似乎在世界各地，每個主要的大城小鎮(zhèn)都會舉辦年度馬拉松比賽。成千上萬的參賽運動員要經受艱難的體能考驗，跑完 42.1 公里的賽程。和其它大型比賽一樣，馬拉松比賽也會產生大量的碳足跡。數千人乘坐飛機前來參賽或觀賽，觀眾和運動員留在賽道的食物垃圾、包裝袋、禮品袋等等。本集《隨身英語》討論相關部門針對馬拉松比賽所采取的各項環(huán)保措施。

Vocabulary: running 詞匯: 跑步

Even if you’re a couch potato like me, you’ll know the benefits of running - pounding the pavements, working up a sweat, burning off some calories and generally keeping fit. But if you’re a real fitness junkie, the ultimate running challenge is to take part in a marathon.

It seems every major city and town around the world hosts an annual marathon, with thousands of athletes running a gruelling 42.1 kilometres. Whilst many runners’ motivation is to beat their personal best and cross the finishing line without collapsing, they’re also doing it for a good cause – to generate funds for charity. But like other major events, the marathon also generates a massive carbon footprint. Thousands travel - some by plane - to the location, and waste from food packaging and goody bags gets left behind by spectators and runners. For example, during the London Marathon in 2018, 47,000 plastic bottles were collected, although some were recycled.

This is becoming a big issue for cities – how to host a worthwhile event, encouraging people to exercise and help charities, whilst protecting the environment? Several cities have developed formal plans to reduce their environmental impact and promote sustainable ideas. One event in Wales, for example, introduced recycling for old running kit and ethically sourced the race t-shirts.

It’s something that this year’s London Marathon tried to tackle by reducing the number of drink stations on the running route, giving out water in paper cups and offering some drinks in edible seaweed capsules. They also trialled new bottle belts made from recycled plastic so 700 runners could carry water bottles with them during their run. London Marathon event director Hugh Brasner told the BBC: "There's a raft of initiatives we are using this year that we think will lead to some huge behavioural changes in the future."

Meanwhile, some people still think running a marathon could be our best foot forward in helping the planet. Dr Andrea Collins from Cardiff University told the BBC: "Training for a marathon makes you more sustainable in day-to-day activities. I started walking or running to work every day and shunning public transport altogether. Being environmentally friendly while training kind of sticks with you and becomes a way of life." So while you may not be the elite runner in a marathon, let’s hope the event, in terms of sustainability, certainly is!

詞匯表

couch potato “沙發(fā)土豆”，窩在沙發(fā)上看電視的人
pound the pavement 跑步
work up a sweat 出一身汗
burn off calories 燃燒脂肪
keep fit 保持健康
fitness junkie 健身狂人
marathon 馬拉松
athlete 運動員
gruelling 讓人筋疲力盡的
personal best 個人最好成績
finishing line 終點線
a good cause 公益事業(yè)
carbon footprint 碳足跡
goody bag 禮品包
spectator 觀眾
plastic bottle 塑料瓶
sustainable 可持續(xù)的，能長期維持的
running kit 跑步行頭
drink station （馬拉松比賽沿路的）飲水站
capsule 膠囊
best foot forward 邁出最好的一步
a way of life 生活方式
elite runner 精英選手

測驗與練習

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. How can running a marathon help a charity?

2. What was substituted for plastic bottles in this year’s London Marathon?

3. According to the article, how does travelling to a marathon event by plane damage the environment?

4. True or false? Walking or running to work is a sustainable way to commute.

5. Which word in the text means 'deliberately avoiding (someone/something)’?

2. 請在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。

1. I spent all morning helping at the charity cake sale but I shouldn’t complain. It’s all for ______.

the good cause        a good cause         causing good         a good caused

2. No wonder that boxer lost the fight, he got a severe ______ by his opponent.

gruelling                   elite                       pounding                working up a sweat

3. I’m having trouble ______ two jobs. I’m going to have to give one up or my health is going to suffer!

sustaining                sustainable             sustained              sustenance

4. Living off the land and not having to go to a supermarket, has become ______ for me.

a life way                  a way life of           a life way               a way of life

5. This mountain is so challenging, it really is just for the ______ climbers.

gruelling                   personal best         athlete                   elite

答案

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. How can running a marathon help a charity?
Running a marathon means a runner can generate funds – raise money – for their chosen charity.

2. What was substituted for plastic bottles in this year’s London Marathon?
Water was given in paper cups and some drinks were given in edible seaweed capsules.

3. According to the article, how does travelling to a marathon event by plane damage the environment?
Thousands of people travelling - some by plane - to the marathon location, creates a massive carbon footprint.

4. True or false? Walking or running to work is a sustainable way to commute.
True. Dr Andrea Collins from Cardiff University said: "Training for a marathon makes you more sustainable in day-to-day activities - I started walking or running to work every day.”

5. Which word in the text means 'deliberately avoiding (someone/something)’ ?
‘Shunning’. Dr Andrea Collins said “I started walking or running to work every day and shunning public transport altogether”.

2. 請在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。

1. I spent all morning helping at the charity cake sale but I shouldn’t complain. It’s all for a good cause.

2. No wonder that boxer lost the fight, he got a severe pounding by his opponent.

3. I’m having trouble sustaining two jobs. I’m going to have to give one up or my health is going to suffer!

4. Living off the land and not having to go to a supermarket, has become a way of life for me.

5. This mountain is so challenging, it really is just for the elite climbers.