第一段
Biologists estimate that as many as 2 million lesser prairie chickens---a kind of bird living on stretching grasslands—once lent red to the often grey landscape of the midwestern and southwestern United States. But just some 22,000 birds remain today, occupying about 16% of the species’ historic range.
单词&词组
estimate v. 估计，估算
as many as 多达，像……一样多
prairie n. （北美洲）大草原
stretch v. 延伸、绵延
occupy v. 占据，居住
range n. 生长区，分布区
本段翻译
生物学家估计美国中西部和西南部的广袤草原上曾生活着多达200万只的小草原榛鸡，这些红色的小草原榛鸡为灰蒙蒙的草原风貌增添了几分红艳。但如今小草原榛鸡的现存数量只有约22000只，它们的栖息地范围仅为过去的16%那么大。
第二段
The crash was a major reason the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service （USFWS）decided to formally list the bird as threatened. “The lesser prairie chicken is in a desperate situation,” said USFWS Director Daniel Ashe. Some environmentalists, however, were disappointed. They had pushed the agency to designate the bird as “endangered,” a status that gives federal officials greater regulatory power to crack down on threats. But Ashe and others argued that the “threatened” tag gave the federal government flexibility to try out new, potentially less confrontational conservations approaches. In particular, they called for forging closer collaborations with western state governments, which are often uneasy with federal action and with the private landowners who control an estimated 95% of the prairie chicken’s habitat.
单词&词组
crash n. 暴跌，猛跌
desperate a. 危急的，严峻的
environmentalist n. 环保人士
designate v. 指定，认定（~ sth. as sth.）
endangered a. 濒临灭绝的
regulatory power 监督权力
tag n. 标签，标志
flexibility n. 灵活性
confrontational a. 对抗性的，挑起冲突的
conservation n. 保护
approach n. 方法，方式
forge v. 形成，缔造（尤指与他人、团体或国家形成牢固的关系）
collaboration n. 合作，协作
uneasy a. 不和谐的，不协调的，矛盾的
habitat n. （动植物的）生活环境，栖息地
crack down on 严厉打击，镇压
try out 试，试验
call for 要求，呼吁
本段翻译
小草原榛鸡数量的锐减是促使美国鱼类及野生动植物管理局（USFWS）决定正式将其列为“受威胁”物种的主要原因。USFWS的局长丹尼尔·阿莎说:“小草原榛鸡的生存境地十分堪忧。”但是一些环境主义者却对此感到失望。因为他们一直要求该局将这种鸟类列为“濒危”物种，列为濒危物种就能让联邦官员有更大的监管权来打击威胁该物种的行为。但阿莎和其他同事称，小草原榛鸡的“受威胁”物种这一标签让联邦政府能够灵活地尝试新的且对抗性可能较少的保护举措。特别是，他们呼吁联邦政府与西部各州政府进行更紧密的合作，(因为）西部各州政府常常对联邦政府的举措感到不安。同时联邦政府也要和土地私有业主进行紧密合作，这些业主控制着约95%的小草原榛鸡栖息地。
第三段
Under the plan, for example, the agency said it would not prosecute landowner or businesses that unintentionally kill, harm, or disturb the bird, as long as they had signed a range—wide management plan to restore prairie chicken habitat. Negotiated by USFWS and the states, the plan requires individuals and businesses that damage habitat as part of their operations to pay into a fund to replace every acre destroyed with 2 new acres of suitable habitat. The fund will also be used to compensate landowners who set aside habitat, USFWS also set an interim goal of restoring prairie chicken populations to an annual average of 67,000 birds over the next 10 years. And it gives the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA), a coalition of state agencies, the job of monitoring progress. Overall, the idea is to let “states” remain in the driver’s seat for managing the species，” Ashe said.
