VOA慢速英语2015 大堡礁遭遇前所未有的污染

Great Barrier Reef Choking on Pollutants 大堡礁遭遇前所未有的污染

Attempts to protect the Great Barrier Reef are failing. A report released Monday by the government in Australia says water quality in the Great Barrier Reef is far below what it should be.

保护大堡礁的努力失败了。澳大利亚政府周一发布的一份报告称，大堡礁的水质远远低于其应有水平。

The report assessed the condition of the reef between 2009 and 2014. It showed that pesticide 1 and pollution have decreased, but not enough to reach environmental targets.

该报告评估了大堡礁2009年到2014年期间的状况。报告显示农药和污染已经有所减少，但是尚未达到环保目标。

Sediment 2 and chemicals can weaken coral, hurting its ability to feed and grow. Coral are live animals that take root in the ocean floor, but they are not plants. Reefs are the hard skeletons left at the bottom of the sea by small marine 3 creatures called polyps. The polyps then form the larger structure of a reef.

泥沙和化学品会削弱珊瑚，损害其供给和生长的能力。珊瑚是扎根于海洋底部的活的动物，但是它们不是植物。礁石是珊瑚虫这种小型海洋生物留在海底的坚硬骨架。这些珊瑚虫随之形成了更大的珊瑚礁。

Corals also are some of the most diverse ecosystems 4 on the entire planet. They can make a home for invertebrates 5, crustaceans 7, fish, and sea snakes to name a few.

珊瑚也是地球上某些最多样化的生态系统。它们可以为无脊椎动物、甲壳类动物、鱼以及海蛇等提供栖息之地。

Steve Miles is Queensland's environment minister. He says the research shows the reef needs more protection.

史蒂夫·麦尔斯（Steve Miles）是昆士兰州的环境部长。他说，该研究表明珊瑚礁需要得到更多保护。

"Over that five-year period, we did see some progress towards our targets. Sediment is down 12 percent and pesticides 8 loads are down 30 percent. But what is most disturbing is these results are far from our targets. Progress towards these targets flat-lined in the period 2013-2014. If one of my kids came home with a report card like this, I would be a bit disappointed. There is more bad news here than good news."

他说，“在这五年期间，我们朝着目标取得了一些进展。泥沙下降了12%，农药下降了30%。但是令人不安的是，取得的这些成绩离我们的目标尚远。2013年到2014年期间几乎没有取得进展。如果我的孩子拿着这样的成绩单回家，我肯定会有一点失望。这更趋近于是一个坏消息。”

The report also found that fewer than one-third of Queensland's sugar plantations 9 used techniques to reduce the use of pesticides.

该报告还发现，昆士兰州只有不到三分之一的甘蔗种植园采用了科学技术来降低农药的使用。

Only 28 percent of land managers -- known as graziers -- managed their land properly. They had reduced harmful water runoff to safeguard the health of the reef. The official target is a 90 percent reduction in pesticide use within three years.

只有28%的农场主正确地管理了他们的土地。他们减少了有害水径流来维护珊瑚的健康状况。官方目标是在三年内将农药使用降低90%。

Farmers' say they are going to use more sustainable practices as soon as possible.

农民们表示，他们将会尽快采用更加可持续性的做法。

Words in This Story

assess– v. to make judgment 10 of something

pesticide – n. a chemical that is used to kill animals or insects that damage plants or crops

pollution – n. substances that make land, water, air, etc., dirty and not safe or suitable to use

environmental - n. the conditions and influences that affect the growth, health, progress of someone or something

sediment – n. material (such as stones and sand) that is carried into water by water, wind, etc.

chemical –n. a substance (such as an element or compound) that is made by a chemical process

invertebrates – n. a type of animal that does not have a backbone 11

crustacean 6 – n. a type of animal (such as a crab 12 or lobster) that has several pairs of legs and a body made up of sections that are covered in a hard outer shell

graziers– n. a person who manages land or cattle

runoff –n. water that flows over the surface of the ground into streams

safeguard –v. to protect someone or something