讲解人 · Natasha
原文
One user posted videos of a tiger in a cage that was for sale as well as pictures of tiger bones and teeth, while another included two live tiger cubs in a box.
A seller told the BBC his products “can be shipped to the UK”.
Another seller, who was offering shark fins, claimed to ship from the US to the UK and charged $50 per kilo.
However, BBC News also found British companies selling dried seahorses, which can only be traded in the UK if the seller can certify they were sustainably harvested.
In practice, that’s not possible and supplying them is likely to break the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, punishable by a fine or prison sentence.
The global trade in endangered species is estimated to be worth £17bn per year and Interpol assesses it to be the fourth largest international crime type behind drugs smuggling, people smuggling and arms trafficking.
Recently, Interpol announced the result of Operation Thunder, a month-long global initiative to combat the trade in endangered species.
Authorities in 134 countries were involved in the operation which included the seizure of nearly 30, 000 live animals and 30 tonnes of animal parts.
The trade has been driven by organised crime, and in many cases, customers who don’t understand the harm they are doing.
带着问题听讲解
- 如何理解文中的 offer for sale 这一表达？
- 根据文章，BBC 的调查主要发现了什么问题？
- 文章指出濒危动物非法交易为何难以遏制？
讲解
重点词汇
seahorse
/ˈsiː.hɔːrs/
n. 海马
- 相关词汇：sea（n. 海洋）相关词汇：horse（n. 马）例句：Male seahorses are responsible for carrying and giving birth to offspring.例句：Seahorses are listed as endangered species in many regions.
fin
/fɪn/
n. 鱼鳍
- 例句：The shark uses its fins to propel itself through the water.搭配短语：shark fins
endangered
/ɪnˈdeɪn.dʒɚd/
adj. 濒危的；有灭绝危险的
- 词根词缀：danger（危险）词根词缀：en-（使……处于某种状态）词根词缀：-ed（形容词后缀）搭配短语：endangered species例句：Many endangered animals are protected by international laws.
pangolin
/pæŋˈɡoʊ.lɪn/
n. 穿山甲
- 例句：It is illegal to buy or sell pangolin products in most countries.
scale
/skeɪl/
n. 鳞片；规模
- 搭配短语：pangolin scales搭配短语：fish scales例句：Pangolins are hunted illegally for their scales and meat.
cub
/kʌb/
n. 幼兽
- 搭配短语：tiger/lion/panda cubs例句：The tiger cubs usually stay close to their mother for protection.
ship
/ʃɪp/
v. 运输；运送
- 词性拓展：ship（n. 船）搭配短语：ship sth. to搭配短语：be shipped from A to B例句：The company ships fresh seafood to supermarkets across the city every morning.
certify
/ˈsɝː.t̬ə.faɪ/
v. 证明；认证
- 搭配结构：This is to certify that …例句：The lab can certify that the product meets international standards.相关词汇：certificate（n. 证明书；证明）
- 搭配短语：a birth certificate
- 搭配短语：a marriage certificate
sustainably
/səˈsteɪ.nə.bli/
adv. 可持续地
- 相关词汇：sustain（v. 维持；支撑）相关词汇：sustainable（adj. 可持续的）
- 搭配短语：sustainable development（可持续发展）
相关词汇：sustainability（n. 可持续性）例句：We should use natural resources sustainably to protect the planet.
in practice
实际上；事实上
- 相关词汇：practice（n. 实践；实际行动）
- 搭配短语：put sth. into practice
近义词组：in reality例句：The plan sounds good, but in practice, it is very difficult to carry out.
fine
/faɪn/
n. 罚金，罚款
- 词性拓展：fine（adj. 好的；令人满意的）例句：He had to pay a heavy fine for breaking the environmental law.词性拓展：fine（v. 罚款）
- 例句：The driver was fined for speeding.
sentence
/ˈsen.təns/
n. 刑期，判决；句子
- 搭配短语：serve a sentence搭配短语：pass sentence例句：The criminal was given a five-year prison sentence.
smuggling
/ˈsmʌɡ.lɪŋ/
n. 走私
- 英文释义：the crime of taking something illegally from one country to another相关词汇：smuggle（v. 走私；非法运送）
- 搭配短语：smuggle sth. across the border
- 例句：The customs officers seized a large amount of drugs smuggled across the border.
arms
/ɑːrmz/
n. 武器；军火
- 搭配短语：arms trade例句：Police officers in the UK do not usually carry arms.
trafficking
/ˈtræf.ɪ.kɪŋ/
n. 非法交易
- 搭配短语：drug trafficking相关词汇：traffic（v. 非法交易；走私）
- 搭配短语：to traffic in drugs
month-long
/mʌnθ lɔːŋ/
adj. 为期一个月的
- 相关词汇：month（n. 月）相关词汇：long（adj. 长度）相关词汇：week-long相关词汇：year-long
seizure
/ˈsiː.ʒɚ/
n. 没收；扣押
- 相关词汇：seize（v. 抓住；没收；扣押）
- 例句：A large quantity of drugs was seized during the raid.
词根词缀：-ure（名词后缀）例句：The customs announced the seizure of a large amount of smuggled cigarettes.
organised crime
有组织犯罪
- 相关词汇：organised（adj. 有组织的；有条理的）相关词汇：crime（n. 犯罪）英文释义：Organised crime refers to criminal activities which involve large numbers of people and are organized and controlled by a small group.例句：The government has set up a special unit to deal with organised crime.
拓展阅读
