一项新的研究表明，鲸鱼被渔网缠住的风险似乎被低估了。无人机拍摄的照片上显示，在加拿大圣劳伦斯湾，多达 60% 的蓝鲸与渔绳和渔网接触过，因为从照片中能看到它们身上的疤痕。

Getting caught up in fishing ropes or nets is one of the biggest threats to whales. The animals can suffocate or starve after becoming trapped. Reports of very large whales getting entangled in fishing gear are rare compared with smaller species, leading to the assumption that the biggest whales might largely avoid such threats.

被渔绳或渔网缠住是鲸鱼面临的最大威胁之一。它们在被困住后可能会窒息或挨饿。与体型较小的鲸鱼相比，关于大型鲸鱼被渔具缠住的报道很少，因此产生了一种假设，即最大的鲸鱼可能在很大程度上避免了这个威胁。

A new study, led by experts at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, cast doubt on this idea. The researchers analysed images taken by drones of blue and fin whales in Canada's Gulf of St Lawrence – an important summer feeding ground for whales.

由苏格兰圣安德鲁斯大学的专家牵头的一项新研究对这一观点提出了质疑。研究人员们分析了无人机在加拿大圣劳伦斯湾拍摄的蓝鲸和长须鲸的照片，圣劳伦斯湾是鲸鱼夏季的重要觅食地。

Scars seen on the bodies of the whales suggest that 60% of blue whales studied, and about half of fin whales, had been entangled in nets at some point in their life.

鲸鱼身上的伤疤表明，被研究的60%的蓝鲸和大约半数的长须鲸曾在它们生命中的某个时刻被渔网缠住。

The researchers say death from entanglement could tip some whale populations into decline. The blue and fin whale are the two largest species in the oceans. Both are endangered, though the blue whale's starting to make a comeback in Antarctic waters.

研究人员表示，鲸鱼被缠住致死可能会导致一些鲸鱼数量下降。蓝鲸和长须鲸是海洋中体型最大的两个物种。尽管蓝鲸的数量在南极水域有所增加，但这两种鲸鱼均为濒危物种。

词汇表

caught up 被缠住
suffocate 窒息
starve 挨饿
trapped 被困住
entangled 被缠在一起
gear 用具，装备
cast doubt on… 对…怀有疑虑
blue whales 蓝鲸
fin whales 长须鲸
feeding ground 觅食地
scars 伤疤
endangered 濒临灭绝的
make a comeback 重新增长

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

1. True or false? The new study has found that the biggest whales might largely avoid becoming trapped in fishing gear.

2. What can happen if a whale becomes trapped?

3. Where did the drones take images of blue and fin whales?

4. According to the researchers, what could death from entanglement result in?

答案  

1. True or false? The new study has found that the biggest whales might largely avoid becoming trapped in fishing gear.
False. The new study suggests the assumption that the biggest whales might largely avoid becoming trapped in fishing gear is uncertain.

2. What can happen if a whale becomes trapped?
It can suffocate or starve after becoming trapped.

3. Where did the drones take images of blue and fin whales?
The drones took images of blue and fin whales in Canada's Gulf of St Lawrence. 

4. According to the researchers, what could death from entanglement result in?
Death from entanglement could tip some whale populations into decline.