If we are ever going to protect the atmosphere, it is crucial that those new plants be environmentally sound.

　　① To serve as responsible stewards of the planet, we must press forward on deeper atmospheric and oceanic research.

　　② But research alone is inadequate.

　　③ If the Administration won’t take the legislative initiative, Congress should help to begin fashioning conservation measures.

　　④ A bill by Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, which would offer financial incentives for private industry, is a promising start.

　　⑤ Many see that the country is getting ready to build lots of new power plants to meet our energy needs.

　　⑥ If we are ever going to protect the atmosphere, it is crucial that those new plants be environmentally sound.

　　参考译文：

　　①(论点：总1)为了成为地球上有责任心的管理员，我们必须推进对于大气和海洋的深入研究。

　　②(转折：总2)但只有研究是不够的。

　　③(递进：总3)如果政府没有先行立法限制此事，国会就应当开始帮助制定保护措施。

　　④(例：分1)西弗吉尼亚的民主党议员罗伯特·伯德提出一项议案，为私企提供财政奖励，就是一个良好的开端。

　　⑤(并列：分2)许多人看到我们国家正准备修建许多新的发电厂，以满足我们的能源需求。

　　⑥(并列：分3)如果我们要保护大气，那么关键是要让这些新发电厂对环境无害。

　　翻译小作业：

　　随着问题越来越显著，并且不断增多，一个勇敢的民族现在应该准备一系列措施应对了。

　　答案：

　　With problems obvious and growing, a combative people should take a series of measures to cope with.

　　课后练习：如果我们要保护野生动物，那么关键是人类的环保意识以及政府的决策不容忽视。