环球英语 — 411：Foreign Plants and Animals

　　Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight¹. I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Joshua Leo. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
In the 1930’s, areas of Australia had a problem with a particular insect – sugar cane² beetles⁴. Sugar cane plants were an important crop in the state of Queensland. But sugar cane beetles were damaging much of the sugar cane. Other countries had faced similar problems with these beetles. In some countries, farmers used toads⁵ to eat the insects. Toads are similar to frogs. These small four legged animals live in wet places. And they can eat many insects.
Voice 2
After several years, the farmers convinced⁶ the government to use the toads. In 1935 a box of cane toads arrived in Queensland. Soon after, about three thousand toads were released⁸ into a few sugar cane fields in Queensland.
Voice 1
But there was a problem. The cane beetles stayed on high leaves of the sugar cane. The toads could not reach the beetles. In the spring, the toads would have a better chance. Then, the young beetles are leaving the ground. But in the spring, the toads are not around. So the toads did not solve the cane beetle³ problems. And then, the toads became a problem themselves.
Voice 2
The toads were not eating the cane beetles. But they were eating other things. They ate native insects, small animals, and birds. But this was not the end of the problem. Native predator⁹ animals tried to eat the toads. But the toad’s skin contains poison¹⁰. So in eating the toads, the native animals die. And then, the toads began to spread to other areas in Queensland.
Voice 1
The cane toads continued to breed¹¹ and grow in number. Soon, the toads were more of a problem than the beetles. Today, the Australian government still works¹² to kill all the cane toads in the country. The Australian government declares the toads to be one of the most invasive species¹³ on the continent.
Voice 2
Invasive species are plants or animals that are not native to particular areas. These species compete with the native plants and animals. And the invasive species may also carry diseases¹⁵ that will kill the native plants and animals. This causes the natural balance in nature to become unbalanced.
Voice 1
The cane toads were not the first invasive species in Australia. For thousands of years, Australia was separated¹⁶ from all other continents. Only birds could travel to the island. New kinds of animals from other continents did not travel to Australia. And the animals in Australia existed nowhere else in the world. The native people of Australia lived in balance with these animals. But when European explorers¹⁷ arrived, they brought new plants and animals with them. These new people did not understand the effect outside animals would have on Australia.
Voice 2
Today, Australia has over fifty–six different invasive species. Some of the animals are large like camels. Others are very small, such as fire ants, a kind of insect. The country also struggles against many invasive plants. These plants compete with native plants for resources¹⁸.
Voice 1
But Australia is not the only country fighting invasive species. Every natural area in the world is special. Each area has particular plants and animals that call it home. These natural areas can easily become unbalanced by invasive species. Invasive species usually spread to new areas because people bring them.
Voice 2
For example, freshwater lakes in North America and Europe are in danger from many foreign species of animals. Many of these animals came to America and Europe in large boats. These large boats carry many products across the ocean. Most of them have large tanks inside that hold water. These tanks help the boats stay balanced on the water. The boat collects the water at the beginning of the journey and then releases¹⁹ it at the end. But sometimes, animals enter the boat along with the water – then, the water is released, so are the animals. This is what causes problems.
Voice 1
Boats have carried fish, insects, and other water animals from Asia to lakes and coastal²⁰ areas in Europe and America. The animals in these areas cannot defend themselves against these new species. Today, many foreign water animals are becoming a problem in Europe and America.
Voice 2
Invasive species travel in many ways. Insects can travel inside packages of fruit, wood, or any other product. And sometimes people release⁷ invasive species on purpose. This was the case with cane toads in Australia. People sometimes choose to grow invasive plants. These plants then spread into the wild. For many years, people did not understand the terrible effects of invasive plants and animals. But today, more governments and groups are trying to protect against invasive species.
Voice 1
Governments use machines and chemicals to control invasive species. They inspect²¹ containers at country borders to prevent invasive species from entering. They use native species to fight against invasive species. These government programs are very important. But governments cannot fight invasive species alone. We can also help to prevent the spread of non–native plants and animals.
Here are seven easy ways that you can help fight against invasive species.
Voice 2
Use native plants. If you grow flowers and plants at home, use only plants that are natural to your area. Native plants use less water and need less care. These plants will also help native animals and insects who use the plants for food.
Remove plants correctly. When you no longer want a plant, be sure that it does not grow in a place where it should not grow. Many water plants can spread to new areas and become a problem. When you remove a plant, kill it or give it to a friend.
Help remove invasive species. If you see non–native plants in your community, pull them out and throw them out. This will help protect the native species.
Do not transport water, animals, or plants. When you are in a boat, do not carry water, animals or plants from one lake to another. Clean the boat carefully.
Do not release pets into the wild. If you own an animal, do not release it into the wild. Animals such as cats, dogs, and fish can cause problems to native species. If you no longer want the animal, give it to another person or give it to a store.
Be careful what you move. When you travel, do not transport fruit or plants from one environment to another. These items²² can carry insects or disease¹⁴ that may damage natural areas.
And finally, tell others. More people need to know about the problem of invasive species. Together we can work to protect the natural balance.
 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。

