一、听力练习
1.
A. To discover new species of coral.
B. To prevent coral bleaching caused by climate change.
C. To find ways to increase fish populations in coral reefs.
D. To create artificial corals for ocean restoration.
2.
A. Genetic modification.
B. Selective breeding.
C. Environmental monitoring.
D. Chemical treatment.
3.
A. It takes too long to produce results.
B. Coral species are too diverse.
C. Ocean warming is expected to continue intensifying.
D. It can only be applied in controlled environments.
二、听力文本
Scientists say they have successfully reproduced corals to improve their resistance to warmer ocean temperatures. The latest effort is one of many that seeks to prevent major coral destruction events known as bleaching. The scientists blame the bleaching on ocean warming caused by climate change. Coral bleaching happens when the small ocean animals react to climate pressures by releasing algae organisms that provide them with energy and give them their color. If the bleaching is severe and long-lasting, corals can get sick and die. Scientists and environmental officials have warned major bleaching events are currently affecting ocean coral collections in many areas across the world. Many researchers link the continued warming of Earth's oceans to climate changes related to human activities. In April, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and International Coral Reef Initiative said at least 53 countries, territories, or local economies reported ongoing bleaching events since February 2023. The latest research aimed to reproduce corals that can become more resistant to warm ocean temperatures. To do this, the researchers used a method known as selective breeding. Scientists have long used this method to produce animals and plants with more desirable characteristics. This process can produce living things that are better able to deal with, or tolerate, different environmental conditions. Selective breeding is now a main method used by scientists to study how the process can prevent ocean warming from killing off corals. Scientists have for years been observing corals that show more heat-resistant qualities. These corals are used as the parents for new corals. The researchers said their experiments showed that breeding heat-tolerant characteristics into different corals could be a useful tool “to improve population resilience.” However, the team noted the method would likely not be enough by itself to effectively protect corals. This is because increasingly intense ocean warming is expected to continue if additional steps are not taken to reduce the worldwide effects of climate change. The scientists noted, therefore, that methods to reproduce heat-resistant corals must be a part of overall efforts that require “urgent climate action.”
Question 1: What is the main goal of the scientists' research on corals?
Question 2: What method are scientists using to improve corals' resistance to warmer ocean temperatures?
Question 3: Why is selective breeding not enough to protect corals?
三、重点词汇
1. algae: very simple, usually small plants that grow in or near water and do not have ordinary leaves or roots 水藻;藻类
四、背景知识
珊瑚白化（coral bleaching）就是珊瑚颜色变白的现象。珊瑚本身是白色的，它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，致使珊瑚所依赖的海藻减少，珊瑚也因此更易受到白化的影响。三十年前，大规模的珊瑚白化现象比较罕见，但近年来却越来越多的出现。这表明，自然环境因为人类已经衰竭。（背景知识来自于百度百科）
五、参考答案
Question 1: B
Question 2: B
Question 3: C
六、网络翻译
科学家表示，他们成功地繁殖了珊瑚，以提高其对温暖海洋温度的抵抗力。这项最新的努力是为了防止被称为白化的重大珊瑚破坏事件发生。科学家们将珊瑚白化归因于气候变化导致的海洋变暖。当小型海洋动物因气候压力而释放提供能量和赋予其颜色的藻类生物时，就会发生珊瑚白化。如果珊瑚白化情况严重且持续时间长，珊瑚可能会生病并死亡。科学家和环境官员警告称，目前全球多个地区的海洋珊瑚资源正受到严重珊瑚白化事件的影响。许多研究人员将地球海洋持续变暖与人类活动相关的气候变化联系在一起。美国国家海洋和大气管理局（NOAA）及国际珊瑚礁倡议组织在四月表示，自2023年2月以来，至少有53个国家、地区或地方经济体报告了正在进行的珊瑚白化事件。最新的研究旨在繁殖能够更好地抵抗温暖海洋温度的珊瑚。为此，研究人员采用了一种称为选择性繁殖的方法。科学家们长期以来一直使用这种方法来培育具有更理想特征的动物和植物。这一过程能够产生更能适应或耐受不同环境条件的生物。选择性繁殖现在成为科学家研究如何防止海洋变暖导致珊瑚灭绝的主要方法。科学家们多年来一直观察具有更强热耐受性的珊瑚，并将这些珊瑚作为新珊瑚的“父母”。研究人员表示，他们的实验表明，将耐热特征培育进不同珊瑚中可能是“改善种群韧性”的有用工具。然而，团队指出，单靠这种方法可能无法有效保护珊瑚，因为如果不采取额外措施来减少全球气候变化的影响，海洋变暖的强度预计将继续加剧。因此，科学家们强调，繁殖耐热珊瑚的方法必须作为“紧急气候行动”整体努力的一部分。
七、版权说明
英文新闻来自于VOA；背景知识来自于国内等多个平台。本平台属于公益平台，未通过转载相关内容获得相关利益。文章不涉及打赏及相关产品推荐等。转载相关中文背景知识出于传递更多信息、方便学生理解相关新闻背景；英文文章及音频所传递的观点与本公众号无关。网络翻译来源于ChatGPT的在线翻译，翻译内容仅供参考。此外，内容删减仅是因为篇幅以及考虑学生接受等目的，不涉及歪曲事实观点及作者相关意见。若有来源标注错误或侵犯了您的合法权益，请与本公众号运营人员进行联系，我们将及时更正、删除，谢谢。 邮箱地址：yangyanchao@mmc.edu.mo
