2022-09-12 Forest fires and the destruction of trees 森林大火导致树木被烧毁

一份新报告称，在2021年，每分钟约有面积相当于16个足球场的树木被森林大火烧毁。

This report confirms what many people have long suspected. More and more trees are being destroyed as forest fires are getting worse all over the world.

这份报告证实了许多人长期以来的猜测：森林大火在世界各地频繁发生，越来越多的树木被烧毁。

In 2021, an area the size of Portugal was lost, almost doubling the level of destruction since the turn of the century. Climate change is seen as a key driver of these fires with the rising temperatures creating the drier conditions that make trees susceptible to burning.

在2021年，一片面积相当于葡萄牙的森林消失了，树木被烧毁程度几乎是世纪初的两倍。气候变化被视为森林大火发生的主要驱动因素：气温上升造成了更干燥的条件，使树木易于燃烧。

Forests in northern areas, including Russia, are warming at a faster rate than the rest of the world. And this leads to longer fire seasons. In tropical locations, such as the Amazon, cutting down trees for agriculture and logging predominate. But the removal of tree cover dries out the land and makes the area more prone to fires.

包括俄罗斯在内的北部地区的森林正以比世界其它地区更快的速度升温。这会导致火灾季节变长。在亚马逊等热带地区，农业伐木和木材采伐很常见。然而，去除遮蔽地表的树木使土地变干，该地区因而更容易发生火灾。

The researchers say that curbing carbon emissions globally is key to stemming these losses. They say priorities also need to change with too much money currently spent fighting fires, and not enough on planning and preparation.

研究人员们表示，抑制全球碳排放是止损的关键。他们说，资金用途的优先次序也需要改变，目前用于灭火的资金太多，而用于规划和准备的资金不足。

词汇表

doubling 翻一番
susceptible 易受伤害的
predominate 占主导地位
prone 易遭受（问题或疾病）的
curbing 抑制，遏制
stemming 阻止

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

1. In 2021, how big was the area of forest destroyed by fires?

2. Why is climate change seen as a key driver of forest fires?

3. Where in the world are forests warming at a faster rate?

4. What action do researchers suggest to reduce the number of forest fires?

答案 

1. In 2021, how big was the area of forest destroyed by fires?
An area the size of Portugal was lost.

2. Why is climate change seen as a key driver of forest fires?
Rising temperatures and drier conditions mean the trees are more prone to burning.

3. Where in the world are forests warming at a faster rate?
Forests in the northern part of the world are warming faster than elsewhere.

4. What action do researchers suggest to reduce the number of forest fires?
They suggest reducing carbon emissions and spending more money on planning and preparation for fires.