Section III Text B: Great Barrier Reef
Part 1 Power of Words
Core Words
1 await [ə'weɪt] vt. (awaited/awaited/awaiting)
to look forward to the probable occurrence of; If you await someone or something, you wait for them; something that awaits you is going to happen or come to you in the future.
synonym expect; wait for
word family awaited; awaiting
related phrase await publication; await delivery
Example 1 Very little was said as we awaited the arrival of the chairman.
Example 2 We eagerly await your early arrival.
2 biological [ˌbaɪə'lɒdʒɪk(ə)l] adj.
pertaining to biology or to life and living things; of parents and children; related by blood
synonym genetic; natural
antonym adoptive
word family biology; biologist; biologically
related phrase biological clock; the biological sciences
Example 1 Biological warfare is terrible.
Example 2 Biological ways will be revered as ideal ways.
3 bleach [bliːtʃ] n./vt. (bleached/bleached/bleaching)
(cause to) become white or pale, especially by means of chemicals or by the action of sunlight; If you bleach something, you use a chemical to make it white or pale in color; If the sun bleaches something, or something bleaches, its color gets paler until it is almost white.
synonym decolorize; discolor; fade
word family bleacher
related phrase bleach out; bleaching powder; chlorine bleach
Example 1 You should bleach your face properly before you paint your face.
Example 2 There were only a few dry bones left, bleached by the sun.
4 charter ['tʃɑːtə] n./vt. (charted/charted/charting)
to give a charter (a signed statement from a ruler, government) to; If a person or organization charters a plane, boat, or other vehicle, they rent it for their own use; A charter is a formal document describing the rights, aims, or principles of an organization or group of people.
synonym hire; lease
word family charters; charterer
related phrase corporate charter; chartered accountant
Example 1 He chartered a jet to fly her home from California to Switzerland.
Example 2 The magistrate chartered him to do business in the metropolitan city.
5 comprise [kəm'praɪz] vt. (comprised/comprised/comprising)
(of parts) to form; If you say that something comprises or is comprised of a number of things or people, you mean it has them as its parts or members.
synonym consist; include
word family comprised; comprising
related phrase be comprised of
Example 1 The task force is comprised of congressional leaders, cabinet heads and administration officials.
Example 2 Fifty states comprise the United States.
6 creature ['kriːtʃə] n.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
synonym animal; beast; brute; living being
word family create; creator; creative
related phrase living creature; a creature of habit
Example 1 This creature lives in the depth of the ocean.
Example 2 Pandas are precious creatures.
7 crusty ['krʌstɪ] adj.
having a hardened crust as a covering; Crusty bread has a hard, crisp outside.
synonym crispy
word family crust; crustal
related phrase crusty bread; crusty structure
Example 1 Crusty whole wheat bread is my favorite.
Example 2 Little Tom swabbed up the gravy with crusty bread.
8 diverse [daɪ'vɜːs] adj.
of different kinds; If a group of things is diverse, it is made up of a wide variety of things.
synonym varied; different; various
antonym same; similar
word family diversity; diversify; diverseness
related phrase diverse society; diverse opinion
Example 1 They are the people from diverse cultures.
Example 2 Her interests are very diverse.
9 encounter [ɪn'kaʊntə] vi./vt. (encountered/encountered/encountering)
to meet unexpectedly; If you encounter problems or difficulties, you experience them; If you encounter someone, you meet them, usually unexpectedly.
synonym meet; confront
word family encountered; encountering
related phrase encounter with; encounter danger
Example 1 Every day of our lives we encounter major and minor stresses of one kind or another.
Example 2 Did you encounter anyone in the building?
10 expel [ɪk'spel] vt. (expelled/expelled/expelling)
to send away by force; to force to leave; If someone is expelled from a school or organization, they are officially told to leave because they have behaved badly.
synonym exile; dismiss; remove; eliminate
antonym accept; hire; admit
word family expellable; expeller; expellee
related phrase expel from; expel air
Example 1 They were told that they should expel the refugees from the refuges and slums.
Example 2 As the lungs expel this waste, gas is expelled into the atmosphere.
11 infinite ['ɪnfɪnət] adj.
without limits or end; not finite; If you describe something as infinite, you are emphasizing that it is extremely great in amount or degree; Something that is infinite has no limit, end, or edge.
synonym limitless; unlimited
antonym small; finite; little
related phrase infinite space; infinite sequence
Example 1 Teaching little children takes infinite patience.
Example 2 The totality of space could be infinite.
