6．Conservationists have unveiled plans to preserve and protect the world's most important species of coral，in a response to increasing threats that they say will lead to"functional extinction"within decades．
Led by scientists at the Zoological Society of London，the Edge Coral Reefs project has identified 10coral species in most urgent risk of becoming extinct．The scientists say that reefs are under pressure from a variety of threats including rising sea temperatures due to climatic instability，increased acidity（酸性），over fishing and pollution．
The Edge plan，which focuses on the most evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered species，will take a regional approach to conservation．This means focusing on the"coral triangle"around the Philippines，the West Indian Ocean around the Mozambique channel，and in the Caribbean channel．
"Coral reefs are threatened with functional extinction in the next 20-50years，due predominantly to global climatic instability，"said Catherine Head，coordinator of the reefs project．"In these regions，we'll be supporting and training in-country conservationists to carry out research and implement targeted conservation actions，"she said．"Their projects will last initially for two years．We provide them with a whole host of tools to carry out their projects including funding and intensive training．"She added．
Coral reefs are the planet's most diverse marine ecosystem（生态系统），known as the rainforests of the oceans．Despite taking up under 0.2% of the ocean floor，they provide food and shelter for almost a third of all sea life．If we lose the ecosystems，we lose not only the biodiversity （生物多样性），but we also lose the capability of people to obtain income and food from coral reefs．
Climatic instability，which leads to rising sea temperatures，causes corals to bleach．Bleaching occurs when sea temperatures rise and this causes the coral tissue to expel their symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae-these are what give the coral their colour．Bleached corals often die if the stress continues．Among the 10species chosen to start the Edge project are the pearl bubble coral，a food source for the hawksbill（玳瑁）turtle，and the Mushroom coral，which supports at least 15brightly colored fish．
41．What does the first paragraph mean in the passage？C
A．Conservationists planned to preserve and protect some extinct corals years ago．
B．Conservationists have banned plans to protect endangered corals for years．
C．Conservationists are going to protect corals that are dying out in several ten years．
D．Conservationists have made plans to protect corals from being extinct in ten years．
42．What will probably happen to coral species with the increasing threats？C
A．Decrease． B．Losing functions． C．Disappearance． D．Existence．
43．Which of the following statements about the Edge Plan is TRUE？D
A．The Edge Coral Reefs project was carried out by American scientists．
B．The plan concentrates on the channels to protect the endangered species．
C．The Conservationists have carried out the Edge plan for many years to protect the corals．
D．Ten coral species chosen by the project are at the greatest risk of becoming extinct．
44．Which of the following will be the consequence of coral extinction in the passage？B
A．We will keep me balance of the marine ecosystems．
B．About one third of the marine species can't survive．
C．Man can benefit more from corals．
D．We will lose the rainforests on our earth．
45．What is the best title of the passage？C
A．Climatic Instability and Coral Extinction．
B．Reasons for Coral Functional Extinction．
C．A Plan to Save Coral from Extinction．
D．A Research about Endangered Coral Reefs．
分析 本文主要介绍了一项计划，旨在保护海洋的珊瑚免于灭绝，并且说明了珊瑚灭绝的原因和因此导致的后果．科学家们发现珊瑚面临着很多威胁，有可能会灭绝．而珊瑚灭绝的后果是三分之一的海洋物种都不能生存．
解答 41．C句意理解题．根据第一段Conservationists have unveiled plans to preserve and protect the world's most important species of coral，in a response to increasing threats that they say will lead to"functional extinction"within decades．可知保护主义者要保护几十年后要灭绝的珊瑚．故选C．
42．C细节理解题．根据第一段increasing threats that they say will lead to"functional extinction"within decades．可知面对这么多的威胁，珊瑚种类有可能灭绝消失．故选C．
43．D细节理解题．根据第三段Led by scientists at the Zoological Society of London，the Edge Coral Reefs project has identified 10 coral species in most urgent risk of becoming extinct．可知这个项目选出有十种珊瑚最有可能灭绝．故选D．
44．B细节理解题：根据第五段Despite taking up under 0.2% of the ocean floor，they provide food and shelter for almost a third of all sea life．If we lose the ecosystems，we lose not only the biodiversity （生物多样性），but we also lose the capability of people to obtain income and food from coral reefs．可知珊瑚灭绝的后果是三分之一的海洋物种都不能生存．故选B．
45．C主旨大意题．根据第一段Conservationists have unveiled plans to preserve and protect the world's most important species of coral，可知这篇文章讲的是保护珊瑚的计划．故选C．
点评 本文考察学生的理解推断能力以及细心程度，只要抓住文章的关键词，采用寻读的方法查找细节，就能找到正确答案．
