根据卫星数据显示的信息，古老的、富含碳的热带森林继续以惊人的速度消失。美国马里兰大学对高度为五米以上的树木的研究称，在2019年，每六秒就有一片足球场大小的原始森林消失。

For scientists, the loss of older trees and tropical rainforests is a double blow to life on Earth. As well as storing massive amounts of carbon, they're hotspots of biodiversity as the homes of orangutans, jaguars, and tigers.

对科学家们来说，古老树木和热带雨林的消失是对地球生命的一个双重打击。除了储存大量的碳以外，古老树木和热带雨林还是生物多样性热点地区，是红毛猩猩、美洲豹和老虎的家园。

According to the new data, these primary forests continue to be destroyed at alarming rates. Brazil accounted for over a third of all losses last year, with deforestation for agriculture the main motive.

据新数据显示，这些原始森林持续以惊人的速度遭到毁坏。去年，巴西原始森林损失的比例占所有损失的三分之一以上，其主要缘由是为了农业生产砍伐森林。

The end of 2019 also saw dramatic fires in Australia leading to a sixfold increase in the total number of trees lost compared to 2018.

2019年底，澳大利亚也发生了严重森林火灾，导致树木损失总数比2018年增加了六倍。

词汇

tropical rainforests 热带雨林
a double blow 双重打击
hotspots 热点地区
biodiversity 生物多样性
orangutans 红毛猩猩
jaguars 美洲豹
primary 原始的
deforestation 滥砍滥伐森林
motive 缘由，动机
dramatic 严重的，剧烈的

2. 阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

1. True or false? The main motive of tree losses in Brazil last year is deforestation for agriculture.

2. Why is the loss of older trees and tropical rainforests a double blow to life on Earth?

3. How much did the loss of primary forests in Brazil account for all losses last year?

4. What did the end of 2019 see in Australia?

3. 答案

1. True or false? The main motive of tree losses in Brazil last year is deforestation for agriculture.
True. Deforestation for agriculture is the main reason for the loss of primary forests in Brazil last year.

2. Why is the loss of older trees and tropical rainforests a double blow to life on Earth?
Because as well as storing massive amounts of carbon, they're hotspots of biodiversity as the homes of orangutans, jaguars, and tigers.

3. How much did the loss of primary forests in Brazil account for all losses last year?
It accounted for over a third of all losses last year.

4. What did the end of 2019 see in Australia?
The end of 2019 saw dramatic fires in Australia.