大湖歸來

江蘇 朱 飛

近年來，隨著青海湖國家級自然保護區生態安全屏障持續強化，湖區和周邊的生態系統進一步改善，保護區正在逐步恢復良好的生態環境。

Located in the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Qinghai Lake is key to maintaining the ecological balance in western China. It is also a natural barrier to controlling the eastward spread of desertification and ensuring the safety of agricultural areas in eastern China.

In recent years, the Chinese government has implemented various ecological projects in the Qinghai Lake Basin, and achieved remarkable results in restoring the environment.In 2008, Qinghai adopted a plan aimed at ecological environment protection and comprehensive management of the Qinghai Lake Basin with a total investment of 1.567 billion yuan. A total of 800 hectares of wetland had been restored by 2018, thanks to measures such as a grazing (放牧) ban on more than 31,000 hectares of land.

In 2020, the water level of the Qinghai Lake reached 3,196.62 meters and its water body covered an area of 4,588.81 square kilometres. Both figures have increased for 15 years in a row. Since 2016, a total of more than 33,333 hectares of desertified land has been treated in the surrounding areas of the lake.

The improving ecosystem of the lake has also benefited migratory birds and Przewalski's gazelles, an endangered antelope species. The lake has become a key wintering habitat for more and more migratory birds, with over 300,000 birds making a stop here during migration every year. As the only habitat of Przewalski's gazelles, the areas surrounding the Qinghai Lake had seen the total number of the species increase from 257 in 2004 to over 2,700 in 2020.

At present, Qinghai is making greater efforts to construct a national park around the Qinghai Lake. The master plan for the park was approved by experts in May. “With the building of a national park, more powerful protection measures will be adopted for the Qinghai Lake,” said Liu Qingchun, head of the Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve Administration. “We all hope for the lasting beauty of the lake and more benefit for the people on the plateau.”

Reading Check

1. What does the first paragraph focus on?

A. The importance of the Qinghai Lake.

B. The agricultural history in western China.

C. The geological wonders of the Qinghai Lake.

D. The natural scenery of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

2. Which has contributed to the improved ecosystem of the Qinghai Lake?

A. The inflow of river water.

B. The effects of climate change.

C. The change of farming methods.

D. The treatment of surrounding desert.

3. How does Liu Qingchun view the future of the Qinghai Lake?

A. Hopelessly. B. Doubtfully. C. Confidently. D. Anxiously.

Language Study

Ⅰ. Difficult sentence in the text

In 2008, Qinghai adopted a plan aimed at ecological environment protection and comprehensive management of the Qinghai Lake Basin with a total investment of 1.567 billion yuan. 2008年，青海省通過了一項旨在保護與綜合治理青海湖流域生態環境的規劃，總投資達到了15.67億元。

【點石成金】本句是一個簡單句。 aimed at ecological environment protection and comprehensive management of the Qinghai Lake Basin是過去分詞短語作后置定語，修飾a plan。

Ⅱ. Text-centered chunks

be key to 是……的關鍵

be aimed at 目的是

thanks to 多虧；由于

cover an area of 占……的面積

in a row 連續幾次地

make a stop 短暫停留；暫停