Amazon Rainforest
Biodiversity is vital for many reasons, one of which is medicine. Many drugs that we use to cure illness and fight disease are made from plants in the rainforests. That is why scientists always do tests on plants that are newly found there. If the rainforests keep disappearing, we might lose the chance to find cures for certain diseases. Aside from medicine, there is the beauty of the rainforests and the creatures that live there. When the rainforests are gone, they will be gone forever. The same goes for plants and animals. Those that become extinct will never be seen again.
The millions and millions of trees and plants in the rainforests help to clean carbon dioxide1 out of the air. This reduces air pollution and helps keep the Earth clean. However, the life of the Amazon rainforest is being seriously threatened. Climate change2 is one problem that makes it harder and harder for the rainforest to survive. Another is farming3. People have been cutting down the trees to clear the land so that they can use it for farming. Deforestation4 causes great damage to rainforests. Although it is important that people can grow food on farms, it is equally important to save the Amazon rainforest. Researchers believe that within 20 years, 40 percent of the current Amazon rainforest will be lost forever. Therefore, we should make every effort to protect this natural treasure before it is too late.
生物多樣性之所以重要有很多原因，其一便是醫療用藥。許多我們現在用來治療疾病及對抗病魔的藥物皆由雨林中的植物所製成。這就是為何科學家總是在測試雨林中最新發現的植物。如果雨林持續消失，我們就可能會失去找到某些疾病療法的機會。除了藥物的研發，雨林之美以及生活於其中的動物也將受到影響。雨林一旦消失，它們將不復存在。同樣道理也適用於動植物。那些絕種的動植物將無法再親眼見到。
雨林中數以百萬的樹木及植物有助於清除空氣中的二氧化碳。這不僅減少了空氣污染，也協助維持地球的清淨。然而，亞馬遜雨林的生命卻正遭受嚴重的威脅。氣候變遷是一大問題，它使得雨林越來越難以存活。另一原因則是農牧業。人們不斷砍伐樹木以製造空地，好讓他們能用來經營農牧。林木的濫墾濫伐會對雨林造成重大傷害。人們種植或飼養食物固然重要，但保護亞馬遜雨林也同樣要緊。研究學者認為在二十年內，現存的亞馬遜雨林有百分之四十將永遠消失。因此，我們應該在為時已晚之前，盡全力來保護這座大自然的瑰寶。
《Building Your Vocabulary》
1. vital a. 極其重要的，不可或缺的
Sufficient sleep is vital to one's health.
充足的睡眠對一個人的健康來說極其重要。
2. extinct a. 滅絕的，絕種的
Polar bears will probably be extinct if global warming becomes worse.
如果全球暖化日益嚴重的話，北極熊很可能會絕種。
3. reduce vt. 減少；降低
Did Ed's landlord agree to reduce his rent?
艾德的房東同意降低他的房租嗎？
4. pollution n. 污染
Water pollution is a serious problem here.
水污染是這裡的一大問題。
《Phrases for Learning》
1. aside from... 除……以外
Aside from one small mistake, Sal did well.
除了一個小錯誤以外，沙爾的表現都很好。
2. go for... 對……也適用
I told Ben that he should quit smoking, and that goes for you, too.
我告訴小班他應該要戒煙，這句話對你也適用。
3. cut down.../cut...down 砍倒……（樹木）
It is not easy to cut a coconut tree down.
要砍倒椰子樹並不容易。
4. make every effort to + 原形動詞 盡一切努力去（做）……
Al made every effort to pass the final exam.
艾爾盡全力要通過期末考。
《Extra Word》
1. carbon dioxide n. 二氧化碳
2. climate change n. 氣候變遷
3. farming n. 農牧業
4. deforestation n. 森林砍伐
《GRAMMAR CHECK》
...one problem that makes it harder...for the rainforest to survive.
（……一大問題，它使得雨林……越難以存活。）
make 作不完全及物動詞使用時，譯為『使……成為……』，加受詞後，可接名詞或形容詞作受詞補語。其句型如下：
make + 受詞 + 名詞∕形容詞 使……成為……
The accident made Henry an orphan.
（那場意外使亨利成了一個孤兒。）
注意:
make 之後不得用不定詞片語（to + 原形動詞）作受詞，一定要用虛受詞 it 取代，接形容詞或名詞做受詞補語後，再接不定詞片語。本句即為此句構。
make it + 形容詞∕名詞 + 不定詞片語
Dad's encouragement made it possible for me to face difficulties in life.
