在出行后統(tǒng)計(jì)你車上被撞扁的蟲(chóng)子數(shù)量，也許能幫助科學(xué)家了解英國(guó)昆蟲(chóng)物種的數(shù)量。昆蟲(chóng)保護(hù)慈善機(jī)構(gòu) “Buglife” 推出了一款名為 “Bugs Matter” 的新應(yīng)用程序，希望人們能用它來(lái)收集信息，幫助科學(xué)家了解特定物種在哪里繁衍生息或逐漸減少。 

‘Insectagedden’ is how the global decline in insect populations has been described by some scientists. One case study in Germany suggested there’d been a 75% decrease in numbers over 27 years. 

一些科學(xué)家用 “昆蟲(chóng)末日” 來(lái)描述全球昆蟲(chóng)數(shù)量下降的現(xiàn)象。德國(guó)的一項(xiàng)案例研究表明，昆蟲(chóng)數(shù)量曾在27年間下降了75%。

But there’s actually very little data for many insect groups and species, even here in the UK. Which is where this new app comes in. The hope is that in the hands of a small army of citizen scientists, it will generate more accurate figures for insect populations. 

但事實(shí)上，人們對(duì)有關(guān)許多昆蟲(chóng)類群和物種的數(shù)據(jù)記錄甚少，即使在英國(guó)也是如此。所以就催生了這款新應(yīng)用。開(kāi)發(fā)者希望借助一小群平民科學(xué)家的一臂之力，使它生成更準(zhǔn)確的昆蟲(chóng)種群數(shù)字。

It’s simple to use – you clean your number plate before you go on a journey, then when you arrive at your destination, you use the app to photograph the bugs squashed on a section of it using a ‘splatometer’ grid you get when you download the app. The results become part of the nationwide survey.

這款應(yīng)用程序的用法很簡(jiǎn)單：駕車出行前清潔你的車牌，到達(dá)目的地時(shí)，用下載應(yīng)用程序后收到的 “飛蟲(chóng)計(jì)數(shù)器（splatometer）” 網(wǎng)格，拍下車牌一處被撞扁的蟲(chóng)子。拍到的結(jié)果會(huì)成為全國(guó)調(diào)查的一部分。

詞匯表

insectagedden “昆蟲(chóng)末日”，全球昆蟲(chóng)數(shù)量下降的現(xiàn)象
case study 案例研究
in the hands of 在…的控制下
citizen scientists 平民科學(xué)家
number plate 車牌
squashed 壓扁的，撞扁的
survey 調(diào)查

閱讀理解：請(qǐng)?jiān)谧x完上文后，回答下列問(wèn)題。

1. According to one study, what’s happened to insect numbers over 27 years?

2. True or false? The army are going to help gather more accurate figures of insect populations.

3. Which part of the car is the app used on to count the number of squashed bugs?

4. To use the app, what must you do before you go on a car journey?

答案  

1. According to one study, what’s happened to insect numbers over 27 years?
One case study in Germany suggested there’d been a 75% decrease in numbers over 27 years.

2. True or false? The army are going to help gather more accurate figures of insect populations.
False. A small army (group) of citizen scientists are going to help gather the data. It is hoped this will generate more accurate figures for insect populations.

3. Which part of the car is the app used on to count the number of squashed bugs?
You use the app to photograph the bugs squashed on a section of the number plate.

4. To use the app, what must you do before you go on a car journey?
You must clean your number plate before you go on a journey.