科学家们说，他们正与时间赛跑，在新物种灭绝之前为它们提供命名和描述。英国皇家植物园 —— 邱园（Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew）称，植物和真菌有望成为未来的药物、燃料和食品。

Kew’s State of the World’s Plants and Fungi report shows an estimated 140,000 plants are facing extinction, including hundreds used for medicine. It warns that people are failing to harness the many benefits plants can bring by relying on just a handful of species to provide crops and biofuels.

英国皇家植物园发表的《全球植物和真菌现状》报告显示，大约有14万种植物正面临灭绝，其中包括数百种药用植物。报告警告说，人们未能充分利用植物的诸多潜能，而是仅依靠少数物种来提供农作物和生物燃料。

Kew’s head of conservation science, Dr Colin Clubbe, says plants have the potential to address fundamental issues, such as food security.

邱园的物种保护科学负责人科林·克拉布博士说，植物有解决基本问题的潜力，比如粮食安全问题。

The scientists say there’s a race against time to find and name new species before they vanish. Almost 2,000 plants were identified last year alone, from rare snowdrops to wild relatives of tea, garlic, and spinach. 

科学家们说，人们需要与时间赛跑，在新物种消失之前发现并命名它们。去年一年就发现了近2000种植物，从稀有的雪花莲到茶叶、大蒜和菠菜的野生近缘植物，种类繁多。

词汇表

facing extinction 面临灭绝
harness 利用（资源）
biofuels 生物燃料
conservation 动植物保护
food security 粮食安全，食物安全
race against time 与时间的赛跑
vanish 消失

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

1. True or false? Kew’s report warns we rely on too many plant species to provide crops and biofuels.

2. Based on Kew’s report, how many plants are facing extinction?

3. What type of issues do plants have the potential to address, according to Dr Colin Clubbe?

4. What types of plants were identified last year?

答案

1. True or false? Kew’s report warns we rely on too many plant species to provide crops and biofuels.
False. Kew’s report warns that we rely on just a few species to provide crops and biofuels.

2. Based on Kew’s report, how many plants are facing extinction?
An estimated 140,000 plants are facing extinction.

3. What type of issues do plants have the potential to address, according to Dr Colin Clubbe?
According Dr Colin Clubbe, plants have the potential to address fundamental issues, such as food security.

4. What types of plants were identified last year?
Rare snowdrops, wild relatives of tea, garlic, and spinach, among almost 2,000 plants were identified last year.