2017-10-09 Size matters when it comes to extinction risk 动物的体型可能是决定其灭绝的关键因素

文字稿

最新研究报告显示，世界上体型最大和最小的动物濒临灭绝的可能性最高。科学家认为，动物灭绝的风险取决于它们的大小，因此需要采取行动保护体型极端的动物。目前，重型动物受到捕猎的威胁，而小型动物正因为环境污染和树木砍伐而失去生命。请听报道。

From the hog-nosed bat to the banana frog, some of the world’s smallest and most endangered animals aren’t exactly well known.

Researchers fear these tiniest of creatures are being overlooked in conservation efforts.

An international team made a data base of thousands of animals to look at the relationship between body mass and extinction risk. 

A clear pattern emerged: animals at both ends of the scale face bigger extinction risks than those in the middle.

Human hunting threatens the heavyweights, meanwhile featherweights are losing vital habitat as land is cleared for development.

Scientists say urgent action is needed on both fronts to help slow the ongoing wave of extinctions.

词汇表

hog-nosed 长着猪鼻子的（这里特指蝙蝠的品种）
endangered （动植物）濒危的
overlooked 被忽略
conservation （对动植物、自然环境的）保护
data base 数据库
extinction risk 灭绝风险
emerged （经过观察、研究）出现了
at both ends of the scale （体型、重量等）处于两个极端的
heavyweights 重型动物
featherweights 羽量级动物，小型动物
ongoing 持续的

测验

请听报道并回答下列问题。

1. What is the relationship between body mass and extinction risk that scientists found?

2. Why are featherweights losing their habitat? 

3. What do the scientists say we should do about the wave of extinctions?

4. Which word in the text means ‘a regular or repeated way in which something happens’?

答案

1. What is the relationship between body mass and extinction risk that scientists found?
Animals at both ends of the scale face bigger extinction risks than those in the middle.

2. Why are featherweights losing their habitat?
Featherweights are losing their vital habitat because the land is being cleared for development. 

3. What do the scientists say we should do about the wave of extinctions?Scientists say urgent action is needed on both fronts to help slow the ongoing wave of extinctions. 

4. Which word in the text means ‘a regular or repeated way in which something happens’?
Pattern.