【一起听英语】南极生物入侵

 南极地带会有别的生物入侵，这会对南极生物的生存环境造成怎样的影响呢

Rosie: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Rosie and here with me today is

Chris. Hello Chris!

Chris: Hi Rosie!

Rosie: Today we're going to talk about alien invaders² in the Antarctic.

Chris: Alien invaders? Have aliens landed on Antarctica then? They should have

chosen a more exciting place to land… like London!

Rosie: No, they're not aliens from outer space – or from another planet. We're

talking about alien plants in Antarctica.

Chris: You mean plants growing in a place they shouldn't grow – outside their

natural habitat?

Rosie: That's right. We're going to find out more in a minute, but first it's time for

today's question, Chris. So are you ready?

Chris: I am.

Rosie: Right, OK. The word 'Antarctica' comes from Ancient Greek. Does it mean:

a) white Arctic³ land

b) southernmost continent

c) opposite to the arctic 

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Chris: Well, I think I might go for a) white arctic land.

Rosie: We'll find out whether you're right or wrong at the end of the programme. But

first let's talk about these alien plants. It's strange to think about Antarctica

as a green continent, isn't it?

 

Chris: Yes, I thought it was mostly covered in ice. So are you saying plants are

flourishing there? Do you think there might be forests there soon?

Rosie: I doubt it! But let's listen to a report by the BBC's environment correspondent⁴

Richard Black, who talks about what's happening. What phrase does he use to

mean plants have started to grow?

BBC Producer

The vast majority of Antarctica is covered by ice, but the bits that aren't are beginning to be

covered in plants, particularly the Antarctic peninsula, the piece that runs up towards the

southern tip of South America. It's seen rapid temperature rise in recent years which is why

the plants are taking hold.

Rosie: So the reporter says that most of Antarctica is covered by ice, but there are

parts which aren't.

Chris: Yes, and in the bits that don't have ice there are plants starting to grow – or

taking hold. This is happening mostly in the Antarctica peninsula, which is

close to the tip –or the very end- of South America.

Rosie: And did you hear the reason he gave for these plants growing?

Chris: Yes, the rise in temperature – so the continent is getting hotter, ice is melting,

and the plants are growing. But where did the plants come from?

Rosie: Well, the seeds are being brought into Antarctica, but not by the wind.

They're brought in by people. 

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Chris: So you mean people bring seeds with them and plant them in Antarctica?

Rosie: No, they don't plant them. They carry them on their clothes without realising

it. Let's listen to the report which explains how scientists found out this is

happening. How does the reporter describe searching scientists and tourists?

BBC Producer

Now an international research team has discovered how many of the seeds are getting there.

As they describe in the journal Proceedings⁵ of the National Academy of Sciences they frisked

scientists and tourists visiting the white continent and found that on average each is

carrying nearly ten seeds tucked⁶ away in boots and folds of clothing.

Rosie: That's incredible⁷! Researchers frisked –or searched- scientists and tourists

and found that on average each visitor was carrying nearly ten seeds tucked

away –or hidden- in their boots and clothes.

Chris: Yes, I wonder how many seeds I'm carrying right now without realising it?

Rosie: Yes, although perhaps London isn't as green as some places the visitors travel

to on their way to Antarctica.

Chris: That's true… Did you hear that the producer called Antarctica the white

continent? Soon it might be called the green continent.

Rosie: Well, the plants aren't growing everywhere, but the continent is becoming a

bit greener. The plants must look beautiful amongst all that white ice.

Chris: Yes, but it's a huge problem and scientists aren't very happy. Antarctica has a

unique ecology which needs to be protected. Let's listen to the last part of

the report. See if you can hear how many seeds are brought into Antarctica

every year. 

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BBC Producer

Altogether about seventy thousand seeds are being carried onto the continent each year.

The researchers say that in time these species⁸ threaten to overwhelm⁹ Antarctica's ecology

just as they have on islands offshore¹⁰. They're advocating tighter checks on visitors. Even

then, they say, increasing traffic to Antarctica, combined with climate change, means not all

of the continent is going to stay white and pristine¹¹.

Rosie: Wow! Seventy thousand seeds are carried into Antarctica each year. This

could overwhelm Antarctica's ecology, which means it could damage it.

Chris: So now they're advocating tighter checks on visitors. In most places visitors

are searched for weapons or drugs, but in Antarctica they'll be searched for

seeds!

Rosie: That's right. Well Chris, earlier in the programme I asked you a question and

it's time to see if you answered correctly. I asked you where the word

'Antarctica' comes from. Was it:

a) white Arctic land

b) southernmost continent

c) opposite to the arctic

Chris: And I said white Arctic land.

Rosie: And I'm afraid you were wrong! It was actually c) opposite to the Arctic. And

did you know that the ice sheet that covers Antarctica contains 7 million cubic

miles of ice – so that's 29 million cubic kilometres? So 90% of the world's

total ice is in Antarctica!

Chris: Wow, that's a lot.

Rosie: Yes, it is. Chris, could you remind us of the vocabulary we heard today? 

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Chris:

invader¹

natural habitat

southernmost

flourishing

tip

frisk

tucked away

unique ecology

overwhelm

advocate

Rosie: Thank you Chris. That's all for today, but do join us again soon for more 6

Minute English! Bye for now!

Chris: Bye! 

 

1 invader   

n.侵略者，侵犯者，入侵者

参考例句：

• They suffered a lot under the invader's heel.在侵略者的铁蹄下，他们受尽了奴役。
• A country must have the will to repel any invader.一个国家得有决心击退任何入侵者。

2 invaders   

入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They prepared to repel the invaders. 他们准备赶走侵略军。
• The family has traced its ancestry to the Norman invaders. 这个家族将自己的世系追溯到诺曼征服者。

3 Arctic   

adj.北极的；n.北极

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• The sort of animal lived in the Arctic Circle.这种动物生活在北极圈里。

4 correspondent   

n.记者，通信者；adj.符合的，一致的，相当的

参考例句：

• He volunteered as a correspondent for the war.他自愿担任作报道这次战争的记者。
• The result was correspondent with my wishes.结果与我的愿望是一致的。

5 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

6 tucked   

塞进( tuck的过去式和过去分词 )； 翻折； 盖住； 卷起

参考例句：

• She tucked up her skirt and waded into the river. 她撩起裙子蹚水走进河里。
• She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears. 她把一缕散发夹到了耳后。

7 incredible   

adj.难以置信的，不可信的，极好的，大量的

参考例句：

• Some planets run at incredible speed.某些星球以难以置信的速度运行着。
• Her answer showed the most incredible stupidity.她的回答显示出不可思议的愚蠢。

8 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。

9 overwhelm   

vt.使受不了，使不知所措，征服，制服

参考例句：

• No difficulty can overwhelm us.困难压不倒我们。
• After my lecture,the students began to overwhelm me with questions.讲课之后，学生们开始问一系列问题，使我不知所措。

10 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

11 pristine   

adj.原来的，古时的，原始的，纯净的，无垢的

参考例句：

• He wiped his fingers on his pristine handkerchief.他用他那块洁净的手帕擦手指。
• He wasn't about to blemish that pristine record.他本不想去玷污那清白的过去。