单词&词组
prosecute v. 起诉，控告，检举
unintentionally ad. 非故意地
restore v. 恢复，复原
acre n. 英亩（相当于0.405公顷）
compensate v. 弥补，补偿
interim a. 临时的，暂时的，过渡期间的
coalition n. 联盟，联合体
monitor v. 监控，监督
replace A with B 以A替代B
set aside 留出，省出
set a goal 制定目标
in the driver's seat 处于控制地位、主导地位
本段翻译
例如，根据一项计划，该局称它不会起诉那些非故意杀死、伤害和惊扰小草原榛鸡的土地业主或企业，前提是他们已签署过一项覆盖全部栖息地的管理计划来修复小草原榛鸡的栖息地。该计划由USFWS 和西部各州协商制定，它要求因经营需要而损害栖息地的个人和企业向一个基金支付罚款，每有一亩栖息地遭破坏，该基
金就会购买两英亩新的栖息地来替换之。该基金也会被用于补偿那些主动将栖息地划出不作经营的土地业主。USFWS也设定了一个中期目标，那就是在未来十年，将小草原榛鸡的数量恢复到平均每年67000只的水平。并且该局将监管目标实施进程的工作交予了西部鱼类及野生动物保护局协会，该协会是各州鱼类及野生动物管理局的联合体。总而言之，该计划的目的就是依旧让“各州”负责管理小草原榛鸡。
第四段
Not everyone buys the win-win rhetoric Some Congress members are trying to block the plan, and at least a dozen industry groups, four states, and three environmental groups are challenging it in federal court. Not surprisingly, industry groups and states generally argue it goes too far; environmentalists say it doesn’t go far enough “The federal government is giving responsibility for managing the bird to the same industries that are pushing it to extinction,” says biologist Jay Lininger.
单词&词组
rhetoric n. 华而不实的言语，花言巧语
block v. 阻止，妨碍，阻挠
challenge v. 质疑（或怀疑）；拒绝接受
extinction n. 灭绝，绝种
win-win rhetoric 双赢说辞
go too far 走得太远，做得过分
本段翻译
但对于这个吹嘘双赢的计划，并不是所有人都买账。一些国会议员正试图阻止该计划。此外，至少有12家行业集团、4个州和3个环保团体将向联邦法院诉讼来撤销这项计划。行业集团和州政府认为该计划的措施有点过了，而环保组织则认为该计划做得还不够，这一点毫不奇怪。生物学家杰伊·李宁评价道:“联邦政府这是在把管理小草原榛鸡的责任交给那些正把它推向灭绝的行业。”
五道题
26. The major reason for listing the lesser prairie as threatened is____.
[A] its drastically decreased population
[B] the underestimate of the grassland acreage
[C] a desperate appeal from some biologists
[D] the insistence of private landowners
27.The “threatened” tag disappointed some environmentalists in that it____.
[A] was a give-in to governmental pressure
[B] would involve fewer agencies in action
[C] granted less federal regulatory power
[D] went against conservation policies
28.It can be learned from Paragraph3 that unintentional harm-doers will not be prosecuted if they_____.
[A] agree to pay a sum for compensation
[B] volunteer to set up an equally big habitat
[C] offer to support the WAFWA monitoring job
[D] promise to raise funds for USFWS operations
29.According to Ashe， the leading role in managing the species in_____.
[A] the federal government
[B] the wildlife agencies
[C] the landowners
[D] the states
30.Jay Lininger would most likely support_____.
[A] industry groups
[B] the win-win rhetoric
[C] environmental groups
[D] the plan under challenge
参考答案
ACADC
答案解析
26、根据题干定位至第二段①句，该句指出这种急剧下跌(The crash回指第一段主要内容“小草原楼鸡数量以及栖息地的锐减”)是USFWS将该鸟类列为受威胁物种的主要原因。故[A]正确。
27、根据题干关键词“threatened" tag、disappointed, environmentalists定位至第二段③④句。③句首先指出一些环保主义者对于将该鸟类列为“受威胁物种”感到失望,④句交代原因:他们曾经一直敦促USFWS将其认定为“濒危物种”，以赋予联邦政府更大的监管权。即:"受威胁物种”标签意味着联邦政府的监管权力较小,[C]正确。
28、根据题干关键词unintentional harm-doers、he prosecuted定位到第三段前两句。其中①句指出非故意伤害者不会被起诉的条件:签署了恢复草原榛鸡栖息地的管理计划。②句进一步指出该计划内容:要求破坏栖息地者向保护基金付款，以2倍的土地替代被破坏的栖息地。联系两句可知，非故意伤害者不被起诉的条件是他们向保护基金支付补偿金,[A]正确.
29、根据题干关键词Ashe和managing the species定位至第三段⑥句。该句总结指出,(总之)基本理念为:让各州处于管理该物种的主导地位,[D]正确。注:假如不知in the driver's scat 意为“处于控制地位.主导地位”,可借助⑤句"监督进程的职责归州级联盟机构”推知其大概含义。
30、由题干人名关键词Jay Lininger 定位至未段④句。该句指出生物学家Jay Lininger认为:联邦政府是在将管理该物种的责任推卸给那些正在将物种推向灭绝的行业。可见,Jay Lininger认为联邦政府应自己负起管理(恢复)小草原榛鸡的主要责任，而不应将这一责任交给各州和各行业。 这与环保主义者观点致,[C]正确。
