【轻松英文阅读】寻找热带雨林

You may have thought that the age of exploration was over. But you would be wrong. The world is a big place and even in this modern age we are still finding hidden corners–places untouched by humans.

 

Thanks to our modern age exploring has become a lot easier. In 2005, a scientist at London’s Kew Gardens discovered a rainforest, but he didn't have to travel halfway¹ around the world to do it. He didn't even have to leave his desk.

 

Mozambique Rainforest

 

Dr. Julian Bayliss, a conservation scientist, was using Google Earth to search for rainforests in Africa. One day, he discovered a large area of lush forest on a peak called Mount² Mabu in Mozambique. In fact, at 27 square miles, it turned out to be the largest medium-altitude rainforest in Africa. Moreover, he discovered the area had never been studied before.

 

Next, Kew Gardens sent a research team to Mount Mabu. What they discovered was beyond their wildest expectations. The forest was full of endangered species³ of birds, orchids⁴, trees, large animals such as monkeys, and antelopes⁵ and many kinds of insects. They even found completely unknown species on the first visit.

 

Mount Mabu Map

 

Since its discovery, the government of Mozambique has worked to protect the ‘Google Forest’ as it is sometimes called. For one thing, commercial logging is banned in the area and it has been made into a national park.

1 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

2 mount   

n.山峰，乘用马，框，衬纸；vi.增长，骑上（马）；vt.提升，爬上，装备

参考例句：

• Their debts continued to mount up.他们的债务不断增加。
• She is the first woman who steps on the top of Mount Jolmo Lungma.她是第一个登上珠穆朗玛峰的女人。

3 species   

n.物种，种群

参考例句：

• Are we the only thinking species in the whole of creation?我们是万物中惟一有思想的物种吗？
• This species of bird now exists only in Africa.这种鸟现在只存在于非洲。

4 orchids   

n.兰花( orchid的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Wild flowers such as orchids and primroses are becoming rare. 兰花和报春花这类野花越来越稀少了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She breeds orchids in her greenhouse. 她在温室里培育兰花。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 antelopes   

羚羊( antelope的名词复数 )； 羚羊皮革

参考例句：

• One jump, and you're out, and we'll run for it like antelopes.' 你只要一跳就出来了，我们可以像羚羊那样飞快地逃掉。”
• Most antelopes can withhold their young for weeks, even months. 绝大部分羚羊能把分娩期推迟几个星期，甚至几个月。