Poison in the Flowerbeds

 

世界上最毒的花園

【摘要2023-02-24.五.壹蘋】

The gates to the Poison Garden are marked with skulls and crossbones and the warning that says, “These Plants Can Kill.” Before entering, every visitor receives instructions never to touch, smell, or taste any of the plants. Even so, just a breath of the wrong air can be enough to make guests feel light-headed. People who work in the Poison Garden have to be especially careful. Some plants are mostly harmless, but other areas of the garden require a full hazmat suit for gardening work.

毒花園的大門上標有骷髏圖及「這些植物可能會致命」的警告。在進入之前，每位訪客都會收到禁止觸摸、聞或食用任何植物的指示。即便如此，只要吸了口不該吸的空氣就足以讓遊客感到頭暈目眩。在毒花園工作的人要特別小心。有些植物大多是無害的，但花園的其他區域需要穿著完整的防護服才能進行園藝工作。

生活必備字詞：

warning n. 警語；警告

breath n. 呼吸

Kent took a deep breath before he jumped into the cold pool.

harmless a. 無害的

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New York Bans Pet Stores From Selling Dogs, Cats and Rabbits

紐約州禁止寵物店販售狗、貓與兔

  【摘要2023-02-24.五.自由】◎張沛元

Pet stores in New York State will soon be prohibited from selling dogs, cats and rabbits under a legislative ban meant to stem the sale of animals from breeding facilities that animal rights groups say subject pets to inhumane conditions.

根據一項禁令，（美國）紐約州的寵物店很快將被禁止販售狗、貓與兔，以遏制販售來自被動物權益團體指為令寵物處於不人道處境的繁殖設施的動物。

The ban, which takes effect in December 2024, means that New York will join a handful of other states, including California and Illinois, that have enacted similar bans designed to crack down on commercial breeders, sometimes called puppy or kitten mills.

這項將於2024年12月生效的禁令，意味紐約州將加入加州與伊利諾州等其他數州的行列，這些州已實施類似禁令，以打擊有時被稱為幼犬或幼貓工廠的商業繁殖場。

By forbidding the sale of animals at New York’s pet stores, officials are hoping to stop the pipeline of animals from commercial breeders that opponents argue raise animals that are often abused or ill, and then sold to consumers, saddling them with unforeseen veterinary bills.

藉由禁止紐約州寵物店販售動物，官員盼能斬斷來自商業飼養場的動物管道，反對（買賣動物）人士稱這類繁殖場飼養的動物經常受虐或生病，被賣給消費者後又讓消費者背負事先沒料想到的獸醫費用。

新聞辭典

stem：動詞，阻擋；阻止；遏制。

crack down on someone/something：片語，（對某人／某事物）嚴加處置或限制。例句：The new mayor has vowed to crack down on crimes on the subway.（新市長誓言打擊地鐵犯罪。）

saddle someone with something：慣用語，使（某人）負擔，使（某人）承擔（重任或難題）。例句：Many One Belt, One Road countries are saddled with huge debts.（許多「一帶一路」國家負債累累。）