VOA慢速英语2016 美国最新国家级哺乳动物：美洲野牛

AS IT IS 2016-04-30 Bison: America's New National Mammal? 美国最新国家级哺乳动物：美洲野牛

This is What’s Trending Today….

以下是今日新鲜事。

The bald eagle is the only “national” animal of the United States.

秃鹰是美国唯一的"国家级"动物。

But that could soon change.

但是这点很快就会改变。

The U.S. government may soon recognize the bison as the national mammal.

美国政府很快就会承认北美野牛为国家哺乳动物。

This week, both houses of Congress approved a bill called the “National Bison Legacy¹ Act.” The bill would officially recognize the wild animal as the national mammal.

本周，国会两院均批准了法案《国家野牛遗产法案》（National Bison Legacy Act）。该法案正式认可此种野生动物为国家哺乳动物。

The measure now goes to President Barack Obama.If he signs the bill, it becomes a law.

该法案现已交由总统奥巴马定夺。如果总统签署了该法案，那么该法案即成为法律开始生效。

Bison, also called buffalo², are the largest land animals in North America. They are hairy and have a big head and short horns.

北美野牛又称为水牛，是北美洲最大的陆栖动物。北美野牛多毛头大，并长有较短的犄角。

U.S. lawmakers called the bison a sign of American strength.

美国立法人员将北美野牛称作是美国力量的标志。

Senator³ Martin Heinrich of New Mexico spoke⁴ in support of the bill.He said that “recognition⁵ of our new national mammal will bring a new source of pride for Americans -- just like the bald eagle” and bring greater attention to protecting the species⁶.Many years ago, bison were almost extinct⁷ in North America.

美国新墨西哥州的参议员Martin Heinrich表示支持该法案。他表示，如秃鹰一样，承认美国最新国家级哺乳动物能够为美国人民带来新的自豪感，也能引起大家注意保护该物种。多年以前，北美野牛几乎在北美洲灭绝了。

On social media, many people expressed support for the move. They also praised Republican⁸ and Democratic lawmakers for being able to agree on something.

很多人都在社交媒体上表示支持此举。他们还表扬了共和党和民主党能够在这件事情上达成一致意见。

But, one reporter joked on social media that choosing the bison as the national mammal was “bad news for humans.”Human beings, of course, are also mammals.

但一名记者在社交媒体上戏谑道，将北美野牛评为国家级哺乳动物对人类来说是个坏消息。因为人类也是哺乳动物。

Bison already appear on the state flags of Kansas and Wyoming.Bison are also on the official seal of the U.S. Department of the Interior⁹.

北美野牛已经出现在了堪萨斯州和怀俄明州的州旗上。北美野牛图像也出现在美国内政部公章上。

Tens of millions of bison once lived throughout an area stretching from central Canada south through the Great Plains and northern Mexico.

从加拿大中部向南到北美大平原和墨西哥北部的广阔领域里曾生活着数以万计的北美野牛。

After many years of hunting, the population fell to about one thousand or fewer by the late 1800s.Now, there are about 30,000 wild bison. The largest population lives in Yellowstone National Park.

但由于多年狩猎，到19世纪末，野牛数量已经降低至1000只甚至更少。目前，约有30，000只北美野牛。黄石国家公园中的北美野牛数量最多。

Efforts to give the bison special recognition began about five years ago.Native Americans on the InterTribal Buffalo Council joined with wildlife groups to create a “National Bison Day.”

人们在5年前就已经开始努力，希望给予非洲野牛特别的关注了。部族间野牛理事会（InterTribal Buffalo Council）的美国原住民和一些野生动物组织共同制定了"国际野牛日"。

The observance recognizes the importance of the animal’s role in providing food, shelter, and clothing for many Native Americans before European settlement.

欧洲在此殖民之前，北美野牛为美国原住民提供的食物、庇护所以及衣物方面非常重要，该仪式对其重要性表示认可。

National Bison Day is held on the first Saturday in November.

国际野牛日为11月第一个星期六。

Words in This Story

mammal - n. a type of animal that feeds milk to its young and that usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin?

species - n. a group of animals that are similar and can produce young animals 

extinct - adj. no longer existing

seal - n. an official mark that is stamped on paper or on a small piece of wax to show that something (such as a document) is genuine and has been officially approved

role - n. the part that someone or something has in a family, society, or other group

1 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

2 buffalo   

n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛

参考例句：

• Asian buffalo isn't as wild as that of America's. 亚洲水牛比美洲水牛温顺些。
• The boots are made of buffalo hide. 这双靴子是由水牛皮制成的。

3 senator   

n.参议员，评议员

参考例句：

• The senator urged against the adoption of the measure.那参议员极力反对采取这项措施。
• The senator's speech hit at government spending.参议员的讲话批评了政府的开支。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 recognition   

n.承认，认可，认出，认识

参考例句：

• The place has changed beyond recognition.这地方变得认不出来了。
• A sudden smile of recognition flashed across his face.他脸上掠过一丝笑意，表示认识对方。

6 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。

7 extinct   

adj.灭绝的，不再活跃的，熄灭了的，已废弃的

参考例句：

• All hopes were extinct.所有希望都破灭了。
• Dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years.恐龙绝种已有几百万年了。

8 republican   

n.拥护共和政体的人； adj.共和政体的，（Republican）共和党人，（Republican）共和党的

参考例句：

• Some families have been republican for generations.有些家庭世代都支持共和党。
• A third candidate has entered the contest for the Republican nomination.第三个候选人已经加入角逐共和党提名的行列。

9 interior   

adj.在内的，内部的，内地的，国内的；n.内部

参考例句：

• There is water in the interior of the cave.在山洞的内部有水。
• They went into the interior room.他们进了内室。