Coral Reefs
美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习
Table of Contents Introduction.
导言表。
4 What Is Coral?
4 什么是珊瑚吗?
5 A Busy Underwater Community.
5 忙水下社区。
8 Where Are Coral Reefs?
8 珊瑚礁在哪里?
10 Threats to Coral Reefs.
10 对珊瑚礁的威胁。
13 Protecting Coral Reefs.
13 保护珊瑚礁。
17 Glossary.
17 词汇表。
20 Introduction Just below the surface of Earth’s tropical oceans lie huge undersea communities known as coral reefs.
导言 地球热带海洋的地表下方有被称作珊瑚礁的巨大海底群落。
These places of wonder and beauty support an incredible variety of life.
这些奇妙和美丽的地方支撑着不可思议的多种生活.
Coral reefs are home to thousands of living organisms that depend on each other for food, shelter, and safety.
珊瑚礁是数千个活生物体的家园,这些活生物体在食物、住所和安全方面彼此依赖。
Day and night, thousands of animals swim about, hunting, eating, and avoiding being eaten.
日以继夜地有上千只动物游来游去,打猎,吃去,并避免被吃去.
Almost one-quarter of all plants and animals in the ocean live around coral reefs.
海洋中几乎有四分之一的动植物生活在珊瑚礁周围.
Fish, sea turtles, sea stars, and many other animals make reefs their home.
鱼,海龟,海星等许多动物将礁石做为家园.
Visitors include seabirds and dolphins.
游客包括海鸟和海豚.
Many kinds of corals, fish, and other sea creatures live on coral reefs.
许多种类的珊瑚,鱼类等海洋生物都生活在珊瑚礁上.
What Is Coral?
什么是珊瑚吗?
At first glance, coral may look like oddly shaped rocks or spiny plants.
乍一看,珊瑚可能看起来像是形状奇异的岩石或旋花植物.
Corals are actually tiny animals called polyps (PAH-lips).
珊瑚其实是被称为珊瑚虫（发音：PAH-lips）的微小动物。
Most polyps are very small—between the size of a pinhead and the size of a pea.
多数多孔虫非常小——介于针头和豌豆之间。
One branch or mound of coral can have thousands of these tiny polyps attached to it.
一个分支或珊瑚丘可以拥有上千个这些细小的多肽附着在上.
Each polyp has a tubelike body and a mouth surrounded by tiny tentacles.
每个多肽都有类似管状体和由细小的触角所包围的口.
Polyps are eating machines.
Polyps在吃机器。
At night, they open their tentacles to catch tiny animals and get the nutrients they need.
晚上,它们会打开触角来捕捉小动物并获得需要的营养.
Coral polyps attach to the surface beneath them and stay there forever.
珊瑚多肽附着在它们下面的地表上 永远停留在那里
Hundreds of kinds of coral live in the ocean.
数百种珊瑚活于海洋.
Most belong to one of two types.
大多数属于两种类型之一。
Hard corals, also known as stony corals, form hard skeletons.
硬珊瑚又名石珊瑚,形成硬骨架.
Over time, many millions of these hard skeletons build up and form reefs.
随着时间推移,这些硬骨架有数百万个积聚并形成礁石.
Most kinds of stony coral live together with a variety of plantlike algae (AL-jee).
大多数种类的石珊瑚与多种植物相类的藻类(AL-jee)一起生活.
The algae help supply food for the corals and for many of the fish that live around the reef.
藻类帮助为珊瑚提供食物,也为生活在珊瑚礁周围的许多鱼类提供食物.
Elkhorn coral looks like the broad antlers of an elk.
埃尔克霍恩珊瑚看起来像一头麋鹿的宽角.
(Elk don’t have horns.)
(埃尔克没有角.
The second common type is soft coral.
第二个常见类型是软珊瑚.
These corals grow flexible, woody cores instead of hard skeletons.
这些珊瑚会长出灵活的,多木质的核,而不是硬骨架.
They often look like trees, bushes, or other plants.
它们常外观为树木,灌木等植物.
Soft corals can bend with the currents.
软珊瑚可随水流而弯曲.
Some soft corals have algae growing in their bodies, but others do not.
有的软珊瑚体内有藻类生长,有的则没有.
Sea pens collapse and hide in sand if creatures get too close (top).
