英语听力—环球英语 1081 Forests in the Philippines

 　　Voice 1

 

　　Welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Liz Waid.

 

　　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

 

　　What do you think of when you think of forests? The tall pine trees in the mountains of Canada? The rich dark Amazon forests of South America? Well, one of the most amazing forests in the world grows high on mountains in the Philippines. It is the Mossy Rainforest. And it has one of the highest amounts of rain in the world - more than twelve meters of rain in a year! This creates a wet, green environment. Roots and rotting² leaves form thick layers that cover the ground. Here, small creatures such as insects dig³ in the soil, and ten kinds of worm⁴ live here, and only here. The trees are not large, but they are very strong. They resist⁵ strong wind and storms.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The Mossy Rainforest is just one of the many kinds of forests in the Philippines. At one time, forests covered much of the country. But today, these special environments are in great danger. More than 90 percent of them have been cut down. However, many people are working to save these forests. And their work is having an effect. Today's Spotlight is on efforts to save the Philippines forests.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The Philippines is an island country in Southeast Asia. In fact, there are more than 7000 islands in the country. About 92 million people live there. But the Philippines is not just the home for many people. It is also the home for a great number of different plants and animals. It has amazing biological diversity⁶.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　A good example of this diversity is found in the mangrove⁷ forests. Mangrove forests grow in many places in the world - but they grow only at the edge⁸ of the ocean. And where they grow, they have a very important purpose. They create a barrier⁹ between the ocean and the land - a barrier that protects the island from extreme¹⁰ weather. The roots of the trees grow into the water, and this creates a home for fish and other sea life. The mangroves do one other surprising thing. They clean the water, removing dangerous pollution!

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　However, mangroves often grow in places that are very good for large fish farms. This is true of the mangroves in the Philippines. On many islands, people have cut down the mangroves. This sounds like a good business for poor people. However, without the mangroves, there are many problems. The trees hold soil in the ground – without the trees, soil washes into the ocean. This damages the fish farms, and it makes farming¹¹ more difficult. Native fish and animals lose their homes. And waste from the fish farms pollutes the water.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　However, the mangroves can recover. On Panay Island, local people are planting mangroves again. They are planting in old fish farms - farms that are not used. They are working with the national government, and other organizations. They hope that replanting mangroves will bring many benefits¹² - better fishing, clean water, and a safe barrier from extreme weather. This project will take many years. But the people have faith. They believe that the mangroves can grow again.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　But it is not just the mangroves that have disappeared. At the beginning of the program, we described the Mossy Rainforest in the mountains of the Philippines. At one time, many different kinds of rainforests covered the Philippines. In the last century, most of these have been cut down. Some trees were used for building houses and other things. People burned other trees in cooking fires. And they made farms and built homes where the trees had been. Today, more than 90 percent of Philippine forests are gone.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Loss¹³ of forests causes many problems. Without the forests, there is less rain. People also use more water that they take from the ground. Over time, there is less and less of this groundwater to use, and it is more polluted¹⁴. Forests also help control the temperature - as forests disappear, temperatures rise. Just like the mangroves, forests all over the islands also offer protection¹⁵. They protect people from natural disasters, like floods and storms. Forests hold soil in place. They slow down strong wind, and they create shelter¹⁶ from storms.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Losing forests has a direct¹⁷ connection to disasters like mudslides. Mudslides are very serious in the Philippines. After a storm, wet earth slides down the hills and mountains. In a big mudslide, the earth destroys houses and farms. People are buried, many are killed. Mudslides happen much more easily when the earth is loose - not held by tree roots. Similar problems happen during typhoons¹⁸ - large storms that come from ocean.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Finally, and most importantly, forests create homes for plants, animals and birds. Without the forests, many unusual and beautiful creatures disappear. Some people say that this is a problem because of the effects on humans. In other words, these plants and animals have benefits for people - they create food, and medicine. But the special environments matter for another reason - for themselves! They are places of special beauty. They have a rich variety of different creatures, and each creature has value.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The loss of forests is serious. But there are many people working to save them. In some places, people are replanting trees - like the mangroves on Panay Island. A recent government plan will employ more than 14 million students to plant trees through the whole country. The government has also banned people from cutting down trees in the rainforest. They do not permit¹⁹ anyone to sell this wood for building or burning. And these efforts are making a difference. The size of the forests in the Philippines is increasing for the first time in many years.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Conservation²⁰ International is one environment organization working in the Philippines. Olivier Langrand is their international policy²¹ chief. In a report on threatened forests, he wrote:

 

　　Voice 3

 

　　"People must see forests as more than just a group of trees. Forests give us important things. They are already important to the economic development of many countries - for building materials, food, shelter and sport. But they have a greater future importance in other areas - in providing water, preventing soil loss, and reducing carbon²² pollution in the atmosphere."

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The writer of today's program was Christy VanArragon. The producer was Joshua Leo. The voices you heard were from the United²³ Kingdom and the United States. All quotes²⁴ were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. This program is called "Forests in the Philippines."

