Seed Vault
美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习
Table of Contents Food Crops in Danger!
内容表 食物作物处于危险之中!
4 Inside the Arctic Circle.
4 在北极圈内.
5 Purpose.
5 宗旨。
8 How It Works.
8它的工作原理。
10 Seeds in Danger?
10种危险种子?
14 Glossary.
14 词汇表。
16 Food Crops in Danger!
16个粮食作物处于危险之中!
Earth’s population is growing quickly.
地球人口迅速增长。
Wars, disease, and natural disasters are happening around the world.
战争、疾病和自然灾害正在世界各地发生。
Concern is growing that a crisis could wipe out important food crops.
人们越来越担心危机会摧毁重要的粮食作物。
Scientists are collecting seeds in a fortress near the North Pole in case of an emergency.
科学家们在北极附近的要塞收集种子 以防紧急情况
They’re working to preserve plant species to make sure the planet’s food supply stays safe.
他们正在努力保护植物物种,
The fortress, which is called the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, is the world’s largest facility for seed storage.
该要塞被称为斯瓦尔巴全球种子地堡,是世界上最大的种子储存设施。
The seed vault is protected by its remote location on an island in the Arctic Ocean.
种子库由它位于北冰洋一岛上的远程位置来保护.
Inside the Arctic Circle The Svalbard Global Seed Vault was named for its location in a group of islands in the Arctic Ocean that belong to Norway.
在北极圈内 斯瓦尔巴环球种子地块因位于北冰洋中一些属于挪威的岛屿中而得名.
Builders blasted into a mountain on one of the islands and carved the vault into the rock.
建造者在其中一个岛屿上炸入了一座山,将地窖刻入了岩石.
The seeds are stored more than 120 meters (394 ft.)
所储存的种子有120多米(394英尺).
inside the mountain.
在山里,在山里。
They are housed under rock that is at least 40 meters (131 ft.)
他们被安置在至少40米(131英尺)高的岩石下。
thick.
厚点。
The idea for the seed vault began in the 1980s.
种子地窖的构想始于1980年代.
In 1984, a company set up a facility for storing seeds in an old coal mine.
1984年,一公司在一旧煤矿中设置了储存种子的设施.
Scientists decided it wasn’t safe enough and said a new facility should be built nearby.
科学家认为这不够安全,
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is located about 1,000 kilometers (621 mi.)
斯瓦尔巴环球种子地道位于约1000公里(621 mi.
from the North Pole.
从北极。
Arctic Circle North Pole Spitsbergen Island ARCTIC OCEAN GREENLAND SEAGreenland EUROPE ASIA Canada Svalbard Global EUROPE Seed Vault Location The people who planned the seed vault chose its location for many reasons.
北极圈 北极 斯皮茨贝根岛 ARCTIC OCEAN GREENLAND SEA Greenland 欧洲亚洲 加拿大 Svalbard 全球欧洲 种子断层位置 计划种子库的人出于许多原因选择了它的位置.
It’s far from big cities, yet people can reach it on regular airplane flights.
与大城市相去甚远,
Earthquakes and other natural disasters are not a concern.
地震和其他自然灾害不令人关切。
Also, the location is 130 meters (427 ft.)
另外,位置为130米(427英尺).
above sea level.
超过海平面。
That’s good protection against flooding, even if sea levels rise because of climate change.
即使海平面因气候变化而上升,
Construction of the seed vault began in 2006 and cost nearly $8 million.
种子地库于2006年开始建设,耗资近800万美元.
Storing seeds in the facility is free for the countries and organizations that choose to do so.
在设施中储存种子对选择这样做的国家和组织是免费的。
Diagram of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault tunnel length 120 meters (394 ft.)
斯瓦尔巴环球种子地道长度为120米(394英尺.
Perhaps the best reason for the location is a layer of permafrost—ground that is always frozen.
也许确定地点的最佳原因是一层永远被冻结的永久冻土。
Permafrost helps keep the seeds cold naturally, which saves energy and money.
永久冻土可以自然地使种子保持寒冷,这可以节省精力和金钱.
Permafrost cools the vault to several degrees below freezing.
永久冻土将金库冷却到冰冻下数度.
Refrigeration units cool the vault even more, lowering the temperature to –18°C (0°F).
冷藏装置将金库冷却得更快,将温度降低至-18°C(0°F).
The seed vault also has generators that could keep the refrigeration running if the power went out.
种子库还装有发电机,如果停电,冷藏系统可以继续运转。
Even if all power failed, however, permafrost alone would keep the seeds cold enough.
然而,即使所有的动力都失败了,光是永久冻土就可以使种子保持足够冷.
Concrete and plastic fiber on the seed vault’s walls make them look like snow and ice.
种子库墙壁上的混凝土和塑料纤维使它们看起来像是雪和冰。
The real walls are dark-colored rock.
真正的墙壁是暗色的岩石.
Purpose The purpose of the seed vault is to safely store duplicates of seeds that are kept in other places around the world.
