Book 2 Unit 2 英汉对译

Unit 2 WILD PROTECTION 野生动物保护

Reading and thinking

A DAY IN THE CLOUDS  在云间度过的一天

The air is thin and we have to rest several times on the short hike from camp. To our left, snow-covered mountains disappear into clouds that seem almost close enough to touch. On the plain in front of us, we can just make out a herd of graceful animals. This is why we’re here—to observe Tibetan antelopes.
由于空气稀薄，在离开营地的短途徒步旅行中，我们不得不多次休息。在我们的左边，白雪皑皑的山脉消失在似乎触手可及的云层中。放眼平原，我们隐约看到一群体形优美的动物。这就是我们来这里的原因--观察藏羚羊。
Tibetan antelopes live on the plains of Tibet, Xinjiang, and Qinghai. Watching them move slowly across the green grass. I’m struck by their beauty. I’m also reminded of the danger they are in. They are being hunted, illegally, for their valuable fur.
藏羚羊生活在西藏、新疆和青海的平原上。看着它们缓缓穿过绿色的草，。我被它们的美丽所震撼，也想起了它们所处的险境。因其珍贵的羊毛，它们正遭受非法猎杀。
My guide is Zhaxi, a village from Changtang. He works at the Changtang National Nature Reserve. The reserve is a shelter for the animals and plants of northwestern Tibet. To Zhaxi, the land is sacred and protecting the wildlife is a way of life. “We’re not trying to save the animals,” he says. “Actually, we’re trying to save ourselves.”
我的向导是羌塘的一位村民扎西。他在羌塘国家级自然保护区工作。该保护区是西藏西北地区动植物的庇护所。对于扎西来说，这片土地是神圣的，保护野生动植物是一种生活方式。 “我们不是在拯救动物。” 他说到，“事实上，我们是在拯救自己。”
The 1980s and 1990s were bad times for the Tibetan antelope. The population dropped by more than 50 percent. Hunters were shooting antelopes to make profits. Their habitats were becoming smaller as new roads and railways were built.
对于藏羚羊来说，上个世纪80年代和90年代是一个悲惨的时代。藏羚羊的数量减少了50％以上。猎人为了赚钱而射杀羚羊。随着新公路和铁路的修建，它们的栖息地也不断缩小。
In order to save this species from extinction, the Chinese government placed it under national protection. Zhaxi and other volunteers watched over the antelopes day and night to keep them safe from attacks. Bridges and gates were added to let the antelopes move easily and keep them safe from cars and trains.
为了使这个物种免于灭绝，中国政府将其置于国家保护之下。扎西和其他志愿者昼夜守卫着羚羊，保护它们免受攻击。新增的一些桥梁和涵洞，便于藏羚羊自由穿行，防止他们撞上汽车和火车。
The measures were effective. The antelope population has recovered and in June 2015, the Tibetan antelope was removed from the endangered species list. The government, however, does not intend to stop the protection programmes, since the threats to the Tibetan antelope have not yet disappeared.
这些措施效果明显。藏羚羊的数量已经恢复。2015年6月，藏羚羊从濒危物种名单中被剔除。然而，政府并没有打算停止这些保护项目，因为对藏羚羊的威胁依然存在。
In the evening, I drink a cup of tea and watch the stars. I think about the antelopes and what Zhaxi told me. Much is being done to protect wildlife, but if we really want to save the planet, we must change our way of life. Only when we learn to exist in harmony with nature can we stop being a threat to wildlife and to our planet.
夜晚时分，我喝着茶，仰望星空。我想起了藏羚羊以及扎西对我说的那番话。为了保护野生动物，我们已经做了很多工作，但是如果我们真想拯救地球，就必须改变我们的生活方式。只有学会与大自然和睦共处，我们才不会成为野生动植物和地球的威胁。
Reading for writing
Give Ugly a Chance!  给难看的动物一个机会！
When it comes to wildlife protection, all species—the good, the bad, and the ugly—should be treated equally. Pandas, dolphins, and other cute wildlife are important, but we must pay attention to less cute animals, too. The world needs all kinds—without variety, our planet cannot survive. So if you want the future to be beautiful, you have to give ugly a chance.
谈到野生动物保护，所有物种——好的、坏的、丑的——都应得到平等对待。熊猫、海豚和其他可爱的野生动物固然很重要，但我们也必须关注那些不那么可爱的动物。世界需要万物——没有多样性，我们的地球就无法生存。所以如果你想让未来变得美丽，你必须给难看的动物一个机会。
Don’t Make Paper with My Home! 不要用我的家来造纸！
Billions of trees are being cut down every year to make paper for humans. Every tree that is cut down is a part of the habitat of animals such as these koalas. In this way a lot of animal homes are being destroyed! Is it right to make animals homeless so that humans can have more paper?
每年,数十亿棵树木遭到砍伐,用于人类造纸。每棵被砍伐的树木都是诸如考拉等动物栖息地的一部分。砍树造纸推毁了众多动物的家园!为了让人类有更多的纸张,就让动物无家可归,这样做对吗?