深海採礦 - 6分鐘英語：英語精讀講義

Six Minute English from BBCLearningEnglish.com.

來自 BBCLearningEnglish.com 的六分鐘英語。

Hello,

你好，

this is Six Minute English from BBC Learning English.

這裡是 BBC Learning English 的六分鐘英語。

I'm Neil.

我是尼爾（Neil）。

And I'm Sam.

我是山姆（Sam）。

Here at Six Minute English,

在六分鐘英語節目中，

we often discuss the new inventions and ideas scientists dream up to fight climate change. 講解

我們經常討論科學家們為應對氣候變遷而設想的新發明和新點子。

Technologies like geoengineering, 文化背景

例如地球工程技術，

which could reduce global warming by reflecting sunlight back into space. 文法

它可以透過將陽光反射回太空來減緩全球暖化。

Often these ideas are controversial

通常這些想法都備受爭議，

because scientists disagree over whether the technology is possible 片語搭配

因為科學家們對該技術是否可行存在分歧，

and whether, in some cases,

而且在某些情況下，

it could do more harm than good. 慣用語

它是否會弊大於利也還是個未知數。

In this program,

在本期節目中，

we'll be finding out about a new idea 表達脈絡

我們將了解一個新想法，

to collect lumps of precious metals called nodules 用詞

即從海底收集被稱為結核的貴金屬塊。

from the bottom of the ocean.

這發生在海洋深處。

The idea,

這個想法，

known as deep sea mining, 文化背景

被稱為深海採礦，

could provide the metals like copper, nickel, and cobalt,

可以提供銅、鎳和鈷等金屬，

which are needed for the green technology 用詞

這些金屬是綠色科技所需的，

used in electric car batteries and other renewable energy. 講解

用於電動車電池和其他再生能源。

But could deep sea mining

但是，深海採礦

actually damage delicate ocean ecosystems as well?

難道不會同時破壞脆弱的海洋生態系統嗎？

We'll be hearing from two experts

我們馬上將聽聽兩位專家的看法，

and learning some new vocabulary soon.

並學習一些新詞彙。

But first,

但首先，

I have a question for you,

我有一個問題要問你，

Sam.

山姆。

Mammals like dolphins and whales

像海豚和鯨魚這樣的哺乳動物

represent a tiny amount of all marine biodiversity, 用詞

只佔所有海洋生物多樣性的一小部分，

the thousands of animal species living in the sea.

海洋中生活著成千上萬種動物。

Even all the different types of fish combined 表達脈絡

即使把所有不同種類的魚加起來，

make up less than 3% of all living things in the ocean. 片語動詞

也只佔海洋中所有生物的不到 3%。

So, according to recent estimates by UNESCO oceanographers, 片語搭配

那麼，根據聯合國教科文組織海洋學家的最新估計，

how many different marine species have their home in the ocean? 片語搭配

有多少種不同的海洋物種以海洋為家？

Is it A, 70,000,

是 A：70,000，

B, 170,000,

B：170,000，

or C, 700,000?

還是 C：700,000？

I'll guess there are around 170,000

我猜大約有 170,000 種

animal species living in the sea.

動物生活在海裡。

Okay, Sam.

好的，山姆。

I'll reveal the answer 表達脈絡

我將揭曉答案

at the end of the program.

在節目最後。

Deep sea mining is supported by some scientists 文法

一些科學家支持深海採礦，

because it could provide the raw materials, 用詞

因為它可以提供原材料，

especially metals,

尤其是金屬，

needed to power electric cars. 用詞

這是為電動車提供動力所必需的。

Amongst them is Bramley Murton, 文法

其中就有 Bramley Murton，

a professor of marine biology

他是一位海洋生物學教授，

at Southampton's National Oceanographic Centre.

就職於南安普頓的英國國家海洋中心。

Here he outlines the problem 片語搭配

在這裡他概述了這個問題，

to BBC World Service's Science in Action.

他在 BBC 世界新聞頻道《科學在行動》節目中這樣說道。

As in so many things in life, 表達脈絡

就像生活中的許多事情一樣，

there's a a real kind of paradox or a conundrum. 用詞

這裡存在一種真正的矛盾或難題。

The global grid capacity by 2050

到 2050 年，全球電網的承載能力

will have to increase by three times. 講解

將不得不增加三倍。

Electrical car ownership is set 片語搭配

電動車的擁有量預計

to increase by a factor of 25. 用詞

將成長 25 倍。

Solar and wind generation 用詞

太陽能和風能發電

is going to grow by a factor of 100. 文法

將成長 100 倍。

All of these things, which we need to do to decarbonize, 文法

為了脫碳我們需要做的所有這些事情，

are going to require raw materials and and metals in particular. 片語搭配

都需要原材料，特別是金屬。

So, you know, as a society, we're faced with this conundrum. 片語搭配

所以，作為一個社會，我們正面臨著這個難題。

We need to decarbonize

我們需要脫碳

Professor Murton describes the situation

Murton 教授用

using two words.

兩個詞來描述這種情況。

Firstly, he calls it a conundrum, 用詞

首先，他稱之為一個 conundrum（難題），

a problem that is very difficult to solve.

一個非常難以解決的問題。

He also calls it a paradox, 用詞

他也稱之為 paradox（悖論），

a situation that seems impossible

一種看似不可能的情況，

because it contains two opposite ideas.

