英语听力：自然百科 Iceland Puffin Threatened 冰岛海雀

 On a sunny summer day, Iceland's Westman Islands seem a vision of serenity¹. But despite the placid² appearance, this is in fact one of the most volatile³ places on earth: volcanic⁴ activity runs rampant⁵ in Iceland; earthquakes and eruptions⁶ occur frequently; and the land above and below the sea is in a constant state of flux⁷. The landscape is not the only thing changing in the Westman Islands. Something mysterious is happening to one of the Island's best loved inhabitants—the Atlantic puffin.

 

"And puffins have actually been dying. They've found them next to the holes and they feel that they've been starving."

 

But their loss will be a blow for their neighbors—the people of Heimaey.

 

"Puffin plays a huge role in the culture of this society. It has a place in the heart of everybody."

 

"So this is sort of important that hopefully things improve."

 

Throughout history, birds have been abundant here. The high grassy⁹ peaks provide ideal nesting grounds, and the seas have offered up a steady supply of fish from year to year. It's been the almost ideal spot for Atlantic puffins, and over time they become tied to this place.This is one of the world's largest colonies with an estimated 1.3 million nesting pairs. They spend most of the year at sea, returning to land in the spring to rear a single chick. But for the past three years, something has gone wrong: almost none of the puffins are breeding.

 

Researchers say they think they know the root of the problem. Historical catch records indicate a severe decline in the puffin's favorite food—a small nutritious¹⁰ fish known as the sand lance. But for the last three years, it's been scarce in areas where used to be abundant. The fish has also shown up late in the puffin's breeding season. Puffins are not the only birds that may be affected¹¹ by the loss of the sand lance. Other Icelandic seabirds have also had breeding problems for the same three-year period.

 

"It was kind of sad to experience a third year in a row of total breeding failure, well, close to that. One wonders if that's gonna continue."

 

Ecologist Erpur Hansen has observed that some birds travel great distances to find food. Many have opted¹² not to reproduce, and those that did reproduce held off until very late in the season, perhaps waiting for feeding conditions to improve. In desperation, some breeding birds have attempted to feed their offspring other types of fish that the youngsters can't manage.

 

"The sand sea eel⁸, the tiny little fish that the puffins are used to eating, hasn't been available. They've seen puffin parents come in with large herring, but the little babies can't swallow that. So they can't eat that."

 

The researchers believe the loss of the sand lance may be linked with climate change. In Iceland, ocean temperatures have increased by 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit¹³ in the past two decades. These puffins are not the only ones to be affected by global warming, but researchers say this colony is critical, since it's one of the largest in the world. It's true birds have one unique advantage over other species faced with changing surroundings: They can fly away. These puffins may do so, seeking out new nesting grounds if the food supply in Iceland continues to decline. Changing temperatures are creating turmoil¹⁴ in nature across the globe, but for the Westman Islands, where puffins have reigned¹⁵ supreme¹⁶, the changes are heading close to home.

1 serenity   

n.宁静，沉着，晴朗

参考例句：

• Her face,though sad,still evoked a feeling of serenity.她的脸色虽然悲伤，但仍使人感觉安详。
• She escaped to the comparative serenity of the kitchen.她逃到相对安静的厨房里。

2 placid   

adj.安静的，平和的

参考例句：

• He had been leading a placid life for the past eight years.八年来他一直过着平静的生活。
• You should be in a placid mood and have a heart-to- heart talk with her.你应该心平气和的好好和她谈谈心。

3 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

4 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

5 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

6 eruptions   

n.喷发，爆发( eruption的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year. 今年火山爆发了好几次。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Over 200 people have been killed by volcanic eruptions. 火山喷发已导致200多人丧生。 来自辞典例句

7 flux   

n.流动；不断的改变

参考例句：

• The market is in a constant state of flux.市场行情在不断变化。
• In most reactors,there is a significant flux of fast neutrons.在大部分反应堆中都有一定强度的快中子流。

8 eel   

n.鳗鲡

参考例句：

• He used an eel spear to catch an eel.他用一只捕鳗叉捕鳗鱼。
• In Suzhou,there was a restaurant that specialized in eel noodles.苏州有一家饭馆，他们那里的招牌菜是鳗鱼面。

9 grassy   

adj.盖满草的；长满草的

参考例句：

• They sat and had their lunch on a grassy hillside.他们坐在长满草的山坡上吃午饭。
• Cattle move freely across the grassy plain.牛群自由自在地走过草原。

10 nutritious   

adj.有营养的，营养价值高的

参考例句：

• Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。

11 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

12 opted   

v.选择，挑选( opt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was co-opted onto the board. 她获增选为董事会成员。
• After graduating she opted for a career in music. 毕业后她选择了从事音乐工作。

13 Fahrenheit   

n./adj.华氏温度；华氏温度计(的)

参考例句：

• He was asked for the boiling point of water in Fahrenheit.他被问到水的沸点是华氏多少度。
• The thermometer reads 80 degrees Fahrenheit.寒暑表指出华氏80度。

14 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

15 reigned   

vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式）

参考例句：

• Silence reigned in the hall. 全场肃静。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Night was deep and dead silence reigned everywhere. 夜深人静，一片死寂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

16 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。