科學家們說，他們正與時間賽跑，在新物種滅絕之前為它們提供命名和描述。英國皇家植物園 —— 邱園（Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew）稱，植物和真菌有望成為未來的藥物、燃料和食品。

Kew’s State of the World’s Plants and Fungi report shows an estimated 140,000 plants are facing extinction, including hundreds used for medicine. It warns that people are failing to harness the many benefits plants can bring by relying on just a handful of species to provide crops and biofuels.

英國皇家植物園發表的《全球植物和真菌現狀》報告顯示，大約有14萬種植物正面臨滅絕，其中包括數百種藥用植物。報告警告說，人們未能充分利用植物的諸多潛能，而是僅依靠少數物種來提供農作物和生物燃料。

Kew’s head of conservation science, Dr Colin Clubbe, says plants have the potential to address fundamental issues, such as food security.

邱園的物種保護科學負責人科林·克拉布博士說，植物有解決基本問題的潛力，比如糧食安全問題。

The scientists say there’s a race against time to find and name new species before they vanish. Almost 2,000 plants were identified last year alone, from rare snowdrops to wild relatives of tea, garlic, and spinach. 

科學家們說，人們需要與時間賽跑，在新物種消失之前發現并命名它們。去年一年就發現了近2000種植物，從稀有的雪花蓮到茶葉、大蒜和菠菜的野生近緣植物，種類繁多。

詞匯表

facing extinction 面臨滅絕
harness 利用（資源）
biofuels 生物燃料
conservation 動植物保護
food security 糧食安全，食物安全
race against time 與時間的賽跑
vanish 消失

閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題。

1. True or false? Kew’s report warns we rely on too many plant species to provide crops and biofuels.

2. Based on Kew’s report, how many plants are facing extinction?

3. What type of issues do plants have the potential to address, according to Dr Colin Clubbe?

4. What types of plants were identified last year?

答案

1. True or false? Kew’s report warns we rely on too many plant species to provide crops and biofuels.
False. Kew’s report warns that we rely on just a few species to provide crops and biofuels.

2. Based on Kew’s report, how many plants are facing extinction?
An estimated 140,000 plants are facing extinction.

3. What type of issues do plants have the potential to address, according to Dr Colin Clubbe?
According Dr Colin Clubbe, plants have the potential to address fundamental issues, such as food security.

4. What types of plants were identified last year?
Rare snowdrops, wild relatives of tea, garlic, and spinach, among almost 2,000 plants were identified last year.