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📚 Key Vocabulary
| Word | Definition | 中文 |
|---|---|---|
| displaced | Moved from its usual or proper place, especially forcefully. | 被取代的，被迫迁徙的 |
| demolition | The act of completely destroying a building or structure. | 拆除，摧毁 |
| crevices | Narrow cracks or openings, especially in a rock or wall. | 裂缝，缝隙 |
| documented | Recorded something in detail, often through writing or photography, to provide evidence or information. | 记录，记载 |
| established | Having existed for a long time and generally recognized or accepted. | 已确立的，成立已久的 |
| annually | Happening once every year. | 每年地 |
| ascertain | To find out something for certain; to make sure of. | 查明，确定 |
| inadvertently | Without intending to; accidentally. | 无意地，不慎地 |
📖 Read the Article
Concerns are growing in Dorking, UK, following the premature demolition of a section of a building, which conservationists fear has led to the displacement of numerous migratory swifts. Campaigners are particularly alarmed because the construction work, initially scheduled for autumn, commenced in May, coinciding directly with the birds’ crucial nesting season.
Swift conservation groups have reported that a significant portion of a wall at the Station Approach site, known to contain crevices vital for the birds’ nesting, was removed. Amy Brewer, a photographer who has diligently documented these swifts, recounted the distressing scene of birds repeatedly attempting to return to their long-established nests, only to discover their customary habitat entirely gone. She described observing the swifts’ visible distress as they searched for their missing homes.
Julia Hemsley, a co-founder of Dorking Swift Conservation, affirmed that the location has functioned as a thriving swift colony for an extended period. She underscored the critical nature of the situation, explaining that swifts exhibit strong loyalty to their nesting sites, travelling vast distances annually to return to them. Ms. Hemsley cautioned that if these highly site-specific birds lose their nests, they frequently do not breed again in the same season, potentially impacting the local population significantly.
In response to the incident, campaigners are demanding accountability from Clarion Housing Group, the building developer, under existing wildlife protection legislation. Furthermore, they are appealing to local residents to install swift boxes and utilise bird calls as a means to entice the displaced swifts towards new, safe nesting alternatives within the community.
Mole Valley District Council has taken immediate action, issuing a temporary stop notice for the ongoing works. The council is currently conducting an investigation to ascertain whether all planning requirements were adhered to, particularly concerning the essential ecological checks. Approved planning documents, while not outright forbidding demolition during nesting season, explicitly mandate a nesting bird check by the developer within 48 hours prior to any such work. Separately, Surrey Police are also reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident.
This unfolding situation serves as a poignant illustration of the delicate balance that must be maintained between urban development aspirations and the imperative of safeguarding vulnerable wildlife populations. It raises important questions about how developers and local authorities can ensure that necessary construction projects do not inadvertently cause harm to the natural environment.
✏️ Reading Practice
1. What is the main concern discussed in the article?
- A.The illegal demolition of a historic building in Dorking.
- B.The displacement of migratory swifts due to premature demolition during nesting season.
- C.The lack of suitable nesting sites for birds across the UK.
- D.The financial penalties faced by a housing developer for violating planning laws.
2. According to the article, what action did Mole Valley District Council take regarding the building works?
- A.They ordered the developer to rebuild the demolished wall immediately.
- B.They fined Clarion Housing Group for breaching wildlife laws.
- C.They issued a temporary stop notice and initiated an investigation.
- D.They began installing new swift boxes around the Station Approach site.
3. What can be inferred about the developer’s adherence to planning requirements?
- A.There is doubt whether all ecological checks were properly conducted before demolition.
- B.The developer intentionally ignored wildlife protection laws.
- C.The demolition work was fully compliant with all local regulations.
- D.Clarion Housing Group was unaware that swifts nested in the building.
4. Which word best describes the campaigners’ attitude towards Clarion Housing Group?
- A.Understanding
- B.Indifferent
- C.Supportive
- D.Demanding
5. In the context of the article, what does ‘mandate’ most closely mean?
- A.Suggest
- B.Require
- C.Allow
- D.Forbid