2020英语教学资源：时文阅读|积极干预，应对珊瑚白化

时文阅读|积极干预，应对珊瑚白化

地球上许多珊瑚礁曾经生机勃勃，如今却像骷髅一样矗立在世界各地的海岸线上。但珊瑚白化不仅仅是审美上的损失，更是海洋生态系统的衰退和全球气候的灾难性变化。

阅读短文并回答问题

Coral reefs are dying at unprecedented rates. Rising sea water temperatures are increasing the frequency of coral bleaching（珊瑚白化）events and ocean acidification makes it harder for corals to grow and maintain their structures. Since the 1980s, tropical coral reef coverage has declined by about 30 per cent to 50 per cent.

To combat this, a variety of “interventions（干预）” are being developed by scientists across the world, which could restore reefs.

A new report from the NAS (National Academies of Sciences) has examined 23 of the most important of these tools to determine which are ready to use and which need more time and analysis. The researchers behind the report have also developed a decision-making framework that can be used by policymakers and local communities to decide which method is most practical for their particular ecosystem.

Stephen Palumbi who chaired the 12-member committee behind the report points to the use of heat-resistant corals as the intervention technique that currently has the most potential to be scaled up. The process involves locating corals that are naturally more resistant to heat and then growing them in nurseries to later be planted or crossbred（杂交）. That’s probably the intervention that is working best.

Nevertheless, when it comes to protecting reefs, one size does not fit all. The key message of the report is that different ways will work in different places. In particular, Palumbi notes that it’s essential to work with local groups. “Some communities might really want their corals restored because they want the fish,” he says. “In that case you would restore the corals that protect and encourage fish. Another community might be looking at the waves rolling in and say ‘what we need is protection from wave action.’”

Despite the wonders of innovation and science, there remains no better way to protect reefs than to prevent their destruction in the first place. Scientists know that every intervention, however well-intentioned, could have consequences for the ecological balance of ecosystems. What’s more, no technique can protect corals indefinitely unless the ocean is protected. Without reducing emissions, without creating a world where CO₂ is beginning to drop by the end of the century, corals don’t really stand a chance.

1. What is happening to coral reefs?

A. It’s hard for corals to live in tropical areas.

B. They’re at risk because of poor living conditions.

C. They grow too slowly to support ocean ecosystems.

D. It’s difficult for them to survive the polluted sea water.

2. Why do researchers use a decision-making framework?

A. To help make a choice of interventions.

B. To raise people’s attention to ecosystem.           

C. To record the coral bleaching in different areas.

D. To show the effects of improving coral bleaching.

3. How does Stephen Palumbi tend to conserve coral?

A. By developing more heat-resistant corals.

B. By transplanting corals to different places.

C. By enlarging the scale of coral cultivation.

D. By using a special technique to cool the sea.

4. What is the most important thing for coral protection?

A. Learning about weaker coral species.

B. Paying attention to the role of corals.

C. Adjusting measures to local conditions.

D. Attaching more importance to wave action.

5. What’s the solution to coral bleaching once and for all?

A. Adopting more interventions.

B. Keeping an eye on climate change.

C. Detecting carbon dioxide emissions.

D. Reducing damage to the environment.

【参考答案】BAACD

 

单词学习

1. unprecedented  adj.前所未有的

The situation is unprecedented in modern times. 这种情况在现代还没有出现过。

2. ocean acidification  海洋酸化

3. scale up 增加；放大

a major push to scale up treatment programs for people in poor countries.

一项为贫困国家人民增加医疗项目的重大努力

4. in the first place 首先，起初

5. stand a chance  有希望，有可能

 

     长难句分析

1. The researchers behind the report have also developed a decision-making framework that can be used by policymakers and local communities to decide which method is most practical for their particular ecosystem.

【分析】句子主干为“The researchers have developed a framework”。“behind the report”作后置定语修饰“The researchers”；“that can be used by policymakers and local communities to decide which method is most practical for their particular ecosystem”为定语从句，修饰先行词“a decision-making framework”，其中“to decide which method is most practical for their particular ecosystem”为状语，“which method is most practical for their particular ecosystem”为“decide”的宾语从句。

【翻译】该报告的研究人员还制定了一个决策性框架，可供决策者和当地社区使用，以决定哪种方法对其特定的生态系统最可行。

2. Stephen Palumbi who chaired the 12-member committee behind the report points to the use of heat-resistant corals as the intervention technique that currently has the most potential to be scaled up.

【分析】句子主干为“Stephen Palumbi points to the use of heat-resistant corals as the technique”。“who chaired the 12-member committee behind the report”为定语从句，修饰先行词“Stephen Palumbi”；“that currently has the most potential to be scaled up”为定语从句，修饰先行词“the technique”。

【翻译】斯蒂芬•帕鲁比是由12人组成的报告委员会的主席。他指出，使用耐热珊瑚是目前最具推广潜力的技术。

 

   知识拓展

1. coral bleaching  珊瑚白化，是珊瑚颜色变白的现象。珊瑚的美丽颜色来自于体内的共生海藻，珊瑚依赖体内的微型共生海藻生存，海藻通过光合作用向珊瑚提供能量。如果共生藻离开或死亡，珊瑚就会变白，最终因失去营养供应而死。由于海洋温度不断升高，珊瑚所依赖的海藻减少，珊瑚也因此更易受到白化的影响。

2. ocean acidification  海洋酸化，是指由于吸收大气中过量的二氧化碳，导致海水逐渐变酸的过程。

3. NAS 美国国家科学院(National Academy of Sciences)，成立于1863年，是由美国著名科学家组成的组织。

 

声明：

原文选自Geographical，试题与内容讲解由天学网教学研究中心编写。