媒体英语

Five new soft-furred hedgehog species discovered科学家发现了五个新的软毛刺猬物种

在对刺猬生活的热带雨林进行了长时间的考察研究后，科学家们在东南亚发现了五个新的软毛刺猬物种。

The scientists carried out years of genetic research to conclude there are seven species of what are called Hylomys, a furry subgroup of hedgehogs.

科学家们进行了多年的基因研究，得出了这一结论：共有七个刺猬物种被称为 “毛猬属”，“毛猬属” 是一种毛茸茸的刺猬的亚组。

Work was carried out on Borneo in Malaysia, and in museum collections where specimens were reassessed.

开展这项研究的地点是马来西亚的婆罗洲和一些博物馆，科学家们重新评估了这些博物馆收藏的刺猬标本。

The team found key differences in the mammals' genetic codes and in their shape, especially their heads and their extremely sharp teeth. One researcher remarked that if they were bigger animals, these hedgehogs would be pretty scary.

研究小组发现这些哺乳动物的基因密码和身体部位的形状存在关键差异，尤其是它们的头部和锋利的牙齿的区别。一位研究人员表示，如果它们体型更大的话，这些刺猬会非常可怕。

The scientists hope their work will draw attention to the importance of the hedgehogs’ rainforest habitat which is being badly denuded.

科学家们希望他们的工作能引起人们对刺猬栖息地热带雨林生态系统的关注，因为那里正受到严重威胁。

词汇表

genetic 基因的，遗传学的
species 物种
furry 毛茸茸的
subgroup 亚组，次群
reassess 重新评估
mammals 哺乳动物
habitat 栖息地
denuded 受到威胁的

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

1.How many species of Hylomys are there?

2.Some research was carried out in museums, but in which country was the other research done?

3.Why might a bigger version of these animals be 'pretty scary'?

4.What do scientists hope to bring people’s attention to?

答案

1.How many species of Hylomys are there?

There are seven species of Hylomys.

2.Some research was carried out in museums, but in which country was the other research done?

Apart from in museums, research was carried out in Malaysia.

3.Why might a bigger version of these animals be 'pretty scary'?

A bigger version of these animals might be 'pretty scary' because they have extremely sharp teeth.

4.What do scientists hope to bring people’s attention to?

Scientists hope to bring attention to how important the rainforests where these animals live are.