3 beetle   

n.甲虫，近视眼的人

参考例句：

• A firefly is a type of beetle.萤火虫是一种甲虫。
• He saw a shiny green beetle on a leaf.我看见树叶上有一只闪闪发光的绿色甲虫。

4 beetles   

n.甲虫( beetle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Beetles bury pellets of dung and lay their eggs within them. 甲壳虫把粪粒埋起来，然后在里面产卵。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This kind of beetles have hard shell. 这类甲虫有坚硬的外壳。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 toads   

n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆( toad的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• All toads blink when they swallow. 所有的癞蛤蟆吞食东西时都会眨眼皮。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Toads have shorter legs and are generally more clumsy than frogs. 蟾蜍比青蛙脚短，一般说来没有青蛙灵活。 来自辞典例句

6 convinced   

adj.确信的；深信的；有坚定信仰的v.使确信(convince的过去分词)；说服

参考例句：

• I am convinced of her innocence. 我坚信她是清白无辜的。
• I'm convinced there's a jinx on this car. 我看这辆汽车是灾星。

7 release   

vt.发布，发表，发行；释放，放开

参考例句：

• After my examination I had a feeling of release.考完试后我有如释重负之感。
• This medicine will give you release from pain.这药吃后会解除你的疼痛。

8 released   

v.释放( release的过去式和过去分词 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• With hindsight it is easy to say they should not have released him. 事后才说他们本不应该释放他，这倒容易。

9 predator   

n.捕食其它动物的动物；捕食者

参考例句：

• The final part of this chapter was devoted to a brief summary of predator species.本章最后部分简要总结了食肉动物。
• Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard and a fearsome predator.科摩多龙是目前存在的最大蜥蜴，它是一种令人恐惧的捕食性动物。

10 poison   

n.毒药；毒害；vt./vi.毒害；投毒

参考例句：

• The bottle is labelled "Poison".瓶上标明“有毒”。
• Don't allow evil thoughts to poison young people's minds.不允许邪念毒害青年。

11 breed   

n.品种，种类；vi.繁殖，产仔；vt.养殖，产生

参考例句：

• The parents are trying to breed their son a musician.这对父母尽力要把儿子培养成为音乐家。
• This breed of horses is both tall and heavily grown.这种马既高且大。

12 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

13 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。

14 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

15 diseases   

n.疾病( disease的名词复数 )；弊端；恶疾；痼疾

参考例句：

• Smoking is a causative factor in several major diseases. 抽烟是引起几种严重疾病的病因。
• The illness frequently coexists with other chronic diseases. 这种病往往与其他慢性病同时存在。

16 separated   

adj.分开的v.分开(separate的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• Her parents are separated but not divorced. 她父母分居但没离婚。
• No child should ever be separated from his mother by force. 绝不能强行使任何一个孩子与母亲分开。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 explorers   

n.探险家，勘探者( explorer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The explorers climbed a mound to survey the land around them. 勘探者爬上土丘去勘测周围的土地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The explorers had to rough it when they got into the jungle. 那些探险者进入丛林后，不得不过着艰苦的生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 resources   

n.勇气；才智；谋略；有助于实现目标的东西；资源( resource的名词复数 )；[复数]物力；办法；来源

参考例句：

• The world's resources are rapidly diminishing. 世界资源正在迅速减少。
• a policy to equalize the distribution of resources throughout the country 使资源在全国分布均衡的政策

19 releases   

v.释放( release的第三人称单数 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• Nuclear fission releases tremendous amounts of energy. 核裂变释放出巨大的能量。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Zemel says that when calcium levels are low, the body releases a hormone that helps squeeze the most out of every available milligram of the mineral. 泽莫尔博士说，当人体中的钙含量偏低时，身体里就会产生一种荷尔蒙，它能帮助肌体最大限度地吸收所摄入的钙。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

21 inspect   

vt.检查；视察；查看；检阅；vi.检查

参考例句：

• The mayor will inspect our school tomorrow.市长明天要来视察我们学校。
• The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。

22 items   

n.物料项目 （任何一种自制或采购的零部件或组装件，如最终产品、部件、子部件、零件或原材料）；条( item的名词复数 )；一项；一则；一件商品（或物品）

参考例句：

• Bulky items will be collected separately. 大件物品将分开收集。
• Customers with ten items or less can use the express lane. 购买十件商品以内的顾客可使用快速购物通道。