2846個起火點
A quarter of the Pantanal wetland in Brazil has been consumed by wildfires this year. At least 2,846 fire spots have been registered in October, and that number is the highest since satellite records began in 1998.
今年，巴西潘特納爾濕地的四分之一被野火吞噬，10月至少有2,846處起火，創下自1998年開始衛星監測以來的最高紀錄。
consume(v.)吃、喝、消耗、消費、(火)吞噬;燒毀;毀滅register(v.)紀錄=recordsatellite(n.)人造衛星satellite images衛星影像
The Pantanal wetland is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. It is home to around 1,200 species of animals, including the world’s densest population of jaguars.
潘特納爾濕地是地球上生物多樣性最豐富的地方之一，是約1千2百種動物的棲息地，包括世界上最密集的美洲豹群。
biodiverse(adj.)生物多樣性豐富的biodiversity(n.)生物多樣性be home to…是…的棲息地dense(adj.)濃的;濃密的;密集的;密度大的dense fog濃霧a dense forest濃密的森林a dense population人口密集
It also plays a crucial role in regulating the waters in the area.
潘特納爾濕地在調節該地區的水域方面扮演重要的角色。
crucial(adj.)至關重要的;關鍵的;決定性的=pivotal=critical=key=significant=very important=essentialregulate(v.)控制;管理;調節;調整regulate the temperature in the house調節室溫regulate the market管制市場
The wetland expands with water during the rainy season and dries out during the dry months.
在雨季，濕地的面積會擴大，而在乾燥的月份則會乾枯。
expand(v.)擴張;擴大
This intricate system helps purify water and prevents floods.
這個複雜精細的系統有助於淨化水質並防止洪水氾濫。
intricate(adj.)錯綜複雜的;複雜精細的;難理解的;難解決的pure water純水purify(v.)使純淨、淨化purify the mind淨化思想
What’s more, it stores a huge amount of carbon, which is critical in stabilizing the climate.
此外，潘特納爾濕地還存儲大量的碳，對穩定氣候至關重要。
store(v.)儲存critical(adj.)關鍵性的;決定性的;至關重要的stabilize(v.)使穩定;使穩固stable(adj.)穩定的
For centuries, ranchers in the region have used controlled fires to clear fields. However, the Pantanal is suffering its worst drought in 47 years. The drought emptied the natural water barriers, so the flames ran out of control easily.
數世紀以來，該區域的牧場業主會點火清理田野。然而，潘特納爾濕地正遭受47年來最嚴重的乾旱，乾旱使得自然的水屏障消失了，因此火勢很容易失控。
rancher(n.)牧場主;農場主drought(n.)久旱、旱災run out of control失控
Brazil’s government blamed the drought for the wildfires, but environmental organizations say humans are responsible.
巴西政府將野火歸咎於乾旱，但環境組織稱人類才是罪魁禍首。
blame A for B把A怪罪在B身上=blame B on A
Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro has promised to weaken conservation regulations. He is popular among the ranchers, who worry that the conservationists might turn the Pantanal into a reserve and force them out.
巴西總統波索納洛承諾放寬保育相關法規，受到牧場主的支持，他們擔心保育人士會把潘特納爾濕地變成保護區並把他們趕出去。
weaken(v.)放寬=relaxtighten(v.)使…更加嚴格conservation(n.)(自然)保育=preservation=environmental protectionregulation(n.)細則;法規conservationist(n.)保育人士reserve(n.)自然保護區
In the meantime, the indigenous Guato people, who have lived in the Pantanal for thousands of years, mourn the loss of nature.
同時，在潘特納爾濕地生活了數千年的原住民瓜託人則喪失大自然感到悲痛。
in the meantime=meanwhile同時indigenous people原住民=aboriginal people=native peoplemourn(v.)(尤指因某人的亡故而)哀悼;悲傷
“The birds don’t sing anymore. Even the jaguar that once scared me is suffering,” said Sandra Guato Silva, a community leader. “I feel as though our freedom has left us, has been taken from us with the nature that we have always protected.”
部落長老席爾瓦說：「鳥兒不再唱歌了。甚至曾經使我感到恐懼的美洲豹都在受苦。我覺得我們好像失去了自由，和我們一直保護的大自然一起被奪走了。」
as though=as if似乎;好像;彷彿