科學傢們認為，路燈造成的光污染使螢火蟲數量下降。這些小動物其實是一種甲蟲，它們利用腹部發出的熒光來求偶。
Glow-worms are beetles that live in gardens, hedgerows, and heathlands. Emitting a bright green light at night, the females climb up plant stems and glow in order to attract males, who have large eyes sensitive to that type of light.
螢火蟲是一種生活在花園、灌木樹籬和荒野中的甲蟲。在夜間發出明亮綠光的雌性螢火蟲爬到植物的莖上並發光，以吸引對這種光敏感的大眼睛的雄性。
Zoologists, though, say the glare of white, artificial lights is putting the females in the comparative shade.
然而，動物學傢們表示，刺眼的白色人造光使雌性螢火蟲黯然失色。
In order to verify their suspicions, the researchers did a little test – placing male glow-worms in an LED-lit, Y-shaped maze, they gradually made the lights there brighter until the males could no longer find a decoy female.
為瞭驗證他們的猜測，研究人員們做瞭一個小型試驗——將雄性螢火蟲放在一個由發光二極管照明的 “Y” 形迷宮中，他們逐漸調亮迷宮裡的人造光，直到雄性螢火蟲再也找不到發光吸引它們的雌性螢火蟲。
The glow-worms, they believe, were unable to move towards the decoy because they were dazzled.
研究人員們認為，雄性螢火蟲之所以無法向起吸引作用的雄性螢火蟲移動是因為它們被刺眼的人造光照得眼花繚亂。
The spread of bright lights, then, could have devastating consequences for glow-worm populations around the world. And some studies suggest they’re disappearing altogether. And a widespread decline in insects could have serious consequences for agriculture and the ecosystems that depend upon those insects.
那麼，愈發常見的明亮人造光可能會對世界各地的螢火蟲種群造成毀滅性的後果。有一些研究表明，螢火蟲正在成群消失。而昆蟲數量的普遍減少可能會對依賴昆蟲的農業及生態系統造成嚴重的後果。
詞匯表
glow-worms 螢火蟲
beetles 甲蟲
hedgerows 灌木樹籬
heathlands 荒原，荒野
emitting 發出，散發（光）
stems （植物的）莖
glare 刺眼的光芒
put someone in the shade 使某人黯然失色，使某人相形見絀
maze 迷宮
decoy 吸引物，誘惑物
dazzled 被照得眼花繚亂的
widespread 普遍的，廣泛的
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. True or False? Female glow-worms emit a bright yellow light at night.
2. Where did the researchers place male glow-worms in their test?
3. Why were the glow-worms unable to move towards the decoy in the test?
4. According to the text, what consequences could the widespread decline in insects have?
答案
1. True or False? Female glow-worms emit a bright yellow light at night.
False. The females emit a bright green light at night.
2. Where did the researchers place male glow-worms in their test?
The researchers placed male glow-worms in an LED-lit, Y-shaped maze.
3. Why were the glow-worms unable to move towards the decoy in the test?
The researchers believe they were unable to move towards the decoy because they were dazzled by the bright lights.
4. According to the text, what consequences could the widespread decline in insects have?
A widespread decline in insects could have serious consequences for agriculture and the ecosystems that depend upon those insects.
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