Fish species are expected to shrink in size by up to 24% because of global warming, say scientists.
The scientists argue that failure to control greenhouse gas emissions will have a greater effect on marine ecosystems than previously thought. Previous research has suggested that changing ocean temperatures would affect both the distribution and the reproductive abilities of many species of fish. This new work suggests that fish size would also be heavily affected.
The researchers built a model to see how fish would react to lower levels of oxygen in the water. As ocean temperatures increase, so do the body temperatures of fish. But, according to lead author, Dr William Cheung, from the University of British Columbia, the lower level of oxygen in the water is key. Warmer waters could decrease ocean oxygen levels and greatly reduce fish body weight. On the other hand, rising temperatures directly increase the metabolic rate of the fish's body function. This leads to an increase in oxygen demand for normal body activities. So the fish will run out of oxygen for growth at a smaller body size.
The research team also used its model to predict fish movements as a result of warming waters. The group believes that most fish populations will move towards the Earth's poles at a rate of up to 35km per decade. "So in, say, the North Sea," says Dr Cheung," one would expect to see more smaller-body fish from tropical waters in the future."
Taking these factors into consideration, the research team concludes that fish body size will shrink between 14% and 24%, with the largest decreases in the Indian and Atlantic oceans.
When compared with actual observations of fish sizes, the model seems to underestimate what's actually happening in the seas. The researchers looked at two case studies involving North Atlantic cod and haddock. They found that recorded data on these fish showed greater decreases in body size than the models had predicted.
Dr Alan Baudron, from the University of Aberdeen, UK, believes smaller-sized fish could seriously affect the ability of fish to reproduce. "Smaller fish produce fewer and smaller eggs which could affect the reproductive potential of fish stocks," he said.
小題1:What's the main idea of the passage?
A.Global warming makes fish smaller.
B.Global warming makes fish decrease in numbers.
C.Global warming affects the fish distribution.
D.Global warming affects the ability of fish to reproduce.
小題2:What is the key factor making the fish smaller now?
A.The rising body temperatures.
B.The lower level of oxygen in the water.
C.The increasing metabolic rate.
D.The normal body activities.
小題3:We can infer that as ocean temperatures increase          .
A.more big fish will be born in the sea
B.fish tend to swim towards the shore
C.fish tend to move towards the warm areas
D.fish tend to move towards the colder areas
小題4:What does the underlined word "underestimate" mean?
A.make an exact prediction ofB.make too low an estimate of
C.make too high an estimate ofD.make a careful study of

小題1:A
小題2:B
小題3:D
小題4:B 

試題分析:文章大意:科學(xué)研究表明,由于全球變暖,使得魚(yú)變得越來(lái)越小。
小題1:A主旨大意題。根據(jù)大意及文章第一句Fish species are expected to shrink in size by up to 24% because of global warming, say scientists.可以歸納出文章的主旨大意。故A正確。
小題2:B細(xì)節(jié)判斷題。由第三段But, according to lead author, Dr William Cheung, from the University of British Columbia, the lower level of oxygen in the water is key. Warmer waters could decrease ocean oxygen levels and greatly reduce fish body weight.可得水中的氧氣是關(guān)鍵。故B正確。
小題3:D推理判斷題。根據(jù)本段文章中第四段The group believes that most fish populations will move towards the Earth's poles at a rate of up to 35km per decade.可以推測(cè)魚(yú)趨向于朝更冷的地方移動(dòng)。故D正確。
小題4:B詞義推測(cè)題。根據(jù)文章的倒數(shù)第二段They found that recorded data on these fish showed greater decreases in body size than the models had predicted.可知underestimate為“低估”之意。故B正確。
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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

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Vocabulary
dropout          輟學(xué)者,中途退學(xué)
well-rounded       全面的
attrition          縮/減員,磨損
drain          枯竭
bracket          一類(lèi)人,(尤指按收入分類(lèi)的)階層
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glum          陰郁的

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C.increase interactivity → expand surface area → change functionality→cause possible dangers
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