1976,

自1976年以来，

about 64 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions have not been pumped out

大约有640亿吨温室气体没有被排放出去

thanks to nuclear energy. 短語搭配

全靠核能的帮助。

And by the mid-21st century,

到21世纪中叶，

that could amount to an additional 80-240 gigatons. 用詞

这个数字可能会额外增加800至2400亿吨。

Humanity's energy consumption is rising steadily.

人类的能源消耗正在稳步上升。

According to US government projections, 表達脈絡

根据美国政府的预测，

China alone will add the equivalent of a new 600 MW coal plant 短語搭配

仅中国一国，就将增加相当于一座新建600兆瓦燃煤电厂的产能，

every 10 days for the next 10 years.

在接下来的10年里每10天增加一次。

China already burns 4 billion tons of coal each year.

中国每年已经燃烧了40亿吨煤炭。

Coal is cheap, relatively abundant,

煤炭便宜，相对丰富，

and easy to get to. 短語搭配

而且容易开采。

So, it's not likely that humanity will stop using it soon. 語法

因此，人类不太可能很快停止使用它。

Nuclear energy might be the only way of dampening the effects of climate change 短語搭配

核能可能是减轻气候变化影响的唯一途径，

and preventing a catastrophic man-made global warming.

也是防止人为全球变暖带来灾难性后果的唯一途径。

Compared to the other things we do, 表達脈絡

与我们所做的其他事情相比，

nuclear energy is relatively clean.

核能相对清洁。

So, even if it is a good idea to quit nuclear energy long-term,

所以，即使长远来看放弃核能是个好主意，

it might be a good solution for the next 100 years or so. 用詞

它可能也是未来100年左右的一个好方案。

Compared to the alternatives.

相比其他替代方案而言。

Three,

第三，

new technologies.

新技术。

Maybe technology will solve the problem of nuclear waste and dangerous power plants.

也许技术会解决核废料和危险发电厂的问题。

The nuclear reactors we've used so far are mostly outdated technology 短語搭配

我们迄今为止使用的核反应堆大多是过时的技术，

because nuclear innovation stopped in the 1970s.

因为核能创新在20世纪70年代就停止了。

There are models like the thorium reactor that could solve the problem altogether. 文化背景

有像钍反应堆这样的模型，可以完全解决这个问题。

Thorium is abundant,

钍资源丰富，

really hard to turn into nuclear weapons,

极难转化为核武器，

and up to two orders of magnitude less wasteful than current nuclear reactors. 用詞

并且比目前的核反应堆产生的废料少达两个数量级。

The waste material might also be only dangerous for a few hundred years

这些废料可能也只需几百年就不再危险，

in contrast to a couple of thousand years. 表達脈絡

而不是几千年。

One ton of thorium is estimated to provide the same amount of energy 語法

据估计，一吨钍提供的能量相当于

as 200 tons of uranium or 3.5 million tons of coal.

200吨铀或350万吨煤炭。

So, while we cannot know for sure if alternative nuclear technology will keep its promises, 講解

因此，虽然我们不能确定替代核技术是否会兑现其承诺，

shouldn't we at least do more research 語氣意圖

我们难道不应该至少做更多研究，

before we forgo an opportunity to solve lots of humanity's current problems? 短語搭配

再放弃一个解决人类目前许多问题的机会吗？

It might not be an easy challenge,

这可能不是一个轻松的挑战，

but that hasn't stopped us before.

但以前这也从未阻止过我们。

So, should we use nuclear energy?

那么，我们应该使用核能吗？

There are risks involved in any great human endeavor, 短語搭配

任何伟大的人类探索都伴随着风险，

and we have to make an informed decision rather than rely on gut feeling. 講解

我们必须做出知情的决定，而不是依赖直觉。

If you want to hear the other side of the argument

如果你想听听另一边的论点，

or a short introduction to nuclear energy,

或者关于核能的简短介绍，

click here.

请点击这里。