南非第2大城開普敦連續3年乾旱，是全球第一個遭逢「零供水日」威脅的都會區；對照南台灣也可能在一個月內無水可用，加上酷暑動輒引發缺電危機，凸顯氣候變遷將原本取之不盡的天然資源推向稀缺（scarcity）的窘境。 【水源短缺淺談】 scarcity　缺乏、稀少 A：The estimated "Day Zero" for Cape Town has been deferred, but its water crisis is not over yet. （開普敦的「零供水日」往後延，但缺水危機未除。） B：Water scarcity is definitely a problem that many countries will have to grapple with. （水資源稀缺將會是許多國家未來要應對的問題。） depletion　用盡 A：Climate change and increasing water demands have all contributed to the depletion of water. （氣候變遷加上用水增加，都會導致水資源竭盡。） B：Lack of precipitation has also led to severe water shortages in southern Taiwan. （南台灣也因缺乏降雨引發嚴重缺水問題。） constraint　限制 A：As temperatures rise, the consumption of not only water but also energy is expected to increase dramatically. （隨著氣溫上升，用水和用電量也將激增。） B：The availability of these resources will inevitably become a major constraint on people's lives and economic development. （資源取得將會是生活和經濟發展的一大限制。） 【延伸關鍵字】 1. blackout：停電；斷電 2. impending：即將來臨的 3. havoc：浩劫 多益時事通工作團隊獨家授權