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Under threat ก าลงจะสญพนธ ( July 28, 2010 Catfish in danger )

Once again, some of the world’s rarest fish are in danger from dam construction.

Growing up to three metres in length and weighing 350kg, the Mekong giant catfish is ranked the third largest freshwater fish in the world.

According to a report by the World Wildlife Fund, it is also one of the world’s most endangered species if plans for hydroelectric dams on the Mekong River go ahead.

“A fish the size of a Mekong giant catfish simply will not be able to swim across a large barrier like a dam to reach its spawning grounds upstream,” said Roger Mollot, freshwater biologist for WWF Laos. “This would lead to the collapse of the wild population of this species.”

Scientists say the Mekong giant catfish migrate from the Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia up the Mekong River to spawn in northern Thailand and Laos. It is believed dams built on the lower Mekong will block the migration route.

The focus now is on a hydropower dam planned for the Mekong in Sayaboury province, northern Laos. The Sayabourydam is the first dam on the lower Mekong mainstream to enter a critical stage of assessment before member countries of the Mekong River Commission advise on whether to approve its construction.

Other Mekong giant fish featured in the WWF report are the dog-eating catfish, named because it has been caught using dog meat as bait, and the giant barb, the national fish of Cambodia. At 300kg, these tie for fifth place on the global top 10 for freshwater fish.

“More giant fish live in the Mekong than any other river on Earth,” said Dang Thuy Trang, Mekong River eco-region coordinator for the WWF Greater Mekong Programme.

“Currently, the lower Mekong remains free-flowing, which presents a rare opportunity for the conservation of these species. But the clock is ticking.”

Adapt from a story in the Bangkok Post.

ศพทนาร

Rank – to put someone or something into a position according to their success, importance , size etc. / จดอนดบEndangered species – a type of animal or plant that may soon become extinct (= disappear from the world) / สตวปาหรอสงมชวตทใกลจะสญพนธHydroelectric – using water power to produce electricity / เกยวกบไฟฟาก าลงน าDam – a wall built across a river to stop the water from flowing, especially in order to create a lake or to help to produce electric power / เขอนBarrier – anything that prevents people from being together or understanding each other / เครองกดขวางSpawn – (of frog or fish) to produce eggs / วางไขGrounds – an area of land or sea where a particular thing happens / บรเวณ, สถานท

Upstream – along a river, in the opposite direction to which the river is flowing / กระแสน าBiologist – a scientist who studies biology / นกชววทยาCollapse – a situation in which something fails or stops existing / การลมสลาย, การพงทลายMigrate – to move from one place or another as reasons change / อพยพBlock – to stop someone or something from moving through or along something else / ปดกน , กดขวางRoute – the roads, rivers, etc. used to go from one place to another / เสนทางCritical – extremely important because a future situation will be affected by it / วกฤต , ส าคญยงStage - a particular point in time during a process or set of events / ระยะเวลา , ชวงเวลาAssessment – the process of making a judgment or forming an opinion after considering something or someone carefully / การประเมน

Approve - to give official permission / อนมตConstruction – the work of building or making something, especially buildings, dams, bridges, etc. / การกอสรางFeature – to include someone or something as an important part / ตพมพBait - food used for attracting and catching fish, birds, or animals / เหยอTie – having the same number of points, rank, etc. / ไดแตมหรอคะแนนเทากน , เสมอกนCoordinator – someone whose job is to organize the various parts of an activity and make sure that all the people involved work well together / ผประสานงานConservation – the protect of plants and animals, natural areas, and interesting and important structures and buildings, especially from the damaging effects of human activity / การอนรกษธรรมชาต, การสงวนพนธสตวและพชThe clock is ticking – time is running out before something, usually bad, will happen / ไมมเวลาแลว

Getting the factsRead each of the following statements and decide if they are trueor false.

• The Mekong giant catfish is the largest freshwater fish in the world.• If dams are built in the lower Mekong where the giant catfish lives, it will likely not survive, scientist say.• A dam would make it impossible for the giant catfish to migrate normally.• A dam currently being planned in Thailand is causing the most worry at the moment.• Fortunately, the giant catfish is the only large fish that would be endangered by dams on the lower Mekong

AnswersGetting the facts: 1.false 2.true 3.true 4.false 5.false

Vocabulary practiceUse words from the vocabulary list to fill in the blanks in the sentences below. You may have to change the form of some of the words to fit the sentence (e.g., plurals, past forms, etc.)

• The panel made a careful __________ of the risks of building a nuclear plant and decided it should not go ahead.• The __________ went through a thick forest before turning north into farmland.• The fish __________ each July, covering hundreds of kilometers in their journey to their spawning grounds.• He used ordinary earthworms as __________ and he never failed to catch fish.

• The situation was quickly becoming __________ and government officials order the town’s residents to evacuate.The protester built a barrier of burning rubber tyres to __________ police from entering the area.He concern for the environment was so strong, he decided to join a __________ group.The match ended in a 2-2 __________ .

AnswersVocabulary practice: 1.assessment 2.route 3.migrate 4.bait 5.critical 6.block 7.conservation 8.tie

แหลงอางอง

- สนย แคนยกษ. 2554. หนงสอ Easy English News. พมพครงท 1. กรงเทพฯ : บรษท โพส พบลชชง จ ากด.- www.bangkokpost.com/learning/

ผจดท า.

1. นาย อษภางค บญชพ เลขท 102. นาย ชยรกษ วสธารนนท เลขท 243. นาย ธษณ กนธยะ เลขท 33

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