在出行后统计你车上被撞扁的虫子数量，也许能帮助科学家了解英国昆虫物种的数量。昆虫保护慈善机构 “Buglife” 推出了一款名为 “Bugs Matter” 的新应用程序，希望人们能用它来收集信息，帮助科学家了解特定物种在哪里繁衍生息或逐渐减少。 

‘Insectagedden’ is how the global decline in insect populations has been described by some scientists. One case study in Germany suggested there’d been a 75% decrease in numbers over 27 years. 

一些科学家用 “昆虫末日” 来描述全球昆虫数量下降的现象。德国的一项案例研究表明，昆虫数量曾在27年间下降了75%。

But there’s actually very little data for many insect groups and species, even here in the UK. Which is where this new app comes in. The hope is that in the hands of a small army of citizen scientists, it will generate more accurate figures for insect populations. 

但事实上，人们对有关许多昆虫类群和物种的数据记录甚少，即使在英国也是如此。所以就催生了这款新应用。开发者希望借助一小群平民科学家的一臂之力，使它生成更准确的昆虫种群数字。

It’s simple to use – you clean your number plate before you go on a journey, then when you arrive at your destination, you use the app to photograph the bugs squashed on a section of it using a ‘splatometer’ grid you get when you download the app. The results become part of the nationwide survey.

这款应用程序的用法很简单：驾车出行前清洁你的车牌，到达目的地时，用下载应用程序后收到的 “飞虫计数器（splatometer）” 网格，拍下车牌一处被撞扁的虫子。拍到的结果会成为全国调查的一部分。

词汇表

insectagedden “昆虫末日”，全球昆虫数量下降的现象
case study 案例研究
in the hands of 在…的控制下
citizen scientists 平民科学家
number plate 车牌
squashed 压扁的，撞扁的
survey 调查

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

1. According to one study, what’s happened to insect numbers over 27 years?

2. True or false? The army are going to help gather more accurate figures of insect populations.

3. Which part of the car is the app used on to count the number of squashed bugs?

4. To use the app, what must you do before you go on a car journey?

答案  

1. According to one study, what’s happened to insect numbers over 27 years?
One case study in Germany suggested there’d been a 75% decrease in numbers over 27 years.

2. True or false? The army are going to help gather more accurate figures of insect populations.
False. A small army (group) of citizen scientists are going to help gather the data. It is hoped this will generate more accurate figures for insect populations.

3. Which part of the car is the app used on to count the number of squashed bugs?
You use the app to photograph the bugs squashed on a section of the number plate.

4. To use the app, what must you do before you go on a car journey?
You must clean your number plate before you go on a journey.