海笔会倒塌并藏入沙中,如果生物变得太接近(上).
Sea fans branch up and out like wide fans.
海上粉丝像宽的粉丝一样上下分出.
Their shape helps them trap tiny organisms to eat (bottom).
它们的外形能帮助它们捕捉到细小的生物来吃(底部).
A Busy Underwater Community Most people think of brightly colored fish when they think about coral reefs—and with good reason.
一个忙碌的水下社区 多数人思考珊瑚礁时会想到明亮的有色鱼,
Over four thousand species of fish live on reefs.
超过四千种鱼类生活在珊瑚礁上.
The reefs provide them with food as well as protection from predators.
珊瑚礁为它们提供了食物并保护它们免受掠食者的袭击。
Some fish live off the algae and plankton around the reef, and some eat other fish that live there.
有的鱼生活在珊瑚礁周围的藻类和浮游生物上,有的则吃住在那里的其他鱼.
A few types of fish even eat the coral itself.
少数种类的鱼甚至会吃珊瑚本身.
Shrimp, lobsters, and crabs also consider reefs a favorite dining spot.
虾,龙虾和螃蟹也认为珊瑚礁是最喜欢的餐点.
Sea urchins and sea stars catch clams and smaller shellfish hidden among the coral branches.
海胆和海星会捕捉被藏于珊瑚分支中的蛤和更小的贝类.
Waving sea anemones, which look like graceful flowers, hide in shallow openings, waiting for their next meal to drift past.
挥发出海葵花,外观优雅花朵,藏入浅开口,等下一顿饭来漂去.
Large holes in reefs make good homes and hiding spots for eels.
礁石上有大洞能造出好家园 为鳗鱼提供藏地.
No space is wasted on a busy reef.
没有空间浪费在繁忙的珊瑚礁上。
Golden butterflyfish and a school of red bigeye fish swim past soft corals in Egypt’s Red Sea.
金蝴蝶和一所红色大眼鱼学校在埃及红海游过软珊瑚.
Coral reefs not only support thousands of species of organisms but also help protect shorelines from floods and storms.
珊瑚礁不仅支持了数千种生物,而且有助于保护海岸线免受洪水和风暴的侵袭。
By shielding the coast, reefs reduce erosion, property damage, and loss of human life.
通过屏蔽海岸,珊瑚礁减少了侵蚀、财产损失和人命损失。
Coral reefs also feed and shelter animals that provide much of the world’s seafood, thereby helping the economies and diets of many countries.
珊瑚礁还提供世界上大部分海产食物的动物的饲料和栖息地,从而帮助许多国家的经济和饮食。
Diving tours and sport fishing also bring visitors—and income—to areas near coral reefs.
潜水和体育捕鱼也给珊瑚礁附近地区带来游客和收入。
Reef plants and animals provide ingredients for medicines, too.
珊瑚礁植物和动物也为药品提供原料。
Coral reefs are a valuable natural resource.
珊瑚礁是一种宝贵的自然资源。
Medicines from Coral Reefs Scientists have developed medicines from reef organisms, and more are likely on the way.
来自珊瑚礁的药物 科学家从珊瑚礁生物中研制出药物 并且可能更多在路上。
Corals produce a substance now used in the treatment of asthma and arthritis.
珊瑚产生一种物质,现在用于治疗哮喘和关节炎.
Medicines that treat several different types of cancer come from coral reefs, too.
治疗几种不同类型的癌症的药物也出自珊瑚礁.
Scientists are also studying other reef organisms that may treat skin conditions as well as infections caused by viruses and bacteria.
科学家还在研究其他可能治疗皮肤状况以及病毒和细菌所引起感染的珊瑚礁生物.
Reefs like this one in the Caribbean Sea buffer the land and protect it from damage.
加勒比海的这种礁石 缓冲了陆地 保护它免受破坏
Where Are Coral Reefs?
珊瑚礁在哪里?
Most reefs are located close to shore in warm tropical waters.
大多数珊瑚礁位于温暖的热带水域中靠近岸边.
They also form where warm currents flow from the tropics, such as in Florida and parts of Japan.
它们也形成温流从热带流出的地方,如佛罗里达和日本部分地区.
Corals grow best in warm water that is between 21 and 29 degrees Celsius (70–84°F).
