大学英语快速阅读1_-----The__Earth27s__Atmosphere__翻译版.docVIP

The Earths Atmosphere Unless its raining or the wind is blowing, we dont usually pay much attention to the atmosphere, the blanket of air that surrounds the Earth. Yet, without the atmosphere, the Earth would be a desolate (荒芜的) planet with no signs of life! 除非是下大雨或者刮大风,我们通常不重视那层像毯子一样环绕着地球的大气。然而,没有大气,地球就会变成没有生命迹象的荒凉的星球! The atmosphere plays several roles in helping to make life possible. First, the atmosphere provides the three gases necessary for life: oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. All animals, including ourselves, breathe oxygen. Nitrogen and carbon dioxide are both needed for plant growth. Less important atmospheric gases include argon, neon, helium, and hydrogen. 大气为创造适合生命生存的环境扮演着很多角色。首先,大气为生命提供所需的三种气体:氧气、氮气和二氧化碳。包括我们自己的所有的动物都呼吸氧气。而氮气和二氧化碳都是植物生长所需要的。其次大气中还包括氩、氖、氦和氢。 Second, the atmosphere also protects us from most of the suns high-energy ultraviolet light rays, which are harmful to life. Although these rays are only a small part of the sunlight striking the Earth, they are known to be very dangerous. However, 99 percent of all ultraviolet rays are absorbed before they reach the Earths surface. They are absorbed by an atmospheric gas, called ozone, a type of oxygen gas. The ozone layer surrounds the Earth but is much thinner over the North and South Poles than over other regions of the Earth. 第二,大气还可以保护我们免受来自太阳的大部分高强度致命的紫外光线。虽然这些射线是只是日光照射地球的一小部分,但他们是非常危险的。然而,99%的紫外线在他们到达地球的表面前被大气中一个叫做臭氧的气体所吸收。它是氧气的一个类型。臭氧包围着地球,但是位于北极和南极的臭氧层薄于地球的其他地区 The one percent of the ultraviolet light in the atmosphere that does reach the Earths surface is known to cause sunburn and is now believed to also cause skin cancer in many people. Because of this, doctors recommend that people limit the amount of time they spend in direct sunlight and wear a suntan lotion ( 防晒油) that blocks the ultraviolet rays when they do sunbathe. 百分之一的紫外光在大气中达到地球表面都会导致晒伤,现在对于很多人来说也导致皮肤癌。正因为如此,医生建议人们做日光浴时应控制阳光直射的时间和涂抹能够阻挡紫外线的防晒油。 Finally, the atmosphere generates all types of weather such as clear blue s