王慶華

Hermès plans to hold crocodiles?in Australia

難詞探意

1. breed /brid/ v. 繁殖;飼養(yǎng);培育

2. contend /kntend/ v. 聲稱;主張

3. zoonotic /zntk/ adj. 動物傳染病的

4. unconscionable /nknnbl/ adj. 昧著良心的

Hermès is one of the biggest names in high？end fashion， and could soon be operating one of the biggest crocodile farms in Australia. The brand wants to house up to 50，000 saltwater crocodiles at the facility， The Guardian reports. Each of them will be bred and killed for their skins， which will be turned into handbags and shoes.

Several other crocodile farms are in operation in Australia？s Northern Territory， now known as a global supplier of crocodile skins. Burns， a noted investor in these farms， is working to turn a former fruit farm into Hermès crocodile breeding ground. According to the local Environmental Protection Authority， Hermès？?farm would start with a staff of 30， overseeing 4，000 crocodiles， which they would breed to produce the planned 50，000 in 5 years.

With approval of the local government in hand， construction is right around the corner， but animal advocates are fighting back. Nicola Beynon， of Humane Society International， contends that many fashion brands like Chanel， Mulberry， Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger already avoid materials made from exotic animals？?skins as per updated animal welfare policies. “Consumers and fashion houses are walking away from animal cruelty as fast as they can，” Beynon said. “It seems foolish to invest in an industry that is no longer fashionable.”

Wildlife experts warn that the international trade in the skins of exotic animals for luxury fashion promotes the spread of zoonotic diseases， increasing the risk of more pandemics like the current one. Given the impact that the COVID？19 pandemic has had on the Northern Territory？s valuable tourism industry， it？s unconscionable that the territory？s government would approve plans for this crocodile farm and risk becoming home to the next potential disease outbreak.

According to ABC， the 2018/2019 season saw over 24，600 crocodile skins exported from the Northern Territory. The crocodile farming industry is worth an estimated $26.7 million to the Northern Territory economy， according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources （DENR）. How？ever， a 2017 report commissioned from Ernst & Young by the Northern Territory government placed a much higher number on the industry， estimating its worth at $106 million.

1. Why does Hermès set up the crocodile farm in Australia？

A. To raise the public awareness of wildlife protection.

B. To promote the tourism in Northern Territory.

C. To use crocodiles？?skins to make products.

D. To draw people？s attention to its brand.

2. What？s the local government？s attitude to the construction of crocodile farms？

A. Unclear. B. Supportive.

C. Objective. D. Disappointed.

3. Which of the following may still be using crocodile skins according to the text？

A. Chanel. B. Calvin Klein.

C. Hermès. D. Tommy Hilfiger.

4. What can be inferred from the last two paragraphs？

A. Wildlife experts are concerned about the trade in animals？?skins.

B. The Northern Territory government value wildlife protection.

C. Pandemics are mainly caused by destruction of plants.

D. The crocodile farming industry is quite promising.

Sentence for writing

It seems foolish to invest in an industry that is no longer fashionable. 投資一個不再時髦的行業(yè)似乎很愚蠢。

【信息提取】It seems + adj. + to do...意為“做某事似乎……”。

【句式仿寫】叫學生買一本詞典似乎很合理。

在眾人紛紛贊嘆愛馬仕的精致工藝時，一些動物保護者站出來，揭露了其背后隱藏的血腥。三張鱷魚皮制作的一個愛馬仕包，你會購買嗎？