本集內容
London’s new black cabs put to Arctic test 倫敦新黑色出租車送往北極測試
Pollution-fighting pigeons 英國科學傢利用鴿子研究城市污染模式
文字稿
This is the brand new design for the iconic London black cab. But before they can put this through its paces in the cities, they have to try it out in one of the most hostile environments on Earth. It’s got an electric engine, most of the time driving with zero emissions, although a small petrol motor charges the battery from time to time.
這是倫敦著名的黑色出租車的全新設計樣式。但在新車型被投入到各城市中大展身手之前，工作人員需要先把它送到地球上環境最嚴酷的地區之一試駕。新款黑色出租車配有電力引擎，且在大多數駕駛時間內可實現零排放，但它仍裝有一臺時而需要為汽車電池充電的小型汽油發動機。
Can pigeons help us in the battle against air pollution? It sounds far-fetched but academics from Birmingham University are convinced they can. They’re attaching sensors to the birds which, unlike drones, can fly without restrictions above busy urban centres. The information collected will help to model how pollution moves around cities and could be used by planners to help decide where to build hospitals or schools.
鴿子能幫我們對抗空氣污染嗎？這聽起來令人難以置信，但一組來自伯明翰大學的學者對此堅信不疑。他們給這些鳥綁上傳感器，和同樣安裝瞭傳感器的無人機不同的是，鴿子可以不受限制地在繁忙的城市上空翱翔。由這些鴿子收集到的信息能幫助科學傢模擬污染物在城市移動的模式，城市規劃者也可以根據這些信息決定設立醫院或學校的地點。
詞匯
emissions
（有害氣體）排放
far-fetched
難以置信的
練習
請從以下詞匯中選擇適當的答案來完成句子。註意：你可能需要改變單詞的時態來完成句子。
emissions / far-fetched
1. A collapse in the use of coal has driven UK carbon ______ down to levels barely seen since the Victorian era, new figures show.
2. The idea of pigs producing human organs might sound a bit ______ but that is what a group of Japanese scientists is attempting to do.
答案
1. A collapse in the use of coal has driven UK carbon emissions down to levels barely seen since the Victorian era, new figures show.
2. The idea of pigs producing human organs might sound a bit far-fetched but that is what a group of Japanese scientists is attempting to do.
免費試聽
填表領取25分鐘真人外師課＋英文程度分析
