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New research says that 610 bird species have died off over the past 130,000 years.
For instance, the Kaua'i 'ō'ō, a Hawaiian songbird, was declared extinct just last year.
The recent research also suggested that an "ongoing biodiversity crisis" that requires urgent study is taking place.
Bird species have a special purpose within the environment. When a bird species disappears, nothing remains to do its job, suggested Tom Matthews of the University of Birmingham in England. Matthews was the lead writer of the study that appeared recently in the publication Science.
Matthews said that birds do many important jobs in an environment. These jobs include spreading seeds, eating insects, or reusing dead material. Vultures, for example, eat the flesh of dead animals.
Matthews said a good example of the importance of birds is "on the islands of Mauritius and Hawaii, where all or almost all the native...birds that eat fruit...have gone extinct."
He explained, "In eating the fruits and then moving around, birds will disperse the seeds of the plants the fruits belong to." The lack of seed spreading can have secondary effects, Matthews said. For example, Mauritius now has many threatened tree species.
Most of the documented extinctions have taken place on islands.
The loss of living areas for birds can have big effects given the limited area involved. Many island birds are flightless, meaning they cannot fly away to escape predators.
As a result, flightless birds are easily hurt by new predators, such as rats or cats, Matthews suggested.
Human hunting of birds was a big reason behind the disappearance of different bird species in the past. Bird hunting remains a big problem in some areas. Capturing birds for the songbird trade is a big problem, particularly in Southeast Asia, Matthews said.
Some areas and species had more exact reasons for bird disappearances. For example, avian malaria, introduced by people, has resulted in large numbers of extinctions in Hawaii where the birds possessed no natural immunity.
Matthews suggested that the effects of a changing climate on birds remains a "big unknown."
Many birds have been lost over time.
The large flightless "elephant birds" were native to Madagascar. The bird is believed to have disappeared after people arrived. That includes Aepyornis maximus. It was about 3 meters tall and was possibly the largest bird that ever existed.
The flightless moa birds, native to New Zealand, including the South Island giant moa, also disappeared after humans came to the islands.
North America's passenger pigeon numbered in the billions but was hunted to extinction.
The researchers said the 610 bird species combined represented 3 billion years of evolutionary history. Each lost species is like cutting off a branch from the tree of life.
The number 610 is "likely a large underestimate" of avian extinctions, Matthews said. This is because of a lack of data from some areas and the fact some lost species may not have left behind bones or other evidence.
Matthews added, "the vast majority of extinctions over the last 50,000 years are attributable to human actions."
About 11,000 bird species now exist. The researchers projected future extinctions of more than 1,000 species over the next two hundred years.
"So even if you don't care about the moral and ethical concerns regarding the loss of species, these extinctions are important for other reasons, such as the loss of species that helped the environment to function effectively," Matthews added.
Words in This Story
species - n. a class of animals having common attributes and designated by a common name
extinct - adj. no longer existing
disperse - v. to cause to become spread widely
predator -n. an animal that hunts and eats other animals
vast -adj. very great in size or extent
attributable - adj. to be explained by indicating a cause
ethical -adj. related to questions of right or wrong
function - v. to operate or be in action
0 actions | |
n.action;行动( action的名词复数 );作用;动作;积极的活动 | |
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0 added | |
adj.更多的,附加的,额外的 | |
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0 almost | |
adv.几乎,差不多 | |
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0 also | |
adv.也,亦;并且;同样;而且,还 | |
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0 animal | |
n.动物,兽,畜生 | |
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0 animals | |
n.动物( animal的名词复数 );兽;兽性;粗野残暴的人 | |
