昆虫末日

谯丽

Nowadays， a sharp reduction in insect populations around the world， a so?called “insect apocalypse” （昆虫末日）， has caused a widespread concern. Recently， a study has found that insect numbers have decreased by half in some parts of the world due to climate change and intensive agriculture. In this latest study， the researchers gathered data on the range and number of nearly 20，000 insect species， including bees， ants， butterflies， grasshoppers and dragonflies， at about 6，000 different locations. The study shows that in areas with high?intensity（高强度） agriculture and substantial（显著的）warming， insect numbers have plunged by 49% and the number of different species has dropped by 27%， compared with relatively untouched places that have so far avoided the most severe impacts of climate change.

According to researchers， the combined pressures of global heating and farming are driving a significant decline of insects across the globe. Losing insect populations could be harmful not only to the natural environment， but also to human health and food security， particularly with losses of pollinators （传粉者）.

So it is high time that we should take action to prevent insects from decreasing. First of all， it may be helpful to carefully manage agricultural areas， such as preserving natural habitats near farmland and slowing the expansion of high?intensity agriculture， which may ensure that vital insects can still thrive. Whats more， it will be beneficial to cut our emission （排放） to weaken climate change. Last but not least， we need to acknowledge how important insects are for the environment as a whole， and for human health and well?being， in order to address the threats that we pose to them before many species are lost forever.

Activity A Reading for understanding

Ⅰ. Text?centered chunks

cause a widespread concern 引起广泛的关注

due to由于

climate change 气候变化

be harmful to 对……是有害的

prevent sb （from） doing sth 阻止某人做某事

preserve natural habitats 保护自然栖息地

cut emission 减少排放

pose a threat to 对……构成威胁

Ⅱ. Text?centered sentences

1. It is high time that...表虚拟语气

So it is high time that we should take action to prevent insects from decreasing. 因此是我们该采取行动阻止昆虫减少的时候了。

【点石成金】It is high time that...表示“是該做……的时候了”。从句的谓语动词常用一般过去式或“should+do”的虚拟语气结构。其中should不可省略，time前不加定冠词the。

【运用迁移】是我们该立刻采取措施保护地球不被污染的时候了。

2. “It be+形容词+to do sth”结构中，it充当形式主语

It will be beneficial to cut our emission to weaken climate change. 减少我们的排放来减缓气候变化是有益的。

【点石成金】“It is+adj./n.+（for/of sb）+to do ”中的it 作形式主语，真正的主语是 to do 不定式，意为“做……对某人来说是……的”。

【运用迁移】通过海洋探索来保护海洋资源对人类来说是很有必要的。

3. 定语从句

We need to acknowledge how important insects are for the environment as a whole， and for human health and well?being， in order to address the threats that we pose to them before many species are lost forever. 我们需要承认昆虫对整体环境以及对人类健康和幸福的重要性，以便在许多昆虫物种永远消失之前，应对我们给昆虫造成的威胁。

【点石成金】本句中，that 引导的是一个定语从句，先行词为threats， 在定语从句中充当pose的宾语，that可以省略。

【运用迁移】环境污染是我们如今面临的巨大挑战之一。

Activity B Reading for writing

假定你是李华，最近你校学生会将组织一次英语演讲比赛，请你以“Global warming”为题写一篇演讲稿，内容包括：

1. 全球气候变暖的现状；

2. 气候变暖的原因；

3. 你的建议。

注意：

1. 词数80左右；

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3. 至少需要使用一個本文中解析过的句式；

4. 注意段落内的逻辑关系。

Global warming

My fellow students，

Lets take action now！ Thank you！

写作导引

本次的写作任务是写一篇演讲稿，要求学生介绍全球气候变暖的现状、原因以及措施建议，并且至少需要使用虚拟语气句式、形式主语或定语从句中的一个。这些写作要求和所给语篇的主题语境是紧密相关的。我们可以通过整合同主题阅读材料的内容和语言，梳理写作思路和积累素材。

一、语篇解码

（一）主题归纳

What is the text mainly about？

（二）结构梳理与内容分析

Fill in the blanks with only one word according to the text.

二、素材积累

本文是基于“昆虫数量骤减”主题的阅读和写作，我们可以通过模仿、学习并运用阅读中的语言表达，如词块和句型，积累写作的语言素材。

（一）介绍现象类的核心表达

1. with the development of economy 随着经济的发展

2. ...has/have caused a widespread concern ……已经引起了广泛的关注

3. No one， regardless of race， religion or nationality， can deny that... 无论是什么种族、宗教和国籍，没有人能够否认……

4. Recently， ...has/have become a hot topic among people. 最近，……已经成为人们的热门话题。

5. It is evident that... 很明显的是……

（二）分析原因类的核心表达

1. A number of factors might contribute to the phenomenon. 很多因素会导致这种现象。

2. One of the most common causes is that... 最普遍的原因之一是……

3. Part of the explanation for it is that... 造成它的一部分原因是……

4. One of the factors accounting for this situation is that... 导致这种情形的原因之一是……

5. The combined pressures of... and... are driving... ……和……的共同压力正驱使……

（三）列举措施类的核心表达

1. It is high time that we should take action to... 是我们该采取行动做……的时候了。

2. We have to take effective measures to solve this problem. 我们必须采取有效的措施解决这个问题。

3. had better do sth 最好做某事

4. It is better for sb to do sth. 某人最好做某事。

5. Doing sth is strongly recommended. 强烈建议做某事。

6. It is highly recommended that sb should do sth. 强烈建议某人做某事。

7. ...， which is beneficial/helpful. ……是有好处/有帮助的。

三、写作支架

本次的写作任务是写一篇演讲稿，根据任务的要求，语篇结构可定位为“现状+原因+措施建议”。文章的框架如下：

It is a great honor to have the chance to share my view on... Recently， ...（现状分析）

The major reasons are...（原因）

So it is high time that we should take effective measures to... First， ... In addition， ...（措施建议）

四、语篇过手

根据以上提供的主题、主题表达和语篇结构，写出一篇演讲稿。第一段描述全球气候变暖的现象，第二段分析原因，第三段给出措施建议。总词数控制在80左右。

同时，学习运用前文阅读中出现的虚拟语气句式、形式主语或定语从句。尤其要注意表达的内在逻辑关系，需要注意使用恰当的连词。