文字稿

最新研究報告顯示，世界上體型最大和最小的動物瀕臨滅絕的可能性最高。科學家認為，動物滅絕的風險取決于它們的大小，因此需要采取行動保護體型極端的動物。目前，重型動物受到捕獵的威脅，而小型動物正因為環境污染和樹木砍伐而失去生命。請聽報道。

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.

詞匯表

hog-nosed 長著豬鼻子的（這里特指蝙蝠的品種）
endangered （動植物）瀕危的
overlooked 被忽略
conservation （對動植物、自然環境的）保護
data base 數據庫
extinction risk 滅絕風險
emerged （經過觀察、研究）出現了
at both ends of the scale （體型、重量等）處于兩個極端的
heavyweights 重型動物
featherweights 羽量級動物，小型動物
ongoing 持續的

測驗

請聽報道并回答下列問題。

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.