Scientists reported that climate change might actually be helping ancient trees thrive(长得健壮). Now there seems to be more positive news—this time about the coral in our oceans whose population has been severely affected in last few decades by rising temperatures, disease and human carelessness.

Coral reefs as you probably know are not just colorful calcium carbonate(钙碳酸盐)structures that provide shelter to a wonderful number of fish, but also a close relationship or partnership between coral polyps(珊瑚虫) and single celled living things called zooxanthellae(虫黄藻). The coral polyps give the zooxanthellae a home and in return the later provide the coral polyps with their vivid color and food. They support each other in a fantastic balance, one that is getting severely damaged by the rising temperatures which are causing the coral polyps to reject their zooxanthellae friends, removing their color and food source.

Scientists estimate the phenomenon of rising temperatures combined with disease has destroyed the coral reef population by more than 80%. It is therefore no wonder that scientists all over the world are looking for solutions to try to restore this all important link to sea life. However, while human efforts like planting the coral again have been somewhat successful, they are not enough to replace all the coral that has been dying due to climate change. That is probably why reports by various researchers about certain types of coral being able to not only survive the changing ocean conditions, but also thrive in it, are being met with such enthusiasm. The most recent findings show that despite higher temperatures the coral reefs seem to be thriving.

These findings are consistent with the lab research conducted by the scientists who tried growing different varieties of coral in waters with higher temperature to see how they would react. They were surprised to discover that most of them survived and some seemed to adapt and grow normally. Encouraged by these and other similar findings, more energetic species have been introduced to see if coral reefs can be restored to their former glory. A program is busy analyzing the world's oceans to find more varieties that can be used for this same purpose．

However, we are not out of the woods yet! Scientists are still not sure how they would introduce these varieties to areas where they are not abundant and more importantly what the consequences would be on the surrounding sea life. Hopefully, the combination of new scientific research and fewer human mistakes will allow our beautiful coral to thrive again!

【1】Which word can be used to complete the following relationship?

Coral reefs are a bridge between coral polyps and zooxanthellae.

→Coral polyps and zooxanthellae depend on one another.

→The ________ between coral polyps and zooxanthellae is suffering from severe damage.

A. homeB. structure

C. balanceD. color

【2】The underlined words in Paragraph 4 mean ________.

A. to allow coral reefs to thrive again

B. to find more varieties of coral

C. to survive the changing ocean conditions

D. to see how coral reacts in higher temperature

【3】We can infer from the passage that ________.

A. climate change has the same effect on both ancient trees and coral

B. replanting the coral can solve the problem of coral reefs' decrease

C. various researchers are interested in the reports on the changing ocean conditions

D. the lab research has encouraged scientists to restore coral reefs to their former glory

【答案】

【1】C

【2】A

【3】D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要讲了实验表明，通过引入更有活力的物种，珊瑚礁有望恢复昔日的辉煌。

【1】细节理解题。答案定位在第二段They support each other in a fantastic balance, one that is getting severely damaged by the rising temperatures which are causing the coral polyps to reject their zooxanthellae friends, removing their color and food source.（它们在一种奇妙的平衡中互相支持，而温度的升高严重破坏了这种平衡，导致珊瑚虫排斥它们的黄藻朋友，失去了它们的颜色和食物来源。）由此可知，珊瑚虫和黄藻之间的平衡正遭受严重破坏，故选C。

【2】推理判断题。上文Encouraged by these and other similar findings, more energetic species have been introduced to see if coral reefs can be restored to their former glory.说受到这些和其他类似发现的鼓舞，更有活力的物种被引入，看看珊瑚礁是否能恢复到以前的辉煌。由此可知，下文A program is busy analyzing the world's oceans to find more varieties that can be used for this same purpose．意思是程序正忙着分析世界上的海洋寻找更多的可用于这一目的品种。“this same purpose”指的是让珊瑚礁重新繁荣起来，故选A。

【3】推理判断题。答案定位在最后一段Hopefully, the combination of new scientific research and fewer human mistakes will allow our beautiful coral to thrive again!（有希望的是，新的科学研究和更少的人为错误的结合能让我们美丽的珊瑚再次繁荣起来!）由此推断出，这项实验室研究鼓励科学家们恢复珊瑚礁昔日的辉煌，故选D。