文字稿

50多位高知名度的倡導者及社會名流呼吁加強動物保護，禁止活煮龍蝦和螃蟹。他們已在一封給英國環(huán)境大臣邁克爾·戈夫（Michael Gove）的聯(lián)名信上簽名，敦促他在新的動物福利法案中把甲殼類動物歸為“有知覺的生物”。

Scientists say pain is not a straightforward concept and it can take many years of research to establish whether or not certain animals can feel it. But campaigners argue there is now mounting evidence that lobsters and crabs do suffer when plunged into boiling water.

科學家們說，疼痛并不是一個簡單易懂的概念，而且要想證實某些動物能否感覺到疼痛，可能需要多年的研究。但該倡議的支持者們指出，現(xiàn)已有越來越多的證據(jù)表明龍蝦和螃蟹在被人扔進沸水中后確實會承受痛苦。

The British Veterinary Association, along with celebrities such as the wildlife presenter Chris Packham, wants the Environment Secretary Michael Gove to grant the animals extra protection in a forthcoming Animal Welfare Bill.

英國獸醫(yī)協(xié)會（The British Veterinary Association）和野生動物節(jié)目主持人克里斯·帕克漢姆（Chris Packham）等名人都希望英國環(huán)境大臣邁克爾·戈夫能在即將被審議的動物福利法案中授予動物額外的保護。

There are practical reasons to boil some crustaceans alive – their meat tends to spoil particularly fast, but campaigners say there are more humane killing methods that will have little impact on the food's preparation.

活煮一些甲殼類動物的做法是有一定實際原因的，比如有些動物一旦死亡，肉會很快變質(zhì)。但針對這一點，該倡議的支持者們說，除了活煮以外應(yīng)該還有不會對食物制備過程產(chǎn)生太大影響的、更為人道的宰殺方法。

In response, the government said it was committed to the very highest standards of animal welfare.

英國政府對此事的回應(yīng)是：他們致力于確保最高水準的動物福祉。

1. 詞匯表

straightforward 簡單明了的，易懂的
mounting evidence 越來越多的證據(jù)
plunged into 被扔進…中
grant（官方）給予、授予
practical reasons 實際的原因
crustaceans 甲殼類動物
humane 人道的
committed 致力（于）

2. 閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題 。

1. Do scientists say pain is the same for animals and humans?

2. Which law can offer protection for lobsters and crabs?

3. Why might chefs in a restaurant want to boil a lobster?

4. True or false? Discovering if animals feel pain can take years of research.

3. 答案

1. Do scientists say pain is the same for animals and humans?
No. Scientists say that pain is not a straighforward concept.

2. Which law can offer protection for lobsters and crabs?
The Animal Welfare Bill can grant protection for lobsters and crabs.

3. Why might chefs in a restaurant want to boil a lobster?
The meat on lobsters spoils quickly, so boiling them stops this happening.

4. True or false? Discovering if animals feel pain can take years of research.
True. It can take many years of research to establish whether or not certain animals can feel pain.