ANALYTICAL ENGLISH 解析英語(常春藤)
By 常春藤解析英語 Quinn Beaumont
Many people love their dogs and spare no effort to provide them with the best food possible. However, a recent study has shed light on an often overlooked environmental issue. By analyzing nearly 1,000 commercial dog food recipes, researchers found that these diets leave a significant “carbon pawprint.” For a 20-kilogram dog, 40% of tested dog foods were found to produce more greenhouse gas emissions than __1__ from a human vegan diet.
The primary factor is the composition and format of modern dog food, particularly wet and raw diets. Products made with meat that is also commonly __2__ humans, such as chicken breast, require more resources and create more greenhouse gases. By contrast, foods containing animal byproducts or plant proteins generally have a smaller environmental impact. Compared with standard dry kibble, wet and raw products also __3__ on the environment. They often require refrigeration or freezing and involve additional packaging and transportation.
__4__ popular belief, raw diets are not always the healthiest option. They may pose health risks, including nutritional imbalances and bacterial infections. When properly formulated, plant-based diets can also meet dogs’ nutritional needs. Although these options are not yet widely used, they are gaining acceptance among veterinarians.
Photo: AdobeStock I 照片：AdobeStock
This research indicates that the environmental impact of dog food depends largely on its ingredients. Therefore, clear labels must be placed on packaging. Consumers need __5__ ingredient information to make informed choices, and such clarity would also help buyers balance nutrition with sustainability.
許多人深愛自己的狗狗，不遺餘力地盡可能為牠們提供最好的食物。然而，近期的一項研究揭示了一個往往被忽視的環境議題。透過分析近一千種市售狗糧配方，研究人員發現這些飲食留下了顯著的「碳爪跡」。以一隻二十公斤的狗而言，在接受測試的狗糧中，發現有 40% 所產生的溫室氣體排放量甚至超過了人類純素飲食的排放量。
主要的因素在於現代狗糧的成分與形式，尤其是溼食和生食。使用人類也常食用的肉類（例如雞胸肉）所製成的產品，需要消耗更多資源，也會產生更多溫室氣體。相比之下，含有動物副產品或植物蛋白的食物，通常對環境的影響較小。與普通的乾飼料相比，溼食與生食產品對環境造成的負擔也更重。這些產品往往需要冷藏或冷凍，還包含額外的包裝與運輸。
Photo: AdobeStock I 照片：AdobeStock
與普遍的觀念相反，生食飲食並不總是最健康的選擇。它們可能會帶來健康風險，包括營養失衡和細菌感染。在經過妥善調配的情況下，植物性飲食同樣能夠滿足狗狗的營養需求。雖然這些選項目前尚未被廣泛使用，但已逐漸獲得獸醫們的認可。
這項研究指出，狗糧對環境的影響在很大程度上取決於其成分。因此，包裝上必須貼有清楚的標籤。消費者需要公開透明的成分資訊來做出明智的選擇，而這樣的清晰度也將有助於購買者在營養與永續發展之間取得平衡。
What Did You Learn?
1. (A) which (B) these (C) what (D) those
2. (A) restricted to (B) consumed by (C) satisfied with (D) prohibited from
3. (A) make a smaller profit (B) cast a lesser shadow (C) place a heavier burden (D) score a better success
4. (A) Contrary to (B) Prior to (C) Because of (D) Short of
5. (A) eloquent (B) imaginative (C) transparent (D) predictable
答案： 1. D 2. B 3. C 4. A 5. C
Words in Use
1. carbon n. 碳
carbon pawprint （碳爪跡）是從carbon footprint（碳足跡）衍生出的環保新詞。
carbon footprint 通常是指人類活動或產品生命週期中所排放的溫室氣體總量。
carbon pawprint 則指我們飼養的寵物在生活中所產生的碳排放量，除了文中提到的寵物食品，還包括日常用品、醫療和廢棄物等。
The bike frame is made of carbon fiber, which makes it very light and strong.
這輛自行車的車架是由碳纖維製成，讓它非常輕巧又堅固。
2. overlook vt. 忽略，忽視（本文為過去分詞作形容詞用）
This small town is an often overlooked tourist destination with beautiful scenery.
這座小鎮是個景色優美卻經常被忽略的旅遊景點。
Julian overlooked the spelling mistake on the first page of the essay.
朱利安忽略了作文第一頁的拼字錯誤。
3. analyze vt. 分析
Doctors will analyze your blood sample to find out what is causing your allergy.
醫生會分析你的血液樣本，以找出導致你過敏的原因。
4. emission n. 排放物
The new hybrid bus reduces smoke emissions.
這款新型油電混合公車降低了廢氣排放物。
5. composition n. 組合成分
Scientists are studying the chemical composition of the soil on Mars.
科學家們正在研究火星土壤的化學成分。
Practical Phrases
1. spare no effort to V 不遺餘力地……
Becca spares no effort to achieve her dream of studying abroad.
貝卡不遺餘力地去實現出國留學的夢想。
2. shed light on. . . 闡明;使人明白
The discovery of the old sign sheds light on the local history of the farm.
這塊舊招牌的發現讓人們更了解這塊農田的當地歷史。
3. by contrast 相較之下（相反）
Kevin is very quiet and shy; by contrast, his sister Sarah loves to talk.
凱文非常安靜害羞；相較之下，他妹妹莎拉非常健談。
4. compared with / to. . . 與……相比
Compared with the old system, the new software is very easy to use.
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.