英语听力精选进阶版 7346（在线收听）

《国际濒危物种贸易公约》委员会（英文缩写为 CITES）说偷猎行为和非法象牙交易有增不减。在最新报告中，CITES 警告说，为了获取象牙而偷猎的情况已经造成了非洲大象的生存面临非常严峻的威胁。

20,000 elephants were illegally killed in Africa last year, the report shows. That figure far exceeds the growth rate of the elephant population. In some regions of Africa elephants are threatened with extinction.

The report also documents a clear increase in the number of large seizures - amounts of over 500 kg - of ivory in Africa. For the first time there were more such seizures in Africa than in Asia, an indication, the report suggests, of the involvement of transnational organised crime in the illegal ivory trade.

And while elephant conservationists do believe that increased ivory confiscation is a sign that law enforcement is improving, they also point out that demand for ivory remains very high, and that even in some of the monitored elephant populations, poaching is actually increasing.

Grammar

1. True or false? Last year, the population of African elephants grew faster than the number that were illegally killed.

False. The report says twenty thousand elephants were illegally killed in Africa last year. That figure far exceeds the growth rate of the elephant population.

2. What has happened to the rate of seizures of ivory in Africa?

It has increased, although there are now more seizures of ivory in Asia than in Africa.

3. Why do elephant conservationists think law enforcement is improving?

Because there has been an increase in confiscation of ivory.

4. How has the demand for ivory changed?

It hasn't. Demand for ivory remains very high.

Glossary 词汇表

far exceeds 远远超过了

extinction 灭绝

seizures 缴获

indication 迹象

transnational 跨国的

confiscation 没收

law enforcement 法律的实施

monitored 受监控的