因為它包含了兩個截然相反的想法。

Deep sea mining could damage the ocean,

深海採礦可能會破壞海洋環境，

but paradoxically, 表達脈絡

但矛盾的是，

it might provide rare metals 用詞

它或許能提供稀有金屬，

needed to decarbonize the planet.

這是為地球脫碳所必需的。

At the heart of the problem is that in the future, 表達脈絡

這個問題的核心在於，在未來，

green activities like driving electric cars 文法

駕駛電動車等環保行為

and using solar power is going to increase by a factor of 100.

以及使用太陽能將增加 100 倍。

If something increases by a factor of a certain number, 文法

如果某物 increase by a factor of（以一定倍數成長），

it becomes multiplied that many times.

它就會成倍增加那麼多倍。

But another marine biologist,

但另一位海洋生物學家，

Helen Scales, isn't convinced. 語氣意圖

Helen Scales，並不以為然。

Here she explains her doubts

在這裡，她向我們表達了她的疑慮，

to BBC World Service Science in Action.

她在 BBC 世界新聞頻道的《科學在行動》中這樣說道。

My concern at this point 語氣意圖

目前我最擔心的是，

is that deep sea mining and deep sea nodules in particular

深海採礦，尤其是深海結核，

are being seen as a silver bullet 慣用語

正被視為靈丹妙藥，

to solve the climate crisis

用來解決氣候危機，

and in such a way as well that I think

同時以這種方式，我認為，

that we can hopefully rely on life carrying on pretty much as normal. 片語動詞

我們有望依賴於像往常一樣繼續我們的生活。

My concern is that it really will be opening a door 慣用語

我擔心的是，這真的會打開一扇大門，

to something much more than those tests.

引發比那些測試嚴重得多的後果。

It's leading down a rather slippery slope, I think, 慣用語

我認為，這正把我們引向一條相當滑坡的危險境地，

towards this getting permission for deep sea mining

讓深海採礦獲得許可，

to be open on a commercial scale. 用詞

並在商業規模上展開。

Helen worries that deep sea mining

Helen 擔心深海採礦

will be seen as a silver bullet to the climate crisis,

會被視為解決氣候危機的 a silver bullet（銀彈/靈丹妙藥），

a simple and instant solution to a complicated problem.

對於複雜問題的簡單而即時的解決方案。

She thinks the tests

她認為這些測試，

which have been permitted to assess the difficulty of mining underwater

這些被允許用於評估水下採礦難度的測試，

could open the door

可能會 open the door（打開大門），

to mining on a large scale,

導致大規模採礦，

which would damage fragile marine ecosystems beyond repair. 片語搭配

這將對脆弱的海洋生態系統造成無法修復的破壞。

If you open the door to something,

如果你 open the door to something（為某事打開大門），

you allow something new to start or make it possible.

你就允許了新事物開始，或者使其成為可能。

Helen thinks starting deep sea mining

Helen 認為開展深海採礦

leads down a slippery slope,

會導致 a slippery slope（滑坡/越來越糟），

a situation or habit that is difficult to stop

一種難以停止的情況或習慣，

and is likely to get worse and worse.

而且可能會變得越來越糟。

And that could spell the end 慣用語

而那可能意味著終結，

for thousands of marine animals and plant species.

對於成千上萬種海洋動植物而言。

Yes, our oceans need protection

是的，我們的海洋也需要保護，

as much as our land and skies, 文法

就像我們的陸地和天空一樣，

which reminds me of my question, Sam. 表達脈絡

這讓我想起了我的問題，山姆。

Yes, you asked me how many different marine species live in the ocean, 文法

是的，你問我有多少種不同的海洋生物生活在海洋中，

and I guessed it was B, 170,000.

我猜是 B：170,000。

Which was the wrong answer, I'm afraid. 語氣意圖

恐怕這是個錯誤的答案。

There are estimated to be around 700,000 marine species, 文法

據估計，大約有 700,000 種海洋物種，

only about 226,000 of which 文法

其中只有大約 226,000 種

have been identified so far.

到目前為止已經被確認。

Okay, let's recap the vocabulary we've learned from the program, 表達脈絡

好了，讓我們複習一下在這個節目中學到的詞彙，

starting with conundrum,

從 conundrum（難題）開始，

a problem that's very difficult to fix.

一個非常難以解決的問題。

A paradox describes a situation that seems impossible

paradox（悖論）描述了一種似乎不可能的情況，

because it contains two opposite ideas.

因為它包含兩個截然相反的想法。

If something grows by a factor of 10,

如果某物以 a factor of 10（10的倍數）成長，

it becomes multiplied 10 times.

它就會增加 10 倍。

The term a silver bullet

a silver bullet（銀彈）這個詞

means a simple solution to a complicated problem,

意思是複雜問題的簡單解決方案，

often a solution that doesn't actually exist.

通常是一個實際上並不存在的解決方案。

A slippery slope is a situation or course of action

a slippery slope（滑坡）是一種情況或行動過程，

that is difficult to stop

它難以停止，

and is likely to get worse and worse.

並可能會變得越來越糟。

And finally, the idiom to open the door to something

最後，習語 open the door to something（打開大門）

means to allow something new to start or to make it possible.

意思是允許新的事物開始或者使其成為可能。

Once again, our six minutes are up. 片語搭配

再次提醒，我們的六分鐘到了。

Bye for now.

先說到這了。

Goodbye.

再見。

Six Minute English from the BBC.

BBC 六分鐘英語。