In Taiwan we are blessed with convenient water supplies. True, we occasionally complain about water shortages and rationing, but most times when we need water we can just take a few short steps to the kitchen or bathroom. It is difficult for us to understand the hardship that people in other parts of the world are suffering because of inadequate access to clean water.
在臺灣，我們很幸福有便利的水源供給。的確，我們偶而會抱怨著缺水和限水，但是大多數的時候，每當我們需要用水時，只須走幾小步路到廚房或浴室就可以了。我們很難理解，世界上其他地方會有人因沒有足夠的管道獲取清水而受苦的艱苦狀況。
Suppose you faced a long daily walk up a steep hill to fetch the water you need and carry it back home on your head. Women in parts of Africa often have little choice but to trek long distances to collect water for their families. Scola Letena is a housewife in Samburu County, in northern Kenya. Most of the time, the only way she can get water is to visit a small spring in the mountains. She usually sets off for the distant spring early in the morning with a ten-liter container.
試想你每天需要面對一段漫長行走，要向上沿著一個陡坡去取你所需要的水的，並將它放在頭上扛回家。在非洲某些地區的女性經常別無選擇，只能長途拔涉為家人取水。Scola Letena 是一位在北肯亞山布魯郡的家庭主婦。大部分的時候，她取水的唯一方式就是去到山裡的一個小泉水處。她通常清晨一大早就帶著十公升的容器，出發前往那遙遠的泉水處。
Scola's journey is a difficult uphill hike through dry and rocky terrain. It is also filled with danger because wild animals such as lions drink from the spring, and venomous snakes sometimes cross her path. To make matters worse, on the way to the spring, Scola is at risk of attack from bandits who would rob her of the few belongings she carries. The return trip, though mostly downhill, must be made very carefully and slowly as she tries to balance a heavy container on her head.
Scola 的旅程是一段穿越乾涸與崎嶇地形的艱難上坡徒步之行。這一路上也充滿了許多危險，因為像是獅子等野生動物會在泉邊飲水，而且有時會意外碰上毒蛇。更糟的是，在前往泉水的路上，Scola 面臨被強盜攻擊的危險，他們會搶走她帶著的那些少少的財產。回程的路途，雖然大多數是下坡，但因努力要平衡頭上沉重的裝水容器，也必須小心緩慢行走。
Scola is only one of many women who are striving to cope with the difficulty of finding clean water. Six kilometers is the average distance an African woman is forced to walk in order to collect water. In the dry areas where Scola lives, it is much longer. Eight out of ten homes in northern Kenya are without running water and the few natural water sources that they can use are regularly polluted by waste from wild animals.
Scola 是眾多努力要應付汲取乾淨水的困難的女性之一。一般非洲女性為了汲水而被迫要走的平均距離是六公里。在 Scola 居住的乾燥地區，距離會更長。北肯亞十戶有八戶沒有自來水，而且他們所能使用的少數天然水資源也經常受到野生動物的排泄物汙染。
Yet not everyone in Kenya is without hope of getting better access to clean water. Aid volunteers have helped build concrete shelters at some springs and lay pipes to bring water to public faucets. Besides, sand dams are being constructed to help villagers collect much more rainwater. These walls are built across rivers out of rubble and cement. They are a cheap, low-tech, and low-maintenance method of establishing a consistent water supply.
然而，並非肯亞的每個人都沒有希望能更容易取得乾淨的水。援助的志工已經協助在某些水源點蓋水泥庇護所，並安置水管將水帶至公用水龍頭。除此之外，也正在蓋砂壩來幫助村民收集更多的雨水。這些砂壩是用碎石和水泥橫跨河流而建。它們是一種價格低、技術與維護成本需求低的建立穩定供水的方法。
Unfortunately, there are still many women in Africa like Scola who have to make long and dangerous treks to collect water. Though efforts are being made to ease their burden, it could be a long time before they are able to take advantage of the convenience and benefits of clean water that the rest of us take for granted.
很不幸的，非洲仍有許多女性像 Scola 一樣必須長途跋涉去汲水。雖然人們仍然持續地努力來減輕她們的負擔，要讓他們能利用我們其他人視為理所當然的乾淨水的便利與好處，可能還要很長的一段時間。
- convenient [kənˋvinjənt] adj.
方便的；便利的
I live in the suburbs, but there is a very convenient bus service that I use to get to school.
我住在郊區，但有很方便的公車可以讓我搭去學校。
If it's convenient, I will come and see you tomorrow morning.
如果方便的話，我明天早上來看你。 - convenience [kənˋvinjəns] n.
