سی و هفتم - استفاده از کلمات ۲

Hi there, everyone! Welcome to Words in Use 2.

“Listen to Smokey the Bear”

At one time the United States was heir to great riches, for more than half of our country was covered with forests. Now the majestic* woodlands have dwindled* to the point where we have no surplus* of trees. Of course, only a traitor* to the beauties of nature would deliberately* set a forest fire, but careless citizens are the vandals* who are responsible for much of the destruction. In time of drought* especially, scorching* fires started by careless smokers can reduce a beautiful forest to acres of blackened stumps.

Theodore Roosevelt understood that we cannot abide* the continual loss of our precious forests but we must learn to live in harmony* with nature. In 1905 he appointed* Gifford Pinchot to head the Forest Service which promptly* began to unify* efforts in caring for our national forests. The modern forest rangers, from the “lookouts” stationed on mountain summits* to the “smokejumpers” who parachute from airplanes to fight fires, ask us to heed* the advice of Smokey the Bear, who has become their symbol*. Smokey says, “Only you can prevent forest fires”.

Alright, our story for lesson 37 is finished. See you in the next part, good luck!