大堡礁经历最严重的珊瑚漂白

谷战峰

Scientists say Australias Great Barrier Reef suffered its most severe coral bleaching event in March.

Corals are small marine animals that live together and form large hard structures called reefs. Bleaching usually happens when ocean water gets too warm，causing corals to release the healthy algae（海藻） living in their tissues. The process turns coral white and makes it sick， sometimes killing it. Reefs are critically important to the health of the ocean and all the life it holds.

The latest finding about coral bleaching came from researchers at James Cook University in Queensland， Australia. The Great Barrier Reef covers about 348，000 square kilometers. It contains the worlds largest collection of coral reefs and is home to thousands of different kinds of sea life. Researchers say the most recent coral bleaching event is the result of extremely hot temperatures in the area over the past few months.

Terry Hughes is director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University. He told the Reuters News Agency that February had the highest temperatures since 1900.

“We saw record?breaking temperatures all along the length of the Great Barrier Reef. There wasnt a cool portion in the north， or a cool portion in the south this time around，” Hughes said.

“The whole Barrier Reef was hot so the bleaching we have seen this year is the most extensive（覆盖范围广的） so far.” Hughes added that he is now almost sure that the reef cannot recover to what it looked like even five years ago， let alone thirty years ago. Hughes warned that if global warming activity continues at the present rate， the Great Barrier Reef faces the possibility of becoming completely destroyed.

“We will have some sort of tropical ecosystem， but it wont look like coral reefs—there might be more seaweed， more sponges and a lot less coral—but it will be a very different ecosystem.”

1. What is the most fundamental factor in coral bleaching according to paragraph 2？

A. Algae in corals tissues.

B. Changes of corals structures.

C. Pollution on sea environment.

D. Increase in water temperature.

2. What does the underlined word “It” in paragraph 3 refer to？

A. Coral bleaching.

B. The latest finding.

C. The Great Barrier Reef.

D. The most recent coral bleaching event.

3. What is Hughess attitude towards the future of the Great Barrier Reef？

A. Uncertain.       B. Concerned.      C. Cautious.      D. Hopeful.

4. Which column is this text likely to come from？

A. Environment.    B. Exploration.     C. Opinion.       D. Technology.

Difficult sentence

Hughes added that he is now almost sure that the reef cannot recover to what it looked like even five years ago， let alone thirty years ago.

【翻譯】

【点石成金】句中的added意为“补充说”，that he is...five years ago是从句作added的宾语;what引导的从句作介词to的宾语;let alone thirty years ago作状语。