50多位高知名度的倡导者及社会名流呼吁加强动物保护，禁止活煮龙虾和螃蟹。他们已在一封给英国环境大臣迈克尔·戈夫（Michael Gove）的联名信上签名，敦促他在新的动物福利法案中把甲壳类动物归为“有知觉的生物”。
Scientists say pain is not a straightforward concept and it can take many years of research to establish whether or not certain animals can feel it. But campaigners argue there is now mounting evidence that lobsters and crabs do suffer when plunged into boiling water.
科学家们说，疼痛并不是一个简单易懂的概念，而且要想证实某些动物能否感觉到疼痛，可能需要多年的研究。但该倡议的支持者们指出，现已有越来越多的证据表明龙虾和螃蟹在被人扔进沸水中后确实会承受痛苦。
The British Veterinary Association, along with celebrities such as the wildlife presenter Chris Packham, wants the Environment Secretary Michael Gove to grant the animals extra protection in a forthcoming Animal Welfare Bill.
英国兽医协会（The British Veterinary Association）和野生动物节目主持人克里斯·帕克汉姆（Chris Packham）等名人都希望英国环境大臣迈克尔·戈夫能在即将被审议的动物福利法案中授予动物额外的保护。
There are practical reasons to boil some crustaceans alive – their meat tends to spoil particularly fast, but campaigners say there are more humane killing methods that will have little impact on the food's preparation.
活煮一些甲壳类动物的做法是有一定实际原因的，比如有些动物一旦死亡，肉会很快变质。但针对这一点，该倡议的支持者们说，除了活煮以外应该还有不会对食物制备过程产生太大影响的、更为人道的宰杀方法。
In response, the government said it was committed to the very highest standards of animal welfare.
英国政府对此事的回应是：他们致力于确保最高水准的动物福祉。
1. 词汇表
straightforward 简单明了的，易懂的
mounting evidence 越来越多的证据
plunged into 被扔进…中
grant（官方）给予、授予
practical reasons 实际的原因
crustaceans 甲壳类动物
humane 人道的
committed 致力（于）
2. 阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题 。
1. Do scientists say pain is the same for animals and humans?
2. Which law can offer protection for lobsters and crabs?
3. Why might chefs in a restaurant want to boil a lobster?
4. True or false? Discovering if animals feel pain can take years of research.
3. 答案
1. Do scientists say pain is the same for animals and humans?
No. Scientists say that pain is not a straighforward concept.
2. Which law can offer protection for lobsters and crabs?
The Animal Welfare Bill can grant protection for lobsters and crabs.
3. Why might chefs in a restaurant want to boil a lobster?
The meat on lobsters spoils quickly, so boiling them stops this happening.
4. True or false? Discovering if animals feel pain can take years of research.
True. It can take many years of research to establish whether or not certain animals can feel pain.
