2019-02-25 Global insects undergoing ‘dramatic rates of decline’ 全球昆虫总数 “急剧下降”

一份有关昆虫数量的科学审核报告显示，世界上 40% 的昆虫物种数量正 “急剧下降”。这份报告称，导致昆虫总数下降的原因是集约型农业、使用杀虫剂以及气候变暖。

文字稿

Insects are the most abundant form of animal life on the planet, representing more than 17 times the weight of the entire human population. 

昆虫是地球上数量最充足的动物生命体，它们的重量之和相当于整个人类人口体重的 17 倍。

This study looked at 73 scientific reports. It found that overall, insect populations are falling by about 2.5% a year. 40% of the world’s insects could be extinct within a few decades. 

这份研究分析了 73 份科学报告。研究发现，总体来讲，昆虫的数量每年下降 2.5% 左右。世界上 40% 的昆虫有可能会在未来的几十年里灭绝。

In some areas, the decline is even more rapid. According to one recent study, the number of ground insects in Puerto Rico has fallen by 98% over the last 35 years. A growing body of research shows that insects are declining about twice as fast as vertebrates. 

在一些地区，昆虫数量的下降速度更快。一项最新报告显示，波多黎各的陆地昆虫数量已在过去的 35 年间下降了 98%。越来越多的研究表明，昆虫数量的下降速度大约是脊椎动物的两倍。

The report’s authors say a rethinking of current agricultural practice is needed, in particular, a serious reduction in pesticide usage.

这份报告的作者们说，有必要重新审视当前的农耕方式，尤其应着重减少杀虫剂的使用。

1. 词汇

abundant 数量充足的
weight 重量，体重
extinct 灭绝的
decline 减少
ground insects 在陆地上生活的昆虫
a growing body of 越来越多的
vertebrates 脊椎动物
rethinking 重新思考，重新审视
agricultural practices 农耕方法
pesticide 杀虫剂

2. 阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题 。

1. True or false? An increasing amount of research shows that insects are declining slower than vertebrates.

2. How many reports did the study look at?

3. What practices need a rethinking, according to the authors of the report?

4. Which word in the text means ‘a great collection of something’?

3. 答案

1. True or false? An increasing amount of research shows that insects are declining slower than vertebrates.
False. A growing body of research shows that insects are declining twice as fast as vertebrates.

2. How many reports did the study look at?
The study looked at 73 reports.

3. What practices need a rethinking, according to the authors of the report?
Current agricultural practices, in particular, the amount of pesticide being used, need a rethinking, according to the authors of the report.

4. Which word in the text means ‘a great collection of something’?
Body.