书城外语课外英语-美国各洲小知识(一)(双语版)
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第7章 阿拉斯加州(2)

Quality education,public safety,and health care are priorities of his administration.In the nations theme of “No Child Left Behind”he is committed to develop a quality education system in both rural and urban Alaska that will be second to none(首屈一指).

Governor Murkowski is committed to bringing Alaskans together,regardless of party,to revamp (修补)and to open up the state government decisionmaking process.He believes that debt can be reduced and the state budget can be balanced without continuing to draw down the budget reserve.

His commitment to Alaska is to build a foundation that will support an expanding economy without an unreasonable(过度的)tax burden and provide for a good quality of life for all Alaskans.

Frank H.Murkowski was raised in Ketchikan,Alaska.He attended Santa Clara University and graduated from Seattle University with a major in economics.He served in the U.S.Coast Guard in Sitka and Ketchikan.After his tour of duty,Murkowski began his career in banking and was associated with the National Bank of Alaska in both Anchorage[安克雷奇(美国阿拉斯加州南部的港口城市)]and Wrangell(兰格尔山脉[美国阿拉斯加州东南部])for ten years.He then served Governor Walter J.Hickel as commissioner of the Department of Economic Development from 1966to1969.In 1971,he became president of the Alaska National Bank in Fairbanks(费尔班克斯).In 1980,he was elected to the U.S.Senate(参议院)where he served Alaska for 22years.

During his tenure(任期)in the U.S.Senate,Murkowski served as chairman of the Energy Committee and as Subcommittee Chairman of Pacific and East Asian Affairs on the Foreign Relations Committee.He also served on the Committees of Finance and Indian Affairs,Veterans Affairs,and for eight years the Select Committee on Intelligence.He was appointed as Ambassador Plenipotentiary(全权大使)to the United Nations in 1996where he initiated a U.N.resolution on the ban of driftnet fisheries.During his senate career,he crafted the Omnibus ParksPresidio bill,among the most extensive national parks and refuge bills ever to pass Congress.He also led the successful effort to ban driftnets from the high seas,worked to stop salmon([鱼]鲑鱼,大麻哈鱼)piracy(海盗行为),ended the ban on the export of North Slope crude oil(原油),and won major legislation to help improve conditions in Alaska native communities.He is a recognized expert on such topics as energy policy,fossil fuel and nuclear development,electricity restructuring,and climate change.

Governor Murkowski has been active in local and community affairs.He served as president of the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce and Alaska Bankers Association and served as a member of Young Presidents Organizations,Elks,American Legion,and Pioneers of Alaska.

He and his wife Nancy have six children and thirteen grandchildren and reside in the Governors Residence in Juneau(朱诺[美国阿拉斯加州首府]).

State Bird州鸟

松鸡和森林与草原松鸡有密切的亲缘关系,生活在北半球高山和北极苔原地带。在阿拉斯加一共发现有三种松鸡。柳条松鸡在阿拉斯加所有高的无树的乡村几乎都能发现。而且它们还广泛存在于加拿大、斯堪的纳维亚、芬兰和俄国。有名苏格兰松鸡是柳条松鸡的一个种族。岩石松鸡也生活在加拿大、斯堪的纳维亚、苏格兰和北欧亚大陆。它们广泛分布于格陵兰的大部分地区和冰岛,零星分布于日本、瑞士和西班牙南部边区村落。在阿拉斯加州,岩石松鸡生活在除西部和北部海岸的平坦的苔原地带的大部分无树地区。白尾松鸡严格意义上讲是在北美。它们生活在从阿拉斯加山脉和中部育空一直向南到华盛顿和北部的新墨西哥的崎岖的丘陵地带。

Ptarmigan,close relatives of forest and prairie grouse,live in alpine and arctic(北极的,北极区的)tundras(苔原,冻土地带)throughout the northern hemisphere.There are three kinds of ptarmigan,and all are found in Alaska.Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus)are found nearly everywhere in Alaskas high,treeless country.They occupy a broad range throughout Canada,Scandinavia,Finland and Russia.The famous Red Grouse of Scotland is a race of the Willow Ptarmigan.Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus)also live in Canada,Scandinavia,Scotland,and northern Eurasia(欧亚大陆).They range through most of Greenland and Iceland and have scattered southern outposts(边区村落)in Japan,Switzerland,and Spain.In Alaska,Rock Ptarmigan live in all major treeless areas except the flat tundras(苔原,冻土地带)of the western and northern coasts.Whitetailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus)are strictly North American.They occupy rugged uplands from the Alaska Range and central Yukon southward to Washington and northern New Mexico.

General description:

Ptarmigan(松鸡类)look just like small grouse,weighing from 101/2ounces to 11/2pounds (0.3~0.7kg)except that their toes are feathered,their wings are white all year,and they have pure white body plumage(鸟类羽毛,翅膀)in winter.

Life history:

In early spring,male ptarmigan become intolerant of other males and establish territories that they defend vigorously(精神旺盛地)with aerial chases and a variety of gargling,croaking,and screaming noises.Sometimes the three species are found on a single mountain,and often two kinds breed close together.In such cases there is usually a clear altitudinal separation of the various kinds,with Willow Ptarmigan living closest to timberline(树带界线),Rock Ptarmigan on middle slopes and low ridges(山脉),and Whitetails high among rough rocky screes(碎石,卵石)and boulderstrewn ridges close to glaciers(冰河)or snowfields(雪原,雪地).

All ptarmigan nest on the ground soon after the snow melts.Hens usually lay six to ten eggs which are incubated(孵卵)for three weeks.Hatching takes place in late June and early July throughout Alaska.The male Willow Ptarmigan stays with the family and doesnt hesitate to defend the brood,but male Whitetails and Rock Ptarmigan leave the care of chicks entirely to hens.The chicks grow with amazing speed.They can get off the ground only 9to 10days after hatching and fly well when they get their first full set of flight feathers at 8to 10weeks of age.

Autumn is a time of restlessness.Flocks form and disperse[(使)分散,(使)散开]and form again,and the birds move around into unfamiliar alpine areas.In October the wandering takes on a pattern;females tend to form their own flocks and drift lower down into brushy forest openings while cocks stay close to timberline.The extent of the fall movements varies from place to place,but migrations of 100to 150miles (160—240km)one way probably are the longest undertaken by any ptarmigans in Alaska.