Attack of the cute creatures　可愛動物大進擊
　
　
1.
Kangaroo Island in Australia has a cute little problem. In fact, the problem is that there are too many cute little animals running around-koalas, to be 1)precise. These fast-2)breeding little balls of 3)fur are eating all the leaves off the eucalyptus trees, and will soon be left without any food.

澳洲的袋鼠島有個可愛的小問題。其實，這個問題就是有太多可愛的小動物跑來跑去——講明白一點，就是無尾熊啦。這些繁殖迅速的小毛球正吃光所有的尤加利樹葉，很快就要沒東西吃了。

‧ 中級單字

1) precise (a.) 精確的
2) breed (v.) 繁殖
3) fur (n.) 絨毛


2.
Koalas were introduced to the island 100 years ago. Since then, their numbers have grown to over 30,000. Because of koalas, trees in some areas are so 1)bare of leaves that they are dying. 2)Environmentalists say they need to be 3)reduced or they will face 4)eventual 5)starvation. So far, 6)removal and other programs have been unsuccessful in reducing their numbers.

無尾熊在一百年前引進這個島嶼，此後，牠的數目成長到三萬多。就因為無尾熊，某些地區的樹木因為樹葉稀少而瀕臨死亡。環保人士認為無尾熊數量必須減少，否則終將面臨飢荒。目前為止，遷移以及其他計畫都無法成功減少無尾熊的數目。

‧ 中級單字

1) bare (a.) 光禿禿的
2) environmentalist (n.) 環保人士
3) reduce (v.) 減少，降低
4) eventual (a.) 最後的
5) starvation (n.) 飢餓，餓死
6) removal (n.) 移走


3.
Environmentalists are calling on the government to reduce the 1)population by hunting koalas. Strangely enough, government 2)authorities say no to killing the koalas. It's usually the other way around. But the government is afraid of the 3)backlash that will be created if crocodile-turned-koala hunters start shooting on the island.

環保人士呼籲政府獵殺無尾熊以減少其數量。很奇怪，反而是政府當局拒絕撲殺無尾熊。通常情況是反過來才對。但政府擔心的是，從獵殺鱷魚轉而獵殺無尾熊的獵人一旦開始在島上開槍，會引起民意反彈。

‧ 中級單字

1) population (n.) 人口，動物總數
2) authority (n.) 主管當局
3) backlash (n.) 反撲，強烈反對


4.
The island 1)relies heavily on 2)tourism, and authorities are afraid it will drop if they kill the koalas. The 3)issue is especially 4)sensitive with Japanese 5)tourists. The 6)community 7)response so far has forced the government into a position where killing the koalas is impossible. It looks like the cute little 8)beasts have won this time.

這座島嶼相當倚賴觀光業，有關當局害怕撲殺無尾熊會使觀光業績下降。這個問題在日本觀光客看來尤其敏感。地方上目前為止的反應，迫使政府採取不可能撲殺無尾熊的立場。看來可愛小動物這次贏了。

‧ 中級單字

1) rely on (v.) 依靠
2) tourism (n.) 觀光業
3) issue (n.) 議題
4) sensitive (a.) 敏感的
5) tourist (n.) 觀光客
6) community (n.) 社區
7) response (n.) 反應
8) beast (n.) 野獸