Melting raises fears about Antarctic glacier collapse 冰川融化加劇對南極冰川崩塌的擔(dān)憂

莫艷

Scientists have warned that one of the most significant glaciers in Antarctica is at serious risk of collapse （崩塌） because of being loosened by warmer temperatures in the surrounding seas， with the potential for globally significant consequences.

Thwaites Glacier， also known as the Doomsday Glacier （末日冰川） due to the impact its melting would have， flows into the Amundsen Sea off western Antarctica and is around the same size as Great Britain or Florida.

“There is going to be dramatic change in front of the glacier， probably in less than a decade. Both published and unpublished studies point in that direction，” glaciologist Ted Scambos from International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration told BBC. “This will accelerate the pace and widen the dangerous part of the glacier.”

“Were watching a world thats doing things we havent really seen before， and the emission of carbon dioxide is significantly to blame，” Scambos explained.

According to Scambos， Thwaites Glacier is one of the widest glaciers in the world， and over the last 30 years， it has doubled the outflow speed of the water it has released. It holds enough water to raise global sea level by more than 60 centimeters， and were it to be significantly damaged， it could also impact on other surrounding glaciers， compounding （使惡化） the problem.

It was reported that the water in the area known as the grounding zone， where the glacier lifts off the sea bed， was extremely warm， and also salty， which is likely to increase the chances of significant melting from below the surface.

Another glaciologist， Erin Pettit from Oregon State University， told CNBC that rising sea level was a near inevitability （必然性） and the focus should now turn to how to manage its environmental impact.

“We are already on track for sea level rise in the next several decades that will impact coastal communities worldwide，” Pettit said. “We cant reverse this sea level rise， but we need to consider how to relieve it and protect our coastal communities now.”

Activity A Reading for understanding

Ⅰ. Text?centered chunks

be at risk of 有……的風(fēng)險

be known as 被稱為……

due to 由于;因為

the emission of carbon dioxide 二氧化碳的排放

be likely to 很有可能……

be on track for 走上……的軌道

Ⅱ. Text?centered sentences

一、定語從句的省略

Were watching a world thats doing things we havent really seen before. 我們正看著一個正在改變的世界，那些改變是我們從來沒真正見過的。

【點石成金】things是先行詞，we havent really seen before是定語從句，此處省略了關(guān)系代詞that。關(guān)系代詞在定語從句中充當(dāng)賓語時通常可以省略。

【運用遷移】你正在看的那幅畫作是我的一位朋友畫的。

二、虛擬語氣的倒裝

Were it to be significantly damaged， it could also impact on other surrounding glaciers， compounding the problem. 假如它受到嚴(yán)重破壞，它也將影響周圍其他的冰川，從而加劇這一問題。

【點石成金】此句省略了連詞if。當(dāng)虛擬語氣中的if省略時，句中的謂語動詞和主語要倒裝。

【運用遷移】要是我處在你的境地，我會采取行動勸說你爸戒煙。

三、非限制性定語從句

It was reported that the water in the area known as the grounding zone， where the glacier lifts off the sea bed， was extremely warm， and also salty， which is likely to increase the chances of significant melting from below the surface. 據(jù)報道，在被稱為“接地帶”的區(qū)域，也就是冰川從海床上升起的地方，水非常溫暖，而且含鹽，這可能會增加地表以下的冰川大量融化的可能性。

【點石成金】which is likely to increase the chances of significant melting from below the surface是非限制性定語從句，起到補充說明的作用。此處which指代the water...was extremely warm， and also salty整個句子，作從句的主語。

【運用遷移】他在那么多人面前顯得有點緊張，這是可以理解的。

Activity B Reading for writing

假定你是李華，應(yīng)校英文報之邀，請你就南極冰川融化的問題寫一則報道。內(nèi)容要點：

1. 南極冰川融化的現(xiàn)狀、原因和影響;

