新研究成果可能會讓此景成為現實：英國超市的購物者很快就能在購買食品前，查看食品對環境造成的影響。科學傢已能利用公共數據庫估算出成千上萬種食品的構成及其對環境的影響。
The researchers estimated the composition of thousands of foods from the ingredients lists on their packaging. They then assessed their effect on the environment – the greater the impact, the higher the score.
研究人員根據食品包裝上的成分表估算瞭成千上萬種食品的構成。然後，他們評估瞭食品對環境造成的影響——影響越大，分數越高。
Fizzy drinks have the least effect, typically scoring 0.23 in the analysis. Ready meals were 3.17, tea was higher at 5.44. But unsurprisingly, the more meat and dairy, the greater the impact. Most foods were dwarfed by lamb and beef, which scored 34.
碳酸飲料對環境的影響最小，在分析報告中的評分通常為0.23。方便速食的分數為3.17，茶類分數更高，為5.44。但不出所料的是，食品中肉類和乳制品含量越高，其對環境的影響就越大。羊肉和牛肉的分數為34，大大高於多數食品。
Crucially though, the researchers found significant variations within the same foods. For example, the score for the worst pork sausages was 30% higher than the best. And the impact of biscuits depended on the amount of chocolate they contained. The worst was 46% higher than a plain biscuit.
但關鍵是，研究人員發現同類食物不同商品對環境的影響存在顯著的差異。例如，評分最差的豬肉香腸比最好的分數高出30%。餅幹對環境的影響取決於餅幹中巧克力的含量。評分最差的餅幹比普通餅幹的分數高出46%。
The researchers found similar trends for pesto sauces and lasagne, suggesting that there’s scope for manufacturers to make a big difference with small changes to their recipes.
研究人員在香蒜醬和意式千層面中發現瞭類似的趨勢，這表明食品制造商有機會通過微調配方帶來重大的環保效益。
詞匯表
composition 構成，成分
ingredients （食品）成分，原料
assessed 評估瞭
fizzy drinks 碳酸飲料
ready meals 方便食品，即食食品
dwarfed 相形見絀
significant 顯著的
pork sausages 豬肉香腸
pesto sauces 香蒜醬
lasagne 意式千層面
scope （做事的）餘地，機會
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. According to this new research, what did a higher score on food composition mean?
2. Which types of food had the highest score?
3. True or false? The score for sausages depended on their quality.
4. How could food manufacturers change their impact on the environment?
答案
1. According to this new research, what did a higher score on food composition mean?
A higher score meant a bigger impact on the environment.
2. Which types of food had the highest score?
Lamb and beef had the highest score at 34.
3. True or false? The score for sausages depended on their quality.
True. The score for the worst pork sausages was 30% higher than the best.
4. How could food manufacturers change their impact on the environment?
The research suggested there’s scope for manufacturers to make a big difference with small changes to their recipes.
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