口語式短文：植物的功用

The functions of plants :

•  There have always been some potted plants in our balconies. Dad says that plants play multiple roles in the ecological system.

• 我們家的陽台一直有一些盆栽植物，爸爸說植物在生態系統中扮演了多重的角色。

•  The green parts of plants carry out photosynthesis. The chlorophyll in chloroplasts absorbs sunlight as energy to convert carbon dioxide and water to glucose and oxygen.

• 植物的綠色部分會行光合作用，由葉綠體內的葉綠素吸收陽光做為能量，把二氧化碳及水分轉成葡萄糖及氧氣。

•  Big parks are sometimes called the lungs of a city. It's because there are a lot of trees, grass, and flowers in them. The effects of oxygen making and air filtering are better there.

• 大型公園有時被稱為都市的肺，就是因為裡頭花草樹木多，有比較好的造氧及濾化空氣的效果。

•  Plants are also the food sources of many animals. Our daily rice, bread, vegetables and fruits are all obtained from plants.

• 植物也是許多動物的食物來源，我們日常吃的米飯、麵包、蔬菜和水果，都是取自植物。

•  Plants have the function of water and soil conservation. They can prevent the hillsides from collapsing and soil from becoming sand.

• 植物具有涵養水土的功能，可以防止山壁崩落以及土壤砂化。

•  Some plants have curative powers. Most of the raw materials of Chinese medicine are obtained from plants.

• 有些植物具有療效，中藥的藥材大部分是取自植物。

•  The stems of trees (i.e., wood) can be used as materials for construction and furniture. The growth rings present in a stem section reveal the age of a tree. They can be used as a reference for dating in archaeology.

• 樹木的莖幹 ( 木材 ) 可以做為建築及家具材料，莖幹剖面所呈現的年輪透露了樹齡，可做為考古時年代測定的參考。

•  Plants also have aesthetic uses. The potted plants at home, flowering shrubs and green trees in parks, and seas of flowers and forests in the wild are all feasts for the eyes.

• 植物也有美化環境的功能，家裡的盆栽、公園的花叢及綠樹、野外的花海及森林，都令人賞心悅目。

•  Besides, plants can shade us from the sun. Even in summer, you don't feel hot at all when playing under the canopy of big trees.

• 而且植物還可以遮蔭，夏天在大樹篷下玩耍，一點兒都不會熱呢。

發表時間：2009/08/24 著作人：周國華老師