Nearly 60% of the Earth’s

Vertebrate Wildlife Has Been Lost by Jason Grenier, special correspondent

According to a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report, the past decades have been a

disaster for wildlife. It indicates that many species have seen population decline or have gone

extinct. In fact, nearly 60% of the Earth’s vertebrate wildlife disappeared between 1970 and

2014. Even more alarming, the WWF warns that this trend shows no sign of slowing down.

Unsurprisingly, human activities are the primary cause of animals’ disappearing. Hunting

involves killing huge numbers of animals worldwide, either for food or for money. Although

trade in endangered animal parts, like elephant ivory and rhinoceros horns, is forbidden by

law, illegal markets will continue as long as the demand for such products exists.

Rapid human population growth drives endless demand for usable land. Clearing forests

to make room for expanding cities and roads means laying waste to natural habitats of

birds, mammals, and reptiles. Deprived of space to feed and breed, species that are unable

to adapt to changing environmental conditions are doomed.

Seas, along with many lakes and rivers, are choked with pollution, including plastic,

chemicals, and untreated waste from human settlements. Combined with rising water

temperatures, this creates conditions that are no longer suitable

for many aquatic species. Among those that can survive, many

populations are declining fast due to commercial fishing.

The situation is grim, but there is still hope. Conservation

efforts have succeeded in saving numerous endangered species,

like pandas, from the brink of vanishing altogether. Even so,

humans must rethink our priorities and patterns of

consumption to sustain the environment.

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and translation.

This month in history

On December 26, 2004, a tsunami hit the shorelines of

countries including Indonesia and Sri Lanka, killing an

estimated 2.3 hundred thousand people.

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Reading Comprehension

( ) 1. What’s the main point of this passage? (main idea)

(A) Pollution such as plastic, chemicals, and untreated waste from human settlements is harmful.

(B) Humans should stop hunting and fishing so as to slow down the decline in animal populations.

(C) We should rethink our priorities and consumption patterns to save endangered species and

sustain the environment.

(D) Thanks to conservation efforts, many endangered species have been pulled back from the brink

of vanishing altogether.

( ) 2. Which of the following animals is NOT mentioned in the passage? (supporting details)

(A) Rhinoceros. (B) Polar bears. (C) Pandas. (D) Elephants.

( ) 3. Based on the passage, which statement about human population is the most accurate? (inference)

(A) During the period from 1970 to 2014, the human population increased dramatically.

(B) During the period from 1970 to 2014, the human population declined by around 60%.

(C) During the period from 1970 to 2014, the human population remained relatively stable.

(D) During the period from 1970 to 2014, the human population was on the brink of going extinct.

Open Questions:

1. According to the passage, what are the reasons that the animals are disappearing?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

2. As a consumer, what do you think we can do to help save endangered species and sustain the environment?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

Vocabulary and Phrases

1. forbidden [φ2βΙδΝ] adj. 被禁止的

2. as long as phr. 只要…，要是…，如果…的話

3. make room for phr. 騰出地方，讓路

4. habitat [η8βΙ&τ8τ] n. [C] (生物的)棲息地

5. mammal [µ8µΛ] n. [C] 哺乳動物

6. reptile [ρΕπτΙλ] n. [C] 爬蟲類，爬行動物

7. deprive [δΙπραΙϖ] vt. 剝奪，奪取

8. breed [βριδ] vi. 繁殖

9. adapt [1δ8πτ] vi. 適應

10. grim [ΓρΙµ] adj. 令人擔憂的

11. brink [βρΙ9κ] n. sing. 邊緣

12. sustain [σ1στεν] vt. 維持

Words for Recognition

1. vertebrate [ϖ3τ1&βρετ] adj. 有脊椎的

2. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) n. 世界自然基金會

3. usable [ϕυζ1βΛ] adj. 可使用的

4. lay waste to phr. 摧毀

5. untreated [⊥ντριτΙδ] adj. (有害物質)未經處理的

6. rethink [ριΤΙ9κ] vt. 重新思考，重新考慮

2｜News Messenger

The Ozone Layer Makes a

Comeback by Jason Grenier, special correspondent

According to a newly released UN report, the large

holes in the ozone layer that makes up part of our planet’s

atmosphere are slowly getting smaller. That’s very good

news for life on Earth as we know that the ozone layer

serves an important role as the protective barrier that

filters the Sun’s radiation. Specifically, it prevents a lot of

ultraviolet rays from getting through. This is __1__, since

overexposure to ultraviolet light is the cause of skin

cancer.

As early as the 1970s, scientists observed that the

ozone layer was getting thinner and that large holes over north and south polar regions

appeared every spring. It was also __2__ that chemicals used by humans were the main cause,

especially ones used in spray products and cooling systems for refrigerators and air

conditioners. Fortunately, these __3__ substances, known as CFCs, have been widely banned,

and the damage they once caused seems to be reversing.

At this rate, assuming the trend continues, the hole in the ozone over the northern

hemisphere should be completely __4__ by the 2030s. The southern hemisphere is likewise

on track to recover a little more slowly, by the 2060s.

The irony lies in the fact that the ozone layer actually traps heat in the Earth’s

atmosphere. The holes in the ozone layer have actually __5__ the rate of global warming in

the Arctic and Antarctic. As the holes gradually repair themselves, temperature in both

regions can be expected to heat up.

