兩項主要研究顯示，亞洲及美國的鳥類總數 “陷入危機”。研究發現，美國和加拿大的鳥類數量在 50 年內減少瞭 30 億隻。
Bird markets on Java, Indonesia’s most densely populated island, are a cacophony of song. This is a trade fuelled by a national passion for birdsong, including competitions where the best singers can win prizes worth thousands of pounds.
在印度尼西亞人口最密集爪哇島上，鳥市上充斥著刺耳嘈雜的歌聲。推動這行買賣的是全國人民對鳥兒歌聲的熱愛，比如，最佳“歌手”可以贏得價值數千鎊的獎項。
But scientists studying the trade say there are now more birds in cages in Java than there are in the wild. This conclusion comes from one of two major studies that point to a global crash in bird numbers.
但研究這行買賣的科學傢們說，在爪哇島上，關在籠子裡的鳥的數量比野生的要多。這一結論來自兩項表明全球鳥類數量銳減的主要研究之一。
The other, by scientists in the US and Canada, revealed there are three billion fewer birds in North America today than there were in 1970. Habitat loss driven by human activity has been blamed.
另一項由美國及加拿大的科學傢們開展的研究顯示，北美的鳥類數量比1970年減少瞭 30 億隻。人類活動導致的棲息地喪失是罪魁禍首。
But researchers are hopeful that the conclusion will be a trigger for the protection of important habitats and migration routes to make much needed space for birds to return.
但研究人員們希望，這一結論會激起人們保護重要棲息地和遷徙路線的意識，從而給鳥類數量回升創造出急需的空間。
詞匯
densely 密集地
cacophony 嘈雜聲
fuelled 被推動、加強的
global crash 全球數量猛降
habitat loss 棲息地流失
trigger 激起，引發
migration routes 遷徙路線
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. Where are more than half of birds in Java now kept?
2. What has caused a fall in North America’s bird population, according to research?
3. True or false? A global economic crash has been blamed for the decline in bird numbers.
4. Why do researchers think these studies might bring some good news for future bird populations?
答案
1. Where to more than half of birds in Java now kept?
Scientists studying the songbird trade say there are now more birds in cages in Java than there are in the wild.
2. What has caused a fall in North America’s bird population, according to research?
Habitat loss driven by human activity, has been blamed for there being three Billion fewer birds in North America today than there were in 1920.
3. True or false? A global economic crash has been blamed for the decline in bird numbers.
False. Two major studies have shown a global crash in bird numbers – but nothing to do with the economy!
4. Why do researchers think these studies might bring some good news for future bird populations?
Researchers hope that the results of the studies will be a trigger for the protection of important habitats and migration routes to make much needed space for birds to return.
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