The Amazon basin region is home to about 2. 5 million insect species, tens of thousands of plants, and some 2, 000 birds and mammals. To date, at least 40, 000 plant species, 3, 000 fish, 1, 294 birds, 427 mammals, 428 amphibians, and 378 reptiles have been scientifically classified in the region. One in five of all the birds in the world live in the Amazon rainforest.
The warm and wet forest has been in existence for at least 55 million years, and thrived even during glacial periods, allowing for the evolution of an unbelievable diversity of species. Radiocarbon dating (放射性碳定年法) has revealed trees of 10 centimeter in diameter to be more than 300 years old, and some trees over 1, 000 years old, indicating that untouched forests can experience unbelievable longevity.
The first human inhabitants are thought to have settled in the Amazon region about 11, 200 years ago. European explorers arrived in the 16th century, bringing diseases which traveled faster than the explorers themselves, killing perhaps as many as 90% of the indigenous inhabitants (土著居民). By the late 17th century the Amazon basin was controlled by Portuguese and Spanish explorers.
The Amazon rainforest has been described as the lungs of our planet because of its important role in recycling carbon dioxide into oxygen. But due to deforestation (滥伐森林), rainforests now cover less than 5% of the Earth's land surface, and experts believe that this is a big contributor to global climate change. Severe deforestation began in the 20th century, with 587, 000 square kilometers lost up to the year 2000. Most deforested land is used for grassland to raise farm animals and agriculture. The addition of transport routes has led to increased settlement and deforestation, and at the present rate, scientists estimate that the Amazon rainforest will be reduced by 40% in two decades.
Jenny was a pretty eight-year-old girl.
One day when she and her mother were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace, by which she was totally defeated. How eagerly she wanted it! But when she saw the price, her heart sank a little. She gathered up her courage and asked her mother if she would buy it for her. Her mother said, "Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I can buy you the necklace, but when we get home, we should make up a list of housework that you can do to pay for the necklace." Jenny agreed immediately, feeling a burst of joy. So her mother bought the pearl necklace for her. Jenny worked on her housework determinedly and earnestly every day. Soon Jenny paid off the pearls.
Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would read Jenny her favourite story. One night when he finished the story, he said, "Jenny, do you love me?" "Oh, yes, Daddy, you know I love you," the little girl said delightedly, with a broad smile on her face. "Well, then, give me your pearls." Hearing that, Jenny froze there, an anxious expression twisting her face. "Oh! Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Rosy, my favourite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. Okay?" "Oh no, darling, that's okay." Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss, gently and calmly. "Good night, little one."
A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story, "Do you love me?" "Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you," the little girl murmured softly, trying to escape from her father's eyes. "Well, then, give me your pearls. ""Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She is my favourite." The little girl begged. "No, that's okay," her father said, smiling broadly and sweetly and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. "God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams."
注意：续写词数应为150左右。
Several days later, when Jenny's father came in to read her story, Jenny was waiting anxiously for him on the bed.
……
Holding the plastic pearl his daughter offered, the father dragged out a blue box.
