国家地理 蒙古族生活日渐消失

The herdsmen of Inner Mongolia have freely roamed the plains for many centuries with their livestock¹ grazing on fertile grasslands² stretching across the horizon.

几百年来，内蒙古的游牧民族一直在广阔的草原上徜徉，牲畜在延伸到天边的草原上吃着鲜美的嫩草。

But now their age-old customs are being stamped out because of relocation the Chinese government claims will help curb³ environmental damage.

但是，由于政府希望控制环境恶化，进行了重迁计划，这个古老的传统马上就要消失了。

In 1949, the ratio of Mongols to Han Chinese in this Northern China province was reported to be 5 to 1;

1949年，在中国的北方省份，蒙古人和汉人的比例是5比1；

now there is only one Mongol for every six Han Chinese.

而现在，蒙古人和汉人的比例仅仅是1比6。

Along with mass migration⁴ came assimilation, as Mongolians were required to give up their nomadic⁵ lifestyles and to move to permanent settlements.

随着大规模的迁移，蒙古人也被同化，蒙古人不得不放弃游牧的生活习惯，永久定居下来。

"It was better before when we were free to roam the grasslands.

“以前我们可以在草原上自由游荡的时候比较好。

Now if we ventured into other people's grasslands, our sheep would be confiscated⁶. Things are controlled now."

现在，如果我们闯入了别人的草原，我们的羊会被没收。现在一切都受到控制。”

Han Chinese are cultivating crops and raising animals here, competing with the Mongolian herdsmen.

汉人也在这里种植作物，养殖牲畜，与蒙古牧民竞争。

Modern technology has also impacted the grasslands in a profound way.

现代科技也对草原有着深远的影响。

While some do ride motorcycles rather than horses and others have more modern conveniences,

有人骑摩托车，而不是骑马，还有一些人则使用更现代化的交通工具。

other reports claim that it's the Han Chinese agricultural practices that are causing the most damage.

有报告说，汉人的耕作习惯造成的危害更大。

The Genghis Khan Mausoleum in Erdos City serves as a cultural reminder⁷ of the Mongolians' proud heritage

鄂尔多斯市伊金霍洛旗新街镇甘德尔敖包代表了

before the Chinese government exercised its control. The Mongolians have a long and unique history and multifaceted culture.

中国政府实施控制以前的内蒙古的传统。蒙古有着悠久，独特，多样化的历史。

"During Genghis Khan's era, he used people of different religious faiths. He didn't discriminate⁸ different races or religious beliefs.

“在成吉思汗时代，他重用有着不同宗教信仰的人。他不对任何种族或者宗教信仰产生歧视。

I think they have the ability to assimilate and adapt well to different environments. Mongolian culture is very open and embracing."

我认为他们有同化和适应不同环境的能力。蒙古文化是非常开放和包容的。”

Climate change and overgrazing have rendered huge swathes of land barren and caused frequent sandstorms in Inner Mongolia and its neighboring provinces.

气候变化和过度放牧使大片的土地变成荒漠，导致内蒙古和邻近省份频繁出现沙尘暴。

1 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

2 grasslands   

n.草原，牧场( grassland的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Songs were heard ringing loud and clear over the grasslands. 草原上扬起清亮激越的歌声。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Grasslands have been broken and planted to wheat. 草原已经开垦出来，种上了小麦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

4 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

5 nomadic   

adj.流浪的；游牧的

参考例句：

• This tribe still live a nomadic life.这个民族仍然过着游牧生活。
• The plowing culture and the nomadic culture are two traditional principal cultures in China.农耕文化与游牧文化是我国传统的两大主体文化。

6 confiscated   

没收，充公( confiscate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Their land was confiscated after the war. 他们的土地在战后被没收。
• The customs officer confiscated the smuggled goods. 海关官员没收了走私品。

7 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

8 discriminate   

v.区别，辨别，区分；有区别地对待

参考例句：

• You must learn to discriminate between facts and opinions.你必须学会把事实和看法区分出来。
• They can discriminate hundreds of colours.他们能分辨上百种颜色。