BBC 少兒資訊頻道與民調機構 “ Savanta-ComRes ” 合作，對 2000 名 8 至 16 歲的兒童進行了一項調查，結果顯示，年輕人對地球的環境現狀感到心灰意冷、焦慮不安。  

Psychologists say that worries about the environment are affecting young people's mental health. Children are frightened about the state of the planet and what it will mean for their futures. A BBC survey of 2000 children has found that three quarters of them are worried about the environment and 22% are very worried.

心理學家表示，對環境的擔憂影響年輕人的心理健康。孩子們對地球的現狀和這對他們未來的影響感到恐懼。BBC 對2000名兒童的一項調查發現，四分之三的兒童對環境感到擔憂，22%感到非常擔憂。

2019 was the year millions of children from Australia to Europe and Africa took part in large climate protests. And we saw Sweden's Greta Thunberg emerge as a lightning rod for young climate change activists all over the world.

2019年，數百萬來自澳洲、歐洲和非洲的兒童參加了大規模的氣候問題抗議活動。深陷爭議漩渦的瑞典青年氣候主義者格蕾塔·桑伯格成為全球青年反氣候變化運動的代表人物。

But this survey also reveals a real sense of powerlessness and frustration. More than half of young people in the UK don't think their voices are being heard and only a third believe politicians are listening to them.

但這項調查也揭示了一種切實的無力感和挫敗感。在英國，超過半數的青年認為自己的意愿未被人聽取，只有三分之一的青年認為從政者在傾聽他們的心聲。

Perhaps the most worrying figure is around generational trust. Fewer than two in five believe that adults and world leaders will rise to the challenges climate change brings. Not only are adults facing a demand from young people that they listen to their concerns about climate change, but it's clear they face a battle to convince a doubtful and worried next generation that they've got what it takes to meet the challenges it raises.

或許最讓人擔憂的數字是世代間的信任度。不到四成的人認為，成年人和世界各國的領導人會成功應對氣候變化帶來的挑戰。成年人不僅面臨著要聽取年輕人對氣候變化的擔憂，他們顯然還面臨另一場戰斗，那就是需要說服充滿疑慮和擔憂的下一代他們有能力應對氣候變化帶來的挑戰。

詞匯

worries 擔憂，發愁
mental health 心理健康
frightened 害怕的
emerge 出現，為人知曉
lightning rod 爭議性人物，眾矢之的
powerlessness 無力感
frustration 挫敗感
generational trust 世代間的信任
rise to the challenges 接受挑戰，成功應對困難
doubtful 有疑慮的，持懷疑態度的

閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題 。

1. True or false? More than half of young people in the UK think their opinions are taken seriously.

2. What do children feel about the state of the planet?

3. What is the most worrying figure in the survey, according to the article?

4. What demand from young people are adults facing?

答案

1. True or false? More than half of young people in the UK think their opinions are taken seriously.
False. Quite the opposite - more than half of young people in the UK don’t think their voices are being heard.

2. What do children feel about the state of the planet? 
Children are frightened about the state of the planet and what it will mean for their futures.

3. What is the most worrying figure in the survey, according to the article?
According to the article, the most worrying figure is perhaps generational trust.

4. What demand from young people are adults facing?
Adults are facing a demand that they listen to their concerns about climate change.