人教全日制普通高中英语（必修）高三UNIT4-3

The study of natural history is not something to be left to biologists. In fact, their capacity¹ in terms of the time they can spend away from their offices is very limited. Even if all professors in universities and research institutes could devote all their time to the study of nature, their contribution, although important, would still be quite small. To the study of natural history the contribution of other people with an interest in nature has always been equally important.
 
       In many countries, groups of people who share an interest in nature have formed natural history clubs. They regularly get together to explore the environment near their hometown. Some people have a general interest in nature, while others try to become specialists. Therefore, large natural history societies usually have different groups to study and observe birds, plants, insects or other wildlife.
 
      Some clubs have a long history, and many started at schools with the help of a biology teacher. Natural history societies with a long history often have a good library and modern equipment to explore nature. They publish their own magazines, in which they report their observations and research. Even some nature clubs run by students aged² .between 12 and 25, are able to reach very high scientific standards. This is exactly why their contribution is so valuable. While governments, universities and research institutes only have a limited budget to do fieldwork, people whose hobby it is to study botany can devote a great deal of money and time to it.
 
      Botany is very suitable as a hobby. Besides a good Flora³, very little special equipment is needed. The most important things are a magnifying⁴ glass (at least 8x), a short ruler, a pen and a notebook. A Flora is a special book to identify plants. The Flora of the British Isles⁵, for example, is a book that describes all plants that are native to the British Isles. It is usually possible to find the name of a plant in about ten minutes, especially for people who are experienced⁶ at working with a Flora. To find the name of a plant species⁷ it is often necessary to have a close look and count the male and female⁸ organs in the flowers. To see this clearly, a magnifying glass is essential. Flowers are not always needed to identify the plant. Once the name has been found, it is important to make notes of the exact place where and the date when the plant was found.
 
      Plants grow in communities, and plant sociology⁹ is the branch of botany that studies this phenomenon. By making a careful analysis of the plant growth in a square metre, it is possible to find out what type of plant community occupies the land. Some plant communities are made up of very common plant species. Others may contain very special, endangered plant species. Knowing more about nature will help us realise which parts of our environment deserve¹⁰ our protection.
 
      It is not necessary for you to live in the countryside to take an active interest in botany. Any environment, whether urban or rural¹¹, offers a variety of different habitats, in which plants can be studied. Nature often has to put up a fierce struggle to survive in the city. Still, every city contains natural habitats, in which wild plants have found their home. To study, describe and protect them makes an important contribution to science and an effort to care for the environment.

1 capacity   

n.能力，力量，接受力；容量，能量，容积

参考例句：

• She is employed by the president in an advisory capacity.她被总裁聘为顾问。
• This carriage has a seating capacity of 120 people.这节车厢定员120人。

2 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

3 flora   

n.(某一地区的)植物群

参考例句：

• The subtropical island has a remarkably rich native flora.这个亚热带岛屿有相当丰富的乡土植物种类。
• All flora need water and light.一切草木都需要水和阳光。

4 magnifying   

放大的

参考例句：

• Fame is a magnifying-glass. 名誉是放大镜。
• It is unusual for people to press their differences by magnifying them. 对人们来说，以夸大差异的方式强调差异是不正常的。

5 isles   

岛( isle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the geology of the British Isles 不列颠群岛的地质
• The boat left for the isles. 小船驶向那些小岛。

6 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

7 species   

n.物种，种群

参考例句：

• Are we the only thinking species in the whole of creation?我们是万物中惟一有思想的物种吗？
• This species of bird now exists only in Africa.这种鸟现在只存在于非洲。

8 female   

adj.雌的，女(性)的；n.雌性的动物，女子

参考例句：

• We only employ female workers.我们只雇用女工。
• The animal in the picture was a female elephant.照片上的动物是头母象。

9 sociology   

n.社会学，社会关系学，群落生态学

参考例句：

• He is studying sociology.他正研究社会学。
• A pioneer of legal sociology in Germany was Max Weber.德国法律社会学的先驱是马克斯·韦伯。

10 deserve   

vt.应受，值得；vi. 应受报答，值得受赏

参考例句：

• You really deserve a good beating,you naughty boy.你这个调皮孩子真该打。
• I do not deserve all the praises bestowed upon me.我不配得到这些赞扬。

11 rural   

adj.乡下的，田园的，乡村风味的

参考例句：

• He lived a rural life.他过着田园生活。
• We left the city for a rural home.我们离开城市，去农村安家。