Q: The article on
page 56 contains many nouns and terms of which
meanings I can't fully understand. I see a lot of
pollutions in our
society right now. I wonder what is the best way to
solve these
pollutions. This article mentions many ways to deal
with those
problems, but I'm in doubt about whether those ideas
would could
come true or not?
| A: We have not been going that far to page 56. By the time when we are studying unit 6, certainly we shall study in details. However, in response to your temporary queries, the followings are my response. About CO2. We know it is a chemical element. But its full English name is carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is toxic to our respiration systems and thus can make us ill. It can also cause air pollution. |
| On the other hand, Co2 is a main cause to green house effect which increases the earth temperature. Flood is the serious problem green house effect causes due to global warmth. Many low land such as Holland or beautiful cities such as Venice is facing the threat of vanishing if water level cannot be well controlled. But you might ask, “ Where does CO2 come from?” CO2 is the produce of burning fossil fuel which is the petroleum burned in automobiles or vehicles such as cars when energy is needed. Since those who are driving cars are in much greater numbers than people who don’t drive cars at all, you can imagine the huge quantity of CO2 emitted each day everywhere in the world. Burning fossil fuel is one of the main causes to air pollution. |
| Therefore several solutions are suggested in the article. Wind power is such a case since it is clean and can produce large quantity of energy, say, electricity supply. You mentioned if wind power is workable or not. However, the author told us that it did work well in ancient Egypt and China. It also works efficiently according to modern technology. Still remain several defects though such as noise, cost, avian mortality –the death of the birds getting caught in the machines. One very interesting new invention but haven’t hit my mind yet is to replace traditional calcium carbonate (碳酸鈣) -based Portland cements with magnesium carbonate (碳酸鎂) cements in constructing houses or buildings. Reasons? Magnesium carbonate can better soak up (absorb) carbon dioxide. More than this, garbage such as plasters, rubbers, and agricultural waste can be mixed in this new type of cement. Accordingly, it solves another problem of environmental pollution - garbage disposal. Magnesium carbonate cements also works much better than planting trees and other plants in terms of providing clean air. The ideas sounds brilliant to me, but it could sound radical to the conservative building industry. However, we shall wait and see the day to come. Now this is my question, “Do you understand well the materials I’ve covered so far?” Actually, I am anticipating your questions from these chapters and handouts. |
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