Fill in the Blanks

(A) slowed (B) harmful (C) hopeful (D) crucial (E) mended (F) revealed

(1)__________ (2)__________ (3)__________ (4)__________ (5)__________

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Vocabulary and Phrases

1. ozone layer n. 臭氧層

2. make up phr. 組成，構成

3. barrier [β8ρΙ2] n. [C] 屏障

4. radiation [&ρεδΙεΣ1ν] n. [C][U] 輻射線，輻射能

5. polar [πολ2] adj. (南、北)極的，(靠近)極地的

6. hemisphere [ηΕµΙ&σφΙρ] n. [C] (地球等的)半球

7. likewise [λαΙκ&ωαΙζ] adv. 同樣地

8. on track phr. 上軌道的，如預期進展的

9. irony [αΙρ1νΙ] n. [C][U] 反諷

10. Arctic [ΑρκτΙκ] n., adj. 北極地區(的)

11. Antarctic [8ντΑρκτΙκ] n., adj. 南極地區(的)

12. heat up phr. 變熱

Words for Recognition

1. comeback [κ⊥µ&β8κ] n. [C] 恢復，復原

2. ultraviolet [&⊥λτρ1ϖαΙ1λΙτ] adj. 紫外線的

3. overexposure [&οϖ2ΙκσποΖ2] n. [U] 過度曝曬

4. CFC n. [C] 氟氯碳化物

Did You Know?

Christmas is coming! The following is a list of the words related to this annual holiday. Check it out!

Christmas / Xmas 聖誕節

Christmas Eve 聖誕夜，平安夜

Jesus Christ 耶穌基督 stable 馬廄

the Magi 東方三賢士 shepherd 牧羊人

Mass 彌撒 angel 天使

go caroling 報佳音

Christmas carol 聖誕頌歌

Christmas market 聖誕市集 Christmas tree 聖誕樹

mulled wine 香料酒

Christmas feast 聖誕大餐

yule log (聖誕節吃的)原木狀巧克力蛋糕

Christmas stocking (裝禮物的)聖誕長襪

Santa Claus 聖誕老人 reindeer 馴鹿

sledge 雪橇

sleigh (設有座椅的)雪橇(常由馬等拉著走)

toboggan (下方沒有滑行板的)平底雪橇

For more information, scan the picture with COCOAR2, or visit https://goo.gl/Tb3kPQ!

閱讀測驗解答：1. C 2. B 3. A

文意選填解答：1. D 2. F 3. B 4. E 5. A

4｜News Messenger

Translation

地球上的野生脊椎動物已消失近 6 成

根據世界自然基金會的報告，過去幾十年對野生動植物而言是場災難。該報告顯示，許多物種族群

數量減少或已滅絕。事實上，地球上將近 60％的野生脊椎動物於 1970 年至 2014 年間消失。更令人擔憂

的是，世界自然基金會警告，此一趨勢並沒有任何減緩的跡象。

不出所料，人類活動是動物消失的主因。不管是為食物或為錢，狩獵都在全球各地導致大量動物喪

命。雖然法律禁止買賣瀕臨絕種動物的身體部位，例如象牙和犀牛角，但只要有需求，就會有黑市的存

在。

人口快速增長導致對可用土地的需求永無止盡。為了騰出空間給不斷擴增的城市和道路，森林遭到

清除，鳥類、哺乳動物和爬蟲類的自然棲息地也因此被摧毀殆盡。覓食和繁殖空間遭到剝奪的物種若無

法適應環境變化就註定難逃厄運。

海洋，以及許多湖泊和河流，都滿是來自人類聚落的汙染物，包括塑膠物品、化學製品和未經處理

的廢棄物。再加上水溫上升，使得環境條件不再適合許多水生物種。而在存活下來的物種裡，又有很多

族群因為商業捕撈而很快速地越來越少。

雖然形勢嚴峻，但希望仍舊存在。保育工作已成功挽救熊貓等許多瀕危物種不致完全消失。即便如

此，我們人類必須重新思考輕重緩急和我們的消費模式，才能保護環境。

臭氧層重現生機

根據新近公布的聯合國報告，地球大氣層中的臭氧層上的破洞正在慢慢地縮小。這對地球上的生命

而言可是大好消息，因為我們知道臭氧層是過濾太陽輻射的重要保護屏障。具體而言，它防止大量紫外

線通過。此事至關重要，因為過度暴露在紫外線下可能會導致皮膚癌。

早在 1970 年代，科學家就觀察到臭氧層逐漸變薄，並於每年春天在南北極區上方出現破洞。且也揭

露出主因是人類使用的化學製品，尤其是噴霧劑，以及冰箱和空調的冷卻系統所使用的化學物質。幸好，

這些被稱為氟氯碳化物的有害物質已被普遍禁用，而其一度造成的損害似乎正在逆轉。

依此速率，假設趨勢能持續，北半球的臭氧層破洞應能在 2030 年前全部修補完畢。南半球的臭氧層

也可望以稍慢的速度、在 2060 年前復原。

諷刺的是，臭氧層其實會將熱能困在地球的大氣層內。臭氧層破洞其實在南北極地區減緩了全球暖

化的速度。而隨著破洞逐漸自我修復，這兩個地區的溫度預料將會升高。

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