本集内容

Worst destruction ever for Great Barrier Reef 澳洲大堡礁珊瑚群遭受空前破坏

Mission to clean space 科学家将清理地球轨道上的太空垃圾

文字稿

The planet's largest living structure struggling for survival. This coral should be alive with colour but it's bleached and barren. These scientists are part of a team that's assessed the health of the entire Great Barrier Reef – an area bigger than Britain – and here the prognosis is poor. On average, two-thirds of the coral in the northern section has died.

地球上最大的生态结构大堡礁正在艰难地求生。这丛珊瑚本应生机勃勃、色彩鲜艳，但它现在已经褪色，贫瘠而荒芜。这些科学家隶属一支评估了整个大堡礁健康状况的研究小组。澳洲大堡礁的面积大于英国总面积，而目前科学家在评估后对其健康做出的预测是“情况不佳”。平均来看，大堡礁北部的珊瑚有三分之二已经死亡。

We've been space-bound since the 1950s, making amazing progress and countless scientific discoveries. But for every advance we've left something behind – space junk. At the University of Southampton, scientists are watching this waste. There are now thought to be 22,000 bits of space rubbish bigger than 10 centimetres.

从五十年代起，人类就开始探索太空，不断地取得惊人的进步，并做出不胜枚举的科学发现。然而，每当我们取得了一点进步时也在太空中留下了一些东西，这些物品被称作“太空垃圾”。英国南安普顿大学的科学家们正对这些废品进行观测。目前，人们认为共有两万两千块长度大于10厘米的太空垃圾。

词汇

prognosis
预断，预测

advance
进步，发展

练习

请从以下词汇中选择适当的答案来完成句子。注意：你可能需要改变单词的时态来完成句子。

prognosis / advance

1. The _________ of modern medicine means we have a better chance of curing cancer every day.

2. Financial experts say that despite a poor few years, the overall _________ for the economy is good.

答案  

1. The advance of modern medicine means we have a better chance of curing cancer every day.

2. Financial experts say that despite a poor few years, the overall prognosis for the economy is good.