科學家們表示，一種用食物垃圾制造航空煤油的新方法有望大幅減少飛行產生的碳排放。目前，世界上大部分用于產能的食物殘渣都會轉化為甲烷。

The vast quantities of food that are wasted across the world are a major contributor to climate change. All those rotting scraps that end up in landfill turn into methane – one of the most powerful warming gases.

在世界各地被浪費掉的大量食物是促使氣候變化的主要因素。那些被送往垃圾填埋場的腐爛的食物殘渣都會變成甲烷——最強效的溫室氣體之一。

But now researchers say they’ve developed a technique that not only reduces this waste but also makes flying greener and more sustainable. 

但現在，研究人員表示，他們已經開發了一種技術，不僅能減少這種浪費，而且可以讓飛行變得更環保，對環境的長期影響更小。

The US scientists have found a way of converting food rubbish into a highly powerful paraffin suitable for jet engines. Because it cuts emissions from aeroplanes and from landfill sites as well, the scientists believe it could compete on price with fossil fuels.

美國的科學家們發現了一種方法，可以將食物垃圾轉化成一種適合噴氣式發動機的高能煤油。由于它能減少由飛機和垃圾填埋場產生的排放，科學家們認為它可以在價格上與化石燃料競爭。

The first test flight is due in 2023, but critics say that what the world really needs right now is fewer people flying, not just a greener form of jet fuel. 

第一次試飛將于2023年進行，不過有批評意見認為，當今世界真正需要的是更少的人乘坐飛機，而不僅僅是一種更環保的航空煤油。

詞匯表

contributor 促成因素
rotting 腐爛
scraps 殘渣，剩飯剩菜
methane 甲烷
greener 更綠色環保的
sustainable 可持續的
converting 轉換，轉化
paraffin 煤油
jet engines 噴氣式發動機
cuts emissions 減少排放
fossil fuels （煤、石油等）化石燃料

閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題。

1. True or false? Food waste across the world is one of the main causes of climate change.

2. What does food rubbish that ends up landfill turn into?

3. What is this highly powerful paraffin suitable for?

4. What do critics say about this greener form of jet fuel?

答案

1. True or false? Food waste across the world is one of the main causes of climate change.
True. The vast quantities of food that are wasted across the world are a major contributor to climate change.

2. What does food rubbish that ends up landfill turn into?
All those rotting scraps that end up in landfill turn into methane – one of the most powerful warming gases.

3. What is this highly powerful paraffin suitable for?
It is suitable for jet engines.

4. What do critics say about this greener form of jet fuel?
They say what the world really needs right now is fewer people flying, not just a greener form of jet fuel.