目的 种子库的目的是安全地储存保存在世界各地的种子复制品。
The goal is to preserve the world’s food plants and protect them from accidentally being destroyed.
目标是保护世界的粮食植物,防止它们被意外摧毁。
Like carrying an extra house key, the seed vault is extra insurance against something bad happening to seeds stored elsewhere.
就像带了多一个房子钥匙一样 种子金库是额外保险 以防其他储存的种子发生坏事
Seed banks in countries around the world can be in danger for many reasons.
由于许多原因,世界各国的种子银行可能处于危险之中。
War or severe storms can destroy a country’s seed bank.
战争或强暴可以摧毁一个国家的种子库。
Flooding and fire can destroy precious seeds as well.
洪水和火能摧毁宝贵的种子。
Roland von Bothmer, a scientific advisor, shows the vacuum-sealed aluminum foil bags and glass vials used to store seeds in the vault.
罗兰·冯 Bothmer,一位科学顾问,展示了真空密封的铝铝铝铝袋和用来将种子储存在保险库的玻璃瓶.
In addition to these big threats, poor management and a lack of money can also put seed banks around the world in danger.
除了这些巨大的威胁外,管理不善和缺乏资金,还可能使世界各地的种子银行处于危险之中。
Even something as simple as a freezer not working right could cause an entire seed collection to be lost.
即使是像冷冻机那样简单,不能正常工作,也会导致整个种子收集丢失.
If that happened, a type of food plant could be lost forever.
如果发生这种情况,可能永远失去某种食品工厂。
The extinction of any form of life is a great loss to all of Earth.
任何形式的生命被灭绝,是地球上的一大损失.
The Svalbard seed vault was built to prevent that loss.
斯瓦尔巴种子库是为了防止损失而建造的.
South Korea’s National Agrobiodiversity Center serves as another world seed vault.
韩国的国家农业生物多样性 该中心是另一个世界种子库。
How It Works The seed vault opened on February 26, 2008.
如何运作 种子库于2008年2月26日开通.
It stores seeds from around the world.
它储存着世界各地的种子。
Each of its three halls can hold about one and a half million seed samples.
其三个会馆的每个会馆可以持有大约150万个种子样本.
Only one hall is being used now.
现在只有一个大厅被使用。
As of February 2018, more than one million seed samples were stored there.
截至2018年2月,该地已储存了超过一百万个种子样本.
Word Wise A sample is a small amount of something that is a good example of the whole thing.
语出智慧 一个样本是一小块东西,是整个事物的好例子.
Each sample at the seed vault is made up of about five hundred seeds.
种子库的每个样本由大约500个种子组成.
Wangari Maathai of Kenya and Jens Stoltenberg of Norway placed the first seeds in the vault when it opened in 2008.
肯尼亚的旺加里·马塔伊和挪威的延斯·斯托尔滕贝格于2008年开通时将第一批种子放入地窖.
Seeds from many different countries arrive at the vault in special packages made of heavy foil.
许多不同国家的种子以用重活胶制成的特殊包裹运抵金库.
The packages are then placed in boxes.
然后把包裹放入箱中。
No one is allowed to open boxes or remove seeds except for people from the country that put each box there.
任何人不得打开盒子或取出种子,只有放入每个盒子的国家的人除外。
The vault has security cameras, sensors, and locked doors.
保险库有监控摄像头 传感器和锁好门
Strict rules control who can enter.
严格的规则控制谁可以进入。
According to the website of Crop Trust, one of two organizations that manage the seed vault, “Unofficial security is provided by polar bears, which prowl the mountain outside.”
根据管理种子库的两个组织之一的作物信托网站,“非官方安保由北极熊提供,北极熊在山外游荡。 “
Seeds from the Philippines are packaged before being sent to the seed vault.
来自菲律宾的种子在被送往种子库前被包装.
It’s not only important to store the seeds of different plants, such as rice and wheat.
不仅储存不同植物的种子,
It’s also important to store seeds of different kinds of rice and wheat.
储存不同种类的大米和小麦种子也很重要。
Certain kinds may be less affected than others by a disease or other threat.
某些种类受到疾病或其他威胁的影响可能低于其他种类。
Preserving many different kinds of seeds creates more possibilities for the future.
保留许多不同种类的种子为未来创造出更多的可能性.
No one knows what Earth will be like one hundred years from now.
没人知道一百年后地球会是什么样子
However, the more kinds of seeds people have, the better their chances of having enough food.
然而,人们的种子种类越多,获得足够食物的机会就越多.
Planthoppers eat rice plants and also transmit deadly viruses to the plants.
植物hopper会吃水稻植物,也会把致命的病毒传染给植物.
Helpful Seeds The Svalbard Global Seed Vault holds the seeds of a kind of wild rice that is not harmed by an insect known as the brown planthopper.
帮助种子 斯瓦尔巴环球种子沃特(Svalbard Global Seed Vault)持有一种野生水稻的种子,这种水稻不会被被被称作"棕色花生"的昆虫所伤害.
This insect destroys rice crops in Sri Lanka, an island near India.
