核能超讚的3個理由！3/3：英語精讀講義

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

為什麼我們應該繼續使用核能的三個理由。

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進行的一項研究發現，核能阻止了約180萬人死亡。

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

即使把車諾比和福島的死亡人數算在內，

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

每一單位能源生產的死亡人數中，核能依然排在最後。

While nuclear waste is really toxic,

雖然核廢料毒性很強，

it's usually stored somewhere.

但它們通常會被妥善儲存在某處。

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

而化石燃料產生的有毒副產品卻每天都被排入我們呼吸的空氣中。

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

因此，僅僅透過減少化石燃料的燃燒量，

countless cases of cancer or lung disease

就避免了無數的癌症或肺病病例

and accidents in coal mines have been avoided. 文法

以及煤礦事故的發生。

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

如果我們可以在把一堆危險物品放進深坑

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

和把許許多多危險物品排入大氣之間做選擇，

the former seems more logical. 用詞

前者似乎更符合邏輯。

Nuclear energy feels way more dangerous though. 語氣意圖

不過，核能讓人感覺危險得多。

Single catastrophic events burn into our memory 慣用語

單一的災難性事件深深印在我們的記憶中，

while coal and oil kill silently.

而煤炭和石油卻在無聲無息地殺人。

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

這就像飛行與開車的死亡率對比。

Even in the best case scenario, 片語搭配

即使在最理想的情況下，

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

轉向100%再生能源也至少需要40年。

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

所以，只要我們還在繼續使用化石燃料，

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

核能拯救的生命就將遠遠多於它所奪走的。

Two,

第二，

nuclear energy reduces CO2 emissions.

核能減少二氧化碳排放。

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

可以說，核能對環境的危害要小得多

in terms of climate change 片語搭配

在氣候變遷方面

than fossil fuels,

相比化石燃料，

our main source of energy.

這是我們主要的能源來源。

Since 1976,

自1976年以來，

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

大約有640億噸溫室氣體沒有被排放出去

thanks to nuclear energy. 片語搭配

全靠核能的幫助。

And by the mid-21st century,

到21世紀中葉，

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

這個數字可能會額外增加800至2400億噸。

Humanity's energy consumption is rising steadily.

人類的能源消耗正在穩步上升。

According to US government projections, 表達脈絡

根據美國政府的預測，

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

僅中國一國，就將增加相當於一座新建600百萬瓦燃煤電廠的產能，

every 10 days for the next 10 years.

在接下來的10年裡每10天增加一次。

China already burns 4 billion tons of coal each year.

中國每年已經燃燒了40億噸煤炭。

Coal is cheap, relatively abundant,

煤炭便宜，相對豐富，

and easy to get to. 片語搭配

而且容易開採。

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

因此，人類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 片語搭配

核能可能是減輕氣候變遷影響的唯一途徑，

and preventing a catastrophic man-made global warming.

也是防止人為全球暖化帶來災難性後果的唯一途徑。

Compared to the other things we do, 表達脈絡

與我們所做的其他事情相比，

nuclear energy is relatively clean.

核能相對清潔。

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

所以，即使長遠來看放棄核能是個好主意，

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

它可能也是未來100年左右的一個好方案。

Compared to the alternatives.

相比其他替代方案而言。

Three,

第三，

new technologies.

新技術。

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

也許技術會解決核廢料和危險發電廠的問題。

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

我們迄今為止使用的核反應爐大多是過時的技術，

because nuclear innovation stopped in the 1970s.

因為核能創新在20世紀70年代就停止了。

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

有像釷反應爐這樣的模型，可以完全解決這個問題。

Thorium is abundant,

釷資源豐富，

really hard to turn into nuclear weapons,

極難轉化為核武器，

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

並且比目前的核反應爐產生的廢料少達兩個數量級。

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

這些廢料可能也只需幾百年就不再危險，

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

而不是幾千年。

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

據估計，一噸釷提供的能量相當於

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

200噸鈾或350萬噸煤炭。

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

因此，雖然我們不能確定替代核技術是否會兌現其承諾，

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

我們難道不應該至少做更多研究，

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

再放棄一個解決人類目前許多問題的機會嗎？

It might not be an easy challenge,

這可能不是一個輕鬆的挑戰，

but that hasn't stopped us before.

但以前這也從未阻止過我們。

So, should we use nuclear energy?

那麼，我們應該使用核能嗎？

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

任何偉大的人類探索都伴隨著風險，

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

我們必須做出知情的決定，而不是依賴直覺。

If you want to hear the other side of the argument

如果你想聽聽另一邊的論點，

or a short introduction to nuclear energy,

或者關於核能的簡短介紹，

click here.

請點擊這裡。