The Amazonian Rain Forest

Hola familia! Hoy les traigo una lectura que habla sobre el Amazonas, lo extenso y bello que es y por qué esta en peligro. Recuerden que el vocabulario esta en la parte de abajo y si quieren estudiar el Listening o tienen dudas con la pronunciación de alguna palabra, también está el audio de la lectura 😉 .. Cuéntenme en los comentarios cómo les pareció y qué opinan del tema.

In the heart of South America, there is one of the largest tropical forests in the world: the Amazonian Rain Forest.

It is nearly as big as the U.S.A⁽¹⁾: 2.375.000 square miles⁽²⁾.
With the tropical forests of South-East Asia and West África, it provides⁽³⁾ half of the world´s oxygen⁽⁴⁾. Its plants give us nearly a quarter of the world´s medicines (1.400 of them are anti-cancer drugs) and it contains more than⁽⁵⁾ half of all the animal and plant species in the world. Most of them have never been clasified⁽⁶⁾.

But every minute 20-40 hectares of forest are destroyed and every year a piece of rain forest as big as Belgium disappears⁽⁷⁾.
The Amazonian Rain Forest is disappearing for a number of reasons⁽⁸⁾. Beef farmers⁽⁹⁾, who raise cattle⁽¹⁰⁾ to supply⁽¹¹⁾ the U.S.A with hamburguers, destroy the forest to feed⁽¹²⁾ their animals. Other farmers destroy the forest to grow their crops⁽¹³⁾. But after a few years, the torrential rain washes away the soil⁽¹⁴⁾ and both kinds of farmers have to destroy more forest. The trees are chopped down⁽¹⁵⁾ to provide firewood⁽¹⁶⁾ or furniture for the developed world⁽¹⁷⁾. And in 1966, after valuable mineral deposits had been discoreved⁽¹⁸⁾, the Brazilian government decided to exploit the area.
And the result?? If nothing is done⁽¹⁹⁾, in 30 years time, the Amazonian Rain Forest will no longer exist⁽²⁰⁾.

Vocabulary:

1. It is nearly as big as the U.S.A: Es casi tan grande como los Estados Unidos de America.
2. Square miles: Millas cuadradas.
3. It provides: Prové.
4. Half of the world´s oxygen: La mitad del oxigeno del mundo.
5. More than a half: Más de la mitad.
6. Have never been clasified: Nunca han sido clasificadas.
7. As big as Belgium disappears: Tan grande como Bélgica desaparece.
8. Reasons: Razones.
9. Beef farmers: Criadores de ganado.
10. Raise cattle: Crian el ganado.
11. To supply: Para suministrar.
12. To feed: Para alimentar.
13. Grow their crops: Hacer crecer sus cultivos.
14. The soil: El suelo/la tierra.
15. Chopped down: Talados.
16. Firewood: Leña.
17. Developed world: Mundo desarrollado.
18. Had been discoreved: Se hubieran descubierto.
19. If nothing is done: Si no se hace nada.
20. Will no longer exist: Ya no existirá.