外刊精读 | 考研英语素材:给非洲保护区装上无人机,还得有人会修会用
- 2026-09-21 04:03:58
背景速览
CCF 把无人机、传感器送进非洲保护区时发现,真正缺的是会装、会修、会用设备的人。这家机构自 2015 年起在非洲各地公园布设摄像头、追踪项圈等技术系统,守护近 1000 万公顷土地,并于 2025 年 7 月推出全球首个保护区技术员(PAT)线上课程,首年 680 人学完至少一个模块,成绩最好的 16 人受邀赴南非拉帕拉拉荒野保护区实训。
英文节选
On a bitingly cold night in Lapalala Wilderness nature reserve in South Africa's Limpopo province, Duncan Kanyakera watches as instructor Jacques Viljoen deploys a thermal drone in search of a lone cheetah. Once the drone has disappeared into the inky sky, Kanyakera, from Tsavo in Kenya, and 20 other conservation professionals from across Africa turn their attention to the open-air screen in anticipation.
"Data and technology are critical to modern conservation," says CCF's Sophie Maxwell. "Cameras and collars and software like EarthRanger have transformed the fight against poaching … But then an elephant knocks over a pole and you are back to square one."
中文译文
在南非林波波省的拉帕拉拉荒野保护区,一个寒意刺骨的夜晚,邓肯·卡尼亚凯拉看着教练雅克·维尔容放飞一台热成像无人机,搜寻一只离群的猎豹。待无人机隐入墨黑的夜空,这位来自肯尼亚察沃的学员和另外 20 名来自非洲各地的野保从业者,把目光转向露天屏幕,满怀期待。
"数据和科技对现代野生动物保护至关重要,"CCF 的索菲·马克斯韦尔说,"摄像头、追踪项圈和 EarthRanger 这类软件改变了打击偷猎的局面……可大象一旦碰倒杆子,一切又回到原点。"
高频词短语
【deploy】/dɪˈplɔɪ/ v. 部署,投放(人手或设备)
例:The team deploys a drone within minutes of a poaching alert.
收到偷猎警报几分钟内,这支队伍就放飞了无人机。
【thermal】/ˈθɜːml/ a. 热成像的,红外的
例:Thermal cameras can spot a cheetah hiding in thick bush.
热成像相机能发现藏在茂密灌木丛中的猎豹。
【poaching】/ˈpəʊtʃɪŋ/ n. 偷猎
例:Fines alone have not stopped poaching in the region.
单靠罚款并未阻止该地区的偷猎。
【be back to square one】v. 回到原点,前功尽弃
例:One broken camera and the whole plan is back to square one.
一个相机坏了,整套计划就前功尽弃。
长难句速拆
原句:The course – which featured guest lectures and practicals from nine experts on topics including connectivity, communication, power systems, monitoring sensors, hardware integration and GIS visualisation tools – is having an impact far beyond Tsavo.
主干不长:主语 the course,谓语 is having an impact,far beyond Tsavo 点明影响范围。难在两个破折号之间插了一整个 which 从句,把主谓隔开了。从句讲课程内容,featured guest lectures and practicals from nine experts,意思是请来九位专家讲客座课、带实操;on topics 后面的 including 是举例,从 connectivity、通信、供电系统,一路排到 monitoring sensors、硬件集成和 GIS 可视化工具,全是话题范围。见到成对破折号,先跳到第二个后面找谓语,is having 一露面,句子就通了。
考场应用
① 考研英语·阅读理解:转折词 but then 是这段最现成的考点。Maxwell 先说摄像头、项圈、软件"已经改变了反偷猎的局面",紧跟一句大象碰倒杆子、回到原点,把话锋拧回去。若语义判断题给出"技术已让反偷猎一劳永逸"之类的选项,正是要你用这个转折排除它;正确项多半落在"技术成果脆弱、离不开人维护"上。习语 back to square one 也别按字面猜,语境里就是从头再来。
② 雅思写作·Task 2:用于"科技投入值不值、如何评估技术援助"类题。论点可一句拿走:技术转让的成败不在硬件多先进,而在有没有本地人会维护。论据带数字:CCF 自 2015 年在非洲各公园布设系统、守护近 1000 万公顷,直到 2025 年 7 月才开课培训本地技术员,首年 680 人线上学课、16 人实训,正好说明"人的短板补得太晚"。展开时把设备端和人力端分开谈即可。
③ 考研英语写作:科技与人的关系可用"仅靠技术难成事"骨架,Tech alone achieves little unless it is backed by people who can maintain it。示范句:Tech alone achieves little in conservation unless trained technicians keep the drones running。把 conservation 换成 education、healthcare 就能套。
"As soon as I get home, I'll reconfigure our camera traps to make the most of AI," says Kanyakera who also has his sights set on re-equipping the ops room in Tsavo.
这句你打算怎么翻?提示:says Kanyakera who… 里 who 从句管的是 Kanyakera,别让它跑到别处去;have one's sights set on 直译成"把目光设定在……"太生硬,按"盘算着、盯着"来会顺得多。
来源
来源:The Guardian(Richard Hartley)|2026 年 9 月 3 日
