What is endangered species　什么是濒危物种
     An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has calculated the percentage of endangered species as 40 percent of all organisms based on the sample of species that have been evaluated through 2006.
     Many nations have laws offering protection to conservation reliant species: for example, forbidding hunting, restricting land development or creating preserves.
     Only a few of the many species at risk of extinction actually make it to the lists and obtain legal protection like Pandas. Many more species become extinct, or potentially will become extinct, without gaining public notice.
     The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that endangered species not living. Many factors are taken into account when assessing the conservation status of a species； not simply the number remaining, but the overall increase or decrease in the population over time, breeding success rates, known threats, and so on.
     Internationally, 199 countries have signed an accord agreeing to create Biodiversity Action Plans to protect endangered and other threatened species. In the United States this plan is usually called a species Recovery Plan.
     Captive breeding is the process of breeding rare or endangered species in human controlled environments with restricted settings, such as wildlife preserves, zoos and other conservation facilities. Captive breeding is meant to save species from going extinct. It is supposed to stabilize the population of the species so it is no longer at risk for disappearing.
     This technique has been used with success for many species for some time, with probably the oldest known such instances of captive mating being attributed to menageries of European and Asian rulers, a case in point being the Pere David's Deer. However, captive breeding techniques are usually difficult to implement for highly mobile species like some migratory birds (e.g. cranes) and fishes (e.g. Hilsa). Additionally, if the captive breeding population is too small, inbreeding may occur due to a reduced gene pool； this may lead to the population lacking immunity to diseases.
     从广义上讲，濒危物种(endangered species)泛指珍贵、濒危或稀有的野生动植物（wild fauna and flora）；从野生动植物管理学角度讲，濒危物种是指《濒危野生动植物物种国际贸易公约》（Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora，CITES，1973年3月3日签订于华盛顿）附录所列物种（species）及国家和地方重点保护的野生动植物。濒危物种可以分为绝对性(absoluteness)和相对性(relativity)两种。绝对性是指濒危物种在相当长的一个时期内野生种群数量较少，存在灭绝危险。相对性是指某些濒危物种的野生种群绝对数量并不太少，但相对于同一类别的其他物种来说却很少；或者是指某些濒危物种，在另外一些国家或地区可能并不被认为是濒危物种。

     Environmentalists saw last year's endangered-species legislation as weak and only minimally effective.
     环保主义者认为去年的濒危物种立法没有权威，收效甚微。
     Protect rare and endangered species is in urgent need.
     保护珍稀濒危物种迫在眉睫。
     We should protect endangered species and their ova.
     我们应当保护濒危物种和它们的卵细胞。
     This is a rare and endangered species Breeding center.
     这是一个珍稀濒危物种繁育基地。
     In Australia, endangered species face deadly triangles of foxes cats and rabbits.
     在澳大利亚，濒危物种面对致命的三个敌人是狐狸、猫和兔子。
     The establishment of nature reserves has put a number of representative and typical natural eco-systems with scientific research value as well as rare and endangered species under effective protection.
     自然保护区的建立，使一批具有代表性、典型性、科学研究价值的自然生态系统和珍稀濒危物种得到有效保护。
     It has many rare animals, trees and plants. Some of them are endangered.
     公园里有许多珍稀动物、树木及其他植物，其中一些是濒危物种。
     The World Conservation Union lists the whale shark as a vulnerable species.
     世界保护联盟将鲸鲨列入濒危物种。
     What is the significance of retrieval of species in severe danger?
     拯救濒危物种有什么意义？
     This island is maintained as a sanctuary for endangered species.
     那个岛继续作为濒危物种的保护区。
     Giant panda is a well-known endangered animal, which is distributed only in China.
     大熊猫是我国特有的濒危物种。
     Under the IUCN Red List of threatened species, the whale sharks are categorized as "vulnerable" to extinction.
     在国际自然与自然资源保护联合会的濒危物种名单上，鲸鲨已被划入"濒临灭绝物种"之列。
     The failed attempt to save the cedars underscores the state of endangered-species protection in Canada.
     未能挽救这些杉树的事实表明了在加拿大保护濒危物种被忽视的状况。
     The first Earth Day was very successful, inspiring the passage of congressional protection for air, water, and endangered species.
     第一个地球日是非常成功的，它促进了国会立法保护空气、水和濒危物种。
     The area is known for its wide range of fauna, including 260 bird species, the Bengal tiger and other threatened species such as the estuarine crocodile and the Indian python.
     该地区因动物物种多样性而闻名于世，其中包括260多种鸟类，孟加拉虎和多种珍稀濒危物种（如湾鳄和印度蟒蛇等）。
Part 3　Let's Talk！　开始交流吧！
     Angela: The scientists discover 15 thousand new species every year.
     安吉拉：科学家们每年都会发现约1.5万个新物种。
     Cathy: Some of them have eccentric shapes.
     凯西：其中有很多物种的形状非常奇特怪异。
     Angela: Like the Danionella Dracula, it has monstrous looks.
     安吉拉：如外形丑陋恐怖的吸血鬼鱼。
     Cathy: And the Blind snake which is as slim as noodles.
     凯西：还有细如面条的盲蛇。
     Angela: The Histiophryne psychedelica is adept in hiding in order to avoid dangers.
     安吉拉：迷幻鱼善于隐藏来逃避危险。
     Cathy: And the pink millipedes of Thailand.
     凯西：还有泰国的粉红色千足虫。
     Angela: The Fruit bat in Philippines looks like fox.
     安吉拉：菲律宾的果蝠样子看起来像狐狸。
     Cathy: The Macropinna microstoma in California has a ball and transparent head which is full of liquid.
     凯西：还有加州的管眼鱼，拥有一个透明、充满液体的圆形头部。
     Angela: As a cockpit of plane.
     安吉拉：看起来像飞机驾驶座舱一样。
     Cathy: The world is so wonderful!
     凯西：世界真是太奇妙了！
     Angela: Indeed, because of natural calamities and man-made misfortunes, great many of animals and plants disappear every year, which is not in favor of keeping ecological balance.
     安吉拉：的确，由于天灾人祸，每年都有大量动植物消失，这不利于保持生态平衡。
     Cathy: It is the doomsday for human when all living things die out.
     凯西：当所有生物都灭绝的时候就是人类的末日了。
     Angela: The countries take measures to protect these endangered species, but there are still numerous creatures extinct.
     安吉拉：世界各国也采取了很多办法保护濒危物种，但仍有无数的生物灭绝。
     Cathy: What are the measures?
     凯西：都有哪些保护措施呢？
     Angela: Such as establish natural protection area, artificial breeding of endangered species and cultivate new species.
     安吉拉：比如设置自然保护区，人工培育濒危物种，不断培育新物种等等。
     Cathy: I like Chinese panda very much, which is said to be endangered species.
     凯西：我很喜欢中国的大熊猫，听说那也是濒危物种。
     Angela: Yes, due to deforestation and excessive hunting, there are only small quantities of pandas.
     安吉拉：是啊，由于滥伐森林以及过度捕捉，现存大熊猫的数量已经很少了。
     Cathy: I really hope that the countries can take positive measures to protect these endangered species and prevent them from extinction.
     凯西：希望各国能够积极采取保护措施，防止这些生物灭绝。