一项研究发现，超过一半的英国蝴蝶物种的种群数量长期以来呈下降趋势。公益组织英国蝴蝶监测计划（ UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme ）称，自该组织 1976 年开始监测蝴蝶种群数量至今，受监测的 59 个品种中有 31 个品种的种群数量都出现了下降。

Once-common butterflies, like the small tortoiseshell, the chalkhill blue and the small copper, had their worst year ever in 2024. The latest figures show, for the first time, more than half the UK's butterfly species are now in long-term decline.

一些一度十分常见的蝴蝶种类，比如荨麻蛱蝶、白垩丘蓝灰蝶（chalkhill blue）和红灰蝶，都在 2024 年经历了最严重的物种衰退。最新数据显示出了前所未有的状况，超过一半的英国蝴蝶物种正处于长期衰退状态。

Dr Richard Fox from the charity Butterfly Conservation described the figures as devastating. But he said people could make an immediate difference by not cutting their grass between April and September to create more habitats for butterflies and other species to thrive.

公益机构蝴蝶保护组织（Butterfly Conservation）的理查德·福克斯博士称这一数据令人震惊。但他表示，人们可以立即帮助扭转这一趋势，通过从四月到九月之间不修剪草坪的方式来为蝴蝶和其它物种创造赖以繁荣生长的栖息地。

词汇表

tortoiseshell 龟壳，玳瑁
copper 铜，铜色的
figures 数字，数据
in decline 下降，衰退
devastating 令人震惊的，可怕的
immediate 立刻，马上
cutting 修剪
thrive 繁荣生长

听力练习

一、听第一遍音频，回答问题。

1. What has happened to butterflies in the UK?

二、用一分钟阅读下列问题，然后听第二遍音频并回答问题。

1. How many examples of declining butterflies are given?
a. Two
b. Three
c. Four

2. More than half the UK's butterfly species are now extinct.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

3. Dr Fox feels very optimistic about the figures.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

4. Why does Dr Fox say avoiding cutting grass can help butterflies?
a. because it will create more habitats
b. because other species support butterflies
c. because butterflies prefer long grass

三、听第三遍音频，将句子补充完整。（提示：可以反复听，直到听清楚每一个词）

1. More than half the UK's butterfly species ________________ long term decline.

2. But he said people could make an ________________ by not cutting their grass.

答案

一、听第一遍音频，回答问题。

1. What has happened to butterflies in the UK?

Over half the UK's butterfly species are in decline.

二、用一分钟阅读下列问题，然后听第二遍音频并回答问题。

1. b. Once-common butterflies, like the small tortoiseshell, the chalk hill blue and the small copper, had their worst year ever in 2024.

2. b. False. Butterfly species are in long-term decline, but they are not extinct.

3. b. False. Dr Richard Fox from the charity Butterfly Conservation described the figures as devastating.

4. a. But he said people could make an immediate difference by not cutting their grass between April and September to create more habitats for butterflies and other species to thrive.

三、听第三遍音频，将句子补充完整。（提示：可以反复听，直到听清楚每一个词）

1. More than half the UK's butterfly species are now in long term decline.

2. But he said people could make an immediate difference by not cutting their grass.