The environmental impact of global lockdown measures is now visible from space. Pollution levels have dropped sharply in countries that have been hitby coronavirus.
Satellite images show the fluctuations in nitrogen dioxide levels across China. A European Space Agency official said that it was certainly due to the fact that all industrial activities were reduced dramatically.
The satellite recorded the same pattern across Italy, the new epicenter of the pandemic. However, changes are not visible only from space. In Venice, with less traffic, the quiet canals are now clear enough to see groups of fish.
India is one of the latest nations to impose strict lockdown measures, and the effect has already become apparent. The country was home to 21 of the world´s 30 most polluted cities in 2019; however, the air quality has improved dramatically.
语言知识点
1 重点词汇表达
1.impact，noun，the effect or influence that an event, situation etc has on someone or something，作用，影响；vt，to have an important or noticeable effect on someone or something，对…...产生（重要或明显的）影响
eg. have an impact/ effect on sth，对......产生影响；dramatic, enormous/ great/ high/ huge/ important/ main/ major/ massive/ powerful/ profound/ real/ significant/ strong/ substantial/ tremendous impact，巨大的影响，显著的作用，深远的影响；cultural/ ecological/ economic/ emotional/ environmental/ financial/ health/ political/ psychological/ socia impact，文化/ 生态/ 经济/ 情感/ 环境/ 金融/ 健康/ 政治/ 心理/ 社会影响
2.visible，adj， something that is visible can be seen，看得见的，可见的；visibility，noun，可见性；visibly，adv，显然，明显
eg. invisible/ invisibility/ invisbly，adj/ noun/ adv，看不见的/ 看不见/ 看不见地
3.drop，vt，to reduce the level or amount of something，减少，降低
eg. drop suddenly / sharply / dramatically，骤减/ 锐减；drop/ fall/ cut/ decrease/ reduce/ decline/ descend/ dwindle/ diminish/ slash/ undermine/ undercut/ whittle/ wane，减少；increase/ grow/ rise/ ascend/ surge/ skyrocket/ soar，增加；rising/ growing/ ascending/ increasing，越来越多的，日益增长的；decreasing/ descending，越来越少的
4.sharply，adv，suddenly and by a large amount，急剧地，大幅度地；sharp，adj，急剧的，锋利的；sharpen，vt，变得锋利
5.hit，vt，If something bad hits a place or a person, it suddenly happens and affects people badly，打击，侵袭
6.show，vt，to let someone see something，给…...看，出示；noun，a performance for the public, especially one that includes singing, dancing, or joke，（尤其指包括唱歌、舞蹈、笑话的） 娱乐表演
eg. show sb sth/ show sth to sb，给某人展示某物/ 把某物展示给某人；show that 从句，表示/ 表明；indicate/ mean/ demonstrate，表明，表示
7.fluctuation，noun，a change in a price, amount, level etc，价格、数量、水平等的）波动，起伏；fluctuate，vt，变化，波动
8.certainly，adv，without doubt，无疑，确定，肯定；certain，adj，确定的；certainty，noun，确定性
eg. uncertainly/ uncertain/ uncertainty，adv/ adj/ noun，不确定地/ 不确定的/ 不确定性
9.dramatically，adv，greatly and suddenly，巨大地；drammatic，adj，巨大的
eg. enormously/ greatly/ powerfully/ tremendously/ massively/ hugely/ vastly，adv，巨大地
10.record，vt，to write information down or store it in a computer or on film so that it can be looked at in the future，记录；noun，information about something that is written down or stored on computer, film etc so that it can be looked at in the future，记录，记载
eg. reach a record high/ low，创历史最高/ 最低记录；reach a 10-year record high/ low，创10年来历史最高/ 最低记录
11.pattern，noun，the regular way in which sth happens or is done，模式，方式
eg. design/ make/ print/ produce/ weave pattern，设计图案，构成花样，印制图案，编织花样；basic/ existing/ familiar/ normal/ predictable/ regular/ set/ traditional pattern，基本的/ 现有的/ 熟悉的/ 通常的/ 可预知的/ 常规的/ 固定的/ 传统的模式
12.epicenter，noun， the place where the most important things happen and important decisions are made，中心，集中点
13.clear，adj，easy to perceive, understand, or interpret，清晰的, 清楚的, 明白的；clearly，adv，清楚地，清晰地
eg. unclear/ unclearly，adj/ adv，不清楚的/ 不清楚地；It's clear that从句，.......显而易见，清晰的
14.impose，vt，to introduce a new law, rule, tax, etc.; to order that a rule, punishment, etc. be used，推行，采用（规章制度），强制实行
eg. impose a ban on sth，禁止
15.strict，adj，something strict must be obeyed exactly，严格的（指必须恪守）；strictly，adv，严格地；strictness，noun，严格；be strict with sb，对某人严格
eg. stringent/ stringently，adj/ adv，严格的/ 严格地
16.apparent，adj，easy to see or understand，显而易见；apparently，adv，显然
17.improve，vt，to become better than before; to make sth/sb better than before 改进；改善；improvement，noun，改善，提升
eg. boost/ enhance/ promote/ facilitate/ further/ foster，vt，提升
2 固定搭配
1.lockdownmeasures，封锁措施
2. pollution levels，污染程度，污染水平
3.nitrogen dioxide levels，二氧化氮含量
eg. carbon dioxide，二氧化碳
4. due to，由于，因为
eg. because of/ owing to/ as a result of/ as a consequence of/ result from，因为，由于
5. groups of，成群
6.air quality，空气质量
eg. air quality index，空气质量指数
7.one of，之一
3 术语表达
1.European Space Agency，欧洲航天局，成立于1975年，是一个致力于探索太空的政府间组织，拥有22个成员国，总部设在法国巴黎。该组织前身是欧洲航天研究组织（European Space Research Organization，ESRO），于1964年3月20日建立，如今它仍旧是组织的一部分，称为欧洲空间研究与技术中心。欧洲航天局的太空飞行计划包括载人航天（主要通过参与国际空间站计划）、设计运载火箭、发射和运行其他行星及月球的无人探测任务等。
2.Venice，威尼斯，是意大利东北部著名的旅游与工业城市，也是威尼托地区的首府。威尼斯曾经是威尼斯共和国的中心，被称作“亚得里亚海明珠”，十字军进行十字军东征时也曾在这里集结，堪称世界最浪漫的城市之一。威尼斯市区涵盖意大利东北部亚得里亚海沿岸的威尼斯潟湖的118个岛屿和邻近一个半岛，更有117条水道纵横交叉。这个咸水潟湖分布在波河与皮亚韦河之间的海岸线。
4 语法点津
1.A European Space Agency official said that it was certainly due to the fact that all industrial activities were reduced dramatically.
主句：主语official + 谓语said + that引导宾语从句
宾语从句：主语it + 谓语was + 介词短语due to引导原因 + 同位语从句fact that
同位语从句：主语activities + 谓语were reduced（被动语态）
北京第二外国语学院，英语专业四级TEM-4
专业口笔译翻译经验，擅长展会陪同口译，交替传译
翻译项目管理，其中包括翻译术语库，翻译记忆库
计算机辅助翻译(CAT)，如trados，翻译量达十万字以上
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