新研究成果可能會(huì)讓此景成為現(xiàn)實(shí)：英國(guó)超市的購(gòu)物者很快就能在購(gòu)買食品前，查看食品對(duì)環(huán)境造成的影響?？茖W(xué)家已能利用公共數(shù)據(jù)庫(kù)估算出成千上萬(wàn)種食品的構(gòu)成及其對(duì)環(huán)境的影響。

The researchers estimated the composition of thousands of foods from the ingredients lists on their packaging. They then assessed their effect on the environment – the greater the impact, the higher the score.

研究人員根據(jù)食品包裝上的成分表估算了成千上萬(wàn)種食品的構(gòu)成。然后，他們?cè)u(píng)估了食品對(duì)環(huán)境造成的影響——影響越大，分?jǐn)?shù)越高。

Fizzy drinks have the least effect, typically scoring 0.23 in the analysis. Ready meals were 3.17, tea was higher at 5.44. But unsurprisingly, the more meat and dairy, the greater the impact. Most foods were dwarfed by lamb and beef, which scored 34.

碳酸飲料對(duì)環(huán)境的影響最小，在分析報(bào)告中的評(píng)分通常為0.23。方便速食的分?jǐn)?shù)為3.17，茶類分?jǐn)?shù)更高，為5.44。但不出所料的是，食品中肉類和乳制品含量越高，其對(duì)環(huán)境的影響就越大。羊肉和牛肉的分?jǐn)?shù)為34，大大高于多數(shù)食品。

Crucially though, the researchers found significant variations within the same foods. For example, the score for the worst pork sausages was 30% higher than the best. And the impact of biscuits depended on the amount of chocolate they contained. The worst was 46% higher than a plain biscuit. 

但關(guān)鍵是，研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)同類食物不同商品對(duì)環(huán)境的影響存在顯著的差異。例如，評(píng)分最差的豬肉香腸比最好的分?jǐn)?shù)高出30%。餅干對(duì)環(huán)境的影響取決于餅干中巧克力的含量。評(píng)分最差的餅干比普通餅干的分?jǐn)?shù)高出46%。

The researchers found similar trends for pesto sauces and lasagne, suggesting that there's scope for manufacturers to make a big difference with small changes to their recipes.

研究人員在香蒜醬和意式千層面中發(fā)現(xiàn)了類似的趨勢(shì)，這表明食品制造商有機(jī)會(huì)通過(guò)微調(diào)配方帶來(lái)重大的環(huán)保效益。

詞匯表

composition 構(gòu)成，成分
ingredients （食品）成分，原料
assessed 評(píng)估了
fizzy drinks 碳酸飲料
ready meals 方便食品，即食食品
dwarfed 相形見(jiàn)絀
significant 顯著的
pork sausages 豬肉香腸
pesto sauces 香蒜醬
lasagne 意式千層面
scope （做事的）余地，機(jī)會(huì)

閱讀理解：請(qǐng)?jiān)谧x完上文后，回答下列問(wèn)題。

1. According to this new research, what did a higher score on food composition mean?

2. Which types of food had the highest score?

3. True or false? The score for sausages depended on their quality.

4. How could food manufacturers change their impact on the environment?

答案

1. According to this new research, what did a higher score on food composition mean?
A higher score meant a bigger impact on the environment.

2. Which types of food had the highest score?
Lamb and beef had the highest score at 34.

3. True or false? The score for sausages depended on their quality.
True. The score for the worst pork sausages was 30% higher than the best.

4. How could food manufacturers change their impact on the environment?
The research suggested there's scope for manufacturers to make a big difference with small changes to their recipes.