20190905长难句
【昨日回顾】
But scientists have been expressing concern for years about the emissions produced by burning biomass. Many experts suggest that declaring wood burning a carbon-neutral form of energy is not only inaccurate, but a potential step backward for global climate change mitigation efforts.
但是科学家们多年来一直在关注燃烧生物材料所产生的排放物。许多专家认为，宣布燃烧木材是一种碳中性形式的能源，这不仅是不准确的，而且对于为缓解全球气候变化所作出的努力而言，这可能意味着倒退。
【今日长难句】
William Schlesinger, a biogeochemist and former president of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, was among the latest to weigh in with commentary published in Science yesterday. He said that “recent evidence shows that the use of wood as fuel is likely to result in net CO2 emissions.”
【难点词汇】
biogeochemist n. 生物地球化学家
weigh in with … 在讨论提出……（to join in a discussion, an argument, an activity, etc. by saying sth important, persuading sb, or doing sth to help）
latest /ˈleitist/adj. 最近的，最新的
commentary /ˈkɔməntri/ n. 评论，评述
result in 导致
net /net/ adj. 最终的、最后的
emission /iˈmiʃn/ n. 排放
【结构解析】
1. 首句主干为“主系表”结构，即：William Schlesinger…/ was/ among the latest …; to weigh in with commentary 为后置定语，修饰 the latest; published in Science yesterday 为后置定语，修饰commentary.
2. 首句主语较长，可将主语单独译为句子，即：William Schlesinger是生物地球化学学家，也是Cary生态系统研究所的前任主席。
3. 首句翻译的难点在于weigh in with … 这个短语，先来看看其英文解释，如下：to join in a discussion, an argument, an activity, etc. by saying sth important, persuading sb., or doing sth to help 即：以发表重要看法、说服某人、或帮助做好某事的方式加入到一场讨论、争论或一项活动中来。
4. 二句主干为“主谓宾”结构，即：He/said /that …; that从句主干为“主谓宾从”结构，即：recent evidence /shows/ that ….
【参考译文】
William Schlesinger, a biogeochemist and former president of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, was among the latest to weigh in with commentary published in Science yesterday. He said that “recent evidence shows that the use of wood as fuel is likely to result in net CO2 emissions.”
William Schlesinger是生物地球化学学家，也是Cary生态系统研究所的前任主席，作为最近参与该话题讨论的人之一，他的评论发表在昨天出版的《科学》杂志上。他说，“最近，有证据表明，使用木材作为燃料很可能导致最终的二氧化碳排放。”
【明日预告】
Biomass is technically a “renewable” energy source, in that trees can be replanted after they’re harvested. And some lawmakers have argued that because trees store carbon as they grow, replacement forests will gradually remove the carbon dioxide emitted when the previous trees were burned for energy, making the whole process carbon neutral—that is, putting no net emissions into the atmosphere.