瀕危蠑螈

江西 侯昌瑋

主題語境：瀕危物種 篇幅：273詞 建議用時：5分鐘

1A new museum in Mexico aims to educate the public on the critically endangered axolotl salamander(蠑螈).The museum recently opened at Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City.

2The axolotl is native only to Mexico.The animal is extremely endangered in the wild because its natural environment is increasingly threatened.The salamander has captured wide attention for its ability to heal itself when its body gets harmed.For example, the animal can regrow legs and damaged tissue.It can even repair problems affecting the heart and brain.Scientists have also documented how the salamander can breathe with lungs and gills.It can also take in oxygen through its skin.This can cause problems if the animal comes in contact with polluted water.

3“It is one of the few animals that can regenerate its skin, muscles, bones, blood vessels, nerves, heart and brain,”said Gual, a conservation official at the zoo.Speaking about the museum, Gual said he sees it as a valuable tool to inform citizens about the unusual creature.“A hugely important part of this space is environmental education,”he said.

4In the past, axolotls did very well in Xochimilco's muddy canals.The canals are the only remaining part of a once large waterway system dating back to Aztec times.But studies have shown the spread of cities,polluted water and non-native fish that eat the salamanders have led to their near-total collapse.

5As the museum opened to its first visitors,the axolotls'popularity with the public was very clear.“The truth is that I'm very excited to be able to see how they eat, how they live,or just how they are,”said one visitor named Fernando.

Reading Check

Language Study

Ⅰ.Difficult sentences in the text

1.The animal is extremely endangered in the wild because its natural environment is increasingly threatened.這種動物在野外極度瀕危，因為它所在的自然環(huán)境日益受到威脅。

【點石成金】本句中，連詞because引導的是原因狀語從句。

2.“The truth is that I'm very excited to be able to see how they eat, how they live, or just how they are,”said one visitor named Fernando.一個名叫費爾南多的游客說：“事實上，能看到它們?nèi)绾芜M食、如何生活，或者是怎樣的一種動物，讓我非常興奮。”

【點石成金】本句中，引號里面為直接引語；that引導表語從句；三個how引導的賓語從句作see的賓語。

Ⅱ.Text-centered chunks

be native to 原產(chǎn)于……；土生土長于……

capture wide attention 獲得廣泛的關(guān)注

take in 吸收

come in contact with 和……接觸

speak about 談及；談到

date back to 追溯到……

lead to 導致