科學傢說動植物種類的減少危急人類生活及環境的健康。本期《隨身英語》談論生物多樣性的減少和生態系統的變化。
課文內容
詞匯: environment 環境
If a species of bee disappears forever or a particular plant is extinct, what does it have to do with us humans? Well, according to a team of international scientists, biodiversity is dropping below levels considered safe for the wellbeing of human societies.
The issue is that everything is interconnected and ecosystems support our societies because they provide us with, for example, food, fibres and fuels.
If species go on disappearing, this can interfere with vital processes such as crop pollination and the decomposition of waste.
A framework which defines the environmental limits within which humans can operate – called planetary boundaries – says that losing more than 10% of the biodiversity in an area places the local ecosystem at risk. Ecosystems are all different but this percentage is considered a good measure of safety.
A study published in the magazine Science suggests that 58% of the world’s land surface already falls below this level. These areas house 71% of the global population.
Professor Andy Purvis, from Imperial College London and the Natural History Museum, is one of the authors of the study. He says: “Once we’re the wrong side of the boundary it doesn’t mean everything goes wrong immediately, but there is a markedly higher risk that things will go badly wrong.”
The researchers found that grasslands, savannas and shrub lands were most affected by biodiversity loss on average.
Purvis hopes this report can be a wake-up call to those who design policies. Here’s his warning: “Decision-makers worry a lot about economic recessions, but an ecological recession could have even worse consequences – and the biodiversity damage we’ve had means we’re at risk of that happening. Until and unless we can bring biodiversity back up, we’re playing ecological roulette.”
詞匯表
species （動植物的）種，物種
extinct 消失的，滅絕的
biodiversity 生物多樣性
interconnected （兩個或多個事物）互相聯系的
ecosystem 生態系統
interfere 影響
pollination 植物授粉
decomposition 分解
framework 框架，體系
planetary boundaries 地球界限（概念）
land surface 大地表面
Natural History Museum 自然歷史博物館
grassland 草原，草場
savanna 稀樹草原
shrub land 灌木叢林
decision-maker 決策者
ecological recession 生物衰退
ecological roulette 生態輪盤賭
測驗與練習
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. Why is the existence of many species of animals and plants important for humans?
2. True or false? If 10% of the species in any ecosystem disappear, everything will go badly wrong there.
3. How much of the Earth’s land cover houses almost three-quarters of the world’s population?
4. What idea does Professor Purvis want to convey when using the expression ‘ecological roulette’?
5. Which noun is often used to refer to a period in which trade and industrial activity are reduced?
2. 請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。
1. The more species you have in a particular area, the greater is its __________.
pollination biodiversity framework savannas
2. Birds and starfish live in different __________.
biodiversity boundaries ecosystems societies
3. If tropical forests are not preserved, many species of animals might end up __________.
interconnected safe playing ecological roulette extinct
4. An ecosystem is everything that exists in a particular __________.
society environment biodiversity ecology
5. It’s necessary to avoid further loss of biodiversity or the __________ will be devastating.
boundaries consequences environment land surface
答案
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. Why is the existence of many species of animals and plants important for humans?
Because many species take part in natural processes which guarantee that ecosystems work well and keep giving us food, fibres and fuel.
2. True or false? If 10% of the species in any ecosystem disappear, everything will go badly wrong there.
False. Ecosystems are different and this percentage is just a reference set up by scientists. And things don’t go wrong immediately, according to Professor Andy Purvis.
3. How much of the Earth’s land cover houses almost three-quarters of the world’s population?
About 71% of the global population live in 58% of the world’s land cover.
4. What idea does Professor Purvis want to convey when using the expression ‘ecological roulette’?
Professor Purvis wants to convey the idea that human societies take a great risk in a deadly game.
5. Which noun is often used to refer to a period in which trade and industrial activity are reduced?
Recession.
2. 請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。
1. The more species you have in a particular area, the greater is its biodiversity.
2. Birds and starfish live in different ecosystems.
3. If tropical forests are not preserved, many species of animals might end up extinct.
4. An ecosystem is everything that exists in a particular environment.
5. It’s necessary to avoid further loss of biodiversity or the consequences will be devastating.
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