2. 中學(xué)生可以做些什么來應(yīng)對這一問題。

注意：

1. 詞數(shù)80左右;

2. 可以適當(dāng)增加細節(jié)，以使行文連貫;

3. 至少需要使用一次虛擬語氣或一個定語從句;

4. 注意段落內(nèi)的邏輯關(guān)系。

The melting of glaciers in Antarctica

寫作導(dǎo)引

本次的寫作任務(wù)是寫一則報道，要求學(xué)生介紹南極冰川融化的現(xiàn)狀、原因和影響等，并提出應(yīng)對這一問題的對策，并且至少需要使用一個虛擬語氣或定語從句。這些寫作要求和所給語篇的主題語境是緊密相關(guān)的。我們可以通過整合同主題閱讀材料的內(nèi)容和語言，梳理寫作思路和積累素材。

一、語篇解碼

（一）內(nèi)容分析

What is the text mainly about？

（二）宏觀結(jié)構(gòu)

Fill in the blanks according to the text.

[Text structure Main idea Language expression Part 1： Para. 1 （1）

introduction One of the most significant glaciers in Antarctica is

（2） . Part 2：

Para. 2～ （3）Background

information Thwaites Glacier flows into （4）and is around the same size as Great Britain or Florida.

There is going to be dramatic change in front of the glacier. Part 3：

Para. （5）Reasons for

the melting The emission of （6）is significantly to blame.

The water was extremely warm and salty， which is likely to

（7）from below the surface. Part 4：

Para. （8）Appeal to

（9）We need to consider how to relieve it and protect our coastal communities now. ]

二、素材積累

（一）現(xiàn)狀闡述的核心表達

1. In the past few decades， there has been a dramatic change in... 在過去幾十年里，……急劇變化。

2. Nowadays， ...has become one of the most serious issues in the world. 如今，……已經(jīng)成為世界上最嚴(yán)重的問題之一。

3. has negative effect on 對……有負面影響

4. huge amounts of 大量的

（二）原因闡述的核心表達

1. The reason why...is that... ……的原因是……

2. due to/ because of 由于;因為

3. which is also responsible for 這也是……的原因

（三）建議的核心表達

1. It is strongly suggested that we should... 強烈建議我們應(yīng)該……

2. If I were you， I would... 如果我是你，我會……

3. It would be beneficial if you could... 若你能……，那是大有裨益的。

4. In order to cope with this problem， we should take some effective measures. 為了應(yīng)對這一問題，我們應(yīng)當(dāng)采取一些有效的措施。

5. from my point of view 依我看來

6. For one thing， ... For another， ... 一方面，……;另一方面，……

三、寫作支架

本次的寫作任務(wù)是寫一篇闡述現(xiàn)狀并提出建議的文章，根據(jù)寫作要求，其語篇結(jié)構(gòu)可定為“現(xiàn)狀介紹+原因+影響+建議”。文章的框架如下：

Nowadays， ...has become one of the most serious issues in the world. （現(xiàn)狀介紹） The reason why...is that...（原因闡述） If...continues， it will lead to...， which is likely to...and bring great damage. （影響）

As...， we should take some effective measures to cope with this problem. （建議總起） For one thing， it is strongly suggested that...（建議一） For another， it is our duty to inform everyone of...， along with its cause and impact. （建議二）

四、語篇過手

根據(jù)以上提供的主題、主題表達和語篇結(jié)構(gòu)，我們可以寫出文章的第一、二段。第一段介紹現(xiàn)狀、原因和影響，第二段提供建議?？傇~數(shù)控制在80左右。

同時，學(xué)習(xí)運用前文閱讀材料中出現(xiàn)的虛擬語氣或定語從句等高級句型。尤其要注意表達的內(nèi)在邏輯關(guān)系，如演繹關(guān)系、對比關(guān)系和遞進關(guān)系，需要注意使用恰當(dāng)?shù)倪B詞。