英语听力：自然百科 老乌龟传宗接代不容易
时间：2018-12-26 作者：英语课 分类：自然百科2008年
英语课
Hopes are fading that lonesome George, a unique giant Galápagos tortoise, will become a father. George lives in the Galápagos National Park in Ecuador and is believed to be the last living member of its species. Conservationists are anxious to ensure his blood line continues, but it seems George is not yet destined 1 to become a father. Park officials introduced George to two eligible 2 female companions but the remaining eight eggs laid by the giant tortoises are infertile 3.
Unfortunately, we opened each one of them and to look, to see if we could find a sign of an embryo 4. And, none of them had a sign of any embryo development, which suggests that the eggs were not fertile.
Some of Caccone's work has been partially 5 funded by National Geographic 6. Though the eggs were not fertilized 7, there was a small glimmer 8 of hope as it was the first time any of George's mates were able to produce eggs. Park rangers 9 have been trying for 36 years to coax 10 George into fathering babies.
George could be sterile 11, although the eggs could also have been deficient 12 since the females have not laid eggs for 15 years. The tortoises may have adjusted poorly to captivity 13 which could have left him infertile. All the diet in the breeding center could have had a negative impact on their reproductive systems.
Either way, conservationists are not giving up just yet. A team of biologists and park rangers have been taking blood samples from tortoises on nearby Isabella Island and in search of hybrid 14 species that share as many or more genes 15 with lonesome George. George, first discovered in 1971 was taken to a breeding center on Santa Cruz Island in 1972. He's become a major conservation icon 16, and tourist attraction in the Galápagos Islands.
1 destined
adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的
- It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
- The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。
2 eligible
adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的
- He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
- Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。
3 infertile
adj.不孕的；不肥沃的，贫瘠的
- Plants can't grow well in the infertile land.在贫瘠的土地上庄稼长不好。
- Nobody is willing to till this infertile land.这块薄田没有人愿意耕种。
4 embryo
n.胚胎，萌芽的事物
- They are engaging in an embryo research.他们正在进行一项胚胎研究。
- The project was barely in embryo.该计划只是个雏形。
5 partially
adv.部分地，从某些方面讲
- The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
- The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。
6 geographic
adj.地理学的，地理的
- The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
7 Fertilized
v.施肥( fertilize的过去式和过去分词 )
- The study of psychology has recently been widely cross-fertilized by new discoveries in genetics. 心理学研究最近从遗传学的新发现中受益匪浅。
- Flowers are often fertilized by bees as they gather nectar. 花常在蜜蜂采蜜时受粉。
8 glimmer
v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光
- I looked at her and felt a glimmer of hope.我注视她，感到了一线希望。
- A glimmer of amusement showed in her eyes.她的眼中露出一丝笑意。
9 rangers
护林者( ranger的名词复数 )； 突击队员
- Do you know where the Rangers Stadium is? 你知道Rangers体育场在哪吗？ 来自超越目标英语 第3册
- Now I'm a Rangers' fan, so I like to be near the stadium. 现在我是Rangers的爱好者，所以我想离体育场近一点。 来自超越目标英语 第3册
10 coax
v.哄诱，劝诱，用诱哄得到，诱取
- I had to coax the information out of him.我得用好话套出他掌握的情况。
- He tried to coax the secret from me.他试图哄骗我说出秘方。
11 sterile
adj.不毛的，不孕的，无菌的，枯燥的，贫瘠的
- This top fits over the bottle and keeps the teat sterile.这个盖子严实地盖在奶瓶上，保持奶嘴无菌。
- The farmers turned the sterile land into high fields.农民们把不毛之地变成了高产田。
12 deficient
adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的
- The crops are suffering from deficient rain.庄稼因雨量不足而遭受损害。
- I always have been deficient in selfconfidence and decision.我向来缺乏自信和果断。
13 captivity
n.囚禁；被俘；束缚
- A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
- He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。
14 hybrid
n.(动，植）杂种，混合物
- That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
- The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。