方便，便利
With the convenience of my new microwave oven, I can make lunch in just a few minutes.
這個新微波爐很方便，我可以在幾分鐘之內做好午餐。 - supply [səˋplaɪ] n.
供應，供給
The climbers were worried because their food supplies were running low.
登山者很擔心，因為他們的食物供應越來越少了。
As vegetables are in short supply after a typhoon, they become very expensive.
颱風過後，由於蔬菜供應短缺，所以價格變得相當昂貴。 - supply [səˋplaɪ] v.
供應，供給
Each salesperson in the company is supplied with a tablet computer.
公司給每個銷售人員配備了一台平板電腦。 - shortage [ˋʃɔrtɪdʒ] n.
不足，短缺
Taiwan is facing a very serious shortage of doctors and nurses.
台灣正面臨醫生和護士的嚴重短缺。 - inadequate [ɪnˋædəkwɪt] adj.
不充足的，貧乏的
Celine feels her salary is inadequate to support her family, so she is looking for another job.
Celine 覺得她的薪水不足以養家，所以她正在找另一份工作。 - adequate [ˋædəkwɪt] adj.
足夠的，充分的
The school does not have adequate funds for a new sports center.
學校沒有足夠資金興建一個新的體育中心。 - access [ˋæksɛs] n.
接近；使用權利
Ann is looking for an apartment in good condition and with easy access to an MRT station.
Ann 在找一間條件好、到捷運站方便的公寓。
I'm sorry. Only senior members have access to the spa in this club.
很抱歉。只有高級會員才能進入這個俱樂部的水療中心。 - access [ˋæksɛs] v.
存取（電腦資料）；接近
Can you break the code and access the files on his computer?
你能破解密碼並存取他電腦上的文件嗎？
The whole town is flooded and can only be accessed by boat or helicopter.
整個城鎮都被洪水淹沒，要過去只能搭船或直升機。 - suppose [səˋpoz] v.
假定；推測
Suppose Mei-yu marries that French guy. Will she move to France with him?
假如美玉嫁給那個法國人，她會和他一起去法國嗎？
Since you've got Lydia to help you, I suppose you don't need me now, do you?
既然有 Lydia 在幫你，我想你現在不需要我了吧。 - supposed [səˋpozd] adj.
被認為應當⋯⋯的
We were supposed to go to the movies yesterday, but Linda canceled it at the last minute.
我們昨天應該是要去看電影的，但 Linda 在最後一刻取消計畫。 - steep [stip] adj.
陡峭的
The climb was so steep that she had to stop several times to catch her breath.
這個爬坡太陡了，她不得不停下來喘口氣。 - fetch [fɛtʃ] v.
（把東西）拿來
My dog enjoys fetching sticks when I throw them for him.
我的狗很喜歡把我扔給他的棍子取回來。 - spring [sprɪŋ] n.
泉水；彈簧
There are many freshwater springs in Taiwan; some of them are hot but some are cold.
台灣有許多淡水泉；有些是熱的，但也有些是冷的。
We got rid of an old mattress whose springs were mostly broken.
我們丟掉了一張舊床墊，它的彈簧幾乎都壞掉了。 - spring [sprɪŋ] v.
（似彈簧）彈跳，躍起
Larry sprang out of bed when he suddenly realized that he was late for work.
Larry 突然意識到上班要遲到時，從床上彈了起來。 - rocky [ˋrɑkɪ] adj.
多岩石的
The road is very rocky, and your car is not suitable for it.
這條路崎嶇不平，你的車不適合走。 - rock [rɑk] n.
岩石；搖滾樂
The highway was closed due to falling rocks.
高速公路因落石封閉。
Mayday is a Taiwanese rock band that was formed in the late 1990s.
五月天是一支台灣的搖滾樂團，成立於 1990 年代末。 - rock [rɑk] v.
搖晃
During the earthquake, the car was rocking like it was going to turn over.
地震時，汽車晃得像是要翻覆似的。 - attack [əˋtæk] n.
攻擊
If the security system comes under attack, it will lock all the doors.
如果安全系統遭到攻擊，就會把所有的門都鎖住。
Several terror attacks have caused panic in the country.
數起恐怖攻擊在這個國家引起了恐慌。 - attack [əˋtæk] v.
攻擊
Many Americans were killed when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941.
1941 年日本襲擊珍珠港時，許多美國人喪生。 - bandit [ˋbændɪt] n.
強盜，土匪
Before the bandits were all caught and imprisoned, they robbed many travelers.