12 magnificent [mæɡ'nɪfɪs(ə)nt] adj.
characterized by grandeur; wonderfully fine, etc.; If you say that something or someone is magnificent, you mean that you think they are extremely good, beautiful, or impressive.
synonym grand; generous; glorious; splendid; wonderful
antonym simple; plain
word family magnify; magnification; magnifier
related phrase magnificent performance
Example 1 The magnificent and immaculate sights collect a jolly crowd.
Example 2 Just look at this magnificent autumn landscape!
13 migration [maɪ'ɡreɪʃ(ə)n] n.
the movement of persons from one country or locality to another
synonym resettlement; relocation
word family migrate; emigration; immigration
related phrase migration movement
Example 1 There was a huge migration of people into Europe because of the war.
Example 2 You can proceed with the migration page by page by repeating this step, if you wish.
14 outstanding [aʊt'stændɪŋ] adj.
distinguished from others in excellence; If you describe someone or something as outstanding, you think that they are very remarkable and impressive.
synonym excellent; remarkable
antonym ordinary; common
word family outstandingly; outstand
related phrase be outstanding in; outstanding performance; outstanding question
Example 1 He was an outstanding student.
Example 2 A good deal of work is still outstanding.
15 preserve [prɪ'zɜːv] vt. (preserved/preserved/preserving)
to keep safe from harm or danger; If you preserve a situation or condition, you make sure that it remains as it is, and does not change or end; If you preserve something, you take action to save it or protect it from damage or decay.
synonym reserve; maintain; keep; sustain
word family preserver; preservable; preservability
related phrase preserve from; preserved egg; preserved meat
Example 1 We need to preserve the forest.
Example 2 I tried to preserve my independence.
16 shallow ['ʃæləʊ] adj.
not deep; lacking deep or serious thinking; superficial; A shallow container, hole, or area of water measures only a short distance from the top to the bottom.
synonym superficial; light
antonym deep; profound
word family shallowness; shallowly
related phrase shallow sea; a shallow argument
Example 1 This shallow ford made it possible for us to cross the river.
Example 2 That dish is too shallow to serve soup in.
17 span [spæn] n./vi. (spanned/spanned/spanning)
a stretch between two things, especially in time; period; If something spans a long period of time, it lasts throughout that period of time or relates to that whole period of time; A bridge or other structure that spans something such as a river or a valley stretches right across it.
synonym distance; breadth; length
word family spanned; spanning
related phrase life span; span of control
Example 1 The bridge has a span of 100 meters.
Example 2 His professional career spanned 16 years.
18 spectacular [spek'tækjʊlə] adj./n.
unusually interesting or grand; attracting excited notice; something that is spectacular is very impressive or dramatic; A spectacular is a show or performance which is very grand and impressive.
synonym imposing; wonderful; tremendous; incredible
word family spectacularly; spectacularity
related phrase spectacular sign; spectacular scenery
Example 1 We watched a spectacular sunset at the beach.
Example 2 The view from the top of the tower was spectacular.
19 stunning [stʌnɪŋ] adj.
commanding attention; causing great astonishment and consternation; A stunning event is extremely unusual or unexpected.
synonym gorgeous; attractive
word family stun; stunningly
related phrase stunning lighting; stunning view
Example 1 The newspapers had fallen into a stunning silence.
Example 2 The President's final decision came with stunning suddenness.
20 tropical ['trɒpɪk(ə)l] adj.
coming from or found in the tropics; very hot; belonging to or typical of the tropics; Tropical weather is hot and damp weather typical of the tropics.
synonym hot; intertropical; subsolar
antonym arctic; temperate
word family tropic; tropics; tropically
related phrase tropical fruit; tropical climate
Example 1 Her motherland is in the tropical region.
Example 2 These tropical flowers have bright colors.
Words for Self-study
Please find and memorize the meanings and usages of the following words with the help of dictionaries, online resources and other references.
algae calf centimeter cod coral
crocodile dwarf ecosystem ferry fox
helmet majesty marine microscope minke
paradise playground prey rainbow reef
whale wildlife
Part 2 Text
Pre-reading Questions
1. Have you ever been to any scenic spots? Which tourist destination impresses you most? Why?
2. Do you know how to introduce some famous places? Try to introduce one to your partners by illustrating its key characteristics.
Great Barrier Reef1
Take a step back and smile as the Great Barrier Reef takes your breath away. With stunning coral reefs2, colorful marine life and a rainbow of blue water as far as the eye can see, it's a once in a lifetime experience not to be missed. You should experience the greatest reef on earth first hand.
Covering over 344,000 square kilometers (roughly the same size as Japan or Germany), the sheer size and majesty of the reef resulted in it being one of the original eight wonders of the world and the first coral reef to be awarded World Heritage status. The Great Barrier Reef stretches over 2,300 kilometers from Tropical North Queensland in the north, right down to Bundaberg in the south.
