水利专业英语翻译部分.docVIP

Lesson 1 importance of water 水的重要性 Water is best known and most abundant of all chemical compounds occurring in relatively pure form on the earth’s surface. Oxygen, the most abundant chemical element, is present in combination with hydrogen to the extent of 89 percent in water. Water covers about three fourths of the earths surface and permeates cracks of much solid land. The polar regions are overlaid with vast quantities of ice, and the atmosphere of the earth carries water vapor in quantities from 0.1 percent to 2 percent by weight. It has been estimated that the amount of water in the atmosphere above a square mile of land on a mild summer day is of the order of 50,000 tons. 在地球表面以相对纯的形式存在的一切化合物中，水是人们最熟悉的、最丰富的一种化合物。在水中，氧这种最丰富的化学元素与氢结合，其含量多达89%。水覆盖了地球表面的大约3/4的面积，并充满了陆地上的许多裂缝。地球的两极被大量的冰所覆盖，同时大气也挟带有占其重量0.1%～2%的水蒸气。据估计，在温暖的夏日，每平方英里陆地上空大气中的水量约为5万吨。 All life on earth depends upon water, the principal ingredient of living cells. The use of water by man, plants, and animals is universal. Without it there can be no life. Every living thing requires water. Man can go nearly two months without food, but can live only three or four days without water. 地球上所有的生命都有赖于水而存在，水是活细胞的基本组分（要素）。人类、植物和动物都得用水。没有水就没有生命 。每一种生物都需要水。人可以接近两个月不吃食物而仍能活着，但不喝水则只能活三四天。 In our homes, whether in the city or in the country, water is essential for cleanliness and health. The average American family uses from 65,000 to 75,000 gallons of water per year for various household purposes. 在我们的家庭中，无论是在城市还是农村，水对于卫生和健康来说都是必不可少的。美国家庭的年平均用水量达6.5～7.5万加仑。 Water can be considered as the principal raw material and the lowest cost raw material from which most of our farm produces is made. It is essential for the growth of crops and animals and is a very important factor in the production of milk and eggs. Animals and poultry, if constantly supplied with running water, will produce more meat, more milk, and more eggs per pound of food and per hour of labor. 水可以被认为是最基本的和最廉价的原料。我们的农产品，大部分都是由它构成的。水是农作物和动物生长的要素，也是奶类和蛋类生产的一