危害一生的除草劑
The Vietnam War, fought between North and South Vietnam, lasted from 1955 to 1975.
北越與南越之間的越戰從1955年持續至1975年。
fight-fought-foughtlast(v.)持續
North Vietnam was backed by communist allies, such as the Soviet Union and China, while South Vietnam was backed by anti-communist allies, such as the US and South Korea.
北越受蘇聯與中國等共產主義陣營支持，而南越則受到美國與南韓等反共聯盟的援助。
back(v.)支持;支援;援助ally(n.)同盟國;盟友anti-(pref.)反~;防~
During this war, a new kind of warfare began.
在此期間出現了一場新的戰役。
warfare(n.)戰爭;交戰
In Southern Vietnam, communist soldiers fought by hiding in the thick forests and using surprise attacks.
越南南部的共產黨軍躲在茂密的森林中採取突擊策略迎戰。
surprise attack=突擊
Therefore, the US sprayed nearly 20 million gallons of herbicide, mostly “Agent Orange,” to destroy both the forests and the crops, which were the main food sources for not only the soldiers, but also the local population.
美軍為了摧毀當地森林與莊稼，噴灑了近兩千萬加侖的除草劑，其中以「橘劑」為主。那些莊稼不僅是軍方的主要糧食來源，同時也是當地人的主食。
spray(v.)噴灑;(n.)噴霧(器)herbicide(n.)除草劑herbivore(n.)草食動物-cide(suff.)殺死…的物質pesticide(n.)殺蟲劑;農藥crop(n.)作物;莊稼
The herbicide affected over 20 percent of Southern Vietnam’s forests.
越南南部超過兩成的森林遭到破壞。
affect(v.)影響
Aside from destroying the food sources, the herbicides also caused terrible health problems for those affected.
除了糧食受到污染，除草劑也造成嚴重的健康問題。
terrible(adj.)嚴重的;糟糕的
The Vietnamese government reports that 4 million citizens were exposed to Agent Orange, and 3 million suffered illnesses because of it.
越南政府指出，曾有四百萬人接觸到橘劑，當中有三百萬人因此身染惡疾。
be exposed to=暴露在…之下suffer(v.)承受;遭受
Children in affected areas were born with many mental and physical disabilities.
受影響地區的孩童一出生便身患心理與生理殘疾。
be born with=一出生便有…disability(n.)殘疾;缺陷;殘障
Even to this day, many people are still struggling to deal with the lasting effects of these herbicides.
時至今日，許多人仍在設法解決除草劑所帶來的後遺症。
struggle to RV=奮力做某事deal with=應對;處理