Millions of Farmers’ Lives in Africa Are at Risk from Locusts1 非洲数百万农民的生存正面临 蝗虫的威胁

张祖平

Swarms of locusts have destroyed large areas of farmland and crops in Somalia， Kenya and Uganda. The locusts are spreading and could go to other countries. The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization say swarms have been seen as far away as Oman in the Gulf. It is the worst locust invasion2 in 70 years.

The invasion affects over 12 million people. Many of these have little food due to poor harvests and no rain. The locusts will make things worse. Locusts are very hungry pests. One locust can eat crops of its body weight in 24 hours. A small swarm could eat crops enough to feed 35，000 people for a day.

A worried farmer said， “We depend a lot on this season and we worry that the locusts will destroy our harvest. We will end up...hungry through the rest of the year.”

成群的蝗蟲摧毁了索马里、肯尼亚和乌干达的大片农田和庄稼。蝗虫正在肆虐，可能会波及他国。联合国粮食及农业组织表示，蝗群已经远至波斯湾的阿曼。这是70年来最严重的一次蝗虫侵袭。

这次蝗虫侵袭影响了1200多万人口。歉收和缺雨使许多人几乎没有粮食吃。蝗虫会让情况更糟。蝗虫是食欲旺盛的害虫。一只蝗虫可以在24小时内吃掉和它体重相当的庄稼。一小群蝗虫每天可以吃掉能养活35000人的庄稼。

一位忧心忡忡的农民说：“我们全靠这个季节，我们担心蝗虫会毁掉我们的收成。我们最终会……在今年剩下的时间里忍饥挨饿。”

【Notes】

1. locust [     ] n. 蝗虫

2. invasion [     ] n. 入侵;侵袭

▲Discussion议一议：

1. What do you think of the locust invasion？ 你对蝗虫侵袭这件事有什么看法？

2. What do you think is the best way to fight against locusts？你认为对付蝗虫最好的方法是什么？

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