World wildlife "falls by 58% in 40 years" 全球野生动物总数“四十年内下降58%”
全球野生动物总数下降据报告称，自 1970 年来全球野生动物总数已减少 58% 。由伦敦动物学会（ Zoological Society of London ）和世界自然基金会（ WWF ）共同编写的“地球生命力”评估报告表明，如果该趋势持续下去，到 2020年 为止脊椎动物数量将会下降三分之二。相关数据显示，居住在湖泊、河流、湿地的动物正经受最大的威胁。请听 Rebecca Morelle 的 报道。
Looking at data collected on 3,700 different species of birds, fish, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, the researchers analysed how population sizes have changed over time.
They believe that since 1970, species have declined by an average of 58%. Some have fared very badly, such as African elephants, whose numbers have been cut by a third in the last decade, and the Amur leopard, which is as few as 70 animals left in the world.
The report says that human activity is to blame and concludes that if nothing is done, wildlife populations could fall by 67% from 1970 levels by the end of the decade.
词汇表
species 物种
amphibians 两栖动物
reptiles 爬行动物
population 动物总数
fared 经受了，遭遇了
African elephants 非洲象
cut 减少，降低
Amur leopard 远东豹
wildlife 野生动物
测验
请听报道并回答下列问题。
1. From how many species did the researchers collect and examine data to carry out the analysis?
2. Which animals have suffered more than others, according to the text?
3. True or false? The report warns if nothing is done, the trend could get worse in the near future.
4. Which word in the text means 'say or believe that someone or something is responsible for a bad situation'?
答案
1. From how many species did the researchers collect and examine data to carry out the analysis?
The researchers looked at the data of 3,700 different species to analyse how the population sizes have changed over time.
2. Which animals have suffered more than others, according to the text?
African elephants and the Amur leopards.
3. True or false? The report warns if nothing is done, the trend could get worse in the near future.
True. The report concludes that if nothing is done, wildlife populations could fall by 67% from 1970 levels by 2020.
4. Which word in the text means 'say or believe that someone or something is responsible for a bad situation'?
Blame.
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