世界节假日博览 第72期:动物园关注日

 Zoo Awareness¹ Day (ZAD) is a day on which people question the place and value of zoos in the twenty-first century. It is organized by the Captive Animals'Protection Society (CAPS), which says zoos are mainly for tourism rather than protecting animals. CAPS says that even though many zoos promote themselves as places of education, conservation and research, they are really just a tourist attraction. ZAD is to make people aware that animals in zoos suffer from physical and psychological problems because they are in cages. CAPS says the “protection of natural habitats is the only way to prevent further species decline”. The organization says people today can learn about animals from the Internet and by looking at high definition TV.

在动物园关注日，人们会对21世纪动物园的生存价值展开讨论。该节日由“圈养动物保护协会”发起，称动物园的主要功能是服务旅游业，而不是保护动物。该机构表示称，即使许多动物园声称动物园是集教育、保护与研究为一体，但它就是一个旅游场所。该节日希望提高人们对动物的保护意识，它们被囚禁在牢笼里，遭受着身体和心灵的迫害。“圈养动物保护协会”称，保护自然栖息地是减少物种数量的唯一办法。该组织认为，人们可以通过上网，观看高清电视了解动物。

So what do people do on Zoo Awareness Day? CAPS hopes you are concerned enough about animal rights to join different campaigns. Suggestions include holding peaceful protests outside zoos, writing letters to newspapers and setting up information stalls to tell people that animals belong in the wild. CAPS says: “We don’t need zoos anymore. Keeping these beautiful creatures caged up and bored to tears for our sake is just plain wrong.” What do you think of zoos? Are they necessary in this day and age? Everybody agrees that we should protect animals and ensure their survival, but do zoos actually help this? Maybe some of the world's zoos do play a role in conservation and education, but there are others in which animals do suffer.

人们会在这一天举办什么活动？“圈养动物保护协会”认为，我们对动物权益的关注已经够多了，不再需要参加其它团体组织。活动包括在动物园外举行和平示威活动，向媒体写信，建立信息台，告诉人们动物应该回归大自然。“圈养动物保护协会”称：“我们不需要动物园。将美丽生物困于牢中，百无聊赖，这真的是大错特错。”你认为的动物园是什么？在当今世界，动物园是否还有存在的价值？所有人都认为我们应该保护动物，维持它们的生存，但动物园真的做到这些了吗？或许有些动物园真的在保护和教育方面起到了作用，但仍有许多动物园动物正在遭受着痛苦。

1.suffer from 遭受

例句：How long have you been suffering from a headache?

你头痛有多久了?

2.natural habitat 自然栖息地

例句：As I watched through my binoculars², I reflected that it was strange finally to see these celebrated³ animals in their natural habitat.

当我用望远镜观察时，我想在它们的自然栖息地，我终于看见了这种著名的动物，有点奇怪的感觉。

3.tourist attraction 旅游景点

例句：The erstwhile symbol of Soviet⁴ power and the communist congress hall is now a top concert venue⁵ and unique tourist attraction. Take the elevator to the top for spectacular views over the metropolis⁶.

昔日苏维埃政权和共产党的国会大厦现在是顶级的音乐厅，也是一个特别的旅游景点，可以乘电梯到达塔顶去俯瞰大都会的美景。

4.set up 建立

例句：He set up an organization

他建立了一个组织。

1 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

2 binoculars   

n.双筒望远镜

参考例句：

• He watched the play through his binoculars.他用双筒望远镜看戏。
• If I had binoculars,I could see that comet clearly.如果我有望远镜，我就可以清楚地看见那颗彗星。

3 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

4 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

5 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

6 metropolis   

n.首府；大城市

参考例句：

• Shanghai is a metropolis in China.上海是中国的大都市。
• He was dazzled by the gaiety and splendour of the metropolis.大都市的花花世界使他感到眼花缭乱。