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v.出现( appear的过去式和过去分词 );出庭(作证或受审);演出;发表 | |
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0 area | |
n.地区,区域,面积,方面 | |
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0 areas | |
地区,区域(area 的复数形式);面积;领域 | |
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0 around | |
adv.大约,到处,在周围;prep.在...周围 | |
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0 arrived | |
v.到达,来( arrive的过去式和过去分词 );发生 | |
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0 as | |
conj.按照;如同 | |
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0 Asia | |
n.亚洲 | |
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0 attributable | |
a.可归因于…的 | |
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0 attributes | |
属性,特性,特质; 属性( attribute的名词复数 ); (人或物的)特征; 价值; [语法学]定语 | |
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0 away | |
adv.在远处, 到远处, 离去 | |
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0 because | |
conj.由于,因为 | |
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0 become | |
v.变成,变得;vbl.变得 | |
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0 believed | |
v.相信( believe的过去式和过去分词 );认为;以为;对…信以为真 | |
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0 belong | |
vi.属于,附属;应归入 | |
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0 billion | |
num.十亿;数以十亿计;大量;一万亿 | |
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0 billions | |
n.十亿(billion的复数形式) | |
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0 bones | |
n.骨骼,尸体;骨头( bone的名词复数 );尸骨;骨质物;有…样的骨头的 | |
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0 branch | |
n.分支,树枝;vt/vi.分支,分岔 | |
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0 came | |
v.动词come的过去式 | |
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0 cannot | |
不能;不会 | |
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0 capturing | |
俘获( capture的现在分词 ); 夺取; 夺得; 引起(注意、想像、兴趣) | |
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0 care | |
n.小心,照料,忧虑;v.关心,照顾,喜爱,介意 | |
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0 cause | |
pron.造成,使发生 | |
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0 changing | |
n.替换;变换;转换;变化 | |
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0 climate | |
n.气候,民意状况,社会趋势,风土 | |
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0 combined | |
adj.结合的;化合的;[数]组合的v.(使)联合(combine的过去式和过去分词) | |
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0 common | |
adj.共同的,平常的,普通的;n.平民,普通,公地,公园 | |
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0 concerns | |
n.关系( concern的名词复数 );关心;企业;(与某人)有关的事 | |
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0 crisis | |
n.危机,危急关头,决定性时刻,关键阶段 | |
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0 data | |
n.数据,论据,资料 | |
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0 dead | |
adj.死的;无生命的;死气沉沉的;adv.完全地 | |
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0 declared | |
adj.公告的,公然的v.宣布( declare的过去式和过去分词 );断言;申报(收益);板球(在击球员还未全部出局时)宣布结束赛局 | |
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0 designated | |
a.指定的,特指的 | |
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0 died | |
vbl.死亡,消逝v.死亡,枯萎( die的过去式和过去分词 );死时处于(某种状态)或具有(某种身份)adj.死亡的,消逝的 | |
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0 different | |
adj.不同的,有区别的,不一致的 | |
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0 disappearance | |
n.消失,消散,失踪 | |
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0 disappearances | |
n.消失( disappearance的名词复数 );丢失;失踪;失踪案 | |
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0 disappeared | |
v.不见,消失( disappear的过去式和过去分词 );不复存在;奭 | |
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0 disappears | |
v.不见,消失( disappear的第三人称单数 );不复存在 | |
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0 disperse | |
vi.使分散;使消失;vt.分散;驱散 | |
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0 documented | |
备有证明文件的 | |
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0 each | |
adj.每个,每,每一;adv.每个;int.每个,个人,个自 | |
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0 easily | |
adv.容易地,轻易地,顺利地 | |
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0 effects | |
n.动产,财物,家财;结果( effect的名词复数 );效果;感受;个人财产 | |
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0 elephant | |
n.大象 | |
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0 England | |
n.英格兰,英国 | |
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0 environment | |
n.环境,生态环境,自然环境 | |
