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Somalian Pirates Cause Concern 索马利亚海盗横行，引发国际关注

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Somalian Pirates Cause Concern  索马利亚海盗横行，引发国际关注

The waters off the coast of the African country of Somalia have become increasingly notorious as a hotspot for pirates. Far from the image of Captain Jack Sparrow, these pirates are no laughing matter. Heavily armed with machine guns, they have managed to obtain over US$150 million in ransom money in the 12 months leading up to November 2008. Their favored targets are huge oil tankers, whose crews they hold hostage.

非洲国家索马利亚的外海越来越恶名昭彰，成为海盗出没频仍之处。这些海盗和（《神鬼奇航》中）杰克船长的形象大相径庭，可不是闹着玩的。他们仗着重装配备的机关枪，至2008年11月的12个月内，已经获得超过一亿五千万美元的赎金。他们的头号目标是大型油轮，船员全被他们押作人质。

In an effort to curb the attacks, the military alliance NATO has pledged to send a number of its warships to the area. This will add to protection already provided by the Indian and Russian navies.

军事联盟北大西洋公约组织为了遏止这些攻击，已誓言派遣军舰前往该海域，在目前印度及俄罗斯海军提供的保护外再加强防护。

Long-Lost Pygmy Tarsiers Rediscovered  侏儒眼镜猴匿迹多年，再现印度尼西亚

There has been much excitement in the scientific world recently about the rediscovery of an animal that was thought to have become extinct. In August 2008, three pygmy tarsiers were spotted in a remote forest on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, over 80 years after the last confirmed sighting.

最近再度发现一种原以为绝种的动物，让科学界振奋不已。去年8月，有3只侏儒眼镜猴在印度尼西亚苏拉威西岛的偏远森林里被发现，距上一次经证实的目击已经80多年。

These tiny primates, weighing less than 60 grams, have a very cute appearance, with huge eyes and thick silky fur. They cannot actually move their eyes, but instead are able to rotate their heads around 180 degrees. The Indonesian government has been urged to set up a protected area in the rainforest where the tarsiers were found, in order to ensure the future survival of the species.

这些体型娇小的灵长类体重不到60公克，生有一对大眼和柔密的绒毛，外表十分可爱。牠们无法转动眼球，但头可以旋转180度。各界极力要求印度尼西亚政府在发现侏儒眼镜猴的雨林中设立保护区，以确保牠们在未来能存活下去。

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Vocabulary

单词发音

notorious [noˋtorɪəs] adj. 恶名昭彰的，声名狼藉的

ransom [ˋrænsəm] n. 赎金

target [ˋtɑrgɪt] n. 目标

hostage [ˋhɑstɪdʒ] n. 人质

rotate [ˋrotet] v. 旋转，转动

More Information

单词发音

Somalia [səˋmɑlɪə] 索马利亚（非洲东部一国）

hotspot ['hɑtspɑt] n. 热点

no laughing matter 不是开玩笑的事 to be very serious

lead up to 紧挨在…之前 before

tanker [ˋtæŋkɚ] n. 油轮

curb [kɝb] v. 控制，遏止

alliance [əˋlaɪəns] n. 联盟，同盟

pledge [plɛdʒ] v. 保证，誓言

warship [ˋwɔr͵ʃɪp] n. 军舰；舰艇

pygmy [ˋpɪgmɪ] n. 矮子，侏儒

tarsier [ˋtɑrsiɚ] n. 眼镜猴

spot [spɑt] v. 【口】认出，发现

Indonesian [͵ɪndəˋniʃən] adj. 印度尼西亚(人)的

sighting [`saɪtɪŋ] n. 发现〔尤指见到少见的或希望见到的事物〕

primate [ˋpraɪmɪt] n. 灵长类动物

Tarsier Teaser