A Dying Forest

一片濒临消失的森林

Rainforests provide much of the world's oxygen supply. But the forests' exotic trees and animals are being killed to make room for farmers and roads. People have been trying to conserve rainforests for years. But another type of forest—the cloud forest—is just as beneficial to humans. Cloud forests are also in danger of disappearing, but little is being done to save them.

雨林提供了世界上大部分的氧气供应。但是为了增加耕地和修建道路，森林里奇异的树木和动物正在被砍伐和猎杀。多年来，人们一直在努力保护热带雨林。但是另一种森林——云林——对人类同样有益。云林也面临着消失的危险，但我们对此也无能为力。

These forests are located at the tops of mountains, generally near the equator. These humid, wooded mountaintops are mainly in African and Central and South American countries. They are called "cloud forests" because their height allows for the formation of clouds among the trees.

这些森林位于山顶，通常在赤道附近。这些潮湿、树木繁茂的山顶主要分布在非洲、中美和南美国家。它们被称为“云林”是它们海拔高，树木之间能形成云雾。

Rainforests produce large amounts of oxygen. Cloud forests produce comparative amounts of water. The trees in these forests pull water out of the clouds. The moisture gathers on the leaves. When it drips, it is deposited into streams. The streams flow into towns at the bottom of the mountain. Then, it's distributed to people. The yearly cumulative rainfall in these areas is 173-198 centimeters. Cloud forests can pull in up to 60 percent of that. This water is crucial to the plants and the people in the area. It helps them survive.

雨林产生大量的氧气，而云林能产生等量的水分。这些森林里的树木把云里的水吸收并聚集在树叶上。当它滴落的时候，就会沉积在小溪里。小溪流入山脚下的城镇。然后供人们饮用。这些地区的年累计降雨量为173-198厘米。云林可以吸收其中的60%。这些水对这个地区的植物和人们都至关重要，是他们赖以生存的。

Cloud forests are also the birthplace of countless species of plants that can't be found anywhere else. One small cloud forest has the capacity for as many types of plants as there are in all of Europe. There are so many, in fact, that scientists haven't made a comprehensive list of them yet.

云林也是无数种植物的诞生地，这些植物在其他任何地方都找不到。一个小云林可以种植的植物和整个欧洲一样多。事实上，数量多到科学家们还没有列出一个完整的清单。

These forests are being destroyed with increasing frequency. Trees are being cut down, and roads are being built in their place. Some people have an objective to get federal money to protect the forests. But they have had little success. Another strategy is to replace the destroyed plants. That, too, has been difficult because the plants are so unique. There's plenty of work to be done, but saving the cloud forests is still a possibility.

这些森林正越来越频繁地遭到破坏。树木正在被砍伐，取而代之的是公路。有些人致力于获得联邦资金来保护森林，但收效甚微。另一个策略是重新种植被砍伐掉的树木。这也很困难，因为这些植物很独特。虽然还有很多工作要做，但我们还是有可能拯救云林的。

核心单词表

beneficial adj.有益的

birthplace n.出生地

capacity n.容量

comparative adj.比较的

comprehensive adj.综合的

conserve v.保存

crucial adj.重要的

cumulative adj.累积的

deposit v.存放

distribute v.分配

equator n.赤道

exotic adj.异国的

federal adj.联邦的

formation n.构造

frequency n.频率

objective n.目的

oxygen n.氧气

rainforest n.(热带)雨林

strategy n.战略

wooded adj.森林多的

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