109.Adorable Koalas in Danger p.248

 

　　Koalas are considered an Australian national icon¹. These adorable tree-hugging animals feed on eucalyptustree leaves. The problem is on average a koala destroys 13 pounds of the leaves to eat 2 pounds a day.
Because of this, 5,000 koalas soon face starvation on Kangaroo Island in the south of Australia.
The authorities are now considering shooting them to control the island's koala population explosion.
However, animal activists⁴ suggest growing more trees. "There aren't too many koalas. There are too fewtrees." They argue. Neighboring provinces have even recommended relocating some of the koalas to them. MostAustralians feel that the authorities must do all they can to avoid killing⁵ the koalas for to do so would bea national disgrace.

 

koalas 树袋熊     eucalyptus² 桉树
adorable 可爱的     adore 疼爱
extinction⁶ 灭绝
fluffy⁷ 毛茸茸的，松松的
icon = symbol 象征    national icon
feed on 以动物为主语   live on 以人为主语      embrace = hug
on average  adv.平均而言     destructive
typhoon 台风    On average there are ten typhoons beating the Philippines.非绿宾群岛
activist³ 积极分子
neighboring = nearby
authorities 始终复数
You should do all (that) you can (do) to help them.
 

1 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

2 eucalyptus   

n.桉树，桉属植物

参考例句：

• Eucalyptus oil is good for easing muscular aches and pains.桉树油可以很好地缓解肌肉的疼痛。
• The birds rustled in the eucalyptus trees.鸟在桉树弄出沙沙的响声。

3 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

4 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

6 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。

7 fluffy   

adj.有绒毛的，空洞的

参考例句：

• Newly hatched chicks are like fluffy balls.刚孵出的小鸡像绒毛球。
• The steamed bread is very fluffy.馒头很暄。