防災VS維護生態文化
The Australian government proposed in March to raise the Warragamba Dam wall by 14 meters to reduce the risk of floods, which has brought about a great deal of controversy among local councils and civilians.
澳洲政府在3月份提議將Warragamba水壩邊牆增加14公尺，以降低發生洪患的風險，此舉引發地方議會和人民的抗議。
propose(v.)提議proposal(n.)提案risk(n.)風險=dangerflood(n.)洪水、水災bring about帶來⋯影響a great deal of N(不可數)非常多的controversy(n.)爭議council(n.)議會、理事會civilian(n.)平民百姓
According to a report provided by environmental experts, in the case of a catastrophic flood disaster, the raised dam wall can effectively decrease the number of affected houses from 12000 to 5000, which is the most cost-effective and feasible option for flood control.
環境專家提供的報告指出，如果發生災難性洪水，築高壩牆可有效地將受影響的房屋數量從1萬兩千減少到5千棟房屋，這是最具成本效益和較為可行的防洪選擇。
according to=based on根據environmental(adj.)自然環境的in the case of在…情況之下in case以防萬一catastrophic(adj.)災難性的、悲慘的catastrophe(n.)大災難=disaster(n.)cost-effective(adj.)划算的feasible(adj.)可行的
However, this action will have a negative impact on the upper reaches of the dam, including the national parks and aboriginal heritage sites in the Greater Blue Mountains.
然而，這將對大壩上游產生負面影響，包括大藍山的國家公園和原住民遺產。
have an impact on N.對⋯產生影響、影響⋯=have (an) influence on N.upper(adj.)較上層的reach(n.)一段流域aboriginal(adj.)原始的、土生土長的heritage(n.)文化遺產
As a result, the authorities will need to find a way to offset any potential damage to environmental and cultural heritage assets.
因此當局將會需要補償對環境資產和文化遺產的破壞。
As a result=Therefore(adv.)因此authority(n.)有關當局offset(v.)補償、抵銷assets(n.)資產
While the solution proposed by the government is scientifically feasible and sound, the expenditures required for additional construction on the dam wall are quite considerable.
雖然政府提出的方法在科學理論上是安全可行的，但是因為額外工程產生的龐大支出也是相當可觀。
scientifically(adj.)科學上來看sound(adj.)健全的expenditure(n.)全部支出construction(n.)施工、工程considerable(adj.)相當可觀的
Regardless of what the government ends up deciding, its ultimate and most pressing duty is to take into account both the issue of disaster prevention and the preservation of the local aboriginal culture, while at the same time reaching a consensus with local residents over the measures to be taken.
無論政府最後如何決定，他們目前最終且迫切的責任，就是同時考量防災和維護原住民文化，進而與當地居民達成共識。
Regardless of NVing=Regardlessly,(adv.)不管⋯end up Ving最後決定做…ultimate(adj.)最終的、最重要的pressing(adj.)迫切的=urgenttake into account把⋯列入考量=take into considerationprevention(n.)防止prevent(v.)預防preservation(n.)保存preserve(v.)保存reaching a consensus (on N.)達成共識resident(n.)居民measure(n.)措施measure(v.)測量