精讀外刊：受到威脅的蝦只

Italy』s drying lakes imperil rare shrimp species found only here

AN ANCIENT shrimp found only in a single small lake tucked away in the mountains of central Italy could soon disappear, as a combined result of climate change and an earthquake that hit the area last year.

Word ＆ Expression

1. Imperil

• V-T?Something that imperils you puts you in danger. 危及
• You imperilled the lives of other road users by your driving.

你的駕駛危及了其他道路使用者的生命。

2. Shrimp

• N-COUNT?Shrimps are small shellfish with long tails and many legs. 小蝦
• I also got a microcope set and watched shrimp grow and things like that.

我還得到過一個顯微鏡，觀察小蝦的成長和這些類似的事情。

• 片語：shrimp paste蝦醬

義大利乾燥的湖泊危及到了這裡僅存的珍稀蝦類。

在義大利中部山區的一個小湖泊中發現一種古老的蝦只，由於氣候變化和去年襲擊該地區的地震，它可能很快就會消失。

The fairy shrimp has evolved from a species native to the Himalayan region. Its ancestors are thought to have reached the Apennine range in Italy during the last ice age, after their eggs latched onto the feet of migratory birds.

Word ＆ Expression

1. Evolve

• V-I?When animals or plants evolve, they gradually change and develop into different forms. 進化
• Birds are widely believed to have evolved from dinosaurs.

鳥類普遍被認為是從恐龍進化而來的。

• V.?If something evolves or you evolve it, it gradually develops over a period of time into something different and usually more advanced. 使…逐步發展; 逐步發展
• Popular music evolved from folk songs.

流行音樂由民歌演變而來。

• 片語：evolve into vt. 發展成

evolve from v. 由…進化

2. Latch

• N-COUNT?A latch is a fastening on a door or gate. It consists of a metal bar which you lift in order to open the door. 門閂
• You left the latch off the gate and the dog escaped.

你沒插門閂，狗跑了。

• N-COUNT?A latch is a lock on a door which locks automatically when you shut the door, so that you need a key in order to open it from the outside. 彈簧鎖
• ...a key clicked in the latch of the front door.

…鑰匙在前門的彈簧鎖里發出咔噠的聲響。

• 片語：latch on佔有

on the latch關著但不上鎖

3. Migratory birds

• 候鳥
• There are strong indications that the virus is being spread along the flyways of migratory birds.（virus n. 病毒）

有很明顯的跡象表明，病毒是沿著候鳥遷徙的路線傳播的。

「小蝦」是由一個土生土長的物種進化而來的。在上個冰河世紀，他們的祖先被認為已經到達了義大利的亞平寧山脈，因為他們的卵被拴在候鳥的腳上。

句子精講

Its ancestors are thought to have reached the Apennine range in Italy during the last ice age

during的用法

during，for 介詞for引導時間狀語時，很易和during混淆不清。 它們的區別如下：

（一）during用在已知的時期、節日或表示時間觀念的名詞之前，其後通常接the、this、that、these、those、my、your、his??等詞。

例： during the last four days

during the winter

during that time

during my holidays

（二）during的涵義是「當??之際」，它既可指某個動作在某個時期里連續不斷地進行，也可以指某個動作在這段時期里的某個時間發生。

如： He was sick for a week and during that week he was placed in an infirmary．

他病了一個星期，在這個星期里，他住在護養院。

It snowed all day but stopped snowing during that night．

下了一整天雪，到晚上才停了。

「Over the millennia, the shrimp has adapted to the specific environment of Lake Pilato,」 says Maria Gaetana Barelli of the Sibillini Park authority, which helps look after part of the Central Apennines. The species is unique among freshwater shrimp in the area for its Asian origins.

Word ＆ Expression

1. Authority

• N-PLURAL?The authorities are the people who have the power to make decisions and to make sure that laws are obeyed. 當局
• This provided a pretext for the authorities to cancel the elections.（ pretext n. 借口）

這給當局提供了一個取消選舉的借口。

• N-COUNT?An authority is an official organization or government department that has the power to make decisions. 官方機構
• ...the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

…費城停車管理局。

• 片語：tax authority稅務機關

「在過去的幾千年里，蝦已經適應了普拉托湖的特定環境，」西比里尼公園管理局的瑪利亞說，他幫忙照顧了中部亞平寧山脈的一部分。這一物種在亞洲地區的淡水蝦中是獨特的。

句子精講

says Maria Gaetana Barelli of the Sibillini Park authority, which helps look after part of the Central Apennines.

① which指代主句中的名詞，被指代的名詞包括表示物、嬰兒或動物的名詞、表示單數意義的集體名詞以及表示職業、品格等的名詞。

如：These apple trees，which I planted three years ago，have not borne any fruit.

這些蘋果樹是我三年前栽的，還沒有結過果實。

She is an artist，which I am not.

