Science and the World's Problem

　　科学与世界难题

　　In saying that the world is at a crossroads created by science and technology, I know I am not the first. But mankind cannot afford to hesitate in indecision. There is only one choice for us. We must begin to move along the road to a better future for all the peoples of the world and we must do this now.

　　By the end of the 20th century, the population of the world might have been doubled. In attempting to ensure food, clothing and a dignified standard of life for this enormous host of people we must use every weapon that science and technology can give us. There are obvious difficulties for the less developed areas in doing this — for example, lack of capital, differences in social structure and inadequate knowledge.

　　Our strategy to overcome these difficulties must be total. We have to look at world problems as a whole. That is, try to better our understanding of the complex interactions between the multitude of development activities. We already know the great gifts that science and technology can bestow on all nations. If we are made wiser by a constant appreciation of the complexities of what we are attempting, the faster we shall move towards a solution of the really imperative problems that confront us everywhere.

　　作文结构分析：

　　· 科技的发展使世界处于十字路口

　　· 解决人口爆炸问题必须依赖科技

　　· 科技的进一步发展尚有许多困难

　　作文内容分析：

　　本文是一篇议论性的说明文, 全文论述了科技的发展带来了世界性的问题, 而人口爆炸则是最主要的。人口巨增使世界面临解决“ 生存问题”的难题, 因此又必须求助于科技的进一步发展, 但尚有很多困难。本文的难度相当于六级和考研水平。

　　单词词组：

　　crossroads n. 十字路口

　　cannot afford to hesitate in indecision 再经不起犹豫不决了

　　ensure v. 保证, 确保

　　dignified standard of life 有尊严的生活标准

　　enormous host of people = big population 大量人群

　　capital n. 资本

　　social structure 社会结构

　　inadequate a. 不足的

　　strategy n. 策略

　　better v. 改善

　　complex interactions 复杂的相互影响

　　multitude n. 大量, 众多

　　bestow on = give 赠予

　　a constant appreciation of the complexities of what we are attempting 经常意识到我们所做的一切事情的复杂性

　　imperative a. 迫切的, 紧迫的

　　confront v. 面临