【慢速听力 3 篇 】Drought Threatens Wildlife Industry in South Africa
No.1
AS IT IS
Drought Threatens Wildlife Industry in South Africa
January 12, 2020
A dead antelope is seen in the veld near Groblershoop, South Africa, December 6, 2019. (REUTERS/Shafiek Tassiem)
Parts of the country have been affected by repeated years of hotter than normal weather and below average rainfall. The conditions have burned feeding grasses and dried up watering holes. In 2015, the area saw the driest year on record.
The agency Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA) collects data on more than 9,000 wildlife ranches in the nation. It estimates that the Northern Cape province has lost more than two-thirds of its game over the last three years. WRSA is talking to ranchers around the country to gather information on animal loss and the financial impact the drought is having.
WRSA chief Adri Kitshoff-Botha told Reuters News Agency the drought has continued for some time. “In some areas we’ve seen it has been going now for six years,” she said.
The wildlife industry brings money to South Africa’s economy through tourism, hunting, breeding and meat production. Trophy hunting – the shooting of carefully chosen animals – made $140 million in 2016. That information comes from research by the environment ministry.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change notes Southern Africa’s temperatures are rising at two times the world’s average rate. And in much of South Africa, the level of water in manmade lakes is decreasing.
Burger Schoeman supervises the Thuru Lodge in the Northern Cape. There, the dying plants and dry grounds are a serious concern.
In the past, the lodge was home to around 4,500 wild animals – including 35 different species, from antelope to rhino. But it has lost around 1,000 animals because of the drought. Now, dead animals sit in old, unused mines on the edge of the property.
Schoeman told reporters from the Reuters news agency, “At this stage we are quite stretched. All the money you get from selling the animals, the meat and all of that, gets put straight back into the property to look after the rest of the animals.”
The lodge has seen its spending rise as it buys more feed for the animals. At the same time, hunters are paying less, and fewer tourists are visiting because the animals are in poor condition.
At the 48,000-hectare Karreekloof Safari Lodge in the same province, game rangers find dead animals every week.
Gideon Watts is the ranch supervisor there. “Nobody wants to buy the game, because they also (are experiencing) ... the same drought,” he said. He added that his farm got only one-fourth of its usual rainfall this year.
The industry has seen a decrease of around 20 percent in tourists over the past year, said WRSA’s Kitshoff-Botha.
The drought has also hit other parts of Southern Africa. In Botswana, more than 100 elephants died in two months in 2019. Botswana is home to almost one-third of Africa’s elephants.
I’m Alice Bryant.
Tanisha Heiberg reported this story for Reuters News Agency. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.
_______________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
ranch – n. a large farm where animals are raised
province – n. any of the large parts that some countries are divided into
game – n. animals that are hunted
tourism – n. the activity of traveling to a place for pleasure
breeding – n. the process by which young animals are produced by their parents
species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants
ranger – n. a person in charge of managing and protecting part of a national park or wildlife lodge
No.2
AS IT IS
Japanese Billionaire Gives Away $9 Million in 'Social Experiment'
January 12, 2020
FILE - Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, pictured here on October 9, 2018 for being chosen as the first private passenger by SpaceX. (REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo)
Yusaku Maezawa will give $9,000 to 1,000 followers chosen at random from people who retweeted his January 1 message on Twitter. The money’s effect on the winners will be studied over time through questionnaires.
“It’s a serious social experiment,” said the businessman on YouTube, adding that he hopes it will interest both researchers and economists.
Yusaku Maezawa rose to fame in the Japanese fashion industry at an early age. He became rich thanks to Zozotown, a website that specializes in clothing sales.
-t-
Maezawa is known for his high spending on art and sports cars but also his love for sharing ideas, like a world without money. In addition, he was chosen to be the first private passenger to fly around the moon with Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
With his giveaway, Maezawa hopes to spread the idea of basic income, or the theory of giving periodic payments to all citizens. The idea has gained attention in some political circles, even in the United States. A leading supporter is businessman Andrew Yang, a candidate for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.
“Basic means a regular minimum amount offering a sense of security. What Maezawa is offering is totally different,” said Toshihiro Nagahama. He is an economist with the Dai-ichi Life Research Institute.
Maezawa said that since he “has the money and free time” to make the payments, he is trying to fuel a debate in Japan over the value of a basic income.
The idea of a universal basic income has gained support because of fears that technology will replace large numbers of jobs. But for now, that concern is not as big an issue in Japan with its low unemployment rate, said Nagahama.
This is the second, larger, giveaway by Maezawa. In November, he got $900 million from the sale of his online fashion business.
