Bird populations in the UK continue to crash, new data shows, as campaigners predict the government will fail to meet its own nature targets unless radical (彻底的) changes are made. In 2021, on average the abundance of 130 breeding species was 12% below its 1970 value. Between 2015 and 2020, 24% of species increased, 28% showed little change and 48% declined. Wildlife experts agree that the decline in bird populations is largely driven by habitat loss.

The government passed the Environment Act into law in 2021, which requires a halt in species decline by 2030. Campaigners have said that radical changes to government policy are needed if it is to meet its targets. The problems were highlighted by the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch this year, in which house sparrows remained the most frequently observed species in gardens for the 20th year in a row.

“The numbers speak for themselves when it comes to the astonishing declines of some of our once common birds,” said Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s chief executive. “We are in a nature and climate emergency and we’ve lost 38 million birds from our skies in the past 50 years. “This year, more than 500,000 people took part in the Big Garden Birdwatch, and more than 9 million birds were spotted. The results also identified problems faced by other common bird species, including chaffinches and greenfinches.

Richard Benwell, the chief executive of the environmental coalition Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “Meeting the legal target to stop wildlife losses by the end of the next parliament (议会) can’t be achieved with a legal tweak (调整) here, some spare change there. Serious, sustained investment, proper punishment for pollution, and action in every department of government must be the features of any nature-positive manifesto (宣言).”

【小题1】According to the text, what is the main cause of bird population decline in the UK?

A．Climate change.

B．Habitat loss.

C．Pollution.

D．Hunting.

【小题2】What does the underlined word “halt” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Adjustment.

B．Instruction.

C．Stop.

D．Promotion.

【小题3】Which bird species has been seen the most regularly in UK gardens during the past 20 years?

A．House sparrows.	B．Chaffinches.
C．Greenfinches.	D．Uncommon birds.

【小题4】Why does the author quote Richard Benwell’s words in the last paragraph?

A．To point out the ways to meet the nature target.

B．To stress the importance of setting specific goals.

C．To remind the next parliament to make new laws.

D．To prove the government’s failure in bird protection.