珊瑚生长在21-29摄氏度(70-84°F)之间的暖水中,生长得最好.
Since algae need sunlight to make food, most corals live near the water’s surface.
由于藻类需要阳光来做食物,大多数珊瑚生活在水面附近.
Even with these conditions in place, coral reefs cannot survive in many areas.
即使具备这些条件,珊瑚礁也无法在许多地区生存。
They do not grow well near the mouths of rivers, where dirt, trash, and fresh water flow into the sea.
它们在河流口附近生长不善,那里有泥土、垃圾和淡水流入海洋。
Fresh water can kill corals.
淡水可以杀死珊瑚.
Dirt and trash can damage or even smother reefs.
泥土和垃圾会破坏甚至扼杀珊瑚礁。
Because corals grow very slowly, a reef takes a long time to increase in size or recover from damage.
由于珊瑚生长非常缓慢,珊瑚礁需要很长的时间来增加体积或从损害中恢复.
Some living coral reefs began growing twenty-five million years ago.
一些活珊瑚礁在2500万年前开始生长.
Most coral reefs are found near the equator.
大多数珊瑚礁都位于赤道附近.
Three types of coral reefs exist.
存在三种类型的珊瑚礁。
The first type, fringing reefs, are located close to shore.
第一种是皱纹礁,位于靠近岸边.
They usually follow the natural shoreline, or fringe, of the land.
它们通常沿着陆地的自然海岸线或边缘。
The second type, barrier reefs, create a deep lagoon, or area of water, between the reef and the shore.
第二种类型是屏障礁,在礁石和岸边之间形成深层的泻湖或水域.
The world’s largest barrier reef is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
世界上最大的屏障礁是澳大利亚的大屏障礁.
It is 2,300 kilometers (1,429 mi.)
2,300公里(1,429英里)
long and is made up of over three thousand reefs and islands.
由三千多座珊瑚礁和岛屿组成
The Great Barrier Reef is home to nearly two thousand species of fish.
大障碍 珊瑚礁是近两千种鱼类的家园。
Great Barrier Reef Atolls, the third type of reef, form in a circular pattern around a sinking island or an aging island volcano.
大障碍 珊瑚礁 环礁是第三种类型的礁石,形成环形图案,环绕着沉没的岛屿或老化的岛屿火山.
As an island sinks or an island volcano ages and breaks apart, the remaining land disappears beneath the ocean’s surface.
随着岛屿或岛屿火山的衰老和分崩离析,所剩土地消失在海洋地表之下。
When that happens, the growing reef forms a circle around a central lagoon.
一旦发生这种情况,正在生长的珊瑚礁就形成了环绕中央环礁湖的一圈.
The Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef is between six and eight thousand years old, but coral reefs have been growing in this same spot for about five hundred thousand years!
大堡礁 大障碍 珊瑚礁有六到八千年的历史 但珊瑚礁在这同一个地方生长了大约50万年!
Many changes in sea levels occurred during that time, and low sea levels caused earlier reefs to die.
在此期间,海平面发生了许多变化,而低海平面导致更早的珊瑚礁死亡.
New reefs formed during times of higher sea levels, including after the last ice age ended.
在海平面较高的时期,包括在上个冰河时代结束后,形成出新的珊瑚礁.
Scientists think that the current Great Barrier Reef is at least the sixth one to form in that location.
科学家认为目前的"大堡礁"至少是第六个在该地形成.
The Maldives is a country in the Indian Ocean made up of twenty-six atolls.
马尔代夫是印度洋由26个环礁所组成的一个国家.
Threats to Coral Reefs Coral reefs are fragile, and many things can damage them.
对珊瑚礁的威胁 珊瑚礁很脆弱,很多东西会破坏它们.
Large, powerful waves caused by a hurricane can destroy reefs.
飓风所引发的巨大而强大的海浪可以摧毁珊瑚礁.
So can a tsunami (soo-NAH-mee).
海啸(soo-NAH-mee)也是这样.
Most damage is caused by people, however.
然而,大多数损害是由人造成的。
Poor water quality caused by human pollution is a likely factor in coral diseases.
人类污染造成的水质差是造成珊瑚疾病的一个可能因素。
These diseases can wipe out an ancient coral reef in weeks.
