英语听力精选进阶版 6231
时间：2019-02-21 作者：英语课 分类：英语听力精选进阶版
Some Species Threatened with Extinction 1 一些蝴蝶种类面临绝迹
The British summer is extremely beautiful. Trees, flowers, birds and butterflies make the whole country like a big garden. However, many British people have noticed that butterflies have been gradually disappearing from this picturesque 2 scenery during the past several years. What has happened to them?
Butterfly Conservation, a charity in the UK, is running a survey to help answer this question. The result is more serious than people expected. According to the survey, among 59 butterfly species found in the British Isles 3, more than three-quarters of them are suffering a declining population, including the most popular Meadow Brown. Moreover, half of all butterfly species are on the verge 4 of extinction.
Some common species such as the small Tortoiseshell butterfly and the Wall butterfly are dropping dramatically. The latter cannot even be seen in many parts of central and southern England.
The Blue butterfly, which was commonly seen in the south, has started colonising Edinburgh in the past few years.
The numbers of butterflies have dropped to a record low in the past three years largely because the summer in the UK is getting cooler and their habitat is also degrading.
Fortunately Britain is experiencing a long hot summer this year compared to the last few summers. Conservationists believe the warm weather will bring some benefit to the butterflies.
Sir David Attenborough, president of Butterfly Conservation, said: "Butterflies in profusion 5 tell us that all is well with nature. When they decline it's a warning that other wildlife will be soon heading the same way."
The survey is still going on. The public is also encouraged to keep track of the UK's butterfly population. The organisers hope the survey will help raise public awareness 6 of the value of butterflies in the UK. Butterflies give an indication of the well-being 7 of nature and the environment.
Glossary 词汇表
butterfly 蝴蝶
picturesque scenery 如画的风景
conservation 自然环境保护
charity 慈善组织
survey 调查
species 品种
British Isles 不列颠群岛
decline 减少
extinction 绝迹、灭绝
dramatically 显著地
colonise 居住、迁移至某地
a record low 有记录以来最低
habitat 居住地
degrade 恶化、变坏
conservationist 环保主义者
profusion 大量、丰富
keep track of 跟踪
indication 指示
- The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
- The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。
- You can see the picturesque shores beside the river.在河边你可以看到景色如画的两岸。
- That was a picturesque phrase.那是一个形象化的说法。
- the geology of the British Isles 不列颠群岛的地质
- The boat left for the isles. 小船驶向那些小岛。
- The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
- She was on the verge of bursting into tears.她快要哭出来了。
- There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
- Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。
- He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
- My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。