如果气候如预期变暖，到2100 年，南极帝企鹅将面临真正的困难。专家说，这些鸟在海冰上养育它们的后代，所以如果它们赖以生存的这个 “平台” 像气候模型所预测的那样大幅消融，帝企鹅的数量则很有可能急剧减少。

文字稿

Emperors are the biggest of the penguins, and in many ways the most resilient. They breed right in the middle of the ferocious Antarctic winter, but their need for nine months of stable sea-ice on which to bring up their young means they face an uncertain future.

帝企鹅是企鹅中体型最大的，在很多方面，适应能力也是最强的。它们在南极地区凶险的严冬时节繁殖，但它们需要九个月稳固的海冰来养育幼鸟，这意味着帝企鹅的前途未卜。

Climate models project large sea ice losses, and with them, perhaps, a 50% reduction in the Emperor population by 2100. Scientists who study the birds believe it's time their particular vulnerability was formally recognised, and they want to see measures taken to ease other pressures faced by Emperors, such as the fishing activities that impinge on their food supply.

气候模型预测海冰会大量减少，帝企鹅的数量可能会在 2100 年前随之减少一半。研究该鸟类的科学家们认为，现应严肃认识到这一特定物种的脆弱性，他们也希望能看到人们采取措施，以缓解帝企鹅所面临的其它压力，比如影响它们食物供应的捕鱼活动。

The scientists are pressing the International Union for Conservation of Nature to lift Emperors higher up on its list of Earth's endangered species.

科学家们敦促世界自然保护联盟在地球濒危物种名单中把帝企鹅所处的位置提高。

词汇

resilient 适应能力强的
ferocious （环境条件）凶险的，恶劣的
stable 稳固的
project 预计，预测
vulnerability 脆弱性
measures 措施
impinge on 妨碍，起负面影响

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题 。

1. When do Emperor penguins tend to breed?

2. How is climate change predicted to affect the numbers of Emperor penguins?

3. True or false? Scientists want to measure the Emperor penguins to see how much fish they eat.

4. Where do scientists want Emperor penguins to be on the endangered species list?

答案

1. When do Emperor penguins tend to breed?
They breed right in the middle of the ferocious Antarctic winter.

2. How is climate change predicted to affect the numbers of Emperor penguins?
Climate models project large sea ice losses, and it is on this sea ice that penguins raise their young.

3. True or false? Scientists want to measure the Emperor penguins to see how much fish they eat.
False. Scientists want measures taken to ease other pressures faced by Emperors, such as the fishing activities that impinge on their food supply.

4. Where do scientists want Emperor penguins to be on the endangered species list?
Scientists are pressing the International Union for Conservation of Nature to lift Emperors higher up on its list of Earth's endangered species.