He said the only alternative was to starve the people, and he said this could not be allowed to happen.

他说惟一的其他办法是饿那些人，但他说这种做法是不允许的。

《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》

In this case, not simply volunteers are to be selected to starve to death, as this would ultimately leave only the ruthless.

在这种情况下，被选择出来饿死的不仅仅是志愿者，最终只会留下冷漠无情之人。

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