一項新研究表明，隨著全球變暖，日益頻發的野火可能會減緩臭氧層的恢復。

The study found the Australian bushfires two years ago were so intense that smoke rose into the atmosphere, causing a complex set of chemical reactions that led to the loss of ozone in the layer that protects the Earth from damaging ultraviolet rays.

這項研究發現，兩年前的澳大利亞林火非常猛烈，以至于煙霧上升到了大氣層，造成一系列復雜的化學反應，導致臭氧的損失，臭氧層是大氣中保護地球免受紫外線破壞的氣層。

Satellite observations suggest a total ozone loss of 1% over the southern hemisphere within the month of March 2020 alone. Not insignificant, given the slow recovery of the ozone layer from damage caused decades ago.

衛星觀測表明，僅在2020年3月，南半球上空就一共損失了1%的臭氧。鑒于臭氧層幾十年前受到破壞后，恢復緩慢，這一數字不容忽視。

詞匯表

bushfires 森林大火
complex 復雜的
ozone 臭氧
ultraviolet rays 紫外線
hemisphere （地球的）半球
insignificant 微不足道

閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題。

1. What were the effects of the Australian bushfires two years ago?

2. What does ozone protect the Earth from?

3. According to satellites, how much of the ozone layer over the southern hemisphere was lost in March 2020?

4. True or false? The recovery of the ozone layer from decades ago has been fast.

答案  

1. What were the effects of the Australian bushfires two years ago?
The fires were so intense that the smoke rose and caused complex chemical reactions which damaged ozone.

2. What does ozone protect the Earth from?
It protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays.

3. According to satellites, how much of the ozone layer over the southern hemisphere was lost in March 2020?
1% of the ozone layer over the southern hemisphere was lost in March 2020.

4. True or false? The recovery of the ozone layer from decades ago has been fast.
False. The recovery has been slow.