事实：动物栖息地的缺失是导致动物灭绝的重要原因-Habitat Loss is the Leading Cause of Extinction

 Pre-Listening Vocabulary

 

habitat: the place where living things live

extinction¹: the state of no longer existing

threatened: facing a possible risk of extinction

24/7: all day and night; at all times

human intervention²: the involvement of humans

 

Habitat Loss is the Leading Cause of Extinction

According to recent studies, approximately one in four mammals and one in eight birds currently faces a high risk of extinction. Though species extinction is natural, the current rate of extinction is at least 1,000 times faster than the natural rate. The leading cause of extinction around the world is habitat loss. Extinction rates are growing the fastest in areas with high population growth. In Kenya, armed men are currently standing³ on guard 24/7 as the last known northern white male rhino⁴ wanders around a conservation area. Even with human intervention, it is unlikely that the last male of the subspecies will be able to reproduce with either of the two last females in his habitat.

1 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。

2 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 rhino   

n.犀牛，钱, 现金

参考例句：

• The rhino charged headlong towards us.犀牛急速地向我们冲来。
• They have driven the rhino to the edge of extinction.他们已经令犀牛濒临灭绝。