美語情景對話 第435期:The GM debate 轉基因爭論

Todd: Hey, Akane, I was reading in the paper that China is doing research on genetically modified foods and is considering it. The United States is for using genetically modified foods, (I see) but Europe is against it. (Oh, right) So you're from Canada, what do you think?

託德：嘿，茜，我看到報紙上的新聞說中國將進行轉基因食物的研究，而且目前正在考慮。美國是支持使用轉基因食物的，（我知道）可是歐洲是禁止的。（沒錯）你來自加拿大，你怎麼看這個問題？

Akane: Well, I think it's a great idea to have genetically modified foods.

茜：我認爲轉基因食物是個很棒的主意。

Todd: Why?

託德：爲什麼？

Akane: Well, I think that especially for countries like China research shows that the people in China, the quality of their life is going to be of the level of the people in America within the next thirty years, and if this world is going to support that kind of population, we definitely need more resources in order to make food to support the population.

茜：我認爲尤其是對像中國這樣的國家來說，研究表明中國人的生活質量在未來三十年內達到美國人的生活水平，如果世界要支持那種規模的人口，我們肯定需要更多的資源來生產食物去支持那些人口。

Todd: Do you worry more that maybe there haven't been enough tests on genetically modified foods, that there might be side effects that could lead to cancer, or could maybe ruin the naturally life cycle of the plants?

託德：你不擔心如果轉基本食物沒有進行足夠的試驗，可能會產生副作用嗎，可能會導致癌症，或者破壞植物的自然生命週期？

Akane: Uh, definitely, I think there is lots of reasons to be concerned and that's why the research has to be taken carefully and slowly and there has to be laws and procedures in place so that the research is controlled and that foods are tested before people can use them.

茜：當然了，我認爲要考慮很多原因，這就是爲什麼要仔細、緩慢進行研究的原因，而且還要出臺的相應的法律和程序，這樣研究就能得到控制，而且可以對那些食物進行測試，之後再供人們食用。

Todd: So, you're saying that they should do research but it's OK to go ahead and try to use it now?

託德：你是說他們應該做研究，然後可以繼續並試着應用？

Akane: Well, if there is reason to think that it is safe after many tests then, then I think we should start using it for the future.

茜：如果在進行了多次試驗後有理由證明是安全的，那我認爲爲了未來我們應該開始使用這些食物。

Todd: Mm, I mean, I can understand why people would want to use genetically modified foods because in terms of drought or insects eating the plants or feeding really impoverished areas like Africa and parts of Asia (Right) it's useful but we really don't know, I mean, aren't you a little bit worried that if you rush it you don't give enough time for the tests, you know, if it's really harmful to the environment or the people.

託德：我是說，我可以理解人們爲什麼希望食用轉基因食物，因爲考慮到乾旱、蟲災或是像非洲和亞洲部分地區那些貧瘠的土地，（對）這些食物用處很大，可是我們不知道，我是說，如果沒有進行足夠的試驗就倉促食用，你不擔心嗎，那對環境和人類的害處非常大。

Akane: For sure, so I don't think we should rush it, but at the same time I don't think we should completely stop the research, either because the fact is the population is growing and these people are going to have to eat food so if genetically modified foods can help people to eat and survive and for the human population to survive then we're going to have to continue with the research.

茜：那是肯定的，所以我認爲我們不應該倉促食用，同時我也認爲我們不應該完全停止研究，因爲事實是人口在不斷增長，而這些人都要吃東西，所以如果轉基因食物可以幫助人們生存，可是幫助人類生存，那我們就應該繼續這項研究。

Todd: That's a pretty solid argument. I pretty much agree with you on that.

託德：這是個非常有說服力的觀點。在這點上我非常同意你的觀點。

Akane: Thanks.

茜：謝謝。

Todd: OK, thanks, Akane.

託德：好，謝謝你，茜。

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重點講解：
1. in order to
爲了；以便；目的在於；
eg. She stinted herself of food in order to let the children have enough.
她自己省着吃，好讓孩子們吃飽。
eg. He ensconced himself in the closet in order to eavesdrop.
他藏在壁櫥裏，以便偷聽。
2. side effect
（通常指藥物不良的）副作用；
eg. Sleeplessness is sometimes the side effect of certain medications.
失眠有時是某些藥物產生的副作用。
eg. The patches made him nauseous at first, but that was the only side-effect.
膏藥一開始讓他噁心，不過那是唯一的副作用。
3. in place
（法律、政策、行政體系等）正在運作，就位；
eg. Had better policies been in place beforehand, much inconvenience might have been avoided.
如果更好的政策提前執行，更多的不便利很可能會被避免。
eg. Efforts to measure and act on student achievement results are now in place in most states.
幾乎美國各州都建立了測量學生學業成就並基於所得結果採取相應措施的機制。
4. in terms of
在…方面；從…角度看；根據…來說；
eg. It is difficult to express it in terms of science.
要用科學的字眼來表達它是很困難的。
eg. He often talks about his girlfriend in terms of love.
他經常用充滿愛意的語言談論他的女朋友。
5. for sure
無疑；肯定；
eg. The fighting was over for sure.
戰鬥確實結束了。
eg. Why this universal law prevails we cannot say for sure.
這個普遍規律爲什麼存在，我們尚不能確切地說明。
6. agree with
同意；贊成；意見一致；
eg. He was offended that we didn't agree with him.
我們不同意他的觀點，他生氣了。
eg. Answer with a plain "yes" if you agree with me.
如果你同意我的意見，就明白地回答“是”。