Maezawa now has seven million Twitter followers. His tweets are an interesting mix of subjects, including his pricy purchases and thoughts on the meaning of life. He also recently made news headlines after his split from actress girlfriend Ayame Goriki.
These days, he can also be found on YouTube, sharing things like a look into his private plane and a visit to the barber shop to get his hair colored. He even shared a video of him working on his finances after the November sale of his company.
The debate over basic income comes as income inequality continues to grow in the United States. In recent years, some very wealthy Americans have promised to give away most of their wealth. They include Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and investor Warren Buffett.
I’m Alice Bryant.
Sam Nussey wrote this story for Reuters News Agency. Alice Bryant adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
______________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
overall – adj. general or universal
retweet – v. to forward or report a message on Twitter
post – n. a piece of writing, picture or something else published online
random – adj. chosen or done without a particular plan
income – n. money earned from work, business or investments
regular – adj. structured, normal or systematic
minimum – n. the lowest number or amount that is possible or permitted
barber – n. a person whose job is to cut men’s hair
No.3
HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
What Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
January 12, 2020
Now the United States’ National Institutes of Health is using volunteers in a unique study. The goal is to learn more about the condition, which affects an estimated 2.5 million Americans.
Zach Ault’s story
For years, Zach Ault, a father of three, enjoyed being physically active. He was even training for a half-marathon. He would go on long runs in hopes of competing in the race.
But in 2017, he took time off to recover from an infection. After recovering, he tried to continue his runs but could not complete them.
An invisible disease began causing Ault problems. He was not able to spend time with his children. He had to cut back his job. Even sleeping as much as 16 hours a day made no difference in his condition.
“His body had literally hijacked him and it wasn’t going to allow him to push through,” said Anne Ault, his wife.
After months of testing, doctors announced their diagnosis of Ault’s condition.
Chronic fatigue is a difficult issue
Chronic fatigue syndrome makes an individual feel extremely tired. This fatigue lasts more than six months and becomes worse after any kind of physical exertion.
Patients may have difficulty standing upright. They also may have trouble thinking, often described as a “brain fog.”
Many cases go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. There are no approved treatments, or even tests to help with diagnosis. There is no way to predict who will recover and who will have a severe case that lasts for years.
Doctors at the National Institutes of Health are looking for more clues. They are interested in people who came down with the disorder after an infection, of any kind, within five years.
About 500 patients have asked about taking part in the NIH study. It starts with a hospitalization for blood and genetic tests, brain imaging scans, as well as other things. Researchers will examine the results before deciding who to invite back for a longer visit.
Zach Ault is one of the subjects in the study. Reporters from The Associated Press filmed Ault beginning a test on an exercise bicycle. “Go as far as you can, work as hard as you can,” NIH physical therapist Bart Drinkard told Ault.
While Ault pedals the bike, scientists measure how his leg muscles use oxygen. Afterward, doctors fit a special cap on Ault’s head to measure electrical activity in his brain. They then send him to spend the night in an air-tight chamber. Pipes remove air from the room for additional study. Scientists measure oxygen and carbon dioxide levels to tell how much energy Ault is using, minute by minute.
“We can calculate every molecule. It’s the cleanest air we have in the hospital,” said Kong Chen, a metabolism specialist at NIH. “We’re figuring out how his body adjusts to an exercise load, or a stress load.”
The study does not offer any treatments to people with chronic fatigue syndrome. But Ault says it did help him learn about the disease. And it gave him ideas about how to save up his energy.
“It’s hard not knowing if I’m going to recover, if or when,” he said.
Until research has an answer, he says he will “hope for the best but live for right now.”
I’m John Russell.
Mike Stobbe reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
______________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
unique – n. used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else
invisible – adj. unable to be seen; hidden
allow – v. to permit or let
diagnosis – n. the act of identifying a disease, illness, or problem by examining someone or something
exertion – n. physical or mental effort
bicycle – n. a vehicle with two wheels that is powered by two pedals
therapist – n. a treatment aide or specialist
pedal – n. an instrument pressed by the foot when riding a bicycle or playing a musical instrument
metabolism – n. biology: the chemical processes by which a plant or an animal uses food or water to grow, heal amd make energy
consequence – n. an effect, product or result
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.
严重推荐：
1) 整理完毕，请收藏、分享 【动画英文版西游记】：1-108集
2) 精心收集,请收藏：【TED演讲】中英雙語字幕 222 篇 ===
5) 【总目录】美国总统
6) 整理完毕,请收藏：英语慢速听力 413 篇(探索)：【d12】EXPLORATIONS