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0 escape | |
vi.逃跑,逃避;逃过..的注意;逸出;n.逃跑 | |
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0 ethical | |
adj.伦理的,道德的,合乎道德的 | |
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0 even | |
adj.平坦的,偶数的,相等的;adv.甚至,恰好,正当 | |
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0 ever | |
adv.曾经;永远;不断地;在任何时候;究竟 | |
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0 evidence | |
n.明显,显著,明白,迹象,根据,[物]证据,证物 | |
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0 evolutionary | |
adj.进化的;演化的,演变的;[生]进化论的 | |
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0 exact | |
adj.确切的,正确的;准确的,精确的;vt.强要,强求;急需,需要 | |
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0 example | |
n.榜样,例子 | |
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0 exist | |
vi.存在,生存,生活,继续存在 | |
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0 existed | |
v.存在( exist的过去式和过去分词 );生存;(尤指在特殊的条件下或在特定的场所)发现;持续存在 | |
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0 existing | |
adj.目前的;现存的v.存在( exist的现在分词);持续存在 | |
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0 explained | |
v.讲解,解释( explain的过去式和过去分词 );说明…的原因,辩解;说明,解释,辩解 | |
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0 extent | |
n.程度,范围,限度;广度,宽度,大小 | |
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0 extinct | |
adj.灭绝的,不再活跃的,熄灭了的,已废弃的 | |
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0 extinction | |
n.熄灭,消亡,消灭,灭绝,绝种 | |
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0 fact | |
n.事实,实情,论据 | |
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0 flesh | |
n.肉;(供食用的)肉;果肉 | |
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0 fruit | |
n.水果 | |
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0 fruits | |
n.成果( fruit的名词复数 );水果;果实;(大地的)产物 | |
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0 function | |
n.功能;作用 | |
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0 future | |
adj.将来的,未来的;n.将来,未来 | |
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0 giant | |
adj.庞大的,巨大的;n.巨人,大力士,巨大的怪物 | |
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0 given | |
adj.赠予的,沉溺的,特定的,假设的;vbl.give的过去分词 | |
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0 had | |
vbl.have的过去式和过去分词;conj.有 | |
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0 Hawaii | |
n.夏威夷(美国州名) | |
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0 helped | |
v.帮助( help的过去式和过去分词 );有助于,有利于;治疗;避免 | |
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0 history | |
n.历史,历史学;经历 | |
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0 human | |
n.人,人类;adj.人类的,人性的,有同情心的 | |
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0 humans | |
n.人,人类( human的名词复数 ) | |
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0 hundred | |
num.百,一百;(pl.)许多;adj.一百的;许多 | |
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0 hunted | |
v.打猎( hunt的过去式和过去分词 );猎取;搜寻;寻找 | |
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0 hunting | |
n.搜寻 | |
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0 hunts | |
n.猎地( hunt的名词复数 );一组猎人v.打猎( hunt的第三人称单数 );猎取;搜寻;寻找 | |
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0 hurt | |
vt.剌痛,危害,损害,伤痛 | |
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0 immunity | |
n.优惠;免除;豁免,豁免权 | |
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0 importance | |
n.重要性,重大,价值 | |
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0 important | |
adj.重要的;重大的;严重的 | |
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0 include | |
v.包括,包含,连...在内;(计算机)包括 | |
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0 includes | |
v.包括( include的第三人称单数 );包含;列入;包住 | |
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0 including | |
prep.包含,包括 | |
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0 indicating | |
n.指示,标志v.标示( indicate的现在分词 );指示;象征;表明或暗示…的可能性 | |
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0 insects | |
n.昆虫( insect的名词复数 );虫类 | |
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0 instance | |
n.例,例证,实例 | |
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0 introduced | |
adj.[医]引种的,引进的v.提出( introduce的过去式和过去分词 );介绍;引进;作为…的开头 | |
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0 involved | |
a.复杂的,有密切关系的 | |
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0 island | |
adj.岛(国)的;n.岛 | |
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0 islands | |
n.岛,岛屿( island的名词复数 );群岛 | |
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0 job | |