The World's Largest and Most Extensive Coral Reef System
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest and most extensive coral reef system in the world comprising about 2, 900 individual coral reefs, 600 continental islands and 300 coral reefs. It represents approximately 10% of all coral reefs in the world. The Great Barrier Reef spans two thirds of the northeastern sea line of Australia extending north from Bundaberg on Queensland's coast, the northern tip of Australia. It is 2, 300 kilometers long and approximately 350, 000 km2 in size. That's about 70 million football fields or the size of Japan! It is the largest natural feature on earth and its impressive size makes it the only living structure that can be seen from the moon.
World Class, World Heritage
The Great Barrier Reef is recognized internationally as one of the world's greatest natural wonders. Its outstanding natural significance was recognized in 1981 when it became the first coral reef system in the world to be awarded World Heritage status. It is the world's third largest World Heritage Area. The Great Barrier Reef meets all four of the natural criteria for World Heritage listing, one of only a handful of natural areas on earth to do so. Over 99% of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area is protected within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park3 and about 50% of its islands are protected by National Park status. This ensures the coral reef system and its citizens are protected effectively and preserved for future generations to enjoy. The Great Barrier Reef is famous as one of the world's healthiest reef systems. This is due in part to new management and its status as a protected area.
A Rich Underwater World
The Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 30 species of whales, 1,625 species of fish, 411 species of hard coral and over 150 species of soft coral (equals to 10% of the world's soft coral),together with giant clams over 120 years old and millions of nesting seabirds. Crocodiles are the marine "dinosaurs" of the Reef. Crocodiles have been on the Reef for 200 million years!
These are the symbolic marine animals of the Great Barrier Reef that you have to see: whales, clownfish, giant clam, manta rays4 and cod. Other spectacular wildlife that can be seen on some of the islands of the Great Barrier Reef includes a range of birds like waders and birds of prey, some traveling great distances to nest there. Flying foxes can also be found. Spectacular annual events like the northern whale migration and nesting can be experienced.
Marine Life
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the richest and most diverse ecosystems in the world. It has a stunning range of marine-life that can be found nowhere else on the planet. There are 2,900 separate coral reefs, making it the largest living being in the world and is home to over 300 types of hard and soft coral, and 1,500 species of fish. A visit to the Great Barrier Reef wouldn't be complete without experiencing these five marine encounters:
- Clownfish—One of the symbols of the Great Barrier Reef and a common and colorful sight, they hide away from any potential hunters.
- Giant clams—Growing up to 1. 5 m in length and weighing up to 250 kg, they eat algae. Crusty on the outside, soft and colorful on the inside, they are found everywhere on the Great Barrier Reef.
- Manta rays—The largest of all rays with a wing span of up to seven meters. Lady Elliot Island is one of the hot spots during winter to see these graceful and magnificent creatures.
- Potato cods—Always taking the time to say hello and hang out for a while, they come right up close, their wide mouths constantly opening and closing as if they were trying to have a chat.
- Whales—The Great Barrier Reef is the ultimate nursery playground for whales and their calves, making an appearance each year from June to September. Their smaller cousins, the Dwarf Minke Whales5, also pass through Tropical North Queensland at the same time and exclusively in Tropical North Queensland, you can swim with the Dwarf Minke Whales.
Accessing the Reef
Stretching over 2,300 km along the Queensland sea line, the Great Barrier Reef is a World Heritage playground waiting to be explored. The Great Barrier Reef is easily accessible from various access points. With five distinctive districts, each offering a unique set of experiences, there is a spectacular adventure waiting for you to discover.
- The Wild North—A marine desert experience that is complete and remote. For fearless marine adventures from plentiful fishing, exploring untouched coral reefs and meeting native locals.
- Port Douglas District—Where world heritage rainforest and reef meet. Take an adventure in nature and dive with Minke Whales, go helmet diving or game fishing.
- Townsville District—Surround yourself in history and learn with historic ship wrecks and complete islands.
- Whitsundays and Mackay District—Explore stylish islands and go on a sailing adventure in the area.
- Southern Great Barrier Reef District—Experience the beauty of an uncrowded escape, explore unhurried coastal towns.
The reef is easily accessed from all of these districts, with Great Barrier Reef tours, ferries to islands, cruises to the outer reef and other transport options available. The most popular way to experience the Great Barrier Reef is by boat. Diving, sailing, bare boating, cruise shipping and journey cruising are just some of the world-class water-based activities on offer. A range of "above water" activities are also available for visitors to experience the Great Barrier Reef without getting wet. These include air-based activities such as aircraft and helicopter scenic flights over coral reefs and islands or coral viewing from glass bottom boats. Other great activities of the Great Barrier Reef can be experienced on one of its 600 islands where visitors can stay at a tropical island resort, camp on a deserted island, take in spectacular views, meet the wildlife or simply take part in beach activities.
