（本期節(jié)目使用的音頻資源于2021年10月上旬發(fā)表。）

最新數(shù)據(jù)顯示，英國是世界上自然資源消耗最嚴重的國家之一，在全球排最差的百分之十，在七國集團（G7）中排在最后。研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，英國的生物多樣性平均只剩一半，遠低于 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(shù)據(jù)表明，生物多樣性正在迅速縮減，其中，英國在全球處于最差的百分之十，在七大工業(yè)國集團中排在最后。

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于建筑或集約農(nóng)業(yè)，留給大自然的空間所剩無幾。他們警告說，地球失去了太多的生物多樣性，以至于我們面臨生態(tài)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(fā)表于聯(lián)合國生物多樣性大會前夕，世界各國領(lǐng)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(xiàn)，科學家指出，現(xiàn)在是實現(xiàn)可持續(xù)未來的最后良機。

詞匯表

biodiversity 生物多樣性
variety 多樣化
dwindling 縮減，減少
ecological 生態(tài)的
meltdown 崩潰，瓦解
energy 能源
timber 木材

閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，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.