河狸将成为苏格兰保护动物
Beavers to become protected species in Scotland

苏格兰环境大臣罗塞安娜·坎宁汉姆表示，从今年五月起，河狸将成为苏格兰地区的一个受保护物种。这项让人期待已久并保受争议的举措激起了很多农民的反对，并引发了一场应如何管控河狸数量的争议。

They were extinct for 400 years, but beavers were illegally released in Tayside in the first part of this century.

河狸本已在苏格兰消失了四百年，但在本世纪上半叶，河狸在泰赛德市被非法放生。

Their population has grown rapidly to more than 400 and many farmers have complained about their dams flooding prime agricultural land.

它们的总数量已经快速增长到了 400 多只，而且很多农民已经就河狸筑坝，淹没优质农业用地的问题进行了投诉。

But after ministers decided against a cull, they've now made moves to protect them. That will make it an offence to kill, injure or capture beavers without a licence.

但相关部门大臣决定不允许对它们进行选择性宰杀，并已采取措施保护这个物种。这意味着无执照宰杀、伤害及捕捉河狸将会是一种违法行为。

Farming leaders have said they need to be controlled effectively. Scottish Natural Heritage is expected to publish guidance on how that can be achieved in the coming weeks.

农民代表们说，应有效地控制河狸的数量。预计苏格兰自然遗产署将在接下来的几周内公布如何实现有效控制河狸数量的指导方针。

1. 词汇

dams 堤坝
agricultural land 农业用地
cull 选择性宰杀（动物）
offence 犯罪、违法行为
capture 捕捉
licence 执照
effectively 有效地
guidance 指导方针、意见

2. 阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题 。

1. True or false? The ministers’ moves to protect the beavers mean unlicensed killing, injuring or capturing the animal will be illegal.  

2. What have the farmers complained about?

3. What is Scottish Natural Heritage expected to publish in the coming weeks?

4. Which word in the text means ‘not existing’?

3. 答案

1. True or false? The ministers’ moves to protect the beavers mean unlicensed killing, injuring or capturing the animal will be illegal. 
True. Their moves to protect them will make it an offence to kill, injure or capture beavers without a licence.

2. What have the farmers complained about?
They have complained about the beavers’ dams flooding prime agricultural land.

3. What is Scottish Natural Heritage expected to publish in the coming weeks?
It is expected to publish guidance on how that can be achieved in the coming weeks.

4. Which word in the text means ‘not existing’?
Extinct.