文字稿

澳大利亞的科學家們稱大堡礁目前面臨史無前例的白化危機，三分之二的珊瑚已經遭到破壞。據航空測量調查結果顯示，作為世界上最大的生命結構體，大堡礁中段部分的珊瑚白化現象正在加速，受此影響的地區包括昆士蘭州海岸及其周邊 2300公里的海域。請聽 Phil Mercer 的報道。

For the first time mass bleaching has affected the Great Barrier Reef in consecutive years. When it bleaches, the coral isn't dead, but it does become far more fragile and can eventually die.

What concerns Australian researchers is that more frequent bleaching, which is caused by rising water temperatures, makes it harder for the reef to recover. The scientists are warning Australia that to save one of nature’s true wonders it must take decisive action on climate change.

The Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 130 species of sharks, 500 types of worms and 1,600 varieties of fish.

詞匯表

mass bleaching 大面積的（珊瑚）白化
consecutive 連續性的
fragile 脆弱的，容易受傷害的
frequent 常見的，頻繁發生的
recover 恢復
decisive 果斷的
is home to 是….的所在地、家園
varieties 不同種類

測驗

請聽報道并回答下列問題。

1. What happened to the corals last year?

2. What is the cause of coral bleaching?

3. True or false? Bleaching will kill the corals immediately or soon after it happens.

4. Which phrase in the text means ‘changes to weather over a long period of time’?

答案

1. What happened to the corals last year?
The Great Barrier Reef suffered bleaching last year as well as this year.

2. What is the cause of coral bleaching?
Rising water temperature is the cause of coral bleaching.

3. True or false? Bleaching will kill the corals immediately or soon after it happens.
False. Bleaching won’t kill the corals immediately, but makes coral fragile and die eventually.

4. Which word in the text means ‘changes to weather over a long period of time’?
Climate change.