Coral Reef Facts
The Great Barrier Reef provides divers with a display of color, shape and movement that is reproduced nowhere else in the world. Here are five facts to help you understand our underwater world better.
- More than 400 (or one-third) of the world's coral species can be found in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Believed to be about 8,000 years old, the thin layer of living coral has built up on top of dead corals and algae over the past 500,000 years.
- Hard coral grows up to 1.5 cm per year and is the backbone of the reef, growing and constantly adapting to the demands of the environment around it. It will be divided into two and leave behind its hard outer skeleton when a new one is formed. The reef's aliencoral structures provide a permanent home for a wide range of creatures including an infinite of fish, and micro-beings such as algae.
- Most soft coral species have a dependent relationship with microscopic single-celled algae that live inside their tissues, transferring food to the host coral. This very important relationship depends on clear warm shallow waters with temperatures of above 18℃. Dramatic temperature variations can result in the coral expelling the algae, resulting in coral death or coral bleaching.
- Apart from climate change and human impact, the reef's worst natural hunter is the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish6. While this species is unknown for stripping reefs of nearly all living coral, fortunately new corals are generally able to re-grow after an outbreak.
- Home to a quarter of all known seaweed species, the reef's 500 seaweed and algae species are a significant contribution to the preservation and biological diversity of the reef. They also provide feeding grounds for a number of creatures and form important home for them.
Adventure awaits! Get on a boat and sail! Charter a journey through paradise!
(Adapted from https://www.queensland.com/en-au/explore-queensland/great-barrier-reef)
Notes
1 Great Barrier Reef
One of Australia's most remarkable natural gifts, the Great Barrier Reef is blessed with the breathtaking beauty of the world's largest coral reef. The reef contains an abundance of marine life and comprises of over 3,000 individual reef systems and coral cays and literally hundreds of picturesque tropical islands with some of the world's most beautiful sun-soaked, golden beaches. Because of its natural beauty, the Great Barrier Reef has become one of the world's most sought after tourist destinations. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the eight wonders of the natural world, and pulling away from it, and viewing it from a greater distance, you can understand why. It is larger than the Great Wall of China and the only living thing on earth visible from space.
2 Coral reefs
Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems held together by calcium carbonate structures secreted by corals. Coral reefs are built by colonies of tiny animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps belong to a group of animals known as Cnidaria, which also includes sea anemones and jellyfish. Unlike sea anemones, corals secrete hard carbonate exoskeletons which support and protect the coral polyps. Most reefs grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated waters.
3 Marine Park
A marine park is a park consisting of an area of sea (or lake) sometimes protected for recreational use, but more often set aside to preserve a specific habitat and ensure the ecosystem is sustained for the organisms that exist there. Most marine parks are designated by governments, and organized like "watery" national parks. The largest marine park used to bethe Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Australia, at 350,000 km² until 2010, when the United Kingdom announced the opening of the Chagos Marine Park or Chagos Archipelago. These can range from glass-bottomed boats and small submarines, to windowed undersea tubes.
4 Manta rays
Manta rays are large rays belonging to the genus Manta. The larger species, M. birostris, reaches 7 m in width while the smaller, M. alfredi, reaches 5.5 m. Both have triangular pectoral fins, horn-shaped cephalic fins and large, forward-facing mouths. Like whales, they breach, for unknown reasons. Both species are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
5 Minke Whales
Minke Whale is a type of baleen whale. The two species of Minke Whale are the common (or northern) Minke Whale and the Antarctic (or southern) Minke Whale. Minke Whales typically live for 30 to 50 years; in some cases they may live for up to 60 years. The maximum swimming speed of minkes has been estimated at 38 km/h (24 mph).
6 Crown-of-Thorns Starfish
The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish is a large, multiple-armed starfish that usually preys upon hard, or stony, coral polyps. The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish receives its name from venomous thorn(-?)like spines that cover its upper surface, resembling the biblical crown of thorns. It is one of the largest starfish in the world. A planci has a very wide Indo-Pacific distribution. It is perhaps most common in Australia, but can occur at tropical and subtropical latitudes from the Red Sea and the east African coast across the Indian Ocean, and across the Pacific Ocean to the west coast of Central America.
Part 3 Exercises
I. Fast Reading
Directions: Read the text quickly and decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F) according to the information given in the text.
