程晓
在考研英语(包括四、六级)的写作话题中,环境类问题一直是预测的热门,虽然实际考查次数并不多。英语(一)在1999年考查了野生动物灭绝数量的图表,2000年考了“过度捕捞”,在这之后就没有明显直接地出现环境类话题。但是考生以此判断环境类话题不会再考肯定是不妥的,原因有四:一是环境与发展的平衡的确是我们当代接受高等教育的学子需要思考的问题;二是单纯讲环境问题严重没有实际意义,但是我们在日常生活中可以做很多事情来实现环保节能的目的;三是建设节约型社会、推动绿色发展也是习总书记反复强调的理念;四是其他各类话题近年来反复出现,环境类话题也该提及了。
基于上述理由,笔者认为环境类话题从“我们如何从身边做起保护环境/节能减排”出发,将会是一个很热门的出题角度。具体而言,考生可以尝试练习以下几个话题:英语(一)可练习绿色出行(坐公交车/骑自行车)、多爬楼少乘坐电梯等;英语(二)可练习交通出行方式的调查,是否了解哪些垃圾是可回收的调查等。
那么,问题来了。环境类话题涉及的“专有性话题词”还是非常多的,比如说,节能减排(conserve energy and reduce emissions,动词性)、可持续发展(sustainable development,名词性)、过度开发(overexploitation,名词性)这类词汇,都一定要事先积累好。
写作思路
接着笔者来讲讲这类话题的写作思路。一般的环境保护类话题考生可以从“正面或负面”两个角度入手。
如果图片或图表反映的是在保护环境或节能减排方面的负面现象,那么考生需要从负面角度入手,可从以下五个方面来着手写作。
1 提出图片反映的现象。比如,考生可以这样写:Subtly (巧妙地) and yet so completely, a social issue of common concern is presented in this picture: Our living environment is literally (真正地,确实地) going from bad to worse. (图片巧妙而全面地展现了一个人们普遍关注的社会问题:我们生活的环境确实变得越来越糟。)
2 考虑是否能进一步联系现实将图片反映的现象进行放大。比如图片反映的是水污染,那么考生可以进一步放大到“我们周边生活环境的各种污染”,可提及相关的污染关键词,如haze (雾霾)、 sandstorm (沙尘暴)、global warming (全球變暖)等。又比如图片反映的是人们不节约用电用水、不注意垃圾回收(从这个角度考查的可能性更大),那么考生可以罗列人们生活中的各类浪费或不环保的行为,如:leaving lighting, heating or cooling systems on (一直开着照明、暖气或空调系统);keeping computers, printers and other electronic equipment on all night or weekend when they are not being used (保持电脑、打印机或其他电子设备一直开着,哪怕是夜里或周末不用它们的时候);pouring unprocessed waste, both domestic and industrial, directly into rivers (把未经处理过的生活或工业垃圾直接排入河流)等等。
3 分析环境污染或不节能环保出现的原因。考生可以考虑从personal convenience (个人便利)、economic interests (经济利益)、lack of environmental awareness (缺乏环保意识)、lack of supervision (缺乏监管)等角度入手。
4 指出环境污染、资源浪费的严峻现实。如:The truth is that the living environments in some places in China have deteriorated (恶化) to such an extent that local people find it impossible to live there. (现实是,中国部分地区的环境恶化到如此的地步,以至于当地人发现无法在那生活。)又如,The world can no longer sustain the widening gap between what nature is able to provide and how much our infrastructure, economies and lifestyles require. (我们的世界已经不能再维持“自然能够提供的”和“我们的基础设施、经济、生活方式需要的”之间越来越大的落差了。)
5 提出言之有物的建议措施,重点是给出实际行动。考生不要单纯写“增强意识”这样的空话,可以写一些我们具体能做的事情。比如:What we need now is not words but action. Polluters deserve punishment while protectors deserve credit. Every individual and institution must act as a responsible caretaker (看护人) of our planet, and then we can make the world a better place. (因此,我们现在所需要的不是口号而是行动。污染者应受到惩罚,而环保人士值得嘉奖。每个个体和机构必须做我们地球负责任的管家,然后我们才能把这个世界变得更加美好。)endprint
如果图片或图表反映的是保护环境或节能减排方面的正确行为,那么考生需要从正面角度入手,具体可以从以下三个方面写。
1 写出图片反映的现象,并表示这样做是必须的。以“绿色出行”为例,考生在描述图片现象之后,可以这样写:In China advocating green transportation is not an option, but a must. (在中国提倡绿色出行不是一个选项,而是必行之事。)
