Nearly 60% of the Earth’s Vertebrate Wildlife Has Been Lost by Jason Grenier, special correspondent According to a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report, the past decades have been a disaster for wildlife. It indicates that many species have seen population decline or have gone extinct. In fact, nearly 60% of the Earth’s vertebrate wildlife disappeared between 1970 and 2014. Even more alarming, the WWF warns that this trend shows no sign of slowing down. Unsurprisingly, human activities are the primary cause of animals’ disappearing. Hunting involves killing huge numbers of animals worldwide, either for food or for money. Although trade in endangered animal parts, like elephant ivory and rhinoceros horns, is forbidden by law, illegal markets will continue as long as the demand for such products exists. Rapid human population growth drives endless demand for usable land. Clearing forests to make room for expanding cities and roads means laying waste to natural habitats of birds, mammals, and reptiles. Deprived of space to feed and breed, species that are unable to adapt to changing environmental conditions are doomed. Seas, along with many lakes and rivers, are choked with pollution, including plastic, chemicals, and untreated waste from human settlements. Combined with rising water temperatures, this creates conditions that are no longer suitable for many aquatic species. Among those that can survive, many populations are declining fast due to commercial fishing. The situation is grim, but there is still hope. Conservation efforts have succeeded in saving numerous endangered species, like pandas, from the brink of vanishing altogether. Even so, humans must rethink our priorities and patterns of consumption to sustain the environment. Download Scan to download the full-color PDF and translation. This month in history On December 26, 2004, a tsunami hit the shorelines of countries including Indonesia and Sri Lanka, killing an estimated 2.3 hundred thousand people. Like us on @SanminEnglishEditor Thursday, December 20, 2018 vol. 288 復北店:臺北市 10476 復興北路 386 號 電話:(02)2500-6600 傳真:(02)2506-4000 重南店:臺北市 10045 重慶南路 1 段 61 號 電話:(02)2361-7511 傳真:(02)2361-3355 Sanmin News Messenger
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Nearly 60% of the Earth’s
Vertebrate Wildlife Has Been Lost by Jason Grenier, special correspondent
According to a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report, the past decades have been a
disaster for wildlife. It indicates that many species have seen population decline or have gone
extinct. In fact, nearly 60% of the Earth’s vertebrate wildlife disappeared between 1970 and
2014. Even more alarming, the WWF warns that this trend shows no sign of slowing down.
Unsurprisingly, human activities are the primary cause of animals’ disappearing. Hunting
involves killing huge numbers of animals worldwide, either for food or for money. Although
trade in endangered animal parts, like elephant ivory and rhinoceros horns, is forbidden by
law, illegal markets will continue as long as the demand for such products exists.
Rapid human population growth drives endless demand for usable land. Clearing forests
to make room for expanding cities and roads means laying waste to natural habitats of
birds, mammals, and reptiles. Deprived of space to feed and breed, species that are unable
to adapt to changing environmental conditions are doomed.
Seas, along with many lakes and rivers, are choked with pollution, including plastic,
chemicals, and untreated waste from human settlements. Combined with rising water
temperatures, this creates conditions that are no longer suitable
for many aquatic species. Among those that can survive, many
populations are declining fast due to commercial fishing.
The situation is grim, but there is still hope. Conservation
efforts have succeeded in saving numerous endangered species,
like pandas, from the brink of vanishing altogether. Even so,
humans must rethink our priorities and patterns of
consumption to sustain the environment.
Download
Scan to download
the full-color PDF
and translation.
This month in history
On December 26, 2004, a tsunami hit the shorelines of
countries including Indonesia and Sri Lanka, killing an
estimated 2.3 hundred thousand people.
Like us on
@SanminEnglishEditor
Thursday, December 20, 2018 vol. 288
復北店:臺北市 10476 復興北路 386 號
電話:(02)2500-6600 傳真:(02)2506-4000
重南店:臺北市 10045 重慶南路 1 段 61 號
電話:(02)2361-7511 傳真:(02)2361-3355
Sanmin News Messenger
Reading Comprehension
( ) 1. What’s the main point of this passage? (main idea)
(A) Pollution such as plastic, chemicals, and untreated waste from human settlements is harmful.
(B) Humans should stop hunting and fishing so as to slow down the decline in animal populations.
(C) We should rethink our priorities and consumption patterns to save endangered species and
sustain the environment.
(D) Thanks to conservation efforts, many endangered species have been pulled back from the brink
of vanishing altogether.
( ) 2. Which of the following animals is NOT mentioned in the passage? (supporting details)