环境话题是口语考试和正式讨论中最常出现的主题之一,而在这个话题上,精准的词语搭配带来的加分,远比堆砌长难词更明显。
核心名词
climate · weather · emissions · carbon footprint · fossil fuels · renewable energy · pollution · waste · recycling · biodiversity · deforestation · drought · flooding · habitat · species · landfill · single-use plastic · air quality
两个容易混淆的词:climate 指长期的气候模式,weather 指今天正在发生的天气状况。Climate change 和 bad weather 是两个完全不同层面的说法,整场讨论往往就取决于能否分清这一点。
重要的搭配
请成对记忆——用错动词,立刻就会暴露出非母语身份:
- reduce emissions · cut emissions(不说 decrease down)
- tackle climate change · address the problem
- raise awareness
- conserve energy · save water
- generate electricity
- protect habitats · preserve species
- dispose of waste
- switch to renewables
- offset carbon
- face consequences
- phase out fossil fuels
- impose a ban · introduce a levy
- meet a target · miss a target
Governments need to tackle emissions and raise awareness, not simply offset them.
谈论因果关系
- Rising temperatures have led to more frequent flooding.
- Deforestation contributes to biodiversity loss.
- This is largely due to industrial activity.
- The knock-on effect is higher food prices.
- Emissions are driven by transport and heating.
因果关系的表达要谨慎: 如果你不确定因果关系是否成立,用 contributes to 和 leads to 比用 causes 更稳妥,而这正是考官会留意的细节。
如何做到精确,又不编造数字
一个常见的考试难题是:想显得具体,却又没有确切数据。下面这些说法可以精确地表达「不精确」:
- the vast majority of waste · a small proportion of households
- emissions have risen sharply / fallen slightly
- roughly a third of energy comes from renewables
- this has more than doubled since 2010
常用形容词
sustainable · renewable · non-renewable · eco-friendly · organic · biodegradable · toxic · endangered · extinct · scarce · carbon-neutral
Sustainable 是这个话题里被用得最滥的词。它的真正含义是「能够持续下去,而不耗尽资源」,而不只是笼统的「好」。
正反两面,各有说法
几乎每一个环境议题都涉及取舍。提前准备好正反两栏的表达,你就能从任何一个方向展开论证:
| 支持采取措施的论点 | 反对的论点 |
|---|---|
| the cost of inaction is higher | the transition places a burden on households |
| we have a responsibility to future generations | it puts domestic industry at a disadvantage |
| renewables are now cost-competitive | the technology isn't yet scalable |
| public opinion has shifted | it should be a matter of choice, not regulation |
平衡论证的语言
While the environmental case is compelling, the transition carries real costs for households.
On balance, the long-term savings outweigh the initial investment.
考官看重的正是这种能力:承认对方的观点,然后清楚地表明自己的立场。
考察的不是话题本身,而是论证能力。 没有人会去考你是否了解某座水泥厂的具体排放量。真正被评估的是:你能否在某一点上让步,权衡两件事情的利弊,最终得出一个结论。上面这些词汇正是完成这项工作的工具,而具体的事实材料只是通过它加工的原料。
一场依然保持礼貌的争论
A: I'd argue the levy is the only thing that's actually cut emissions.
B: Up to a point. It's worked, but it places most of the burden on people who can least afford it.
A: That's fair. Would you rather it were phased in more slowly?
B: On balance, yes — and I'd spend the revenue on insulation.
每一句话里都有一次让步、一个用得恰到好处的搭配,以及结尾处明确表明、而非回避的立场。
自我检测
下面的测验主要考察搭配的运用。