n.工作,职位;零活,一件工作;任务,职责 | |
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0 jobs | |
n.(一件)工作( job的名词复数 );职责;职业;(作为一个单元处理的)作业 | |
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0 just | |
adv.仅仅,只是;刚刚 | |
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0 lack | |
n.缺乏,不足;vi.缺乏,短少,没有缺乏,短少,没有;需要 | |
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0 large | |
adj.大的,大量的,宽大的 | |
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0 largest | |
adj.大的,多量的;大的( large的最高级 );大规模的;众多的;(服装、食物、日用品等)大型号的 | |
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0 lead | |
v.引导,致使;领导 | |
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0 left | |
adj.左边的,左倾的,左侧的,左派的,左翼的;adv.在左面;n.左,左边,左派;vbl.leave的过去式和过去分词 | |
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0 life | |
n.生活;生命 | |
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0 likely | |
adj.有可能的,合适的,前途有望的;adv.或许,可能 | |
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0 limited | |
adj.有限制的,有限的,少的;n.高级快车 | |
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0 living | |
adj.活的,活着的,现存的;逼真的,一模一样的;生活的,维持生活的;n.生活,生计 | |
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0 longer | |
adj.比较久的;(距离,长度)长的( long的比较级 );长时间的;(因忙或不愉快等)似乎比实际时间长的;长音的 | |
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0 loss | |
n.损失,遗失,失败,输,浪费,错过,[军]伤亡,降低 | |
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0 lost | |
v.遗失;adj.失去的,丧失的,错过的;迷惑的;不为人知的;vbl.lose的过去式和过去分词 | |
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0 majority | |
n.大多数;过半数 | |
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0 malaria | |
n.疟疾 | |
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0 material | |
n.材料,原料;物质;素材,题材,资料;adj.物质的,实体的 | |
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0 meaning | |
n.意义,含意,目的,意图;adj.意味深长的 | |
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0 meters | |
n.米( meter的名词复数 );计;表;(用于测量电、煤气、水等,以及时间和距离的)计量器 | |
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0 moral | |
adj.道德(上)的,有道德的;n.品行,寓意,道德 | |
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0 most | |
adj.最多的(many,much的最高级) | |
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0 moving | |
adj.活动的,可移动的;搬家的,搬运的;感人的v.move的现在分词 | |
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0 native | |
adj.本国的,本地的;n.本地人,本国人 | |
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0 natural | |
adj.自然的,正常的,天生的;n.有天赋的人 | |
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0 north | |
n./adj.北;北方(的) | |
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0 nothing | |
adv.毫不;n.微不足道的人或事;pron.什么也没有 | |
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0 number | |
n.数(字,量),号码,数(值) | |
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0 numbered | |
adj.有限的,时日无多的v.数,算( number的过去式和过去分词 );给…编号;总共 | |
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0 numbers | |
n.算术; 数量上的优势;数( number的名词复数 );数目;一期;一群人v.数,算( number的第三人称单数 );给…编号;总共 | |
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0 off | |
adj.远的;休假的,空闲的;adv.走开,出发,隔断;prep.离开,脱落,在...之外 | |
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0 ongoing | |
adj.进行中的,前进的 | |
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0 passenger | |
n.乘客,旅客 | |
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0 past | |
n.过去,昔时,往事,早年经历,过去时;adj.过去的,结束的,卸任的,过去时的;prep.越过,晚于,超越,超出...的可能性(能力、范围等);pass的过去分词 | |
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0 people | |
n.人们,人;(the-)人民;一国人民,民族 | |
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0 pigeon | |
n.鸽子 | |
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0 place | |
n.地方;名次;地位;寓所;vt.放置;订(货) | |
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0 plants | |
n.(plural form of plant,plant的复数形式)植物,农作物;植物( plant的名词复数 );工厂;发电厂;幼苗v.种植( plant的第三人称单数 );建立;移植(动物、植物);在(某处)栽种 | |
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0 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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0 possibly | |
adv.可能,也许 | |
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0 predator | |
n.捕食其它动物的动物;捕食者 | |
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0 predators | |
n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 );奴役他人者(尤指在财务或性关系方面) | |
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0 problem | |
n.问题;难题 | |
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0 projected | |
adj.规划的;设计的;预期的;估计的v.投射( project的过去式和过去分词 );计划;提出;展现 | |
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0 publication | |
