必修二册第二单元第16页阅读讲解
A DAY IN THE CLOUDS在云间度过的一天
The air is thin and we have to rest several times on the short hike from camp. To our left, snow-covered mountains disappear into clouds that seem almost close enough to touch. On the plain in front of us, we can just make out a herd of graceful animals.This is why we re here--to observe Tibetan antelopes.由于空气稀薄，在离开营地的短途徒步旅行中，我们不得不多次休息。在我们的左方，白雪皑皑的群山消失在似乎触手可及的云层中。放眼平原，我们隐约看到一群体形优美的动物。这就是我们来到此地的原因——观察藏羚羊。
Tibetan antelopes live on the plains of Tibet, Xinjiang, and Qinghai. Watching them move slowly across the green grass, I'm struck by their beauty. I'm also reminded of the danger they are in. They are being hunted, illegally, for their valuable fur.藏羚羊生活在西藏、新疆和青海的平原上。看着它们（藏羚羊）缓缓穿过绿色的草地，我被其美丽所震撼，也想到了藏羚羊所处的险境。因其珍贵的皮毛，它们（藏羚羊）正遭受非法猎杀。
My guide is Zhaxi, a villager from Changtang. He works at the Changtang National Nature Reserve. The reserve is a shelter for the animals and plants of northwestern Tibet. To Zhaxi, the land is sacred and protecting the wildlife is a way of life. "We're not trying to save the animals," he says. "Actually, we're trying to save ourselves."我的向导扎西是一位来自羌塘的村民。扎西在羌塘国家自然保护区工作。该保护区是西藏西北部动植物的避护所。对扎西来说，这片土地是神圣的，保护野生动物是一种生活方式。“我们不是在试图拯救动物。”他说道，“事实上，我们是在努力拯救自己。”
The 1980s and 1990s were bad times for the Tibetan antelope. The population dropped by more than 50 percent. Hunters were shooting antelopes to make profits. Their habitats were becoming smaller as new roads and railways were built.对藏羚羊来说，二十世纪八九十年代是一个悲惨的时代。藏羚羊数量减少了50%以上。猎人们为了谋利而射杀它们。随着新公路和铁路的修建，藏羚羊的栖息地也不断缩小。
In order to save this species from extinction, the Chinese government placed it under national protection. Zhaxi and other volunteers watched over the antelopes day and night to keep them safe from attacks. Bridges and gates were added to let the antelopes move easily and keep them safe from cars and trains.为了使这一物种免遭灭绝，中国政府将其置于国家保护之下。扎西和其他志愿者日夜看护着藏羚羊，保护它们免受攻击。新增的一些桥梁和涵洞，便于藏羚羊自由穿行，防止它们撞上汽车和火车。
The measures were effective. The antelope population has recovered and in June 2015, the Tibetan antelope was removed from the endangered species list. The government, however, does not intend to stop the protection programmes, since the threats to the Tibetan antelope have not yet disappeared.这些措施效果明显。藏羚羊数量已经恢复。2015年6月，藏羚羊从濒危物种名单中删除。然而，政府并没有打算停止这些保护项目，因为对藏羚羊的威胁依然存在。
In the evening, I drink a cup of tea and watch the stars. I think about the antelopes and what Zhaxi told me. Much is being done to protect wildlife, but if we really want to save the planet, we must change our way of life. Only when we learn to exist in harmony with nature can we stop being a threat to wildlife and to our planet.夜晚时分，我喝着茶，仰望星空。心里想起藏羚羊以及扎西对我说的那番话。在野生动物保护方面尽管我们正在做大量工作，但是，如果真想拯救地球，就必须改变我们自己的生活方式。只有学会和大自然和睦共处，我们才不会成为野生动物和地球的威胁。
必修二册第二单元第20页阅读讲解
Give Ugly a Chance!给难看的动物一个机会！
When it comes to wildlife protection, all species--the good, the bad, and the ugly--should be treated equally. Pandas, dolphins, and other cute wildlife are important, but we must pay attention to less cute animals, too. The world needs all kinds--without variety, our planet cannot survive. So if you want the future to be beautiful, you have to give ugly a chance.谈到野生动物保护，所有的物种——好的、坏的、丑的——都应该得到平等对待。熊猫、海豚以及其他可爱的野生动物固然很重要，但是我们也要关注那些不怎么可爱的动物。世界需要万物——没有多样性，我们的星球就无法生存。因此，如果你想让未来变得美丽，你得给不好看的动物一个机会。
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Don't Make Paper with My Home!不要用我的家来造纸！
Billions of trees are being cut down every year to make paper for humans. Every tree that is cut down is a part of the habitat of animals such as these koalas. In this way a lot of animal homes are being destroyed! Is it right to make animals homeless so that humans can have more paper?每年，数十亿棵树被砍伐，用于人类造纸。每棵被砍伐的树木都是诸如考拉等动物栖息地的一部分。砍树造纸摧毁了众多动物的家园！为了让人类有更多的纸张，就让动物无家可归，这样做对吗？
