根據衛星數據顯示的信息，古老的、富含碳的熱帶森林繼續以驚人的速度消失。美國馬里蘭大學對高度為五米以上的樹木的研究稱，在2019年，每六秒就有一片足球場大小的原始森林消失。

For scientists, the loss of older trees and tropical rainforests is a double blow to life on Earth. As well as storing massive amounts of carbon, they're hotspots of biodiversity as the homes of orangutans, jaguars, and tigers.

對科學家們來說，古老樹木和熱帶雨林的消失是對地球生命的一個雙重打擊。除了儲存大量的碳以外，古老樹木和熱帶雨林還是生物多樣性熱點地區，是紅毛猩猩、美洲豹和老虎的家園。

According to the new data, these primary forests continue to be destroyed at alarming rates. Brazil accounted for over a third of all losses last year, with deforestation for agriculture the main motive.

據新數據顯示，這些原始森林持續以驚人的速度遭到毀壞。去年，巴西原始森林損失的比例占所有損失的三分之一以上，其主要緣由是為了農業生產砍伐森林。

The end of 2019 also saw dramatic fires in Australia leading to a sixfold increase in the total number of trees lost compared to 2018.

2019年底，澳大利亞也發生了嚴重森林火災，導致樹木損失總數比2018年增加了六倍。

詞匯

tropical rainforests 熱帶雨林
a double blow 雙重打擊
hotspots 熱點地區
biodiversity 生物多樣性
orangutans 紅毛猩猩
jaguars 美洲豹
primary 原始的
deforestation 濫砍濫伐森林
motive 緣由，動機
dramatic 嚴重的，劇烈的

2. 閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題。

1. True or false? The main motive of tree losses in Brazil last year is deforestation for agriculture.

2. Why is the loss of older trees and tropical rainforests a double blow to life on Earth?

3. How much did the loss of primary forests in Brazil account for all losses last year?

4. What did the end of 2019 see in Australia?

3. 答案

1. True or false? The main motive of tree losses in Brazil last year is deforestation for agriculture.
True. Deforestation for agriculture is the main reason for the loss of primary forests in Brazil last year.

2. Why is the loss of older trees and tropical rainforests a double blow to life on Earth?
Because as well as storing massive amounts of carbon, they're hotspots of biodiversity as the homes of orangutans, jaguars, and tigers.

3. How much did the loss of primary forests in Brazil account for all losses last year?
It accounted for over a third of all losses last year.

4. What did the end of 2019 see in Australia?
The end of 2019 saw dramatic fires in Australia.