environmental
a. 环境的

disgrace
n. shame or loss of other people's respect; a person or thing that brings shame, dishonor, etc. 丢脸，耻辱；丢脸的人（或事）

wrap
v. cover or enclose within a covering 包裹

battery
n. 电池

necktie
n. (esp. AmE) tie （尤美）领带；领结

debt
n. money or other things owed to sb. else 欠债，债务

scale
vt. increase or reduce, esp. by a fixed rate （按比例）调节
n. a set of numbers or standards used to measure or compare （测量或比较的）标准；等级

cheat
v. deceive 欺骗

hype
n. 天花乱坠的宣传

Phrases and Expressions

in defense of
supporting 维护；为…辩护

shake off
get rid of 抖落；摆脱

rely on
depend on 依靠，依赖

so far
up to the present 到目前为止

turn out
be found or known to be 结果（是）；原来（是）；证明（是）

hit/touch a nerve
refer to a subject that causes sb. pain, anger, etc.触及要害；触到痛处

do damage to
损害，破坏

back out
with draw 退出，撒手不干

many a
(fml) many ［正式］许多

climb down
1. 往下爬
2. admit that you are wrong 认错；退让

might as well
还是…为好，不妨

drive... into
force (sb.) into a usu. unpleasant condition 迫使，逼使

cut back on
reduce 缩减，削减

pay off
pay (a debt) in full 还清

scale back
reduce (sth.) by a fixed rate 按比例缩减

Proper Names

Bill McKibben
比尔·默基本（人名）

Sophie
索菲（女子名）

Christ
基督