【英语时差8,16】秃鹰数量为何骤减？（下）

Many of the deaths have been attributed to the widespread use of Diclofenac, an antibiotic¹ that was used commonly to treat sick livestock². Vultures feed on these livestock carcasses laced with the antibiotic. Unfortunately Diclofenac is toxic³ to vultures, causing kidney failure at high doses and depressing the immune system of young vultures, making them more susceptible⁴ to disease. Besides the very real threat of extinction⁵ for the vultures, their decline in numbers has had a serious impact on the health and safety of the humans living in the area. The Indian government banned the use of Diclofenac in 2005, but it isn’t clear if the ban will be enough to save the endangered birds. Conservation organizations have started “vulture restaurants” where safe, uncontaminated carcasses are provided daily for vultures. In Nepal, a similar “vulture restaurant” program saw a doubling of vultures in just two years, so there is still some hope that these vital scavengers can be rescued from the brink⁶ of extinction.

1 antibiotic   

adj.抗菌的；n.抗生素

参考例句：

• The doctor said that I should take some antibiotic.医生说我应该服些用抗生素。
• Antibiotic can be used against infection.抗菌素可以用来防止感染。

2 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

3 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

4 susceptible   

adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的

参考例句：

• Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
• We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。

5 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。

6 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。