1. ( ) The Great Barrier Beef is one of the original seven wonders of the world and the first coral reef to be awarded World Heritage status.
2. ( ) It is the largest natural feature on earth and its impressive size makes it one of the living structures that can be seen from the moon.
3. ( ) The Great Barrier Reef meets all four of the natural criteria for World Heritage listing, one of only a handful of natural areas on earth to do so.
4. ( ) Crocodiles are the marine "dinosaurs" of the Reef. Crocodiles have been on the Reef for 100 million years!
5. ( ) A range of "above water" activities are also available for visitors to experience the Great Barrier Reef without getting wet.
6. ( ) Great Barrier Reef provides divers with a display of color, shape and movement that is reproduced somewhere else in the world.
7. ( ) Giant clams grow up to 2 m in length and weighing up to 255 kg, who eat algae.
8. ( ) Stretching over 2,300 km along the Queensland sea line, the Great Barrier Reef is a World Heritage playground waiting to be explored.
9. ( ) Port Douglas District is a place where you can learn with historic ship wrecks and complete islands.
10. ( ) Believed to be about 8,000 years old, the thin layer of living coral has built up on top
of dead corals and algae over the past 500,000 years.
II. Text Understanding
Directions: Read the text quickly and try to make an oral summary of the main idea. You can make an outline with some key words at first.
III. Subvocal Reading
Directions: Read aloud and listen to the audio of the text for full understanding. Then practice subvocal reading at fast speed (150 words per minute).
IV. Faster Reading
Directions: Try to suppress subvocal to achieve faster reading speed.
V. Text Familiarity
Directions: Read the text carefully and repeatedly to fully understand the content first, and try to fill in the blanks based on your memory. You should not refer to the text while doing the exercises.
1. With _______ coral reefs, colorful_______ life and a rainbow of blue water as _______ as the eye can see, it's a ________ in a lifetime experience not to be ________.
2. Its _______ natural significance was recognized in 1981 _______ it became the first _______ reef system in the world to be _______ World _______ status.
3. Other _______ wildlife that can be seen _______ some of the islands of the Great Barrier Reef includes a range of birds like ________ and birds of ________, some traveling great distances to _______ there.
4. The reef is easily _______ from all of these _______, with Great Barrier Reef tours, _______ to islands, _______ to the outer reef and other _______ options available.
5. Other great activities of the Great Barrier Reef can be_______ on one of its 600 islands where visitors can stay at a _______ island resort, camp on a _______ island, take in _______ views, meet the _______ or simply take part in _______ activities.
VI. Text Dictation
Directions: Listen to the audio of the text repeatedly and try to dictate Paragraphs 1 and 2. Through the reading and listening practice, you'd better recite the whole passage.
VII. Word Explanation
Directions: After learning the core words and the text, try to explain the following words using your own words. Pay attention to the usage. You can make sentences with them.
span bleach await comprise infinite
shallow charter expel encounter stunning
VIII. Word Formation
Directions: Write the appropriate form of the given words according to the context.
1. Because of this and other differences in the two versions, we recommend that you test the maps after ________ (migrate).
2. The refugees were _______ (await) their entry permits into the United States.
3. It's relatively clean and _______ (crowded), and a good choice for most visitors to India.
4. You're like a single cell in the larger body of humanity, which_______ (comprise) of billions of other people—cells.
5. Ultimately, we chose six system analysts with ________ (diverse) levels of experience.
6. They were fighting in order ________ (preserve) their independence.
7. He could not help having compassion for the poor _______ (creature).
8. After the fire, nothing remained of the _______ (magnificent) buildings of the temple.
9. Of course, Mary _______ (encounter) problems, as she would with any product.
10. So the prince told her the whole story, and of the impossible task given him by the _______ (crocodile).
IX. Translation
Directions: Translate the following sentences into Chinese and pay attention to the context.
1. Its outstanding natural significance was recognized in 1981 when it became the first coral reef system in the world to be awarded World Heritage status.
2. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the richest and most diverse ecosystems in the world. It has a stunning range of marine-life that can be found nowhere else on the planet.
3. ... visitors can stay at a tropical island resort, camp on a deserted island, take in spectacular views, meet the wildlife or simply take part in beach activities.
4. Dramatic temperature variations can result in the coral expelling the algae, resulting in coral death or coral bleaching.
5. Home to a quarter of all known seaweed species, the reef's 500 seaweed and algae species are a significant contribution to the preservation and biological diversity of the reef.
X. Composition
Directions: Introduce one of the most fascinating places that you have traveled to your pen pals. Please write at least 120 words.