人类离开后，荒废的土地变成了什么样？

胡静

People follow wildlife filmmaker Dan ONeill and zoologist Yussef Rafik as they discover what happens when abandoned places — from a former slate quarry（采石场） to a disused coal mine — turn wild. Dan and Yussef are on a mission to uncover the wildlife secrets hidden inside. Its a fascinating story of how nature is reclaiming and transforming the broken soil we leave behind.

Inchkeith Island

This island off the Scottish coast， just a short distance from Edinburgh， was an important strategic location for military defences for over 500 years. While its buildings might be empty and derelict， the wildlife has bloomed. Dan and Yussef watch young seal pups on the beach， spot seabirds including the eider duck， and brave a walk in an old Victorian tunnel， now home to European cave spiders.

“We made the buildings on this island for war， but the animals are putting them to a different use.”

Dinorwic Quarry

Dan and Yussef visit this former slate quarry in Wales. Once one of the biggest producers of slate in the world， Dinorwic closed its doors in 1969 and nature has slowly been reclaiming the land ever since. Dan and Yussef search for the fastest animal in the world， the peregrine falcon（游隼）. They spot rare wild mountain goats. And they walk around buildings that， once a hive of industry， are now a place of peace and tranquillity.

“For decades， nature has been slowly reclaiming this quarry and what was once a grey barren wasteland is now showing signs of life.”

Chatterley Whitfield

Today it looks more like a set from an apocalyptic film， but at its peak Chatterley Whitfield was a busy coal mine employing more than 4，000 people every day. In the 45 years since it closed， wildlife has taken hold. Dan waits patiently to see if the tiny owl he thought he saw is a rare ‘little owl. Yussef finds plants including buddleia and sunflowers that have sprung up in the most unlikely places. And hidden cameras capture footage of the rabbits， foxes and badgers that roam these empty buildings at night.

“Youd never think an abandoned building could have so much wildlife inside.”

（材料出自BBC Earth網站，有删改）

1. What do the three sites have in common？

A. They used to be coal mines.

B. They are all deserted places.

C. They are former slate quarry.

D. They are still a hive of industry.

2. What can we learn from Paragraph 2？

A. These buildings were intended for war， but animals occupy it.

B. This island is still empty and derelict as before.

C. Animals transform the deserted military defences into their lively home.

D. This island has been out of use for nearly 45 years.

3. What can we know about Dinorwic Quarry？

A. There is no signs of life here.

B. The two filmmakers found the place full of silence.

C. The filmmakers spotted the fastest animal — rare wild mountain goats.

D. It has been considered as one of the biggest producers of slate since 1969.

4. If you visit Chatterley Whitfield， what will you see？

A. More than 4，000 people are employed here now.

B. Only animals can be found here.

C. It is a disused coal mine now.

D. No plants can be seen here.

1. B。解析：细节理解题。材料第一段中的“they discover what happens when abandoned places — from a former slate quarry to a disused coal mine — turn wild”这一句有一个关键词“abandon”，通过这个词我们可以知道这几处地方现在已经废弃了。故选B。

2. C。解析：细节理解题。根据材料第一个小标题部分的内容“While its buildings might be empty and derelict， the wildlife has bloomed.”，我们可知虽然这座岛上的建筑可能是空的和废弃的，但许多野生动物活跃在这里。故选C。

3. B。解析：推理判断题。根据材料第二个小标题部分的内容“And they walk around buildings that， once a hive of industry， are now a place of peace and tranquillity.”，我们可以推出现在的Dinorwic Quarry是个寂静的地方。故选B。

4. C。解析：推理判断题。根据材料第三个小标题部分的内容“Today it looks more like a set from an apocalyptic film， but at its peak Chatterley Whitfield was a busy coal mine employing more than 4，000 people every day.”，我們可以推出现在去到Chatterley Whitfield将会看到一个废弃的煤矿。故选C。