Heritage
sites are at risk from industry according to WWF
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has issued an urgent call to action by announcing a list of World Heritage Sites in danger from
human activities. The sites in question have all been listed as especially
significant to humankind by the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Whether “natural,”
“cultural” or “mixed” (combining natural and cultural elements), World Heritage
Sites are recognized as deserving special protection to make sure they will
exist for the benefit of future generations. Nowadays, WWF has identified 114 sites were at risk.
One of the biggest tourist draws and most important resources in
Australia lies mostly under the sea. Situated off the Queensland coast and stretching
over 2,300 kilometers, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest mass of living coral in the world. With nearly 1,000
islands, it’s home to thousands of species of fish, birds, and other organisms. Although a National Park has been established to protect it, the
reef is threatened by mining operations. Run-off water from
mines is flowing into the sea, affecting water quality and killing off coral.
Making matters worse, the amount of ocean-going ship traffic is increasing,
too. Engine noise and pollution from ships is driving sea life away from the
natural habitat of the reef.
Thousands of kilometers away, another treasure is at risk. Grand Canyon National Park is among the most famous natural wonders in the United States. Much
of the park lies in areas that have been hit hard by a long-lasting drought that shows no signs of letting up. Dams have been built to collect
scarce water in reservoirs. Despite the drought, Americans still like their golf courses and
lawns green, and their cars washed and shining. The current rate at which the
area’s precious water is being used for these non-essential activities is
simply not sustainable.
The jewels of South America aren’t safe either. Peru’s famous Machu Picchu is another World
Heritage site in peril. The 15th-century mountaintop
settlement was built by the Inca civilization, and UNESCO designated the remaining ruins as a cultural site in 1983. But now the logging industry, and
especially illegal logging, is casting a long shadow on the site’s future.
How then, to balance progress with preservation? While countries strive for economic growth, it must be remembered that people need more
than money to flourish. Hopefully, the WWF’s announcement will serve as a wake-up call,
before it’s too late.
Reading Comprehension
( ) 1. What is the main purpose of the
passage?
(A) To warn people
that not only the environment but also world heritages are in danger.
(B) To review plans for improving
water pollution in the Great Barrier Reef.
(C) To introduce those beautiful
sites to tourists around the world.
(D) To encourage
people to use more natural source.
(
) 2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned
in the passage?
(A) Noise pollution. (B) Water
shortage.
(C) Rapid population
growth. (D) The function
of the WWF.
( ) 3. The word “flourish”
in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to “________.”
(A) reverse (B) display (C) decay (D) thrive
( ) 4. From which of
the following is the passage likely to be taken?
(A) A travel guide book. (B)
A finance magazine.
(C) A medical journal. (D) A history textbook.
( ) 5. What is the message that the author is trying to convey?
(A) World Heritage Sites
get in the way of economic development.
(B) It is the WWF’s
responsibility to protect the natural environment.
(C) Nothing is
important than every country’s economic growth.
(D) Economic growth
has both its bright
side and dark side.
Vocabulary and Phrases
1.
heritage [`hEr1tIdZ] n. [C] usu.
sing. 遺產
Releasing
sky lanterns on Lantern Festival is an important cultural heritage in Pingxi.
2.
issue [`ISu] v. 發布；發表
The
politician issued a statement denying he had taken bribes.
3.
urgent [`3dZ1nt] adj. 迫切的，緊急的
The hospital
damaged by the earthquake is in urgent need of repair.
4.
identify [aI`dEnt1&faI] vt. 指認，確認
The
painting, which has been identified as a Leonardo da
Vinci original, is
of great cultural value.
5.
at risk [8t rIsk] phr. 有危險
People’s lives are at risk because of the
rapid spread of the unknown disease.
6.
situated [`sItS5&etId] adj. 位於…的
Most convenience stores are situated on
the corner so that people from any direction can see them.
7.
organism [`OrG1&nIz1m] n. [C] 生物，有機體
Scientists
have wondered if there are any living organisms on Mars. So far, they haven’t
found any proof yet.
8.
establish [1`st8blIS] vt. 建立，設立
Lydia decided to quit her job and
establish a charitable foundation to help the poor.
9.
mining [`maInI9] n. [U] 採礦；礦業
Nowadays, the mining industry is unpopular
with young people.
10. operation [&Ap1`reS1n] n.
[C] 工作；活動
Many people believe that the mining
operation is to blame for air pollution in this area.
11.
habitat [`h8bI&t8t]
n. [C] （動植物的）棲息地
The
natural habitat of that type of seal is on the coast of the South Pole.
12.
drought [draut] n.[C] 乾旱
A large number of people in Mali are
facing another famine because of the long, continued drought.
13.
reservoir [`rEz2&vOr] n.[C] 蓄水庫；儲水池
With the increase of population, many
people think that more reservoirs should be built to store and provide water.
14. sustainable [s1`sten1b1l] adj. 能維持的，能保持的
Solar energy is a type of sustainable
energy, which can be used continuously without polluting the environment.
15. peril [`pEr1l] n.
[U] (fml.) 險惡；危險
Global warming has caused sea levels to
rise worldwide, putting low-lying countries like Tuvalu in great peril.
16.
designate [`dEzIG&net] vt. 指定
This area was designated as the site of
the new national park.
17.
ruins [`ruInz] n.
pl. 斷垣殘壁，遺跡
The
war has caused severe damage throughout the country. It will take more than twenty
years to rebuild the cities from their ruins.
