Record number of baby seahorses released

陜西 李紅娟

為了拯救一種罕見的海洋生物，澳大利亞科學(xué)家將數(shù)百只小海馬放歸野外，創(chuàng)造了世界紀(jì)錄。

主題語境：野生動(dòng)物保護(hù) 篇幅：343詞 建議用時(shí)：7分鐘

1In a world-record effort to help save a rare sea creature, Australian scientists have released hundreds of baby seahorses into the wild.The tiny seahorses are endangered,and the scientists hope the new seahorses will help their numbers grow.

2Seahorses are small,thin fish with a long snout (長鼻子).They're called“seahorses”because they look a bit like horses.There are over 40 different kinds of seahorses.They mostly live in warm,shallow waters around the world.They are often found in coral reefs, in beds of seagrass, and in areas where rivers empty into the sea.Seahorses form an important part of the ocean's food chain.They eat tiny sea creatures and are eaten by bigger sea animals,such as crabs.In a way,they play an important role in keeping the diversity of marine species.

3Many kinds of seahorses are threatened, often by the actions of humans.Sometimes they're caught and sold as pets.They are also sometimes caught by accident when boats are trying to catch other fish.

4Seahorses are unusual because it's the males who carry the babies.Males have a special pouch that allows them to carry over 100 babies at a time.The tiny babies are born alive and can swim right away.When they're born, the babies are about the size of a grain of rice.

5To begin the project, the scientists collected three pregnant male seahorses.Those seahorses were brought back to the aquarium.After the babies were born, the scientists kept them at the aquarium for five months, feeding the baby seahorses to help them grow strong.

6About a month before the young seahorses were released, the scientists created eight underwater“hotels”for them.The hotels look a little like cages, and provide a safe place for the seahorses to develop.Putting the hotels into the sea early allowed the cages to be covered with small sea life that can help provide food for the seahorses.The researchers also put tiny tags under the skin of many of the seahorses to help track them in the future.

Reading Check

Inference1.What's the purpose of releasing the baby seahorses into the wild?

A.To help increase the number of seahorses in the wild.

B.To study the behavior of seahorses in their natural habitat.

C.To protect the endangered seahorses from being caught by humans.

D.To provide a safe place for the baby seahorses to develop.

Detail2.Why are seahorses important to the marine ecosystem?

A.They help control the population of small fish.

B.They provide food for larger predators.

C.They contribute to the diversity of marine species.

D.They help maintain the health of coral reefs.

Detail3.Why are seahorses endangered according to the text?

A.They are sometimes caught and sold as pets.

B.They are often accidentally eaten by crabs.

C.They are in shortage of food.

D.They are too small to feed themselves.

Detail4.What's special about seahorses?

A.The females carry the babies.

B.The females can carry over 100 babies at a time.

C.The babies are born alive and can swim right away.

D.The babies are about the size of a mouse when they're born.

Language Study

Ⅰ.日積月累

endangeredadj.瀕危的

seahorsen.海馬

marineadj.海洋的；海產(chǎn)的

underwateradj.水下的

pouchn.育兒袋

aquariumn.水族館

tagn.追蹤器

food chain 食物鏈

Ⅱ.語法填空

Seahorses are unique marine creatures.However, their 1.________(endanger) status has caught the attention of scientists.Seahorses face threats from 2.________(capture)and traded as pets, and they are often 3.________(accident) caught during fishing activities.Their disappearance would have an impact 4.________the entire marine ecosystem,as they are important links in the 5.________(ocean)food chain.

The reproductive behavior of seahorses is also 6.________(remark).Male seahorses carry the babies inside their bodies and continue to care for 7.________(they) after birth.During one reproductive cycle, a male seahorse can produce over 100 babies and all of them are capable 8.________swimming immediately after birth.

9.________(ensure) the survival of seahorses, scientists have taken measures to protect them.After being nurtured at the aquarium for five months, the baby seahorses are released into the wild, 10.________(aim) to increase the population of wild seahorses and protect them from human hunting.