52-year-old Chinese coral biologist Huang Hui has spent half her life recreating the spectacular scene in her memory: vast stretches of Colorful corals thriving on the seabed of the South China Sea.
Covering less than two-thousandth of the space in the ocean, coral reefs provider shelter for more than a quarter of the world's sea creatures. However, the coral cover area has been declining in the past few decades. Global warming is the reason for the decline adding impact to other human activities such as over-exploitation and coastal development.
Xisha Islands in the South China sea was once a paradise for fish and sea plants. It is now silent in the water there because the coral reefs are in critical situation. To help the coral community recover, Huang decided to plant corals under the sea. Huang and her team first bred coral seedlings in a nursery, and then transplanted them to the seabed. Different types of corals were chosen according to the various seabed conditions.
However, growing corals on the seafloor is not an easy job weather conditions are one of the most major variables that influence coral planting. Wave, height 2 meters or more can be dangerous, because the divers find moving around underwater difficult and the small diving boat can easily be blown away.
Seasickness is another great challenge.“The journey to a coral plantation area usually takes four days, but it took six days last time because of the strong wind. 1just lay in the bed and moved up and down with the boat, which made me feel sick,” she said.
Their efforts have paid off. Since 2000, Huang and her team have planted 120,000 to 150,000 corals, covering 20,000 square meters of seabed of the South China Sea.
“The underwater ecosystem needs time to recover. Planting corals is only the first step in restoring the underwater ecology. We need time to plant more,” said Huang. “Hopefully, the corals will gradually become a forest and the fish will come back.”
4. What has happened to corals?
A.They have come under threat. | B.They have returned to normal |
C.They have lost their past color. | D.They have almost been extinct |
5. What challenge will Huang face in coral plantation?
A.The choice of coral seedlings | B.Dangerous diving conditions. |
C.The rise in Water temperatures. | D.Homesickness in the sea water. |
6. Which of the following words can best describe Huang?
A.Generous and caring. | B.Curious and responsible. |
C.Stressed and anxious. | D.Devoted and optimistic. |
7. What can be the best tit for the text?
A.A conservation advocate | B.The disappearing corals |
C.Restoring paradise | D.Sowing seeds of love |