（本期節目使用的音頻資源於2021年10月上旬發表。）
最新數據顯示，英國是世界上自然資源消耗最嚴重的國傢之一，在全球排最差的百分之十，在七國集團（G7）中排在最後。研究發現，英國的生物多樣性平均隻剩一半，遠低於 75%的全球平均水平。
The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat – all rely on biodiversity – the variety of all plant and animal life on Earth.
我們呼吸的空氣，喝的水和吃的食物都依賴著生物多樣性——也就是地球上所有動植物的多樣性。
According to new data, biodiversity’s dwindling fast, with the UK in the bottom 10% of countries and last among the G7 Group of leading industrial nations.
最新數據表明，生物多樣性正在迅速縮減，其中，英國在全球處於最差的百分之十，在七大工業國集團中排在最後。
The researchers say there’s little room for nature in a country where so much of the land has long been built upon or used for intensive agriculture. And they warn the world’s lost so much biodiversity, we risk an ecological meltdown, a future in which we can’t rely on nature to provide energy, food and timber.
研究人員指出，英國有如此多的土地長期以來用於建築或集約農業，留給大自然的空間所剩無幾。他們警告說，地球失去瞭太多的生物多樣性，以至於我們面臨生態崩潰的危險，這可能導致未來我們將無法依賴自然提供能源、食品和木材。
The study was released on the eve of the UN Biodiversity Conference, where world leaders will meet virtually to discuss plans for protecting nature over the next ten years.
該研究發表於聯合國生物多樣性大會前夕，世界各國領導人屆時將在線上討論未來十年的自然保護計劃。
None of the targets for the previous decade were met, and scientists say this is our last best chance for a sustainable future.
前一個十年計劃中定下的目標全都沒有實現，科學傢指出，現在是實現可持續未來的最後良機。
詞匯表
biodiversity 生物多樣性
variety 多樣化
dwindling 縮減，減少
ecological 生態的
meltdown 崩潰，瓦解
energy 能源
timber 木材
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. True or false? According to new data, biodiversity is drastically declining.
2. According to the report, what is biodiversity?
3. Where does the UK rank in terms of biodiversity among the G7 nations?
4. How many of the targets set in the UN Biodiversity Conference for the previous ten years were met?
答案
1. True or false? According to new data, biodiversity is drastically declining.
True. Biodiversity is dwindling fast.
2. According to the report, what is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of all plant and animal life on Earth.
3. Where does the UK rank in terms of biodiversity among the G7 nations?
The UK ranks last among the G7 nations.
4. How many of the targets set in the UN Biodiversity Conference for the previous ten years were met?
None of them were met.
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