Learning English

Inspiring language learning since 1943

一种彩虹色的狼蛛、一种毒蛇和一种手指呈钩状的毛茸茸的长臂猿之间有什么联系？它们都被列入了一份高度濒危物种的名单中，一英国慈善组织表示将于今年优先救助这份名单上的动物。

Among the at-risk species on this year's list is the Saint Lucia fer de lance, a venomous viper with an image problem. While it's not aggressive, it's highly feared, so is often killed on sight. Conservationists are working to improve perceptions of the creature. Then there's the blackchin guitarfish, which appears to be half ray, half shark.

在今年这份名单上的濒危物种包括圣卢西亚矛头蝮，这是一种有形象问题的剧毒蛇类。虽然它攻击性并不强，但人们非常害怕这种蛇，通常一见到就会立即杀死它。自然保护人员正在努力改善人们对这种生物的看法。名单上还包括黑颏犁头鳐，一种看起来一半像鳐鱼、一半像鲨鱼的鱼类。

It's not just animals. Wild tulips make the list threatened with extinction in Central Asia due to overgrazing and trampling by livestock.

这份名单上并不只有动物。野生郁金香也在这份名单上，这些郁金香在中亚地区因过度放牧和家畜的踩踏已经濒临灭绝。

The charity hopes the list will also draw attention to the people working to protect the wildlife, providing a beacon of hope against a bleak outlook.

这家慈善机构希望这份名单能吸引人们关注那些致力于保护野生动植物的工作人员，他们为动植物保护当前黯淡的前景点亮了一盏希望之灯。

词汇表

at-risk 处于危险中的
venomous 有毒的
image problem 形象问题
aggressive 有攻击性的，好斗的
on sight 一看见
perceptions 看法，认识
overgrazing 过度放牧
trampling 踩踏
beacon 灯，灯塔
bleak 黯淡的，令人沮丧的

听力练习

一、听第一遍音频，回答问题。

1. Is this article about…
a. only animals?
b. only plants?
c. animals and plants?

二、用一分钟阅读下列问题，然后听第二遍音频并回答问题。

1. The article mentions a snake which is…
a. the most venomous in St Lucia.
b. misunderstood.
c. very aggressive.

2. There is a fish on the list which looks like a mix of two creatures.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

3. Farming is a big threat to wild tulips in Central Asia.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

4. Why has this list been created?
a. To highlight the importance of climate change.
b. To increase awareness of the work of conversationists.
c. To promote the high number of endangered animals.

三、听第三遍音频，将句子补充完整。（提示：可以反复听，直到听清楚每一个词）

1. Conservationists are working to improve ________________ the creature.

2. The charity hopes the list will also draw attention to the people working to protect the wildlife, providing ________________ against a bleak outlook.

答案

一、听第一遍音频，回答问题。

1. c.It's notjustanimals. Wildtulips make the list…

二、用一分钟阅读下列问题，然后听第二遍音频并回答问题。

1. b. …a venomous viper with animage problem. While it's notaggressive, it's highlyfeared, so is often killed on sight.

2. a. True.Then there's the black chin guitar fish, which appears to be half ray, half shark.

3. a. True. Wild tulips make the list threatened with extinction in Central Asia due to overgrazing and trampling by livestock.

4. b.The charity hopes the list will also draw attention to the people working to protect the wildlife.

三、听第三遍音频，将句子补充完整。（提示：可以反复听，直到听清楚每一个词）

1. Conservationists are working to improve perceptions of the creature.

2. The charity hopes the list will also draw attention to the people working to protect the wildlife, providing a beacon of hope against a bleak outlook.