一項研究發現，超過一半的英國蝴蝶物種的種群數量長期以來呈下降趨勢。公益組織英國蝴蝶監測計劃（UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme）稱，自該組織 1976 年開始監測蝴蝶種群數量至今，受監測的 59 個品種中有 31 個品種的種群數量都出現瞭下降。
Once-common butterflies, like the small tortoiseshell, the chalkhill blue and the small copper, had their worst year ever in 2024. The latest figures show, for the first time, more than half the UK’s butterfly species are now in long-term decline.
一些一度十分常見的蝴蝶種類，比如蕁麻蛺蝶、白堊丘藍灰蝶（chalkhill blue）和紅灰蝶，都在 2024 年經歷瞭最嚴重的物種衰退。最新數據顯示出瞭前所未有的狀況，超過一半的英國蝴蝶物種正處於長期衰退狀態。
Dr Richard Fox from the charity Butterfly Conservation described the figures as devastating. But he said people could make an immediate difference by not cutting their grass between April and September to create more habitats for butterflies and other species to thrive.
公益機構蝴蝶保護組織（Butterfly Conservation）的理查德·福克斯博士稱這一數據令人震驚。但他表示，人們可以立即幫助扭轉這一趨勢，通過從四月到九月之間不修剪草坪的方式來為蝴蝶和其它物種創造賴以繁榮生長的棲息地。
詞匯表
tortoiseshell 龜殼，玳瑁
copper 銅，銅色的
figures 數字，數據
in decline 下降，衰退
devastating 令人震驚的，可怕的
immediate 立刻，馬上
cutting 修剪
thrive 繁榮生長
聽力練習
一、聽第一遍音頻，回答問題。
1. What has happened to butterflies in the UK?
二、用一分鐘閱讀下列問題，然後聽第二遍音頻並回答問題。
1. How many examples of declining butterflies are given?
a. Two
b. Three
c. Four
2. More than half the UK’s butterfly species are now extinct.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given
3. Dr Fox feels very optimistic about the figures.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given
4. Why does Dr Fox say avoiding cutting grass can help butterflies?
a. because it will create more habitats
b. because other species support butterflies
c. because butterflies prefer long grass
三、聽第三遍音頻，將句子補充完整。（提示：可以反復聽，直到聽清楚每一個詞）
1. More than half the UK’s butterfly species ________________ long term decline.
2. But he said people could make an ________________ by not cutting their grass.
答案
一、聽第一遍音頻，回答問題。
1. What has happened to butterflies in the UK?
Over half the UK’s butterfly species are in decline.
二、用一分鐘閱讀下列問題，然後聽第二遍音頻並回答問題。
1. b. Once-common butterflies, like the small tortoiseshell, the chalk hill blue and the small copper, had their worst year ever in 2024.
2. b. False. Butterfly species are in long-term decline, but they are not extinct.
3. b. False. Dr Richard Fox from the charity Butterfly Conservation described the figures as devastating.
4. a. But he said people could make an immediate difference by not cutting their grass between April and September to create more habitats for butterflies and other species to thrive.
三、聽第三遍音頻，將句子補充完整。（提示：可以反復聽，直到聽清楚每一個詞）
1. More than half the UK’s butterfly species are now in long term decline.
2. But he said people could make an immediate difference by not cutting their grass.
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