Question

    Scientists at the University of Hawaii at Manoa studied a huge area in the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean known as the Clarion－Clipperton Zone，or CCZ to find and study new sea species.

Diva Amon，a researcher at the University says usually deep sea biologists think there is not a lot living in the deep sea.

“But we found that actually there is quite a lot living there，and so that was really exciting. . . ” she says.

The group is studying the area because the CCZ，a huge and flat area of seabed，is known to have valuable minerals. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is allowing the company UK Seabed Resources Ltd. to explore the area on the Pacific Ocean floor for mining. However，the ISA said the company must first complete a biological study of the area before it can begin mining for metals. So，the company employed Amon and her group.

Amon says that more than half of the animals they collected were completely new to science. Her group discovered not only new species，but new genera (动植物的属) of animals.

Biological oceanographer Paul Snelgrove says that finding new species in the deep ocean is common. But，he said，finding a new genus “is really great”.

Amon warns that if mining happens across the whole area，the ecosystem would be largely destroyed. But，she says，we will find the least damaging way to make mining possible.

“There is a sort of scientific push to try and slow things down a bit so that the science can be done before. . . so it can be done with the least influence possible. . . ” she says.

“It’s likely we are going to develop at least some parts of these deep ocean environments and do it in a way that’s going to minimize (最小化) our influence，”says Paul.

1.What did scientists try to find out in the CCZ?

A.Whether there is life.

B.Whether there are valuable minerals.

C.What sea life exists there.

D.What metals lie under the sea floor.

2.What does Paul say about finding new sea species?

A.It’s something unusual.

B.It’s nothing to be surprised at.

C.It has a far－reaching effect on science.

D.It proves common species will change.

3.What is Amon’s attitude towards mining the CCZ?

A.Careful. B.Doubtful.

C.Unsupportive. D.Uninterested.

4.What does the underlined word “it” in the text refer to?

A.Mining.

B.A scientific push.

C.Finding the least damaging way.

D.Developing the ocean environments.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.A

4.A

【解析】

这是一则新闻报道。文章主要介绍了科学家在东太平洋发现并研究新的海洋物种，而且这些物种数量还是相当多的。同时这个地区海床蕴藏着一些宝贵的矿产，如果开采这些矿藏，海底的生态系统会受到严重损害，科学家希望想办法减少开采所带来的影响。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段第一句“Scientists at the University of Hawaii at Manoa studied a huge area in the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean known as the Clarion－Clipperton Zone，or CCZ to find and study new sea species.”可知，夏威夷大学的科学家们研究了位于太平洋东部的一个称为CCZ的巨大区域，以发现和研究新的海洋物种，所以科学家们努力查明在这个区域生活着什么样的海洋生物。故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据倒数第四段中的“Paul Snelgrove says that finding new species in the deep ocean is common”可知，Paul说在深海找到新生物是常见的，也就是说，他认为新物种的发现不足为奇。故选B。

3.推理判断题。根据倒数第三段第二句“But，she says，we will find the least damaging way to make mining possible”可知，Amon说我们会找到破坏力最小的方法去开采，表明她对于CCZ这个区域的开采持谨慎态度。故选A。

4.词句猜测题。该段承接上一段中的“find the least damaging way to make mining possible”找到破坏力最小的方法去开采， 继续说明在开采前需要进行科学研究，因此it在此指代mining。画线词后的“with the least influence possible”与上一段中的“the least damaging way”相互呼应。故选A。