2 分点论述“为什么需要这么做”。考生可以从外部环境、内部意义以及反向假设三个角度入手。如,“外部环境”可以这样写:Air pollution in our country is severe and global warming is real. (空气污染在我们国家是严重的,全球变暖是真实存在的。)“内部意义”可以这么说:If green transportation becomes the mainstream, both our country and its people will benefit a lot by having a less polluted environment and more sustainable economic development. People will also save money and have better health. (如果绿色出行成为主流,无论是我们国家还是人民都会大大受益:环境污染减轻,经济发展更可持续,人们既可以省钱也可以拥有更好的健康。)“反向假设”可以这么说:Without restrictions on the use of private cars, seeing the blue sky in China will continue to be a luxury. (如果不限制私家车的使用,在中国见到蓝天将成为一种奢侈。)
3 提出言之有物的针对性措施。比如提高民众意识和参与/开发新能源汽车等,考生可以这么写:Our government should take a leading role in raising public awareness of the environment and encouraging participation in its protection. The ownership of private vehicles should be better regulated and the development of vehicles powered by renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, should be promoted.
寫作话题预测
环境保护类话题的写作思路笔者就讲到这里,最后笔者给出一道预测题及完整的范文,供各位考生参考。
范文及译文:
The picture shows a young woman who is riding a bike to work, rather than driving there by car. There is also a man walking by, heading to the bus stop rather than the parking lot. Their smiles seem to tell us that using green transportation is a better commuting option for them.
图片描绘了一个年轻的女士骑着自行车而不是开车去上班。同时,一个男人从她身旁路过,不是朝着停车场而是公交站走去。他们的微笑似乎在告诉我们:绿色出行对于他们来说是一个更好的通勤选择。
Actually, in China, advocating green transportation is not an option, but a must. Why? The reasons are simple. First of all, the air pollution in our country is severe and global warming is real. Therefore, transportation, being a great contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, is the prime target for reducing air pollution and obtaining a sustainable environment. Whats more, if green transportation becomes the mainstream, both our country and its people will benefit a lot by having a less polluted environment and more sustainable economic development. People will also save money and have better health. Right now traffic jams are a major problem in most cities. Driving a car in China is anything but an eco-friendly choice.
实际上,在中国提倡绿色出行不是一个选择,而是必须要做的事。为什么?理由很简单。首先,空气污染在我们国家是严重的,全球变暖是真实存在的。因此,为了减少空气污染和获得可持续的环境,作为温室气体排放很大来源的交通是首要处理目标。此外,如果绿色出行成为主流,无论是我们国家还是人民都会受益,例如拥有污染更少的环境,更为持续的经济发展,人们既可以省钱也可以拥有更健康的身体。现如今,交通拥堵在大多数城市是一个主要问题。开车出行在中国绝不是环保的选择。
However, publicizing and popularizing green transportation is no easy task and demands strategic choices. Our government should take a leading role in raising public awareness of the environment and encouraging participation in its protection. The ownership of private vehicles should be better regulated and the development of vehicles powered by renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, should be promoted. In doing so, seeing the blue sky in China may no longer be such a luxury.
然而,宣传普及绿色出行不是一件容易的事,它需要战略选择。我们的政府应该起带头作用,加强公众环保意识并促进他们参与,加大对拥有私家车的管控,促进开发使用新能源(如太阳能、风能等)的车。只有这样做,中国人看到蓝天可能不再是一件奢侈的事。endprint