The Obama administration's new effort to reduce carbon emissions from power plants is pragmatic, smart and overdue. Nevertheless, the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed rule is already coming under attack from those who argue that it is economic suicide to force expensive and unilateral changes in the power grid just to lower carbon emissions in the United States. Those critics would have U.S. utilities do nothing about global warming simply because their counterparts in other countries aren't doing enough. That reasoning is perverse and unpersuasive.

The cost of dealing with the worst effects of climate change will far outweigh the cost of preventing them. Federal law compels the EPA to reduce harmful air pollutants, and carbon dioxide from power plants is the largest contributor by far to changes in the climate that could be ruinous to the planet. But the agency isn't seeking to cap the amount of CO2 coming out of smokestacks, as it has done with toxins such as mercury. Instead, it has proposed a unique emissions target for each state based on what the EPA believes local utilities can achieve. Exactly how the target would be met would be up to each state, but the pressure would be on utilities to shift away from the coal-fired plants that are the biggest carbon polluters.

Those plants produced 45% of U.S. electricity in 2010, or 5 percentage points less than they did at their peak in 2005, while coal use has grown rapidly around the world. Yet the United States still ranks as the second-largest carbon emitter. Even if lower emissions from U.S. plants aren't sufficient to stop global warming, they are a necessary part of the solution. And no one should expect the likes of China and India to do more to curb their plants' emissions if the U.S. isn't willing to act.

Some environmental groups, in fact, are disturbed that the EPA didn't propose larger cuts. Instead, the agency wisely based the targets on available methods for reducing emissions, which made the proposed rule less ambitious but more reasonable. Taking a cue from California, which is well on its way to meeting the agency's proposed target, the agency also let states look beyond their utilities' smokestacks for ways to reduce emissions. These include cap-and-trade systems for C02 and energy efficiency standards for buildings and appliances.

The EPA's expansive approach is certain to be tested in court by those upset about the prospect of more expensive electricity. Reducing emissions doesn't necessarily mean forcing consumers to spend more on energy, however. Just look at California, where efficiency standards have held monthly electric bills almost 25% below the national average even though electricity rates are among the highest in the country.

Besides, the country can't afford to ignore the problem posed by coal-fired plants. Global warming threatens to be an environmental catastrophe, and the U.S. must prevent as much of the damage as it can. As multiple recent studies have concluded, the cost of dealing with the worst effects of climate change will far outweigh the cost of preventing them.

2. 民俗文化类汉译英（专业组学生完成）

紫阳蒸盆子，是陕西安康第一批列入非物质文化遗产的代表作。紫阳蒸盆子，最早发源于紫阳县汉王镇，先是汉江艄工歇脚欢聚时的荟菜，后来发展为除夕团圆饭上的压轴菜。蒸盆子在紫阳是贵重菜，平时很少吃，只是年三十晚上的团圆饭非吃不可，作为压席大菜，欢庆旧的一年丰收，预祝新的一年美满，全家幸福，四季发财。

殷实人家招待贵宾、操办红白喜事，宴席上才有这道菜。至亲厚友外出日久，归来接风，或出远门壮行，也做这道菜。蒸盆子体现了主人的一片盛意和厚道，盆大、鸡全、猪蹄厚重、蛋饺香、蔬菜多、汤汁鲜美、醇厚。一只铜锅中鸡肉之鲜，猪蹄之嫩滑，还有红白萝卜的香脆之甜，在可爱的蛋饺点缀之中散发出的是特有的陕南经典味道，万种滋味汇于一盆。

紫阳蒸盆子制作颇为讲究，主要用具为当地产大乌盆，必须用土灶、竹柴火，原料须有全鸡（土鸡）、猪蹄、莲菜、红白萝卜、黄花、木耳、香菇、鸡蛋饺子、水发墨鱼及其它干菜，调料油有大茴、草果、桂皮、花椒、干辣椒、食盐等，用盆具盛之，用大锅隔火而蒸，原料和调料分步入盆，时间最少不能低于4小时。蛋饺子是将鸡蛋打入碗中，用筷子搅匀，然后用大铁汤勺，在炉灶上面烧烫，抹上猪油，在用调羹舀如鸡蛋，做成饺子皮，半熟之际，包入准备好的新鲜肉馅。蛋饺可做成“元宝”型、寓意“四季发财”。“金鱼”型，寓意“连年有余”。这道菜原汁原味，汤醇肉香，色香味俱佳。

紫阳蒸盆子，用料之糜费，时间之冗长，程序之繁琐，做工之讲究，稍有差迟则口味大逮，非一般地域所能为，它当之不愧地成为最具特色的紫阳传统大菜。

3.励志类汉译英（非专业组学生完成）

人生的每一次选择都只有一次机会，所以选择的同时也就意味着放弃，选择熊掌就要放弃鲜鱼，选择繁华就要放弃幽静，选择充实就要放弃悠闲。选择和放弃就像同胞兄弟一样如影随形。选择是人生路上的航湾；放弃是人生的隧道，舍得放弃是顾全大局，超然洒脱，只有简单从容的放弃才能左右逢源。

人生短暂，与洁瀚的历史长河相比，世间一切恩恩怨怨、功名利禄皆为短暂的一瞬，“福兮祸所伏，祸兮福所倚”。得意与失意，在人的一生中只是短短的一瞬。行至水穷处，坐看云起时，古今多少事，都付谈笑中。放弃是一种睿智，它可以放飞心灵，可以还原本性，使你真实地享受人生；放弃是一种选择，没有明智的放弃就没有辉煌的选择。进退从容、积极乐观，必然会迎来光辉的未来。

能够放弃是一种跨越，睿智的人都懂得该放弃时就放弃。不吐故就无法纳新。而看似艰难的取舍，却可以让我们走出人生的迷途，可以改变我们的命运。当你能够放弃一切，做到简单从容的时候，你的生命低谷就已经过去了。懂得选择，学会放择，你会避免走很多弯路，避开很多荆棘，从而走向更加广阔的人生境界！

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