这些疾病可以在几周内消灭出一个古老的珊瑚礁.
Another likely factor, also caused by people, is higher ocean temperatures as a result of global warming.
另一个也可能由人引起的因素是全球变暖导致海洋温度升高。
Pollution and high ocean temperatures can quickly kill a coral reef.
污染和高海洋温度会很快杀死珊瑚礁。
Another problem that is killing corals is known as bleaching.
另一个杀死珊瑚的问题被称为漂白.
Today, the most common cause of bleaching is ocean temperatures becoming too warm.
今天,漂白现象最常见的原因是海洋温度变得过温.
When this happens, the algae that live in coral polyps undergo a chemical change that harms the polyps.
发生这种情况时,生活在珊瑚多肽中的藻类会发生化学变化来伤害多肽.
The polyps expel the algae to stop the damage.
聚虫会驱逐出藻类来阻止破坏.
Algae provide coral polyps with food as well as color.
藻类为珊瑚虫提供食物和颜色。
When corals expel algae, they lose their main source of food and begin to starve.
珊瑚驱逐出藻类后会失去主要食物来源并开始挨饿.
They also lose their color, which makes them look bleached.
它们也失去了颜色,这使得它们看起来漂白.
Corals can sometimes recover from bleaching.
珊瑚有时可以从漂白中恢复.
But if the cause of bleaching continues, both the corals and the reef will die.
但如果漂白的原因继续下去,珊瑚和礁石都会死亡.
Bleaching now affects three-quarters of coral reefs.
现在有四分之三的珊瑚礁被浸出。
Global Warming Global warming is an increase in the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans large enough to change long- term weather patterns.
全球暖化是地球大气和海洋平均气温升高,足以改变长期天气模式。
Global warming today is mainly the result of human activities such as clearing land for farming, industrial processes, and burning coal, oil, and gas.
今天的全球变暖主要是人类活动的结果,如为耕作、工业加工和燃烧煤、石油和天然气清理土地等。
These activities create large amounts of carbon dioxide gas, which enters Earth’s atmosphere and traps heat close to Earth’s surface.
这些活动产生大量二氧化碳气体,进入地球大气层并夹住接近地表的热量.
Global warming is causing many problems, including wildfires, extreme weather, and threats to coral reefs and other natural communities.
全球变暖造成许多问题,包括野火、极端天气以及对珊瑚礁和其他自然社区的威胁。
Scientists expect the problems to get worse unless we reduce the activities that create so much carbon dioxide.
科学家们预计问题会恶化 除非我们减少产生二氧化碳的活动。
The same human activities that cause too much carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere also cause too much carbon dioxide in oceans.
在地球大气层中造成过多二氧化碳的人类活动也在海洋中造成过多二氧化碳.
This process makes ocean water more acidic.
这个过程使得海水更酸.
When this happens, corals can’t take in calcium carbonate, which keeps their skeletons healthy.
珊瑚无法吸收碳酸钙,
Instead, the stony skeletons that support corals and reefs dissolve.
相反,支撑珊瑚和珊瑚礁的石骨架会溶解.
People cause harm to coral reefs in other ways, too.
人们也以其他方式对珊瑚礁造成伤害。
Fishing methods that use poisons and explosives have destroyed over half the reefs in the Philippines.
使用毒药和炸药的捕鱼方法已经摧毁了菲律宾一半以上的珊瑚礁。
Coastal homes and other buildings create soil erosion and fresh water that pours into oceans.
沿海民宅等建筑造成水土流失和淡水倒入海洋.
Fresh water damages coral, and it may also contain chemicals as well as waste.
淡水损害珊瑚,而且它可能含有化学物质和废物。
Once-colorful coral reefs around the world are turning white from bleaching.
全世界曾经有色的珊瑚礁 从漂白变成白色
Another danger to coral reefs is breaking off chunks of them, whether by accident or on purpose.
对珊瑚礁的又一危险是断裂成片的珊瑚礁,无论是偶然的还是故意的。
Some people take pieces home as souvenirs or to sell.
有些人把碎片当作纪念品或卖出。
Since 2011, the area of threatened reefs has increased by 30 percent.
自2011年以来,受威胁珊瑚礁面积增加了30%。
Even if we could stop global warming now, scientists predict that more than 90 percent of coral reefs will die by 2050.
