（本期节目使用的音频资源于2021年10月上旬发表。）

最新数据显示，英国是世界上自然资源消耗最严重的国家之一，在全球排最差的百分之十，在七国集团（G7）中排在最后。研究发现，英国的生物多样性平均只剩一半，远低于 75%的全球平均水平。

The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat – all rely on biodiversity – the variety of all plant and animal life on Earth.

我们呼吸的空气，喝的水和吃的食物都依赖着生物多样性——也就是地球上所有动植物的多样性。

According to new data, biodiversity's dwindling fast, with the UK in the bottom 10% of countries and last among the G7 Group of leading industrial nations.

最新数据表明，生物多样性正在迅速缩减，其中，英国在全球处于最差的百分之十，在七大工业国集团中排在最后。

The researchers say there's little room for nature in a country where so much of the land has long been built upon or used for intensive agriculture. And they warn the world's lost so much biodiversity, we risk an ecological meltdown, a future in which we can't rely on nature to provide energy, food and timber.

研究人员指出，英国有如此多的土地长期以来用于建筑或集约农业，留给大自然的空间所剩无几。他们警告说，地球失去了太多的生物多样性，以至于我们面临生态崩溃的危险，这可能导致未来我们将无法依赖自然提供能源、食品和木材。

The study was released on the eve of the UN Biodiversity Conference, where world leaders will meet virtually to discuss plans for protecting nature over the next ten years.

该研究发表于联合国生物多样性大会前夕，世界各国领导人届时将在线上讨论未来十年的自然保护计划。

None of the targets for the previous decade were met, and scientists say this is our last best chance for a sustainable future.

前一个十年计划中定下的目标全都没有实现，科学家指出，现在是实现可持续未来的最后良机。

词汇表

biodiversity 生物多样性
variety 多样化
dwindling 缩减，减少
ecological 生态的
meltdown 崩溃，瓦解
energy 能源
timber 木材

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

1. True or false? According to new data, biodiversity is drastically declining.

2. According to the report, what is biodiversity?

3. Where does the UK rank in terms of biodiversity among the G7 nations?

4. How many of the targets set in the UN Biodiversity Conference for the previous ten years were met?

答案  

1. True or false? According to new data, biodiversity is drastically declining.
True. Biodiversity is dwindling fast.

2. According to the report, what is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of all plant and animal life on Earth.

3. Where does the UK rank in terms of biodiversity among the G7 nations?
The UK ranks last among the G7 nations.

4. How many of the targets set in the UN Biodiversity Conference for the previous ten years were met?
None of them were met.