（我父親的鼓勵使我能夠面對人生中的困境。）
The millions and millions of trees and plants in the rainforests help to clean carbon dioxide1 out of the air. This reduces air pollution and helps keep the Earth clean. However, the life of the Amazon rainforest is being seriously threatened. Climate change2 is one problem that makes it harder and harder for the rainforest to survive. Another is farming3. People have been cutting down the trees to clear the land so that they can use it for farming. Deforestation4 causes great damage to rainforests. Although it is important that people can grow food on farms, it is equally important to save the Amazon rainforest. Researchers believe that within 20 years, 40 percent of the current Amazon rainforest will be lost forever. Therefore, we should make every effort to protect this natural treasure before it is too late.
生物多樣性之所以重要有很多原因，其一便是醫療用藥。許多我們現在用來治療疾病及對抗病魔的藥物皆由雨林中的植物所製成。這就是為何科學家總是在測試雨林中最新發現的植物。如果雨林持續消失，我們就可能會失去找到某些疾病療法的機會。除了藥物的研發，雨林之美以及生活於其中的動物也將受到影響。雨林一旦消失，它們將不復存在。同樣道理也適用於動植物。那些絕種的動植物將無法再親眼見到。
雨林中數以百萬的樹木及植物有助於清除空氣中的二氧化碳。這不僅減少了空氣污染，也協助維持地球的清淨。然而，亞馬遜雨林的生命卻正遭受嚴重的威脅。氣候變遷是一大問題，它使得雨林越來越難以存活。另一原因則是農牧業。人們不斷砍伐樹木以製造空地，好讓他們能用來經營農牧。林木的濫墾濫伐會對雨林造成重大傷害。人們種植或飼養食物固然重要，但保護亞馬遜雨林也同樣要緊。研究學者認為在二十年內，現存的亞馬遜雨林有百分之四十將永遠消失。因此，我們應該在為時已晚之前，盡全力來保護這座大自然的瑰寶。
《Building Your Vocabulary》
1. vital a. 極其重要的，不可或缺的
Sufficient sleep is vital to one's health.
充足的睡眠對一個人的健康來說極其重要。
2. extinct a. 滅絕的，絕種的
Polar bears will probably be extinct if global warming becomes worse.
如果全球暖化日益嚴重的話，北極熊很可能會絕種。
3. reduce vt. 減少；降低
Did Ed's landlord agree to reduce his rent?
艾德的房東同意降低他的房租嗎？
4. pollution n. 污染
Water pollution is a serious problem here.
水污染是這裡的一大問題。
《Phrases for Learning》
1. aside from... 除……以外
Aside from one small mistake, Sal did well.
除了一個小錯誤以外，沙爾的表現都很好。
2. go for... 對……也適用
I told Ben that he should quit smoking, and that goes for you, too.
我告訴小班他應該要戒煙，這句話對你也適用。
3. cut down.../cut...down 砍倒……（樹木）
It is not easy to cut a coconut tree down.
要砍倒椰子樹並不容易。
4. make every effort to + 原形動詞 盡一切努力去（做）……
Al made every effort to pass the final exam.
艾爾盡全力要通過期末考。
《Extra Word》
1. carbon dioxide n. 二氧化碳
2. climate change n. 氣候變遷
3. farming n. 農牧業
4. deforestation n. 森林砍伐
《GRAMMAR CHECK》
...one problem that makes it harder...for the rainforest to survive.
（……一大問題，它使得雨林……越難以存活。）
make 作不完全及物動詞使用時，譯為『使……成為……』，加受詞後，可接名詞或形容詞作受詞補語。其句型如下：
make + 受詞 + 名詞∕形容詞 使……成為……
The accident made Henry an orphan.
（那場意外使亨利成了一個孤兒。）
注意:
make 之後不得用不定詞片語（to + 原形動詞）作受詞，一定要用虛受詞 it 取代，接形容詞或名詞做受詞補語後，再接不定詞片語。本句即為此句構。
make it + 形容詞∕名詞 + 不定詞片語
Dad's encouragement made it possible for me to face difficulties in life.
（我父親的鼓勵使我能夠面對人生中的困境。）
