【轻松英文阅读】切尔诺贝利森林面临的危险

 Something strange is happening in the forests around Chernobyl. More precisely¹, it is what is not happening that is the problem. When leaves fall and trees die there, they are not decomposing² properly.

 

Scientists visiting the dead forests noticed that the trees were almost unchanged nearly 30 years after the disaster. They also found an unusually thick carpet of fallen leaves. The scientists knew something strange was happening and they decided³ to investigate. They uncovered that the rate of decay for the dead trees and leaves was much slower in the contaminated areas.

 

It appears that microbes, fungi⁴ and insects, are suffering from contamination. Usually, when a tree dies in the forest these organisms break it down and turn it into soil. They are essential to the forest ecosystem⁵. But near Chernobyl the ecosystem has broken down.

 

The problem could have wider implications. The scientists fear that the thick dead brush could be a huge fire risk. A forest fire in the area would be hard to control. What is worse is that it could spread radioactive material well beyond the exclusion⁶ zone.

1 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

2 decomposing   

腐烂( decompose的现在分词 )； （使）分解； 分解（某物质、光线等）

参考例句：

• The air was filled with the overpowering stench of decomposing vegetation. 空气中充满了令人难以忍受的腐烂植物的恶臭。
• Heat was obtained from decomposing manures and hot air flues. 靠肥料分解和烟道为植物提供热量。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 fungi   

n.真菌，霉菌

参考例句：

• Students practice to apply the study of genetics to multicellular plants and fungi.学生们练习把基因学应用到多细胞植物和真菌中。
• The lawn was covered with fungi.草地上到处都是蘑菇。

5 ecosystem   

n.生态系统

参考例句：

• This destroyed the ecosystem of the island.这样破坏了岛上的生态系统。
• We all have an interest in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem.维持生态系统的完整是我们共同的利益。

6 exclusion   

n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行

参考例句：

• Don't revise a few topics to the exclusion of all others.不要修改少数论题以致排除所有其他的。
• He plays golf to the exclusion of all other sports.他专打高尔夫球，其他运动一概不参加。