It’s sad to learn that a whale has died in the ocean. However, that’s not the end for the whale. It has a lot to give to other sea animals after death.When a whale dies, it quickly falls down to the bottom of the ocean floor. There, the whale body provides food and nutrients (营养) to deep-sea animals, which are often hungry for food. The remains can last for long and create a complex (复杂的) ecosystem called a whale fall: an “oasis (绿洲) ” of life in the deep sea.Chinese scientists found a whale fall for the first time in the South China Sea during a deep-sea expedition (考察) carried out by oceanic research shipTansuo-1, which finished its expedition on April 2. Tansu-1 carried the manned submersible (潜水器) ShenhaiYongshi, which is able to go down to a depth of 4,500 meters.The whale fall ecosystem can exist in the deep ocean because great pressure and cold temperatures there prevent the body from disappearing too quickly. But the depth also makes it hard for scientists to discover them. There are less than 50 known whale falls in the world.The whale fall in the South China Sea is about three meters long. Scientists have found several species (物种) of shrimp (虾) and fish near the whale fall. Some fish have started to eat the whale’s tail. The whale fall might be quite recent and needs long-term observation (观察), according to Xie Wei, a scientist who took part in the expedition.By studying the whale fall, scientists can better understand how marine ecosystems (海洋生态系统) support life and how to protect biodiversity (生物多样性) resources in the deep sea.【小题1】Why is a whale fall called an “oasis”?A．Because its color is green.B．Because it changes the sea’s ecosystem.C．Because it can remain under the sea for long.D．Because it grows at the bottom of the ocean.【小题2】What do we know about the whale fall in the South China Sea?A．It’s not the first time we’ve seen it.B．It has already become a skeleton (骨架) .C．This whale fall may have formed recently.D．Scientists found it at a depth of 4,500 meters.【小题3】What does the underlined word “them” in Paragraph 4 refer to?A．Whale fallsB．Cold temperaturesC．Deep oceansD．Famous scientists【小题4】What is this passage mainly about?A．How whale falls occur.B．How to protect natural resources.C．How marine ecosystems support life.D．A whale fall that was discovered in the South China Sea.
It’s sad to learn that a whale has died in the ocean. However, that’s not the end for the whale. It has a lot to give to other sea animals after death.
When a whale dies, it quickly falls down to the bottom of the ocean floor. There, the whale body provides food and nutrients (营养) to deep-sea animals, which are often hungry for food. The remains can last for long and create a complex (复杂的) ecosystem called a whale fall: an “oasis (绿洲) ” of life in the deep sea.
Chinese scientists found a whale fall for the first time in the South China Sea during a deep-sea expedition (考察) carried out by oceanic research shipTansuo-1, which finished its expedition on April 2. Tansu-1 carried the manned submersible (潜水器) ShenhaiYongshi, which is able to go down to a depth of 4,500 meters.
The whale fall ecosystem can exist in the deep ocean because great pressure and cold temperatures there prevent the body from disappearing too quickly. But the depth also makes it hard for scientists to discover them. There are less than 50 known whale falls in the world.
The whale fall in the South China Sea is about three meters long. Scientists have found several species (物种) of shrimp (虾) and fish near the whale fall. Some fish have started to eat the whale’s tail. The whale fall might be quite recent and needs long-term observation (观察), according to Xie Wei, a scientist who took part in the expedition.
By studying the whale fall, scientists can better understand how marine ecosystems (海洋生态系统) support life and how to protect biodiversity (生物多样性) resources in the deep sea.
【小题1】Why is a whale fall called an “oasis”?| A．Because its color is green. |
| B．Because it changes the sea’s ecosystem. |
| C．Because it can remain under the sea for long. |
| D．Because it grows at the bottom of the ocean. |
| A．It’s not the first time we’ve seen it. |
| B．It has already become a skeleton (骨架) . |
| C．This whale fall may have formed recently. |
| D．Scientists found it at a depth of 4,500 meters. |
| A．Whale falls | B．Cold temperatures | C．Deep oceans | D．Famous scientists |
| A．How whale falls occur. |
| B．How to protect natural resources. |
| C．How marine ecosystems support life. |
| D．A whale fall that was discovered in the South China Sea. |
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