Alien species a growing menace: experts_美文_趣味英语-查字典英语网

Alien species a growing menace: experts

Insects account for about half of the harmful species detected.

Other harmful species include weeds, roundworms, fungi, bacteria and viruses.

On Tuesday, the administration ordered stricter inspections on fruit imports from the Philippines after harmful organisms were found in several shipments.

It said insects and bacteria had been found in pineapples, bananas and other fruits imported from the Philippines in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Shandong.

Some invasive species, that could have been tackled or eliminated by strict prevention and control measures, now prevail across the country, experts said.

Questions:

1. What activities may be accidentally introducing invasive species into China?

2. What do the invasive species threaten?

3. How many harmful species were detected at entry points?

Answers:

1. Rapid growth of world trade, tourism and transportation.

2. Agriculture and human health.

3. 320,000.

About the broadcaster:

Emily Cheng is an editor at China Daily. She was born in Sydney, Australia and graduated from the University of Sydney with a degree in Media, English Literature and Politics. She has worked in the media industry since starting university and this is the third time she has settled abroad - she interned with a magazine in Hong Kong 2007 and studied at the University of Leeds in 2009.