英语流利说 Level 6 Unit 3 Part 1 Reading: Depletion of Fossil Fuels

A number of scientists are emphasizing the tremendous challenges that will soon be faced when the depletion [资源缺乏] of fossil fuel supplies coincides [同时发生] with an alarming increase [惊人的增长] in the global population. They highlight agriculture which is heavily dependent not only on gasoline to fuel machinery [机器], but also on the petrochemicals necessary to manufacture synthetic [人造的] fertilizers [肥料] and pesticides [杀虫剂]. Without these petrochemicals, crop yields would be only a fraction [少量] of what they are today. To assume that an abundant source of renewable energy will address [deal with it] this challenge is to ignore the vital [必不可少的] non-fuel uses of petrochemicals.

Then there is the challenge posed to the current levels of mobility [流动能力]. As a fuel, gasoline is unrivalled [无与伦比的] in its portability [便携性]. Electricity requires bulky [庞大的] batteries and hydrogen is notoriously [臭名昭著的] difficult to store. Biofuels might seem like an alternative [替代], but the energy consumed when converting corn into bioethanol [生物酒精], for instance, greatly exceeds the output when the fuel is utilized [利用]. In any case, once we reach a crisis [危机] in the food supply, it will not make sense to divert [daɪˈvɜːt 转变] food crops to other uses.

Although there seems to be a widespread [广泛的] belief that the era of oil dependency is coming to an end due to some technological remedy [处理方法], this may be mistaken. Relying on such an assumption can lead to complacency [kəmˈpleɪsnsi 自满] and a failure to take precautions [prɪˈkɔːʃənz 预防措施]. Experts may not be able to come up with [提出] the kind of solution that can lead to a pain-free transition. Scientists warn that relying on alternative resources might only support half of the global population. The absence [缺乏] of realistic alternative to fossil fuels will mean that the first priority will be to curb [kɜːb 控制] the demand for food.

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Speaking

Petrochemicals are used to manufacture pesticides which are important for agriculture.

Scientists warn that relying on alternative resources may cause food shortages.

Curbing the demand for food will require a reduction in the global birth rate.

To address a problem means...to deal with it.