1.   Experts say that open source software is not only good for Africa because it is free, but also because it allows users to make changes to the source code, which in itself can provide a lesson in technology.

专家称开放软件源码对非洲的好处，不但因为其免费而且其允许人们改变原编码，这就从根本的技术上提供了课程。

source code n.（名词）

Code written by a programmer in a high-level language and readable by people but not computers. Source code must be converted to object code or machine language before a computer can read or execute the program.

源码：由程序设计者以人类而非计算机可读取的高级语言所撰写出的编码，源码在由计算机读取或是执行之前必须转换为计算机语言或是机器语言

2.   He says free and open software is having the greatest impact on average people, non-governmental organizations or NGOs, and small, medium and micro businesses, which he calls SMMEs.   

软件的公开和免费对于大众，非政府组织和被他称作SMMEs的中小型企业都有重要的影响。

impact

strong impression or effect on sb/sth 对某人[某事物]的强烈的印象或巨大的影响:

* Her speech made a tremendous impact on everyone. 她的演说对大家震动很大.

3.   Government officials at the conference said they hope free, open-source software will allow them to use computers in more of their work to increase efficiency and in the long run save money.

与会政府官员称他们希望免费的开放源码软件可以让他们在工作中更多的使用电脑来提高效率，在长远看节省费用。

efficiency

The ratio of the effective or useful output to the total input in any system.

效率：在某一系统中有效的或有用的产出与总投入的比率

4.   But, he says, that when he watches European students walking around with personal laptop computers, he realizes that software is not enough.

但是他称当他看到欧洲学生走路时拿着个人笔记本时，他意识到软件是不够的。

laptop

A microcomputer small enough to use on one's lap.

膝上型电脑，便携式电脑：小得足以放在膝盖上使用小型计算机

5.   These cases should not be viewed as isolated anomalies, but rather as indicators of a global phenomenon, according to Lester Brown of the Washington-based Earth Policy Institute.

坐落在华盛顿的地球策略研究会的LB称，这些事件不能看作是独立的异常现象，而应该是一全球现象的指标灯。

phenomenon

fact or occurrence, esp in nature or society, that can be perceived by the senses 现象:

* An eclipse of the moon is a rare phenomenon. 月蚀是罕见的现象.

* Bankruptcy is a common phenomenon in an economic recession. 在经济衰退时破产是常见的现象.

6.   In addition, grains like corn once grown exclusively to feed humans and livestock are now being diverted into programs to generate ethanol and other so-called "biofuels“ as an alternative to oil and gasoline.

另外，像是例如玉米一样的谷物以前是专门用来供人类和家畜食用，现在已经转向生产酒精和其他生物燃料的项目中，以作为石油和汽油的替代品。    

livestock

 [U] animals kept on a farm for use or profit, eg cattle or sheep 家畜, 牲畜（如牛羊）

7.   Taken together, these factors have led to growing food shortages and rising prices that could spell disaster for the world's poor people, according to Lester Brown.

LB称这些原因加在一起，引起了食品的短缺和价格上涨，这会给世界穷人带来灾难。

factor

fact, circumstance, etc that helps to produce a result 因素:

* environmental factors 环境因素

* the factors that influenced my decision 影响我做出决定的因素

8.   For the past two years, Australia's wheat harvest has been lowered by drought.

在过去的两年中，澳大利亚由于干旱小麦欠收。

drought  n.（名词）

A long period of abnormally low rainfall, especially one that adversely affects growing or living conditions.

干旱：长时期的过低降雨量，特别指妨碍生长或生存的这样一段时期

9.   Msangi, originally from Tanzania, has a set of policy recommendations for governments around the world: invest more in agriculture technology to boost crop yields, address climate change and environmental issues, improve water management, carefully consider the impact of biofuels on world food stocks, and resist the temptation to enact counter-productive measures to artificially lower food prices.

 M来自坦桑尼亚，他对于全球的政府有一整套政策建议：增加农业技术的投资增加粮食产量，解决气候变化和环境问题，提高用水管理，仔细考虑生物燃料对世界粮食存量的影响，不能为了人为的降低食物价格而采取事与愿违的方法。  

yield    n.（名词）

(a)An amount yielded or produced; a product.

生产量；生产物

(b)A profit obtained from an investment; a return.

投资的收益：投资获利；回报

enact

To make into law:制定：制订成法律：

* Congress enacted a tax reform bill.

国会使税收改革提案成为法律

counter-productive

adj having the opposite effect to that intended 产生相反效果的; 适得其反的; 事与愿违的:

10.Msangi notes that leaders in Zimbabwe and Venezuela have recently ordered price controls in response to soaring food costs, and says the efforts are making a bad situation worse.

M说津巴布韦和委内瑞拉的领导人最近针对食品价格上涨开始了价格管制，他称这一行动会让本就不好的局势更加恶化。

soaring

Ascending to a level markedly higher than the usual:

剧增的：上升到明显高于正常水平的：

* soaring fuel costs 飞涨的燃料价格