英语听力—环球英语 939 Disappearing Dolphins: Can Tourists Help?

　　Voice 1

　　Welcome to Spotlight¹. I’m Rena Dam.

　　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

　　A small group of people float down the Mekong River in Cambodia in a long boat.  The wind blows across the brown water. A few metres away, two greyish blue bodies that look like large fish slide through the water. Their triangle-shaped fins² stick up like sails. They shine in the hot sun. Then they disappear into the water again.  This fish-like animal is an Irrawaddy dolphin.

　　Voice 2

　　This dolphin is an important part of life in parts of South East Asia. But the number of dolphins is getting smaller. And people are worried that there may soon be none left. Why is this dolphin so important? And how can people help it to survive? Today’s spotlight is on the Irrawaddy dolphin.

　　Voice 1

　　The Irrawaddy dolphin lives in fresh water - usually in rivers. It can grow up to two and a half metres long. And it can weigh as much as 150 kilograms³. But the Irawaddy dolphin is different than other dolphins because it has a very round head. It is also the only dolphin that shoots water from its mouth. This is one way Irrawaddy dolphins communicate with each other. They also use many noises to talk to one another.

　　Voice 2

　　Irrawaddy dolphins are very social. They usually live together in groups of up to ten. They live in the waters of South East Asia. Groups of Irrawaddy dolphins live over a wide area. They swim to Australia in the south and as far West as India.

　　Voice 1

　　Some of these dolphins live in the Mekong River in Cambodia. The dolphin is an important part of life in the Mekong River. Many Cambodians feel that there is something special and spiritual⁴ about the dolphin.  There is a special relationship between the dolphin and people.

　　Voice 2

　　Dolphins are also important for the people who catch fish for a living - fishermen. The Irrawaddy dolphin can help people catch fish. Some dolphins swim around the fish. They push the fish into the fishing nets. Fishermen then pull up the nets full of fish. The fishermen eat the fish and sell them. The dolphins then get their payment⁵: They eat the fish that are left in the river.

　　Voice 1

　　But there are fewer Irrawaddy dolphins every year. The Wildlife Conservation⁶ Society says that they are endangered⁷. This organization works⁸ to protect animals. Brian Smith is their expert in river animals. He says that he is afraid that soon there will be no Irrawaddy dolphins left. He tells National Geographic⁹ Magazine:

　　Voice 3

　　“Irrawaddy river dolphins are among the river animals at greatest risk of disappearing. The area where they swim has decreased. Their numbers are low. We observe this and see that this population is seriously threatened."

　　Voice 2

　　Right now there are less than 100 dolphins in the Mekong River in Cambodia.  Why is the number of Irrawaddy dolphins getting smaller? Dolphins often get caught in fishing nets. The dolphins cannot escape from the nets and they die. The other reason dolphins are disappearing is that people and animals must share the river. At times, hungry people remove too many fish from the river. They do not leave enough fish for the dolphins to eat.

　　Voice 1

　　But there may be a solution to this problem that will help everyone. Many people travel from other cities and countries to see the Irrawaddy dolphin.  These tourists are usually good for local business. They bring in money and create jobs for local people. Ly Pha Laut is a fisherman on the Mekong. He noticed all the tourists - people who visit the Mekong River looking for fun. He decided¹⁰ to become a boat guide. Tourists pay people with boats to take them to see the dolphins. Ly Pha Laut tells the development organization SNV:

　　Voice 4

　　“As a fisherman I did not earn much. But here by the boats, I saw that there were many tourists. I knew I would be able to earn money this way. So I asked if I could work here. The money earned from fishing is not regular. I did not earn the same amount of money every day. As a boat guide I can earn about five dollars a day.”

　　Voice 2

　　SNV has started a new tourism project. It is called the ‘Mekong Development Trail¹¹’. Tourists can travel in the natural and less-busy parts of Cambodia. They can learn about the environment and the people who live there. SNV and the government of Cambodia hope that this will help the dolphins. They also hope it will help decrease poverty¹² in the area.

　　Voice 1

　　But there are some concerns authorities¹³ must keep in mind when encouraging tourism. Tourists can create more waste. They ride in cars and boats which can pollute the air and water. This pollution is very bad for the health of the local people and the Irrawaddy dolphins.

　　Voice 2

　　Sharee Bauld is the business development advisor¹⁴ for the Mekong Development Trail. She wants tourists to use bicycles and walk on foot. She encourages tourists to respect the river and keep it clean. She also encourages tourists to learn about local culture. Sharee says:

　　Voice 5

　　“The kind of tourists that we want to bring here are those who want to experience these kinds of things. So we want them to learn more about the communities and learn more about the issues¹⁵.”