她是一位藝術家，而我不是。

② which指代主句中的形容詞。

如：She was very patient towards the children，which her husband seldom was.

她對孩子們很耐心，她丈夫卻很少這樣。

She is always careless，which we should not be.

她總是馬虎大意，我們可不應該這樣。

③ which指代主句中的某個從句。

如：He said that he had never seen her before，which was not true.

他說以前從沒見過她，這不是真的。

④ which指代整個主句。

如：In the presence of so many people he was little tense, which was understandable.

在那麼多人面前他有點緊張，這是可以理解的。

He may have acute appendicitis，in which case he will have to be operated on.

他可能得了急性盲腸炎，如果是這樣，他就得動手術。

Barelli is concerned that the crustacean may go extinct if the small lake it inhabits undergoes significant environmental changes. Last year, the region experienced a major earthquake that affected the groundwater system. 「The water levels in the basin are abnormally low this year,」 says Alessandro Rossetti of the Sibillini Park authority. Depending on the nature of the damage, the lake might ultimately dry out.

Word ＆ Expression

1. Inhabit

• V-T?If a place or region is inhabited by a group of people or a species of animal, those people or animals live there. 居住於
• The valley is inhabited by the Dani tribe.

這個山谷里居住著丹尼部落。

• 片語：inhabit form 居住形態

2. Basin

• N-COUNT?A basin is a large or deep bowl that you use for holding liquids. 盆
• Water dripped into a basin at the back of the room.

水滴入房間後面的一個盆里。

• N-COUNT?In geography, a basin is a particular region of the world where the Earths surface is lower than in other places. 盆地
• ...countries around the Pacific Basin.

…太平洋盆地周圍的國家。

• N-COUNT?The basin of a large river is the area of land around it from which streams run down into it. 流域
• ...the Amazon basin.

…亞馬孫流域

• 片語：river basin流域

2. Dry out

• 變干
• If the soil is allowed to dry out the tree could die.

如果讓土壤干硬，樹就會死掉。

巴雷利擔心，如果小湖的棲息環境發生了重大的變化，那麼這種動物可能會滅絕。去年，該地區經歷了一次嚴重的地震，影響了地下水系統。「今年，盆地的水位異常低，」西比里尼公園管理局的亞歷山大羅塞蒂說。鑒於自然的破壞，湖泊最終可能會幹涸。

句子精講

arelli is concerned that the crustacean may go extinct if the small lake it inhabits undergoes significant environmental changes.

if作為連詞,引導條件狀語從句,它表示的意思是「假如」「如果」等.在複合句中如果主句用將來時,則if引導的狀語從句用一般現在時.例如：

If itdoesn』train,we will go to the park next Sunday.

如果天不下雨,下周星期天我們將去公園.

二、if還可以引導讓步狀語從句.這時if當作「即使是」,「雖說」例如：

If she』s poor,at least she』s honest．

雖說她很窮,但至少她還是誠實的.

If I am wrong,you are wrong,too．

即使說我錯了,那麼你也不對.

if作為連詞還可以引導賓語從句.引導賓語從句時和whether意思相同.例如：

Lily asked if ／ whether she liked it.

莉莉問她是否喜歡它.

She asked if ／ whether they had a cotton one．

她問是否他們有一件棉織的.

四、if引導時間狀語從句,當if做「當」或「無論何時」解而不含有條件之義時,if從句中的時態與主句中的時態相同.例如：

If youmix yellow and blue,you get green．

你將黃色與藍色混合,便會得到綠色.

If she wants the servant,she rings the bell．

每當她需要僕人時,她便按鈴.

五、if後接否定動詞,用於感嘆句中,表示沮喪、驚奇等.例如：

Well,if I haven』t left my false teeth at home!

真倒霉,我把假牙丟在家裡了!

And if he didn』t try to knock me down!(What do you think he did!He tried knock me down!)

你猜他想做什麼?他想把我撞倒!

六、用於虛擬語氣中,if從句中用過去式,表示不可能實現,大概不會實現或提出作為考慮的假定條件.例如：

If you were a bird,you could fly.

假使你是只鳥,你便會飛了.

If I asked him(if I were to ask him) for a loan,would he agree?

如果我向他借貸,他會答應嗎?

另外,if從句中用過去完成式,表示過去未實現的條件(例如由於不可能實現或某人之未能實行).例如：

If they had started earlier,they would have arrived in time．

要是他們早些動身,他們便可及時到達了.

If they had not started when they did,they would not be here now．

如果他們那時不動身,現在他們就不會在此地了.

