文字稿

英國(guó)的蝴蝶數(shù)目大量減少，這讓野生動(dòng)植物專(zhuān)家們感到非常費(fèi)解。一項(xiàng)由成千上萬(wàn)名志愿者參與的年度“蝶口統(tǒng)計(jì)”調(diào)查顯示，與 2013 年每計(jì)數(shù)次的 23 只相比，今年的平均值降到了 12.2 。此前，蝴蝶數(shù)目曾在 2012 年潮濕的夏天驟然下降，本年度的數(shù)量甚至比當(dāng)時(shí)還要少。推行這個(gè)計(jì)劃的蝴蝶保護(hù)協(xié)會(huì)（ Butterfly Conservation ）說(shuō)，造成該現(xiàn)象的原因至今仍是一個(gè)謎。請(qǐng)聽(tīng)報(bào)道。

Each year, tens of thousands of people take part in The Big Butterfly Count to help experts chart the fortunes of common species.

Some butterflies recorded their worst numbers since the project began in 2010. Sightings of commas were down 46% compared with last year.

Butterfly Conservation says the weather this summer should have helped the insects. It thinks the mild winter and cold spring could have had an effect along with pesticides. But there were some successes – red admirals were up 70% on last year, and green-veined whites were up 58%.

詞匯表

The Big Butterfly Count 由英國(guó)蝴蝶保護(hù)協(xié)會(huì)推行的“蝶口統(tǒng)計(jì)”項(xiàng)目，號(hào)召全國(guó)志愿者記錄并統(tǒng)計(jì)不同種類(lèi)的蝴蝶數(shù)量
chart 標(biāo)示，詳細(xì)記錄
fortunes 時(shí)運(yùn)
numbers 數(shù)目，數(shù)量
sightings 目擊、看見(jiàn)（罕見(jiàn)或珍貴的事物或現(xiàn)象）
commas 白鉤蛺蝶
red admirals 優(yōu)紅蛺蝶
green-veined whites 暗脈菜粉蝶

測(cè)驗(yàn)

請(qǐng)聽(tīng)報(bào)道并回答下列問(wèn)題。

1. Why do tens of thousands of people take part in The Big Butterfly Count?

2. In which year did the project start running?

3. True or false? The drop in the number of butterflies was across all species.

4. Which word in the text means ‘chemicals used to kill harmful insects’?

答案

1. Why do tens of thousands of people take part in The Big Butterfly Count?
They take part in The Big Butterfly Count to help experts chart the fortunes of common species.

2. In which year did the project start running?
The project began in 2010.

3. True or false? The drop in the number of butterflies was across all species.
False. Some species, such as red admirals and green-veined whites, were doing well.

4. Which word in the text means ‘chemical products used to kill harmful insects’?
Pesticides.