在出行後統計你車上被撞扁的蟲子數量，也許能幫助科學傢瞭解英國昆蟲物種的數量。昆蟲保護慈善機構 “Buglife” 推出瞭一款名為 “Bugs Matter” 的新應用程序，希望人們能用它來收集信息，幫助科學傢瞭解特定物種在哪裡繁衍生息或逐漸減少。
‘Insectagedden’ is how the global decline in insect populations has been described by some scientists. One case study in Germany suggested there’d been a 75% decrease in numbers over 27 years.
一些科學傢用 “昆蟲末日” 來描述全球昆蟲數量下降的現象。德國的一項案例研究表明，昆蟲數量曾在27年間下降瞭75%。
But there’s actually very little data for many insect groups and species, even here in the UK. Which is where this new app comes in. The hope is that in the hands of a small army of citizen scientists, it will generate more accurate figures for insect populations.
但事實上，人們對有關許多昆蟲類群和物種的數據記錄甚少，即使在英國也是如此。所以就催生瞭這款新應用。開發者希望借助一小群平民科學傢的一臂之力，使它生成更準確的昆蟲種群數字。
It’s simple to use – you clean your number plate before you go on a journey, then when you arrive at your destination, you use the app to photograph the bugs squashed on a section of it using a ‘splatometer’ grid you get when you download the app. The results become part of the nationwide survey.
這款應用程序的用法很簡單：駕車出行前清潔你的車牌，到達目的地時，用下載應用程序後收到的 “飛蟲計數器（splatometer）” 網格，拍下車牌一處被撞扁的蟲子。拍到的結果會成為全國調查的一部分。
詞匯表
insectagedden “昆蟲末日”，全球昆蟲數量下降的現象
case study 案例研究
in the hands of 在…的控制下
citizen scientists 平民科學傢
number plate 車牌
squashed 壓扁的，撞扁的
survey 調查
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. According to one study, what’s happened to insect numbers over 27 years?
2. True or false? The army are going to help gather more accurate figures of insect populations.
3. Which part of the car is the app used on to count the number of squashed bugs?
4. To use the app, what must you do before you go on a car journey?
答案
1. According to one study, what’s happened to insect numbers over 27 years?
One case study in Germany suggested there’d been a 75% decrease in numbers over 27 years.
2. True or false? The army are going to help gather more accurate figures of insect populations.
False. A small army (group) of citizen scientists are going to help gather the data. It is hoped this will generate more accurate figures for insect populations.
3. Which part of the car is the app used on to count the number of squashed bugs?
You use the app to photograph the bugs squashed on a section of the number plate.
4. To use the app, what must you do before you go on a car journey?
You must clean your number plate before you go on a journey.
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