Coral reefs (珊瑚礁) are an integral part of sea life and sustain it by providing shelter and habitat to various organisms. They also supply and recycle nutrients and enable a growing fish population, along with other species, for a healthy and diverse ecosystem. However, the rise in average water temperatures due to climate change has resulted in more frequent and longtime coral bleaching (白化现象) events that damage their health, causing fish and other sea species to abandon them.
   In order to restore this delicate ecosystem, scientists from the UK and Australia conducted a study that involved using loudspeakers underwater near damaged coral reefs to make them sound healthy and attract fish, potentially kick-starting the natural recovery process of coral reefs and their dependent life forms. The location for this experiment was the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea, found alongside the east coast of Queensland, Australia. The site is noted to have the largest coral reef system in the world.
   “Healthy coral reefs are remarkably noisy places—the crackle of snapping shrimp and the whoops and grunts of fish. Young fish concentrate on these sounds when they’re looking for a place to settle, ” said Steve Simpson, study co-author and a professor at the University of Exeter, UK.
   By using loudspeakers to copy such sounds, parts of dead coral reefs were found to attract twice as many fish, compared to places where no sounds were played. “These returning fish, are crucial for coral reefs to function as healthy ecosystems. Boosting fish populations in this way could help to kick-start natural recovery processes, preventing the damage we’re seeing on many coral reefs around the world, ” said lead author, Tim Gordon.
8. What causes the phenomenon of coral bleaching?
A. Diverse species.
B. Noise pollution.
C. Fishing industry.
D. Climbing temperatures.
9. What approach is introduced to recover the coral reefs?
A. Removing damaged coral reefs.
B. Using loudspeakers to keep fish away.
C. Building new homes for sea species.
D. Playing certain sounds to attract fish.
10. Why are Steve Simpson’s words quoted?
A. To provide some findings of the study.
B. To show the progress of the experiment.
C. To explain reasons for the new approach.
D. To give another solution to the problem.
11. What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A. The attempts are in vain.
B. Natural recovery is impossible.
C. Initial success has been achieved.
D. The coral reefs have returned to normal.
【语篇解读】气候变化导致了珊瑚白化事件, 为了恢复这一脆弱的生态系统, 科学家们在受损的珊瑚礁附近使用水下扩音器来吸引鱼类。
【答案与解析】
8. D  细节题。根据第1段中的“However, the rise in average water temperatures due to climate change has resulted in more frequent and longtime coral bleaching events that damage their health, causing fish and other sea species to abandon them.”可知, 气温攀升是导致珊瑚白化现象的原因。
9. D  细节题。根据第2段可知, 应当采用播放某些声音来吸引鱼的方法来恢复珊瑚礁。
10. C  推断题。根据倒数第2段可知, 引用Steve Simpson的话是为了解释采用这一新方法的原因。
11. C  推断题。根据最后一段第1句“By using loudspeakers to copy such sounds, parts of dead coral reefs were found to attract twice as many fish, compared to places where no sounds were played. ”可知, 这一新方法初步取得了成功。