Four Environmentalists You Should Know
George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver is one of the most famous scientists of the 20th century, not to mention a famous painter. He was an educator at the Tuskegee Institute and an inventor known for making plastics, fuel, and more out of peanut. He created a list of 300 uses for peanuts, and many more for soybeans and sweet potatoes, in an effort to increase financial gains for Southern farmers.
Julia Hill
After a serious auto accident in 1996, Julia Hill devoted her life to environmental causes. Fortwo years, Hill lived in the branches of an ancient redwood tree which she named Luna) in northern California to save it from being cut down. She eventually vacated (搬离) the 200-foot-tall tree after striking a deal with the Pacific Lumber Company. The tree was saved finally. Her tree-sit became an international cause.
Theodore Roosevelt
Though he was a known big-game hunter, Theodore Roosevelt was one of the most active champions of wilderness preservation in history. As governor of New York, he outlawed the use of feathers as clothing decorations in order to prevent the killing of some birds. While he was president (1901-1909), he set aside hundreds of millions of wilderness acres, actively protected soil and water.
Chico Mendes
Chico Mendes is best known for his efforts to save the rainforests of his home Brazil from being cut down. Mendes came from a family of rubber harvesters who supplemented (补贴) their income by sustainably gathering nuts and other rainforest products. Alarmed at the damage of the Amazon, he helped to encourage international support for its protection. His activism drew the anger of powerful ranching (牧业) and timber interests, and he was murdered by cattle ranchers at age 44.
【小题1】Who made a great contribution to agriculture?| A．George Washington Carver. | B．Julia Hill. |
| C．Theodore Roosevelt. | D．Chico Mendes. |
| A．Protecting wilderness. | B．Saving a 200-foot-tall tree. |
| C．Creating many uses for peanuts. | D．Saving the rainforests of Brazil. |
| A．He likes cutting down trees. | B．He called on people to protect water. |
| C．He came from a family of farmers. | D．He gathered nuts to support his family. |