即使我们现在能阻止全球变暖, 科学家们预测到2050年, 超过90%的珊瑚礁将会死亡。
If we stand by and do nothing, though, we could lose them all.
如果我们袖手旁观,什么都不做,那么我们就会失去他们所有。
Boaters damaged this elkhorn coral.
船手损坏了这只麋鹿角珊瑚
Ships and smaller boats have gouged out scars in Florida’s barrier reef.
船和小船在佛罗里达的屏障礁上挖出伤疤。
Coral Nurseries Scientists can grow pieces of healthy coral in nurseries.
珊瑚护士 科学家可以在苗圃中生长出一些健康的珊瑚.
The pieces may be rescued from boat-related damage or coastal construction projects.
棋子可以从与船只有关的损坏或沿海建筑项目中取出.
Scientists hang the pieces from bars, place them in baskets, or attach them to stands on the ocean floor.
科学家们将棋子从栏杆上挂起,放入篮子,或者将棋子附着到洋底站起.
They later move the pieces to damaged reefs to help restore them.
他们后来将碎片移动到被破坏的礁石上来帮助修复.
Protecting Coral Reefs Many countries have taken steps to preserve nearby reefs.
保护珊瑚礁 许多国家已采取步骤保护附近的珊瑚礁。
In the United States, a government group makes maps of coral reefs.
在美国,一个政府团体绘制出珊瑚礁地图.
Satellite images help scientists watch for problems.
卫星图像有助于科学家观察问题。
Floating buoys measure sea levels, water temperature, wind speed, and air temperature.
浮标测量出海平面,水温,风速,气温.
All this information helps scientists better understand reef damage and work to reduce it.
所有这些信息都帮助科学家更好地了解并努力减少珊瑚礁被破坏.
Each year, volunteer divers help remove trash from reefs.
每年,志愿潜水员帮助清除珊瑚礁中的垃圾.
In Florida and on the Great Barrier Reef, it is against the law to take fish, plants, or coral from protected areas.
在佛罗里达和大堡礁,从保护区取取鱼、植物或珊瑚是违法的。
People and boats are not allowed near many fragile reefs.
在许多脆弱的珊瑚礁附近不允许有人和船只。
But these efforts are only a start.
但是,这些努力只是一个开端。
Half of the world’s reefs have already been destroyed.
世界一半的珊瑚礁已经被摧毁。
Most of those that remain are threatened.
其余的大多数人受到威胁。
It is up to all of us to help save coral reefs.
我们所有人都有责任帮助拯救珊瑚礁。
Even if you don’t live near an ocean, you can help by doing your part to reduce global warming.
即使你不生活在海洋附近,你也可以尽你的职责来减少全球变暖。
Use less energy, walk or bike more, and recycle as much as you can.
使用更少的能量,步行或自行车更多,并尽量回收.
You can also help by learning how communities around the world support resilient reefs.
也可以通过学习世界各地的社区如何支持有复原力的珊瑚礁来提供帮助。
These reefs stay healthy or recover when faced with climate-related challenges.
这些珊瑚礁在面临与气候有关的挑战时保持健康或恢复。
Community members plant crops that provide shade for coral reefs, which helps them stay cool.
社区成员种植为珊瑚礁提供遮荫的作物,这有助于它们保持凉爽。
Other people grow plants that help prevent erosion and keep pollution from entering the ocean.
其他人种植能帮助防止侵蚀和使污染进入海洋的植物.
Still others protect fish that help reefs maintain a balanced ecosystem.
还有其他人保护帮助珊瑚礁维持平衡生态系统的鱼类。
Each of us can do something to help coral reefs remain a beautiful natural wonder for centuries to come.
我们每个人都可以做点什么来帮助珊瑚礁 成为未来几个世纪的一个美丽的自然奇迹。
What can you do?
你能怎么办?
Indonesian people plant mangrove trees to help protect nearby coral reefs.
印度尼西亚人种植红树林树来帮助保护附近的珊瑚礁.
Glossary bleaching (n.)
词汇漂白(n.)
the process of something losing its color, such as when coral turns white after its algae die (p.
某物失去颜色的过程,如珊瑚在藻类死后会变成白色(p.
14) carbon dioxide (n.)
14) 二氧化碳 (n.