原文视听

Every morning
每天早晨
a flock of crested ibis leave
一群朱鹮飞离
their roost close to the village of Yangxian
它们在洋县的村落附近的鸟巢
in search of food
去觅食
Traditionally,the birds' departure
一般而言 鸟儿的飞离
marked the start of the farmers' day
标志着农民新一天的开始
Crested ibises need wetlands for feeding
朱鹮依靠湿地生活
and rice paddys are the perfect place to hunt for
而稻田正是觅食的鳝鱼 青蛙和蜗牛的
eels, frogs and snails
理想之地
The birds and farmers
鸟儿和农民
had probably coexisted here for thousands of years
在此已共同生活了几千年
until the 20th century
直到20世纪
when in many parts of China
在中国的许多地方
rice was replaced by more profitable wheat production
稻谷被有利可图的小麦取代
Crested ibis numbers rapidly declined
朱鹮的数量锐减
At one point
有一个时期
they were even believed to be extinct
甚至认为他们已经灭绝了
Then, in 1981
直到1981年
the last seven crested ibises on Earth
地球上最后7只朱鹮
were found here
在这里被发现
The Chinese government stepped in
中国政府出面
protecting the rice paddies
着手保护
so the birds could continue to feed
朱鹮赖以存活的稻田
and safeguarding neighboring trees
和周围的树林
to enable them to breed
使他们得以繁衍

重点解释

妙语佳句:

原句:a flock of crested ibis leave their roost close to the village of Yangxian in search of food一群朱鹮飞离它们在洋县的村落附近的鸟巢去觅食。

a flock of:一群(一组, 许多)

We saw a flock of geese swimming in the lake.

我们看见一群鹅在湖里游水。

in search of:寻找, 寻求

He's sailed the seven seas in search of adventure.

他闯荡七大洋去历险。

原句:rice paddys are the perfect place to hunt for eels, frogs and snails而稻田正是觅食的鳝鱼，青蛙和蜗牛的理想之地。

hunt for:搜寻, 寻找

She set out that day to hunt for work .

她那天出去找工作去了。

原句:The Chinese government stepped in protecting the rice paddies中国政府出面着手保护。

step in:介入, 干预

I asked him why he didn't step in and help stop the argument.

我问他，为什么他不进行干预，制止这场争论。

The enemy got a chance to step in.

敌人乘虚而入。

考考你:

中国政府出面着手保护。

一群朱鹮飞离它们在洋县的村落附近的鸟巢去觅食。

上期答案:

since few people have ever seen how panda courtship happens in the wild

In nature giant pandas learn survival skills from their mother but have little contact with other pandas