BBC初級口語:Sumatran Rhinos 蘇門答臘犀牛
Background: 馬來西亞生態環境保護者用相機拍到了一頭稀有的蘇門答臘犀牛。據稱這頭犀牛已經懷孕。看到這種瀕臨滅絕的動物在婆羅洲島的野外繁育,也讓人們看到了它們的希望。婆羅洲島分別隸屬於馬來西亞、印度尼西亞和文萊三個國家。
【文本】
This is the first time that researchers have captured an image of a female Sumatran rhino believed to be pregnant.
There are so few of these animals left in the wild - possibly no more than 30 on Borneo - that experts say each new calf is a lifeline for the species.
The female is thought to be around 20 years old, and the researchers have set up some 50 cameras in the area to try and track her movements.
If she is indeed pregnant - and the experts say they can't be sure yet - the birth of a calf would go some way to allaying fears that the rhinos have become so isolated from each other, they are not even meeting to breed.
The location of the rhino is being kept secret, as this is an area where poaching, and also illegal logging, are a huge threat.
The Sumatran rhino is an extremely shy creature which is rarely seen.
Researchers are trying to gather more information on the health and condition of the species through the use of remote cameras.
There was excitement recently when the cameras caught images of two young rhino in the area where the female has been spotted.
The World Wildlife Fund is working with local officials to produce an action plan to protect forest reserves, and to rescue rhinos where necessary to help them breed.
【口語突破】
researchers
研究人員
in the wild
在野外
calf
幼仔
lifeline
生命線
track her movements
跟蹤她的行蹤
allaying fears
減少擔心
isolated
孤立、隔絕
breed
繁育
poaching
偷獵
illegal logging
非法伐木
shy
膽小的
spotted
發現、注意到
World Wildlife Fund
世界野生動物基金組織
action plan
行動計劃
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n. 產品,農作物
vt. 生產,提出,引起,
pro向前,duce引導-引導出的產品-農產品 illegal[i'li:gəl]
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adj. 不合法的,非法的
n. 非法移民
il不+legal合法的→不合法的 species['spi:ʃiz]
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n. (單復同)物種,種類
extremely[iks'tri:mli]想一想再看
adv. 極其,非常
聯想記憶X單詞extremely聯想記憶:extreme極端的+ly表副詞,通常放在形容詞後→過分地 protect[prə'tekt]
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vt. 保護,投保
聯想記憶X單詞protect聯想記憶:pro在前面+tect蓋上→在前面蓋上→保護;防止 remote[ri'məut]
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adj. 偏僻的,遙遠的,遠程的,(感情等)距離很大 聯想記憶X單詞remote聯想記憶:
re回+mote動→動回去→退回去→遙遠的
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n. 威脅,凶兆
vt. 威脅, 恐嚇
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n. 小路,跑道,蹤跡,軌道,樂曲
v. 跟蹤
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v. 聚集,聚攏,集合
n. 集合,聚集
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adj. 分離的,孤立的