文字稿

國際自然保護聯盟（IUCN）根據物種滅絕風險評估的標準，每年發布一次“紅色名錄”。但凡被歸類為“易危”的動物物種意味著只有不超過一萬只有繁殖能力的動物幸存，而且此類動物總數在每三代繁衍過程中以至少 10% 的比例減少。哪些物種出現在新的名錄里，又有哪些物種幸免被收錄其中？請聽報道。

Every year a United Nations’ conservation body publishes a so called ‘red list’ of species at risk of extinction. And as usual, the latest report makes grim reading. More than twenty thousand different types of animals, plants and insects are said to be threatened. 

Six kinds of ash tree in North America, a mainstay of forest there, are now listed as being in danger from an invasive beetle. In Africa, antelopes joined the ranks of creatures threatened by poaching and by people clearing forests. 

And in Madagascar, a hotspot for biodiversity, new studies of insects have found that nearly half of all species of grasshopper and millipede are endangered.   

The beautiful snow leopard which lives in the mountains of Central Asia is judged to be in a slightly healthier state than it was. But that's disputed by some researchers who say not enough is known about the elusive animal to assume that it really is a step further away from extinction.

詞匯表

conservation （對動植物、自然環境的）保護
at risk of 有潛在風險
grim 令人沮喪的，糟糕的
threatened 受到威脅的
kinds 種類、類型
invasive 有侵略性的
antelopes 羚羊
biodiversity 生物多樣性
millipede 千足蟲
elusive 難以找到的，蹤跡罕見的

測驗  

請聽報道并回答下列問題。  

1. The ‘red list’ roughly contains how many species that are endangered? 

2. Why have antelopes joined other endangered species on the list?

3. True or false? In Africa, nearly half of all species of grasshopper are endangered.

4. Which word in the text means ‘not agreeing about something’?

答案

1. The ‘red list’ roughly contains how many species that are endangered?
More than twenty thousand different types of animals, plants and insects are said to be threatened.

2. Why have antelopes joined other endangered species on the list?
Because antelopes are threatened by poaching and by people clearing forests. 

3. True or false? In Africa, nearly half of all species of grasshopper are endangered.
True. The same applies to millipede.

4. Which word in the text means ‘not agreeing about something’?
Disputed.