壹蘋派生活美語　最後的北極熊

　　While The Last Bear is fictional, Bear Island is a real place. The island got its name when explorers saw a polar bear swimming near its shore. It is part of an island chain that has been governed by Norway for around 100 years. Bear Island is not a natural habitat for polar bears, and the only other animals there are a small number of Arctic foxes. Although the island is remote and barren, it has been used for commercial activities in the past, including coal mining, fishing, and whaling. However, no settlement has lasted for more than a few years.

　　雖然《最後的北極熊》是虛構的，但熊島卻是真實存在的地方。該島因探險家看到一隻北極熊在其岸邊游泳而得名。熊島屬於一個已由挪威治理約一百年的島鏈的一部分。熊島並不是北極熊的天然棲息地，那裡唯一的其他動物是為數不多的北極狐。儘管該島地處偏遠且環境貧瘠，但過去曾用於開採煤礦、捕魚和捕鯨等商業活動。然而，沒有任何聚落能持續超過數年。

生活必備字詞：

govern　vt. 治理，統治

commercial　a. 商業的

settlement　n. 居住區，定居地

◆免費線上聽外師朗讀 https://ivyforfree.pse.is/3jks97

本文節錄自《常春藤生活英語》雜誌，完整內容請見七月號。