题目

Now, the findings of the Japanese scientists suggest that sea animals also face the invisible threat of toxic, plastic-derived chemicals. The compounds can potentially cause cancer in humans, and simpler life-forms may be even more susceptible. These plastic-derived pollutants may also be prevalent throughout the water column and not just at the surface. Once Styrofoam, for example, breaks down, the tiny polystyrene components start to sink because they're heavier than water. Plastic debris is estimated to disperse (分散) over millions of square miles of ocean and miles' deep in the water column (水柱), and hence the damage caused by polystyrene components may be happening throughout all the oceans of the world.What is estimated about the potential damage caused by plastic-derived pollutants?A. It may be happening just in areas near the surface of the ocean.B. It may be fatal for marine species living in warm areas of the ocean.C. It may be taking place throughout the water column of the ocean.

Now, the findings of the Japanese scientists suggest that sea animals also face the invisible threat of toxic, plastic-derived chemicals. The compounds can potentially cause cancer in humans, and simpler life-forms may be even more susceptible. These plastic-derived pollutants may also be prevalent throughout the water column and not just at the surface. Once Styrofoam, for example, breaks down, the tiny polystyrene components start to sink because they're heavier than water. Plastic debris is estimated to disperse (分散) over millions of square miles of ocean and miles' deep in the water column (水柱), and hence the damage caused by polystyrene components may be happening throughout all the oceans of the world. What is estimated about the potential damage caused by plastic-derived pollutants? A. It may be happening just in areas near the surface of the ocean. B. It may be fatal for marine species living in warm areas of the ocean. C. It may be taking place throughout the water column of the ocean.

题目解答

答案

我们来逐步分析这道题。

一、题干理解：

题目问的是：关于塑料衍生污染物造成的潜在损害，科学家估计了什么？

选项是：

A. 它可能只发生在海洋表面附近。
B. 它可能对生活在海洋温暖区域的海洋物种致命。
C. 它可能发生在整个海洋水柱中。

二、原文关键信息提取：

我们回到原文中寻找与“塑料污染物的潜在损害范围”相关的信息：

> "These plastic-derived pollutants may also be prevalent throughout the water column and not just at the surface."

这句话明确指出：塑料衍生污染物不仅存在于海洋表面，还可能遍布整个水柱（water column）。

接着后面还说：

> "Plastic debris is estimated to disperse over millions of square miles of ocean and miles' deep in the water column..."

进一步说明塑料垃圾可以分散在数百万平方英里的海洋中，且深入水柱数英里深，这说明污染范围非常广泛。

三、选项分析：

A. 只发生在海洋表面附近 —— 与原文“not just at the surface”矛盾，错误。
B. 对生活在温暖区域的物种致命 —— 原文没有提到“温暖区域”或“致命”，属于无中生有，错误。
C. 发生在整个海洋水柱中 —— 与原文“prevalent throughout the water column”一致，正确。

四、最终答案：

$\boxed{C}$

解析

本题考查细节理解能力，需要根据原文中的关键信息排除干扰选项。解题核心在于定位原文中关于塑料污染物潜在损害范围的描述，并结合选项进行比对。注意原文中“throughout the water column”和“miles' deep in the water column”等关键词，明确污染范围的广泛性。

关键信息提取

  1. 原文核心句：

    • "These plastic-derived pollutants may also be prevalent throughout the water column and not just at the surface."
    • "Plastic debris is estimated to disperse over millions of square miles of ocean and miles' deep in the water column..."
      这两处均说明塑料污染物分布范围覆盖整个水柱，而非仅表面或特定区域。

  2. 选项分析：

    • A选项：“仅发生在海洋表面附近”与原文“not just at the surface”矛盾，排除。
    • B选项：“对温暖区域的物种致命”中“温暖区域”和“致命”均为原文未提及的信息，属于无中生有，排除。
    • C选项：“发生在整个水柱中”与原文“throughout the water column”完全一致，正确。