「不人道」的商業捕鯨
Whaling was an age-old industry that once accounted for a significant portion of the world’s economy.
捕鯨是一個古老的產業，在過去曾經佔全球經濟的一大部分。
age-old古老的;悠久的industry(n.)產業account for sth.佔(比例)significant(adj.)重大的;顯著的portion(n.)部分
However, since 1986, the International Whaling Commission has banned whale hunting for its member nations.
然而，自1986年起，國際捕鯨委員會禁止成員國進行捕鯨活動。
commission(n.)委員會ban(v.)禁止(n.)禁令put a ban on sth.下令禁止
Currently, though, there are three countries — Japan, Norway and Iceland — that still continue the “inhumane” practice of commercial whaling.
然而，目前仍有三個國家——日本、挪威和冰島——仍然進行「不人道」的商業捕鯨行為。
currently(adv.)目前;現在=at presentinhumane(adj.)不人道的practice(n.)活動、慣例;習俗commercial(adj.)商業的
The first wave of whaling took place in the Middle Ages as a commercial hunting practice, with whales killed for “their meat, skin, blubber and oil.”
第一波的捕鯨潮發生在中世紀，那時捕鯨是一種商業狩獵活動，鯨魚被捕殺以獲取「鯨魚肉、鯨皮、鯨脂和鯨油」。
age(n.)時代;時期
Initially, the practice began in European waters, where whalers targeted right, sperm, bowhead, and baleen whales.
最初，捕鯨活動起源於歐洲水域，捕鯨者主要捕捉露脊鯨、抹香鯨、弓頭鯨和鬚鯨。
initially(adv.)起初;一開始=at firstwaters(n.)水域target(v.)針對;瞄準
By the 18th century, after Atlantic populations were decimated, whaling spread to the US and then to Pacific and Arctic waters.
到了18世紀，隨著大西洋的鯨魚數量大幅減少，捕鯨活動擴展到美國，並接著擴展到太平洋和北極水域。
population(n.)數量、人口decimate(v.)毀滅、大量殺戮spread(v.)擴展;散布spread-spread-spread
As a result of centuries of whaling, many whale species were pushed to the brink of extinction.
經過數世紀的捕鯨，許多鯨魚品種已經瀕臨滅絕。
century(n.)世紀species(n.)物種brink(n.)(事情發生的)邊緣extinction(n.)滅絕extinct(adj.)絕種的go／become extinct絕種
For example, only 340 North Atlantic right whales are alive today.
例如，北大西洋露脊鯨如今僅剩340頭。
It is estimated that in the 20th century alone, three million whales were killed.
據估計，僅在20世紀，就有三百萬隻鯨魚被捕殺。
estimate(v.)估計
Today, whale hunting continues in Japan, Norway and Iceland, mainly targeting whales for their meat.
如今，日本、挪威和冰島仍繼續捕鯨，主要是以鯨肉為目標。
In 2022, Norway killed 580 whales, while Japan killed 270 and Iceland only one.
在2022年，挪威捕殺了580頭鯨魚，而日本捕殺了270頭，冰島只有一頭。
While Japan is determined to keep hunting whales, Iceland is likely moving to end the practice due to reports of whale deaths that violate animal protection standards.
儘管日本決心繼續捕鯨，但冰島可能正朝著結束捕鯨的方向發展，這是因為有報吿指出，鯨魚死亡的情況違反了動物保護標準。
determine(v.)決定;下決心be determined to VR決心要做～move to～向～發展violate(v.)違反;違背=breach
There have been worldwide calls for an end to whaling from those opposed to the practice.
全世界反對捕鯨活動的人都呼籲停止捕鯨活動。
call for sth.呼籲an end to sth.終止～be opposed to sth.反對～
Advocates hope to end whaling for good in the near future.
倡議者希望在不久的將來永遠結束捕鯨活動。
advocate(n.)倡議者advocate(v.)主張;支持;提倡advocate for sth.提倡～for good永久地=once and for all
They argue that the killing of whales is unsustainable because it has driven entire species to near extinction and that the whales suffer a “slow and agonizing death.”
他們認為，捕殺鯨魚不僅是不永續的，因為捕鯨使整個物種瀕臨滅絕，而且鯨魚遭受了「緩慢而痛苦的死亡」。
unsustainable(adj.)不永續的sustain(v.)(使)持續;維持drive(v.)強迫;迫使suffer(v.)經歷;遭受agonizing(adj.)痛苦的=extremely painful