如果氣候如預(yù)期變暖，到2100 年，南極帝企鵝將面臨真正的困難。專(zhuān)家說(shuō)，這些鳥(niǎo)在海冰上養(yǎng)育它們的后代，所以如果它們賴(lài)以生存的這個(gè) “平臺(tái)” 像氣候模型所預(yù)測(cè)的那樣大幅消融，帝企鵝的數(shù)量則很有可能急劇減少。

文字稿

Emperors are the biggest of the penguins, and in many ways the most resilient. They breed right in the middle of the ferocious Antarctic winter, but their need for nine months of stable sea-ice on which to bring up their young means they face an uncertain future.

帝企鵝是企鵝中體型最大的，在很多方面，適應(yīng)能力也是最強(qiáng)的。它們?cè)谀蠘O地區(qū)兇險(xiǎn)的嚴(yán)冬時(shí)節(jié)繁殖，但它們需要九個(gè)月穩(wěn)固的海冰來(lái)養(yǎng)育幼鳥(niǎo)，這意味著帝企鵝的前途未卜。

Climate models project large sea ice losses, and with them, perhaps, a 50% reduction in the Emperor population by 2100. Scientists who study the birds believe it's time their particular vulnerability was formally recognised, and they want to see measures taken to ease other pressures faced by Emperors, such as the fishing activities that impinge on their food supply.

氣候模型預(yù)測(cè)海冰會(huì)大量減少，帝企鵝的數(shù)量可能會(huì)在 2100 年前隨之減少一半。研究該鳥(niǎo)類(lèi)的科學(xué)家們認(rèn)為，現(xiàn)應(yīng)嚴(yán)肅認(rèn)識(shí)到這一特定物種的脆弱性，他們也希望能看到人們采取措施，以緩解帝企鵝所面臨的其它壓力，比如影響它們食物供應(yīng)的捕魚(yú)活動(dòng)。

The scientists are pressing the International Union for Conservation of Nature to lift Emperors higher up on its list of Earth's endangered species.

科學(xué)家們敦促世界自然保護(hù)聯(lián)盟在地球?yàn)l危物種名單中把帝企鵝所處的位置提高。

詞匯

resilient 適應(yīng)能力強(qiáng)的
ferocious （環(huán)境條件）兇險(xiǎn)的，惡劣的
stable 穩(wěn)固的
project 預(yù)計(jì)，預(yù)測(cè)
vulnerability 脆弱性
measures 措施
impinge on 妨礙，起負(fù)面影響

閱讀理解：請(qǐng)?jiān)谧x完上文后，回答下列問(wèn)題 。

1. When do Emperor penguins tend to breed?

2. How is climate change predicted to affect the numbers of Emperor penguins?

3. True or false? Scientists want to measure the Emperor penguins to see how much fish they eat.

4. Where do scientists want Emperor penguins to be on the endangered species list?

答案

1. When do Emperor penguins tend to breed?
They breed right in the middle of the ferocious Antarctic winter.

2. How is climate change predicted to affect the numbers of Emperor penguins?
Climate models project large sea ice losses, and it is on this sea ice that penguins raise their young.

3. True or false? Scientists want to measure the Emperor penguins to see how much fish they eat.
False. Scientists want measures taken to ease other pressures faced by Emperors, such as the fishing activities that impinge on their food supply.

4. Where do scientists want Emperor penguins to be on the endangered species list?
Scientists are pressing the International Union for Conservation of Nature to lift Emperors higher up on its list of Earth's endangered species.