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　If you have questions or comments for Spotlight, you can email us at [email protected]. Or you can leave a comment on our website at http://www.radio.english.net You c.an also find Spotlight on Facebook. Just search for Spotlight Radio.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Until next time, 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 rotting   

n.深蚀刻，沤麻v.（使）腐烂， （使）腐朽( rot的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• an overpowering stench of rotting fish 腐烂的鱼臭气熏天
• In such wet weather we must prevent the seedlings from rotting. 这样的阴雨天要防止烂秧。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 dig   

v.挖（洞，沟等）；掘

参考例句：

• It is difficult to dig the ground when it is frozen.地面冻住了就不易挖掘。
• In those days we often went to dig for wild vegetables.那时候我们常常出去挖野菜。

4 worm   

n.虫，蠕虫，蚯蚓，小人物，螺纹，蜗杆；vi.蠕行，慢慢前进；vt.使蠕行，慢慢地走；网络病毒，（可以在网络上传播的病毒）

参考例句：

• She believes that an early bird can catch the worm.她相信早起的鸟儿有虫吃。
• The bird had a worm in its beak.鸟儿嘴里叼着一条虫。

5 resist   

vt.抵抗，反抗，抗，忍得住

参考例句：

• It is vain to resist.抵抗是没用的。
• I couldn't resist telling him the secret.我忍不住把那个秘密告诉了他。

6 diversity   

n.差异，多样性；vt.使不同，使多样化

参考例句：

• Our party believes in encouraging cultural diversity,not diversion.我们党鼓励多种文化，而不是文化分歧。
• His object is to gather as great a diversity of material as possible.他的目标就是尽可能多地搜集各种材料。

7 mangrove   

n.(植物)红树，红树林

参考例句：

• It is the world's largest tidal mangrove forest.它是世界上最大的红树林沼泽地。
• Many consider this the most beautiful mangrove forest in all Thailand.许多人认为这里是全泰国最美丽的红树林了。

8 edge   

n.边(缘)；刃；优势；v.侧着移动，徐徐移动

参考例句：

• Sight along the edge to see if it's straight.顺着边目测，看看直不直。
• She lived on the extreme edge of the forest.她住在森林的最边缘。

9 barrier   

n.栅栏，障碍，壁垒，关卡

参考例句：

• You must show your ticket at the barrier.你在关卡处必须出示许可证。
• The driver jumped a horse over a barrier.骑手骑马跳过障碍。

10 extreme   

adj.末端的，尽头的；极度的，极端的；n.极度，最大程度

参考例句：

• She lived on the extreme edge of the forest.她住在森林的最边缘。
• His views are rather extreme.他的见解相当偏激。

11 farming   

n.农事；耕作

参考例句：

• He lives by farming.他靠务农过活。
• He is farming in Africa.他在非洲经营农场。

12 benefits   

n.津贴费；利益( benefit的名词复数 )；（给职工的）奖金；救济金；益处

参考例句：

• economic benefits accruing to the country from tourism 旅游业为该国带来的经济效益
• The article enthused about the benefits that the new system would bring. 本文热情赞扬了新制度将带来的好处。

13 loss   

n.损失，遗失，失败，输，浪费，错过，[军]伤亡，降低

参考例句：

• His death was a great loss to the country.他的逝世对这个国家是一大损失。
• Because of the continued loss,the factory closed down.由于连续亏损，工厂关闭了。

14 polluted   

adj.被污染的

参考例句：

• Polluted air hangs over the city.城市上空被污染的空气所笼罩。
• The air was polluted by factory smoke.空气被工厂冒的烟污染了。

15 protection   

n.保护，防卫，保护制度

参考例句：

• The protection of the country is the duty of everyone.保卫国家是每个人的责任。
• The young in our society need care and protection.我们社会的年轻人需要关怀和照顾。

16 shelter   

n.掩蔽，掩蔽处，避身处；庇护所，避难所，庇护；vt.庇护，保护，隐匿；vi.躲避

参考例句：

• We took shelter from the rain in a cave.我们在一个山洞里避雨。
• Trees are a shelter from the sun.树木可以遮挡阳光。

17 direct   

adj.直接的；直达的；v.指挥；知道；监督；管理

参考例句：

• This train is direct,you do not have to change.这辆火车是直达的，你不必换车。
• The army is under the king's direct command.军队由国王直接统帅。

18 typhoons   

n.台风( typhoon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This greatly reduced the threat presented by typhoons. 这就大大减轻了台风造成的威胁。 来自辞典例句
• The houses round here are for the most part able to stand up to typhoons. 这一带的房子绝大部分能经得往台风袭击。 来自辞典例句

19 permit   

n.许可证，许可，执照；vt.允许，容许；vi.容许

参考例句：

• The doctor will not permit mother up until her leg is better.在母亲的腿好些之前,医生不允许她起床。
• The soldiers had orders to permit no stranger through.士兵们接到命令不许任何陌生人通过。

20 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。

21 policy   

n.政策，方针，保险单

参考例句：

• This policy is very tough.这个政策是很强硬的。
• The country has always pursued a policy of peace.该国一直奉行和平政策。

22 carbon   

n.碳元素

参考例句：

• Diamonds are pure carbon.钻石是纯净的碳。
• Carbon is an element,while carbon dioxide is a compound.碳是一种(化学)元素，而二氧化碳则是一种化合物。

23 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。

24 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》