1    Our planet needs your help! People use too much energy and water, and throw away too much garbage (垃圾). These wasteful (浪费的，挥霍的) ways are tough on the Earth.

2    The problems are big, but there are lots of little ways in which you can help. Here are a few things you can do.

Be Energy-Smart

3    A lot of the electricity and other energy we use come from burning fuel like coal, oil, and natural gas. Burning fuel causes air pollution. This pollution adds to the problem of global warming. That can cause droughts (干旱), hurricanes (飓风，暴风), problems for animals and plants, and more.

4    Clean energy gets power from sources like wind or the sun. You may not be able to use solar energy yet. But you can still cut down on the energy you use. Turn the lights off in a room whenever you’re not there. And keep the heat and air conditioning (空调) off when possible.

5    Tell your parents to check their car tires to make sure they are completely full of air. In one year, that will save about 20 gallons of gasoline.

6    Keep an eye on your speed, too. When you drive faster, you use more gas. Every 5 miles you drive over 60 miles per hour is like paying 24 cents more per gallon. Even better, skip the car. Walk, ride a bike, or take a bus instead.

Save Water

7    It’s important to conserve (节省) water, especially in places where it does not rain much. If people use too much water, it may run out.

8    Check your home for leaks. A leaky (漏的，有裂缝的) faucet (水龙头) can drip (滴下) away 5 gallons of water each day. A leaky toilet? Try 200 gallons of water per day!

9    Shrink (使收缩，使缩小) your shower. A five-minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons of water, depending on the shower. The longer the shower you take, the more water you’re wasting. And turn off the water while you’re brushing your teeth. Letting the water run wastes about 2 gallons per minute.

Trim (削减) Your Trash

10    The average American creates about 5 pounds of trash each day. But you can cut down on that garbage.

11    Instead of getting a new plastic bag when you shop, bring a bag from home. In the cafeteria and at home, only take as much food as you’re going to eat. That way, nothing gets thrown out. And donate (捐赠，捐献) your old clothes, toys, and electronics (电子产品) to charity.

12    Recycle (再利用，使再循环) as much as you can. Paper, metal, glass, and most plastic can all be recycled. About 22 billion plastic water bottles end up in a landfill (垃圾填埋地) each year. That’s nearly 9 out of every 10 that are sold. In a landfill, a plastic bottle can take more than 1,000 years to break down.

13    Just making the bottles uses 714 million gallons of oil each year. Try using a refillable water bottle instead. That’s better for the environment.

14    Paper is a big part of the trash we throw out. When using a computer, only print out pages that you really need. Use both sides of the paper, and recycle it when you are done. Recycling 1 ton (短吨) (2,000 pounds) of paper can save 17 trees.

15    If everyone does their part, these little changes add up to a big win for our planet!

(538words)

1. The Earth Is Counting on You!

地球就指望你了！

count on 的意思是 rely on sb./sth. with confidence “信赖；指望”。又如：

Do not count on a salary increase this year.

别指望今年会加薪。

You can count on me to help in case of difficulty. 

如有困难，当助一臂之力。

2. energy-smart 

可以理解为 smart as far as energy consumption is concerned。又如：

Energy-smart schools adopt clean energy policies to not only save money, but also help save energy and the environment.

巧妙利用能源的学校采取清洁能源政策，不仅是为了省钱，也是为了帮助节省能源，拯救环境。

3. This pollution adds to the problem of global warming.  

空气污染会加剧全球变暖。

add to 的意思是 increase“增加”。又如：

The house has been added to from time to time.

这所房子不时进行扩建。

The bad weather only added to our difficulties. 

恶劣天气更增加了我们的困难。

4. But you can still cut down on the energy you use. 

但你仍然可以减少能源的使用。

cut down on 的意思是 consume, use or buy less (of sth.) “减少消耗”。又如：

We must cut down on the amount of material we use.

我们必须削减原料的用量。

Most doctors advise cutting down on coffee and tobacco.

大多数医生建议少喝咖啡，少吸烟。

5. Letting the water run wastes about 2 gallons per minute.

让水流淌着，每分钟会浪费大约2加仑的水。

这句中 letting the water run 是动名词短语，在句中作主语。课文中动名词短语作主语的例子还有：

Just making the bottles uses 714 million gallons of oil each year. 

动名词（短语）作主语往往表示经常性、习惯性的动作，在口语中也可以表示具体的动作。例如：

Painting is his hobby.

绘画是他的业余爱好。

6. In a landfill, a plastic bottle can take more than 1,000 years to break down. 

在垃圾填埋场，一只塑料瓶需要1000多年才能分解。

break down 在这篇课文里的意思是 change the chemical composition of sth.“分解”。又如：

Sugar and starch are broken down in the stomach.

糖和淀粉在胃里被分解。

Molecules may be further broken down. 

分子可以进一步分解。

7. If everyone does their part, these little changes add up to a big win for our planet! 

如果每个人都各尽其责，这些小小的改变合起来就会使我们这个星球获益巨大！

句中 add up to 的意思是 amount to; be equivalent to; indicate“合计；意味着”。又如：

His annual salary adds up to around 100,000 dollars.

他的年薪合计有10万美元左右。

I don’t think these facts will add up to anything.

我认为这些事实并不说明任何问题。