　　Voice 1

　　No one knows the future of the Irrawaddy dolphin in the Mekong River. Hopefully, their numbers will grow. But there is something that tourists everywhere should remember. There is a saying in English about travel. It says: ”Take only pictures, leave only your footprints”.

　　Voice 2

　　This saying explains that it is good to enjoy the beauty around you when you travel. Take photographs but do not remove anything. When you leave a place of nature it should look as beautiful as when you arrived. Hopefully, the tourists to the Mekong River and Irrawaddy dolphins will remember this.

　　Voice 1

　　The writer and producer of this program was Rena Dam. The voices you heard were from the United¹⁶ States. All quotes¹⁷ were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Disappearing Dolphins: Can Tourists Help?’.

　　Voice 2

　　You can also leave your comments on our website. Or you can email us at radio @ radioenglish . net. You can also find us on Facebook - just search for Spotlight Radio. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.

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 fins   

[医]散热片；鱼鳍；飞边；鸭掌

参考例句：

• The level of TNF-α positively correlated with BMI,FPG,HbA1C,TG,FINS and IRI,but not with SBP and DBP. TNF-α水平与BMI、FPG、HbA1C、TG、FINS和IRI呈显著正相关，与SBP、DBP无相关。 来自互联网
• Fins are a feature specific to fish. 鱼鳍是鱼类特有的特征。 来自辞典例句

3 kilograms   

n.千克( kilogram的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• 2 kilograms of rice 2公斤大米
• Every tonne of coal contains,on average,30 kilograms of nitrogen. 每吨煤平均含30公斤氮。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 spiritual   

adj.精神上的，神圣的，崇高的，高尚的，鬼的，招魂论的&n.有关教会的事

参考例句：

• His spiritual nature is good.他心灵本质上是善良的。
• Their friendship was strictly spiritual.他们的友情完全是精神上的。

5 payment   

n.付款，支付，偿还，偿还，报应

参考例句：

• I gave ten pounds in payment for the goods I bought.我买那些东西付了10英镑。
• This last payment will wipe out your debt to me.这最后一笔付款将了结你欠我的债务。

6 conservation   

n.保存，保持，守恒

参考例句：

• She is interested in conservation of environment.她对环境保护这个问题十分关心。
• Our community is a leader in the conservation of wildlife.我们社区在野生动物保护方面走在前头。

7 endangered   

adj.濒于灭绝的；(生命等)有危险的

参考例句：

• The health of our children is being endangered by exhaust fumes. 我们孩子们的健康正受到排放出的废气的损害。
• Poison gas blew off and endangered the lives of hundreds of persons. 毒气喷出来，危及几百人的生命。

8 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。

9 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

10 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

11 trail   

n.踪迹，痕迹，一串，尾部，小径，尾，持枪姿势；vt.拖，尾随，追踪，落后于

参考例句：

• The car raised a trail of dust.汽车掀起了一股尘土。
• The hound found the trail of the rabbit.猎狗发现了兔子的踪迹。

12 poverty   

n.贫穷， 贫困， 贫乏， 缺少

参考例句：

• We must continue to war against poverty and disease.我们一定要继续同贫穷和疾病作斗争。
• He showed his poverty in his knowledge of agriculture.他表现出缺乏对农业知识的了解。

13 authorities   

n.当局，权力，权威；权威( authority的名词复数 )；权力；学术权威；[复数]当权者

参考例句：

• They interceded with the authorities on behalf of the detainees. 他们为被拘留者向当局求情。
• At his instigation we conceal the fact from the authorities. 我们受他的怂恿向当局隐瞒了事实。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

15 issues   

（水等的）流出( issue的名词复数 )； 出口； 放出； （特别重要或大众关注的）问题

参考例句：

• Let's start with the more easily addressable issues. 我们先从较容易处理的问题着手。
• Employment and taxation are the bread-and-butter issues of politics. 就业和征税是很重要的政治问题。

16 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

17 quotes   

v.引用，援引( quote的第三人称单数 )；报价；引述；为（股票、黄金或外汇）报价

参考例句：

• He quotes a few verses from Tennyson in his paper. 他在论文中引用了英国诗人丁尼生的几行诗句。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He quotes (from) the Bible to support his beliefs. 他引用圣经来支持自己的信念。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》