科学家们表示，一种用食物垃圾制造航空煤油的新方法有望大幅减少飞行产生的碳排放。目前，世界上大部分用于产能的食物残渣都会转化为甲烷。

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.

在世界各地被浪费掉的大量食物是促使气候变化的主要因素。那些被送往垃圾填埋场的腐烂的食物残渣都会变成甲烷——最强效的温室气体之一。

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

但现在，研究人员表示，他们已经开发了一种技术，不仅能减少这种浪费，而且可以让飞行变得更环保，对环境的长期影响更小。

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.

美国的科学家们发现了一种方法，可以将食物垃圾转化成一种适合喷气式发动机的高能煤油。由于它能减少由飞机和垃圾填埋场产生的排放，科学家们认为它可以在价格上与化石燃料竞争。

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. 

第一次试飞将于2023年进行，不过有批评意见认为，当今世界真正需要的是更少的人乘坐飞机，而不仅仅是一种更环保的航空煤油。

词汇表

contributor 促成因素
rotting 腐烂
scraps 残渣，剩饭剩菜
methane 甲烷
greener 更绿色环保的
sustainable 可持续的
converting 转换，转化
paraffin 煤油
jet engines 喷气式发动机
cuts emissions 减少排放
fossil fuels （煤、石油等）化石燃料

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

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.