在強盜們全部被捕入獄之前，他們搶劫了許多遊客。 - belongings [bəˋlɔŋɪŋz] n.
所有物
I only took a few personal belongings with me when I ran out of the burning building.
我從起火的大樓裡跑出來時只帶了幾件個人物品。 - balance [ˋbæləns] v.
使平衡，保持⋯⋯的平衡
How long can you balance a basketball on the tip of your finger?
你能用指尖讓籃球保持平衡多久？ - balance [ˋbæləns] n.
平衡，均衡
David slipped on a wet rock, lost his balance, and fell into the stream.
David 在一塊潮濕的岩石上滑了一跤、失去平衡，掉進了河裡。 - strive [straɪv] v.
努力，力爭
Malala Yousafzai has been striving to ensure all children get the right to education.
Malala Yousafzai 一直在努力確保所有兒童都能得到受教育的權利。 - pollute [pəˋlut] v.
污染
The factory was accused of polluting the river by releasing chemicals into it.
這間工廠被控告在河川中排放化學物質汙染河川。 - pollution [pəˋluʃən] n.
污染
Air pollution is something you have to endure when living in a city.
在城市居住時，空氣汙染是你必須要忍受的事情。 - volunteer [͵vɑlənˋtɪr] n.
志工；自願者
Ivy has been working for the Red Cross as a volunteer for years.
Ivy 已經在紅十字會當志工好幾年了。
I'm going to need a couple of volunteers to help me clean the classroom.
我需要幾個自願者幫我打掃教室。 - volunteer [͵vɑlənˋtɪr] v.
當志工；自願做
Some of his friends are volunteering at a local hospital.
他有些朋友自願在當地醫院當志工。
Stephanie was surprised when her husband volunteered to do the dishes.
當 Stephanie 的老公自願洗碗時，她相當驚訝。 - concrete [ˋkɑnkrit] adj.
混凝土的；具體的
The concrete building looks strange among those beautiful wooden houses.
這些混凝土建築在這些美麗的木屋之中看起來相當迥異。
This is just a vague idea. Can you come up with a concrete plan?
這只是一個模糊的想法。你可以有點具體的計畫嗎？ - shelter [ˋʃɛltɚ] n.
遮蔽處，避難所；掩蔽，遮蔽
As the shelter was full, the rescue team had to take some of the earthquake victims to another one.
因為這間避難所滿了，救援隊必須帶一些地震災民去另一間。
The hikers found shelter from the rainstorm in a deserted house.
健行者們在一間荒涼的屋子裡找到可以遮蔽暴風雨的地方。 - shelter [ˋʃɛltɚ] v.
保護，庇護
For centuries, these ancient walls sheltered the city from attack.
好幾個世紀以來，這些古老的牆壁保護這座城市免於攻擊。 - faucet [ˋfɔsɪt] n.
水龍頭
The dripping noise from the leaking faucet kept me awake all night.
漏水的水龍頭的水滴聲讓我整晚都醒著。 - consistent [kənˋsɪstənt] adj.
一貫的，始終如一的
Without a consistent business plan, things became quite chaotic at the company.
少了一貫的商業計畫，公司裡的事務變得相當混亂。 - burden [ˋbɝdn] n.
重負，重擔；沉重的負擔
The poor donkey was struggling under the huge burden on its back.
那可憐的驢子在背上沉重的包袱下掙扎著。
The old lady decided to go to a nursing home because she didn't want to be a burden to her relatives.
那個老婦人決定去療養院，因為她不想要變成親戚的負擔。 - set off (for ...)
出發（前往⋯⋯）
We are preparing to set off for Orchid Island for the long weekend.
我們正準備去蘭嶼度過這個長週末。 - be filled with
充滿
This task is filled with difficulty and must be done with great care.
這項任務艱難，必須很小心地處理。 - to make matters worse
更糟的是
Colin was lost, and to make matters worse, his car was running out of gas.
Colin 迷路了，更糟的是，他的車子也快沒油了。 - cope with
處理，應付
Sharon cannot cope with all the extra work her boss keeps giving her.
Sharon 無法應付她老闆給她的額外工作。 - take advantage of
利用，善用
During your stay at our hotel, you will be able to take advantage of our top-class facilities.
在你入住我們的旅館期間，你可以利用我們優質的設施。 - take ... for granted
認為⋯⋯是理所當然的
Belinda sometimes feels that her children take their comfort for granted and don't realize how lucky they are.
Belinda 有時候覺得她的小孩把安逸生活視為理所當然，不理解自己有多幸運。
