英语听力：自然百科 北极海冰融化 海象上岸

 Extreme ice melting led to thousands of walruses¹ making an unusual gathering² on the barrier island in Alaska. Biologists with the U.S. geological survey say the situation can be very dangerous, because walruses are easily startled and can't stampede.

 

Some walruses particularly calves³ and juveniles⁴ can get crushed to death by larger walruses moving about. This aerial video recorded for the USGS was taken from an altitude of 4000 feet near Point Lay, Alaska. Because aircraft could prompt stampede, there is no fly zone. The U.S. fishing wildlife service asks aircraft to maintain a lateral⁵ distance of a half mile and a minimum altitude of 1500 feet

 

Walruses forage⁶ on the sea floor and unusually use sea ice as a resting platform between feedings. This is the first time tens of thousands of walruses have been seen crowded to gather here. Those similar sightings have been recorded in Russia and another area of northwestern Alaska in years past. 

 

The WWF says arctic sea ice is at the third lowest level in recorded history. USGS is conducting more research to better understand the effects of the walruses haul-out and other changes relate to climate change and sea ice melt.

1 walruses   

n.海象( walrus的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Walruses have enormous appetites and hunt for food almost constantly. 海象食欲极大，几乎一直在猎取食物。 来自互联网
• Two Atlantic walruses snuggle on an ice floe near Igloolik, Nunavut, Canada. 加拿大努勒维特伊格卢利克附近，两头大西洋海象在浮冰上相互偎依。 来自互联网

2 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

3 calves   

n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解

参考例句：

• a cow suckling her calves 给小牛吃奶的母牛
• The calves are grazed intensively during their first season. 小牛在生长的第一季里集中喂养。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 juveniles   

n.青少年( juvenile的名词复数 )；扮演少年角色的演员；未成年人

参考例句：

• Do you think that punishment for violent crimes should be the same for juveniles and adults? 你对暴力犯罪的惩罚对于青少年和成人应一样吗？ 来自生活英语口语25天快训
• Juveniles Should we not exactly in need of such strength and conviction? 少年的我们难道不正是需要这种力量和信念吗？ 来自互联网

5 lateral   

adj.侧面的，旁边的

参考例句：

• An airfoil that controls lateral motion.能够控制横向飞行的机翼。
• Mr.Dawson walked into the court from a lateral door.道森先生从一个侧面的门走进法庭。

6 forage   

n.(牛马的)饲料，粮草；v.搜寻，翻寻

参考例句：

• They were forced to forage for clothing and fuel.他们不得不去寻找衣服和燃料。
• Now the nutritive value of the forage is reduced.此时牧草的营养价值也下降了。