这种昆虫会破坏靠近印度的一个岛屿斯里兰卡的稻米作物.
Scientists are using the same kind of seeds to create a new kind of rice that farmers in Sri Lanka can grow.
科学家们正在使用同一种种子来创造一种新型的稻米,斯里兰卡农民可以种植.
Other seeds in the vault are from special kinds of beans and maize (corn) that are high in certain nutrients.
金库中的其他种子出自某些营养物质中含量高的特殊种类的豆子和玉米(corn).
The beans can help people whose health suffers because of a shortage of those nutrients.
豆子可以帮助那些因营养不足而健康受损的人。
In addition to having enough food, people need food that’s safe, nutritious, and affordable.
除了足够的食物,人们还需要安全、有营养和负担得起的食物。
The food must also be of good enough quality to keep people healthy.
食物还必须具有足够的质量,以保持人们的健康。
All these things are part of a big idea called food security.
所有这些东西都是一个叫做粮食安全的大思想的一部分。
The goal of the seed vault is to guarantee that, in the future, people will have a supply of food they can count on.
种子库的目标是保证将来人们能得到他们可以指望的食物供应.
A family enjoys choosing fruits at a local farmer’s market.
家庭可在当地农民市场选择水果。
Foods Around the World Many factors play a part in people having a secure supply of food.
世界各地食品的可靠供应有许多因素。
One of them is being able to eat foods that are part of their everyday lives.
其中一人能吃到属于自己日常生活的食物.
People around the world grow and eat different kinds of foods.
世间人种而食之有异.
For example, many people in Asian countries eat rice, and corn is an important crop in North, Central, and South America.
例如,亚洲国家的许多人吃大米,而玉米是北美洲、中美洲和南美洲的重要作物。
When people have a secure food supply, they can keep eating the kinds of foods they prefer.
当人们有安全的食品供应,他们可以继续吃他们喜欢的食物.
Seeds in Danger?
危险的种子?
The vault’s builders thought the seeds stored there would always be safe.
库房的建造者认为储存在那里的种子永远是安全的.
They thought the permafrost would be there forever.
他们以为永久冻土会永远存在
However, a recent event caused some concern.
然而,最近发生的事件引起了一些关切。
In October 2016, Svalbard had unusually warm weather, which caused some permafrost to melt.
2016年10月,斯瓦尔巴出现异常温暖的天气,导致一些永久冻土融化.
It also caused heavy rain to fall instead of snow.
这也导致暴雨倒下,而不是下雪.
As a result of these events, some water collected at the vault’s entrance.
由于这些事件,在金库入口处取取了一些水。
Earth is warming up.
地球变暖了
Svalbard’s warmer weather raised questions about how global warming will affect the vault in the future.
Svalbard的气候比较温暖,
People started to wonder whether permafrost could be counted on to keep the seeds safe.
人们开始怀疑 永久冻土能否依靠它来保护种子的安全
Global Warming Global warming is a rise in the average temperature of Earth’s air and oceans large enough to change long-term weather patterns.
全球暖化是地球空气和海洋平均温度的上升,足以改变长期天气模式。
Global warming today is mainly caused by human activities.
今天的全球变暖主要是由人类活动所引起.
These include clearing land for farming and burning coal, oil, and gas.
其中包括为农作和燃煤、石油和天然气清理土地。
These things make large amounts of carbon dioxide gas.
这些东西制造出大量的二氧化碳气体.
This gas enters the air around Earth and traps heat close to Earth’s surface.
这种气体进入了地球周围的空气,并夹住接近地表的热.
Global warming is causing many problems, including more bad weather and dangers to plant and animal communities.
全球变暖正在造成许多问题,包括更多的恶劣天气和对植物和动物社区的危险.
Scientists expect the problems to get worse unless we cut way back on the activities that make so much carbon dioxide.
科学家们期望问题会更严重 除非我们减少 产生二氧化碳的活动
The seeds were never in danger in 2016.
2016年种子从未有危险.
The water only reached one-sixth of the way into the vault’s main tunnel.
水通到金库正道的六分之一。
If the water had reached the other end, water pumps would have removed it.
如果水到达了另一端,水泵就会把它取出.
Still, the government of Norway decided to make improvements to keep the seeds even safer.
尽管如此,挪威政府还是决定作出改进,使种子更加安全.
People now watch over the vault twenty-four hours a day.
人们现在每天24小时监视金库
Workers are making the tunnel waterproof.
工人正在做隧道防水。
There’s no way to know how much warmer Earth will get or how the seed vault will be affected.
也没有办法知道地球会有多温暖,
No matter what happens, people will keep working to save the seeds.
无论发生什么,人们都会继续努力去拯救种子.
“The Seed Vault offers long-term protection for one of the most important natural resources on earth,” notes Crop Trust’s website.
" 种子地窖为地球上最重要的自然资源之一提供了长期保护, " 注意到作物信托基金的网站。
“It is the final backup.”
“这是最后的后援。 “
A scientist holds two vials of peas at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.
一位科学家在斯瓦尔巴环球种子地窖 持有两瓶豌豆.