英语听力：自然百科 摩洛哥·索维拉

 Essaouira's fishermen are getting ready for another year out on the water. All through this Moroccan port, the sounds of boat building and the smell of fresh paint are optimistic signs. But a lot of these is just wishful thinking. Essaouira's sea catches have declined¹. Some of the fishing work has moving to the south. The small boats that sail out of this port are no match for modern trawlers.

 

 

 

"The life of a fisherman now is hard. You can work one day, then nothing for two days. You work a week, then nothing for 15 days."

 

 

 

The fishing industry here is hanging on, but now the town has a new breadwinner. Thousands of tourists visited Essaouira last year, giving hope and income to the region². Essaouira's first tourist boom³ was in the 1960s when music stars, like Jimi Hendrix, made it a Mecca for counterculture travelers. In recent years, the town has made a push to attract more tourists. It's working. Since 1996,tourism is up by more than 300%.

 

 

Recently its 18th century Medina or historic⁴ town centre was named to UNESCO's world heritage⁵ list. But there is a challenge to take advantage of an opportunity without selling out local people, culture and the environment. Developers say the conservation is the priority⁶, but there are still questions about water, land use and pollution. These fishermen belong to Essaouira's past, but their town has a chance to make a new life for itself. The choices it makes now will determine its future

 

1 declined   

v.辞谢，谢绝（邀请等）( decline的过去式和过去分词 )；（道路、物体等）下倾；（太阳）落下；（在品格、价值上）降低

参考例句：

• We asked her to come to our party, but she declined. 我们请她来参加我们的晚会，但是她谢绝了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He declined to charge his memory with so many details. 他不愿在脑中记这么多细枝末节。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 region   

n.地区，地带，区域；范围，幅度

参考例句：

• The students went to study the geology of that region.学生们去研究那个地区的地质情况。
• It is unusual to see snow in this region.这个地区难得见到雪。

3 boom   

n.隆隆声；vt.发隆隆声

参考例句：

• The country is having a great boom in industry.这个国家的工业正蓬勃发展。
• Boom!Boom!Boom!A series of explosions shook the valley.轰！轰！轰！一连串爆破声震撼山谷。

4 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

5 heritage   

n.传统，遗产，继承物

参考例句：

• The ancient buildings are part of the national heritage.这些古建筑是民族遗产的一部分。
• We Chinese have a great cultural heritage.我们中国人有伟大的文化遗产。

6 priority   

n.优先处理的事，居先，优先（权）

参考例句：

• The development of the national economy is a top priority.发展国民经济是应予以最优先考虑的事。
• Things should be taken up in order of priority.办事应有个先后次序。