蘇格蘭環境大臣羅塞安娜·坎寧漢姆表示，從今年五月起，河貍將成為蘇格蘭地區的一個受保護物種。這項讓人期待已久并保受爭議的舉措激起了很多農民的反對，并引發了一場應如何管控河貍數量的爭議。

文字稿

They were extinct for 400 years, but beavers were illegally released in Tayside in the first part of this century.

河貍本已在蘇格蘭消失了四百年，但在本世紀上半葉，河貍在泰賽德市被非法放生。

Their population has grown rapidly to more than 400 and many farmers have complained about their dams flooding prime agricultural land.

它們的總數量已經快速增長到了 400 多只，而且很多農民已經就河貍筑壩，淹沒優質農業用地的問題進行了投訴。

But after ministers decided against a cull, they've now made moves to protect them. That will make it an offence to kill, injure or capture beavers without a licence.

但相關部門大臣決定不允許對它們進行選擇性宰殺，并已采取措施保護這個物種。這意味著無執照宰殺、傷害及捕捉河貍將會是一種違法行為。

Farming leaders have said they need to be controlled effectively. Scottish Natural Heritage is expected to publish guidance on how that can be achieved in the coming weeks.

農民代表們說，應有效地控制河貍的數量。預計蘇格蘭自然遺產署將在接下來的幾周內公布如何實現有效控制河貍數量的指導方針。

1. 詞匯

dams 堤壩
agricultural land 農業用地
cull 選擇性宰殺（動物）
offence 犯罪、違法行為
capture 捕捉
licence 執照
effectively 有效地
guidance 指導方針、意見

2. 閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題 。

1. True or false? The ministers’ moves to protect the beavers mean unlicensed killing, injuring or capturing the animal will be illegal.  

2. What have the farmers complained about?

3. What is Scottish Natural Heritage expected to publish in the coming weeks?

4. Which word in the text means ‘not existing’?

3. 答案

1. True or false? The ministers’ moves to protect the beavers mean unlicensed killing, injuring or capturing the animal will be illegal. 
True. Their moves to protect them will make it an offence to kill, injure or capture beavers without a licence.

2. What have the farmers complained about?
They have complained about the beavers’ dams flooding prime agricultural land.

3. What is Scottish Natural Heritage expected to publish in the coming weeks?
It is expected to publish guidance on how that can be achieved in the coming weeks.

4. Which word in the text means ‘not existing’?
Extinct.