英语听力精选进阶版 6231

Some Species Threatened with Extinction¹ 一些蝴蝶种类面临绝迹

The British summer is extremely beautiful. Trees, flowers, birds and butterflies make the whole country like a big garden. However, many British people have noticed that butterflies have been gradually disappearing from this picturesque² scenery during the past several years. What has happened to them?

Butterfly Conservation, a charity in the UK, is running a survey to help answer this question. The result is more serious than people expected. According to the survey, among 59 butterfly species found in the British Isles³, more than three-quarters of them are suffering a declining population, including the most popular Meadow Brown. Moreover, half of all butterfly species are on the verge⁴ of extinction.

Some common species such as the small Tortoiseshell butterfly and the Wall butterfly are dropping dramatically. The latter cannot even be seen in many parts of central and southern England.

The Blue butterfly, which was commonly seen in the south, has started colonising Edinburgh in the past few years.

The numbers of butterflies have dropped to a record low in the past three years largely because the summer in the UK is getting cooler and their habitat is also degrading.

Fortunately Britain is experiencing a long hot summer this year compared to the last few summers. Conservationists believe the warm weather will bring some benefit to the butterflies.

Sir David Attenborough, president of Butterfly Conservation, said: "Butterflies in profusion⁵ tell us that all is well with nature. When they decline it's a warning that other wildlife will be soon heading the same way."

The survey is still going on. The public is also encouraged to keep track of the UK's butterfly population. The organisers hope the survey will help raise public awareness⁶ of the value of butterflies in the UK. Butterflies give an indication of the well-being⁷ of nature and the environment.

Glossary 词汇表

butterfly 蝴蝶 

picturesque scenery 如画的风景 

conservation 自然环境保护 

charity 慈善组织 

survey 调查 

species 品种 

British Isles 不列颠群岛 

decline 减少 

extinction 绝迹、灭绝 

dramatically 显著地 

colonise 居住、迁移至某地 

a record low 有记录以来最低 

habitat 居住地 

degrade 恶化、变坏 

conservationist 环保主义者 

profusion 大量、丰富 

keep track of 跟踪 

indication 指示

1 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。

2 picturesque   

adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的

参考例句：

• You can see the picturesque shores beside the river.在河边你可以看到景色如画的两岸。
• That was a picturesque phrase.那是一个形象化的说法。

3 isles   

岛( isle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the geology of the British Isles 不列颠群岛的地质
• The boat left for the isles. 小船驶向那些小岛。

4 verge   

n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• She was on the verge of bursting into tears.她快要哭出来了。

5 profusion   

n.挥霍；丰富

参考例句：

• He is liberal to profusion.他挥霍无度。
• The leaves are falling in profusion.落叶纷纷。

6 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

7 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。