18. preservation [&prEz2`veS1n] n. [U] 保存，保藏
There
are various food preservation methods, such as salting, sugaring, drying, and
so on.
19. strive [straIv] vi. 奮鬥，努力
(strove－striven－striving)
Martin Luther King Jr. spent most of his life
striving for freedom and equality for African Americans.
20.
flourish [`fl3IS] vi. 繁茂，興旺
With full sun and rich soil, the plants in
the garden are able to flourish.
Words for
Recognition
1. World Wide Fund for Nature [w3ld waid f^nd `fOr `netS2] 世界自然基金會於1961年成立（當時的名稱為世界野生生物基金會，於1986年易名），標誌唯一隻大熊貓。其目標是制止並扭轉自然環境的加速惡化，並協助創立一個人與自然和諧共處的未來。
2. World Heritage Site [w3ld `hEr1tIdZ sait] 世界遺產
這是由聯合國支持、聯合國教育科學文化組織負責執行的國際公約建制。其目的為保存對全世界人類都具有普遍性價值的自然或文化。
3. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO)
[j5`naItId
`neS1nz &EdZ`keS1nL &saI1n`tIfIk 1nd `k^ltS1r1l &OrG1naI`zeS1n] 聯合國教育、科學及文化組織於1945年成立，總部位於法國巴黎。其宗旨為「利用教育、科學、文化、溝通及信息，以建立和平、消除貧窮、可持續性發展及跨文化對話而努力。」
4. Queensland [kwinz&l8nd] n. 昆士蘭省
澳洲面積第二大洲。昆士蘭第一大城為首府布里斯本，第二大城為觀光重鎮黃金海岸。
5. Great Barrier Reef [Gret `b8rI2 rif] 大堡礁
位於澳洲的東北海岸，為世界最大最長的珊瑚礁群。豐富的珊瑚種類與多元的自然生態每年吸引無數人前往觀光。此處亦曾被CNN選為世界自然七大奇觀。
6. Grand Canyon National Park [Gr8nd `k8nj1n `n8S1nL pArk] 大峽谷國家公園位於美國亞利桑那州的西北部，於1979年被列為世界自然遺產。由科羅拉多河歷時萬年所切鑿出的科羅拉多大峽谷聞名於世。
7. Peru
[p1`ru] n. 秘魯
在南美洲西部，前西班牙殖民地，於1821年獨立。為南美洲國家聯盟的成員國，首都是利馬。
8. Machu Picchu [&mAItSu`pitSu] n. 馬丘比丘
位於秘魯境內，海拔2000多公尺高山上，為古印加帝國的遺跡。約於西元1440年所建。
9. Inca
[`I9k1] n. 印加
印加一般指的是11～16世紀位於南美洲的古老帝國。遭西班牙人入侵而導致滅亡。當時除了西班牙人入侵之外，天花、瘟疫、流感等疾病亦加速了印加帝國的滅亡。
Translation
世界自然基金會：世界遺產因工業陷入危機
世界自然基金會（WWF）藉由公佈因人類活動而瀕危的世界遺產清單，緊急呼籲人們採取行動。列入其中的遺產，都是被聯合國教科文組織（UNESCO）認為對人類意義特別重大的。無論是「自然遺產」、「文化遺產」或「複合遺產」（同時具備自然與文化遺產條件者），世界遺產都被公認為值得特別保護，以確保其能續存以造福未來世代。而今世界自然基金會已確認有114項遺產瀕臨消失的危機。
澳大利亞最能吸引觀光客的景點，同時也是最重要的資源之一，大部分都在海底。位於昆士蘭岸外海並向外延伸2,300公里，大堡礁是世界上規模最大的活珊瑚群。此處有近1,000座島嶼，是數千種魚類、鳥類和其它生物的棲地。雖然已建立國家公園來保護此處，但珊瑚礁仍因採礦作業而遭受威脅。從礦區流出的廢水流入大海，影響水質並讓珊瑚大量死亡。更糟的是，航行遠洋的船艦數量也在增加。引擎的噪音和船艦排放的污染物讓海洋生物逐漸遷離這個礁區的自然棲地。
而在數千公里外，另一項遺產也處境艱難。大峽谷國家公園是美國最著名的自然奇觀之一，但公園的大部分地區都因長期的乾旱而受重創，而且旱象也完全不見解除的跡象。目前已有水壩興建，以收集稀少的水資源。但儘管旱情艱困，美國人還是喜歡有高爾夫球場和翠綠的草坪，車子也要洗到閃閃發亮。以當前該區珍貴的用水被用在這些非必要活動的比率來看，水資源根本就入不敷出。
在南美的珍寶也同樣不安全。秘魯著名的馬丘比丘是另一項陷入危機的世界遺產。這個15世紀的山頂聚落是由印加文明所建立，而聯合國教科文組織於1983年認定其遺跡為文化遺產，但當前的伐木業，尤其是非法盜伐的狀況，已經為這個遺產的未來蒙上了一層陰影。
那麼，該如何在進步與保育間取得平衡呢？當各國在力求經濟成長時，切記，人類若想蓬勃發展，需要的絕不只是金錢。但願世界自然基金會這次的公佈，能在還為時未晚的時候，成為一記敲醒世人的警鐘。
閱讀測驗解答：1. C
2. C 3. D 4. B 5. B
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