n.出版,发行;出版;公布,发表 | |
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0 purpose | |
n.目的,意图;意志,决心;议题;vt.打算,决意 | |
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0 questions | |
n.询问,疑问,问题;问题( question的名词复数 );疑问;怀疑;议题v.问(某人)问题( question的第三人称单数 );对(某事物)表示[感到]怀疑 | |
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0 rats | |
int.胡说,瞎扯n.大老鼠( rat的名词复数 );卑鄙小人,叛徒 | |
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0 reason | |
n.原因,理由,理智,道理;v.劝说,推理 | |
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0 reasons | |
n.理由( reason的名词复数 );原因;理性;理智v.推理,思考( reason的第三人称单数 );争辩 | |
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0 recent | |
adj.近来的,新近的 | |
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0 recently | |
adv.近来,最近 | |
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0 regarding | |
prep.关于,至于;就…而论,在…方面 | |
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0 related | |
adj.有关系的,有关联的,叙述的,讲述的 | |
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0 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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0 represented | |
v.表现( represent的过去式和过去分词 );代表;体现;作为…的代表 | |
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0 requires | |
v.要求( require的第三人称单数 );需要;想要;命令 | |
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0 research | |
n.探索;调查;研究 vt./vi.调查;研究 | |
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0 result | |
n.结果,成绩,答案;v.产生,起于,致使 | |
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0 resulted | |
v.发生( result的过去式和过去分词 );导致;随着发生;结果发生 | |
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0 reusing | |
v.再用,重新使用( reuse的现在分词 );重用 | |
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0 said | |
v.动词say的过去式、过去分词 | |
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0 science | |
n.科学,学科,学问,自然科学; | |
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0 secondary | |
adj.中级的,中等的,次要的;n.次要位置,副手 | |
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0 seed | |
n.种子,萌芽,原由,根据,子孙,精液;vt.播种,结实,成熟,去...籽;vi.结实,播种 | |
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0 seeds | |
n.种子( seed的名词复数 );子孙;起源;(尤指网球比赛)种子选手 | |
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0 size | |
n.尺寸,大小;v.按大小排列或分类 | |
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0 south | |
n.南,南方 | |
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0 southeast | |
n.东南,东南地区;adj.东南的,向东南的,来自东南的; adv.往东南,来自东南 | |
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0 special | |
adj.特别的;特征的,特殊的 | |
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0 species | |
n.物种,种群 | |
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0 spread | |
n.传播,散布,伸展;adj.扩延的,伸展的;vt.展开,铺开;传播,推广;伸出;涂,敷 | |
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0 spreading | |
v.撒布;伸开( spread的现在分词 );展开;(使)传播;(使)散布 | |
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0 study | |
vt.学习;研究;细看;vi.读书;n.学习;研究 | |
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0 such | |
adj.如此的,这样的;pron.这样的;adv.如此地 | |
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0 suggested | |
暗示的 | |
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0 threatened | |
受到威胁的 | |
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0 trade | |
n.贸易,商业,交易;行业,同行;手工艺;主顾,(复数)信风;vi.做生意,购物,交换;vt.用某物交换,做买卖;adj.商业的,专业性的,同行的 | |
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0 underestimate | |
vt.对...估价过低,低估 | |
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0 university | |
n.大学 | |
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0 unknown | |
adj.未知的,陌生的;n.未知的东西,未知数 | |
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0 urgent | |
a.紧急的,急迫的,紧要的 | |
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0 vast | |
adj.巨大的,庞大的;大量的,巨额的 | |
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0 was | |
v.(is,am的过去式)是,在 | |
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0 within | |
n.内部,里头;adv.在内部,在内心里;prep.在…之内 | |
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0 words | |
n.字( word的名词复数 );(说的)话;诺言;口令 | |
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0 writer | |
n.作家,记者,撰稿者,抄写员 | |
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0 wrong | |
adj.错误的,有毛病的 | |
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0 year | |
n.年,年度,学年;adj./adv.每年,一年一次 | |
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0 years | |
n.年( year的名词复数 );年纪;一年的期间;某年级的学生 | |
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