(单词翻译:单击)
中英文本
Giant Galapagos tortoises used to be a symbol for endangered animals. In the 1960s, there were just 15 of the animals in existence. They were dying out because wild goats were eating their food and damaging their habitat. This caused conservationists to take action to help them. Forty years later, the tortoises are doing well. There are over 1,000 of them living and breeding in the wild. Scientists say it is a conservation success story. Conservationist James Gibb said: "What we basically found over time is that about half of the tortoises that were released have survived." Mr Gibbs added: "That's actually pretty amazing." Gibbs said the tortoises can now survive without human help.
巨大的加拉帕戈斯陆龟是濒危动物的典型
。在20世纪60年代,只有15只加拉帕戈斯陆龟存活 。他们濒临灭绝,是因为野生山羊吃了它们食物,破坏了它们的栖息地 。这促使自然资源保护者采取行动,帮助它们 。四十年后, 加拉帕戈斯陆龟都活得很好 。1000多只乌龟在野外生活、繁殖后代 。科学家们说,这是保护物种的一个成功案例 。自然资源保护人士詹姆斯吉布说,随着时间的推移,我们基本上发现,当时大约半数获救的乌龟,都幸存下来了 。吉布斯先生补充道,这很让人吃惊 。吉布斯说,乌龟现在不需要人类的帮助,也能生存 。Giant tortoises used to live all over the world. People hunted them and destroyed their habitat, so they almost became extinct. Giant tortoise numbers fell from over 250,000 in the 16th century to just a few thousand in the 1970s. Giant tortoises can weigh up to 250 kg and can live in the wild for over 100 years. One tortoise lived in captivity for more than 170 years. Wikipedia says: "Tortoises also live very uncomplicated lives, and can nap up to 16 hours a day." Mr Gibbs said the conservation story in the Galapagos Islands would continue. Next year, a small island that lost all of its tortoises a few years ago will get 200 tortoises. Gibbs is looking forward to "another success".
巨龟曾生活在世界各地
。人们猎杀他们,破坏他们的栖息地,所以他们几乎绝种了 。16世纪的时候,巨龟有250,000多只,到了20世纪90年代,数量减少至几千只 。巨龟可以重达250公斤,可以在野外存活100多年 。一只乌龟曾被囚禁了170多年 。维基百科说,乌龟的生活很简单,一天可以睡16个小时 。”吉布斯先生说,在加拉帕哥斯群岛,保护自然资源的故事将继续上演 。一个曾在几年前失去所有乌龟的小岛,明年将会获得200只乌龟 。吉布斯期待再一次“成功” 。译文属可可英语原创,未经允许,不得转载 。
重点讲解
1.used to be过去曾经是
Certainly it makes sense for them to look forward, rather than back, since their future is much better than it used to be.
对它们来说,更有意义的当然是向前看,而不是向后看,因为他们的未来会比以往任何时候都好
。2.in existence现有的;现存的;实际存在的;实有的
Nothing of all this is in existence now.
所有这一切,到今天,都已不存在了
。3.die out灭绝;消失
Each person with HIV would infect, on average, less than one other person and the epidemic would die out.
这样的话,每一个患有HIV的人平均将会感染不到一人,然后病毒就会死亡
。4.take action采取行动;提出诉讼
If business success is what you want, than you need to take action.
但是,如果你想取得商业上的成功,那你就必须采取行动
。5.all over the world全世界
Now however, investors from all over the world, including China and France have come flocking.
然而,如今来自全世界的投资者——包括中国和法国——已经蜂拥而至
。听力试题
1.What did Galapagos tortoises used to be a symbol for?
a) endangered animals
b) a long life
c) the World Wildlife Fund
d) peace on Earth
2.How many Galapagos turtles were there on Earth in the 1960s?
a) 13
b) 14
c) 15
d) 16
3.How many Galapagos turtles are there on Earth today?
a) over 10,000
b) over 1,000
c) 832
d) about 160
4.How many of the tortoises survived after they were released?
a) all of them
b) around 90% of them
c) 372
d) over half
5.What did Gibb say the tortoises could do without human help?
a) survive
b) hunt
c) find food
d) breed
6.What did people destroy?
a) historic records
b) an island
c) evidence
d) the turtles' habitat
7.When were there 250,000 giant tortoises on Earth?
a) in the 1800s
b) in the 16th century
c) several thousand years ago
d) in the days of the dinosaurs
8.For how long each day can tortoises nap?
a) 4 hours
b) 8 hours
c) 12 hours
d) 16 hours
9.What did Gibbs say about the Galapagos Islands success story?
a) very little
b) it's like a fairy tale
c) it would continue
d) it should be a movie
10.What is James Gibb looking forward to?
a) a project with frogs
b) more success
c) the opening of a tortoise museum
d) lunch
听力答案
1.a
2.c
3.b
4.d
5.a
6.d
7.b
8.d
9.c
10.b