The shrimp can survive long dry spells because it buries its eggs under the lake bed, where they can remain intact for more than a year until conditions are right to hatch. Even so, Barelli is worried. 「My concern is that this year, because the water is already so low, the individuals present in the lake might not have the time to mature sexually and lay their eggs before the basin dries out.」

Word ＆ Expression

1. Dry spells

乾旱期

• While lingering dry spells cripple some parts of the country, heavy downpours have inundated others.（inundatev. 泛濫）

在持續乾旱期嚴重破壞我國一些地區的同時，傾盆大雨使其它地區洪水泛濫。

2. Intact

• ADJ?Something that is intact is complete and has not been damaged or changed. 完整無缺的
• Customs men put dynamite in the water to destroy the cargo, but most of it was left intact.

海關人員把炸藥放入水中以摧毀貨物，但大部分貨物卻完好無損。

• 片語：intact rock完整岩石

keep intact保持原貌

蝦可以在長時間的乾旱期存活，因為它會在湖床下產卵，在那裡它們可以保持完整一年以上，直到有條件適合孵化。即便如此，巴雷利也很擔心。「我擔心的是，今年，因為水已經很低了，在湖上的蝦卵可能沒有時間成熟以及在盆乾涸前產卵。」

句子精講

My concern is that this year, because the water is already so low

because, as, for, since 的用法

一、because, as, for, since這幾個詞都是表示「原因」的連詞，語氣由強至弱依次為：because→since→as→for;其中because, since, as均為從屬連詞，引導原因狀語從句；而for 是並列連詞，引導並列句。

1. because表示直接原因，它所指的原因通常是聽話人所不知道的，其語氣最強。常用來回答why的提問，一般放於主句之後，也可以單獨存在。例如：

(1)I stayed at home because it rained.

因為下雨我呆在家裡。

Because Lingling was ill, she didn』t come to school.

玲玲因病，沒有上學。

2. since側重主句，從句表示顯然的或已為人所知的理由，常譯為「因為」、「既然」，語氣比because稍弱，通常置於句首，表示一種含有勉強語氣的原因。例如：

(1)Since he asks you, you』ll tell him why.

他既然問你，那就告訴他為什麼吧。

Since everyone is here, let』s start.

既然大家都到齊了，我們就出發吧！

3. as是常用詞，它表示的「原因」是雙方已知的事實或顯而易見的原因，或者理由不是很重要，含義與since相同，但語氣更弱，沒有since正式，常譯為「由於，鑒於」。從句說明原因，主句說明結果，主從並重。例如：

(1)We all like her as she is kind.

我們都喜歡她，因為她善良。

As I had a cold, I was absent from school.

因為我感冒了，所以沒去上課。

4. for用作連詞時，與because相似，但它所表示的原因往往提供上文未交待過的情況。for不表示直接原因，表明附加或推斷的理由，因此for被看作等立連詞，它所引導的分句只能放在句子後部(或單獨成為一個句子)，並且前後兩個分句間的邏輯關係不一定是因果關係，其間用逗號隔開，且for不可置於句首，for的這一用法常用在書面語中，較正式。例如：

(1)The days are short, for it is now December.

白天短了，因為現在已是十二月份。

It must have rained, for the ground is wet.

(從「地面潮濕」作出「下過雨」的推測，但地濕並不一定是下雨所致, for不可以換為because。)

(3)The ground is wet because it has rained. (「下雨」是「地上潮濕」的直接原因。)

前後兩個分句間有一定的因果關係時(有時很難區分是直接原因，還是推測性原因)，for與because可以互換使用。例如：

I could not go, for / because I was ill.

我沒能去，是因為我病了。

He felt no fear, for / because he was a brave boy.

他沒有害怕，因為他是個勇敢的男孩

The shrimp isn』t the only species under threat. In a valley not far from Lake Pilato, another shrimp, Chirocephalus sibyllae, depends on the regular seasonal cycle of a pond it inhabits. Again, its survival is tied to water availability when it matures and lays eggs.

Word ＆ Expression

1. Pond

• N-COUNT?A pond is a small area of water that is smaller than a lake. Ponds are often made artificially. 池塘
• She chose a bench beside the duck pond and sat down.

她選了鴨池旁的一張長椅坐了下來。

• N-SING?People sometimes refer to the Atlantic Ocean as the pond. 大西洋
• Tourist numbers from across the pond have dropped dramatically.

來自大西洋彼岸的遊客數量已急劇減少。

• 片語：fish pond魚塘

2. Mature

• V-I?When a child or young animal matures, it becomes an adult. (小孩、幼崽) 發育成熟
• You will learn what to expect as your child matures physically.

當你的孩子身體發育成熟時，你將知道會發生什麼。

• V-I?If someone matures, they become more fully developed in their personality and emotional behaviour. 成熟
• They have matured way beyond their age.

他們已經成熟得遠遠超過了他們的年齡。

• 片語：mature stage成熟期

這類蝦只並不是唯一受到威脅的物種。在距普拉托湖不遠的一個山谷里，另一種蝦，依賴於它所棲息的一個池塘的常規季節周期。同樣，當它成熟併產卵時，它的生存與水的可用性有關。

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