The Arctic Ocean is Earth’s northernmost body of water. It encircles the Arctic, and flows beneath it. Most of the Arctic Ocean is covered by ice throughout the year — although that is starting to change as temperatures climb. Pale on the surface, the Arctic Ocean is home to a surprising array of life.
Though it’s the world’s smallest ocean, the Arctic is now receiving unprecedented (空前的) international attention. Scientists are racing to understand how warming temperatures will alter Arctic Ocean waters and world leaders are racing to control newly opening waters. The Arctic Ocean is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth.
The U.S., Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Russia all have territories (领土) that reach into the Arctic Ocean. About four million people live in the Arctic region. To survive in the harsh climate, many of the region’s people rely on the ocean’s bounty to sustain their livelihoods. This includes fishing, sealing, whaling, and other activities.
Much of the Arctic Ocean’s complex life can only be seen by underwater explorers who dive through holes in thick sea ice. Much of the ocean here is dark, blocked from sunlight by ice cover, but photographers have dived with lights to expose underwater Arctic life. Scientists note that studying life in the Arctic Ocean can be difficult because the region is hard to access. Much is still unknown about the Arctic’s marine food web.
Whales and fish are often an important food source for local people living in the Arctic, but commercial fishing has been banned in much of the Arctic Ocean. In 2018 the U.S. and nine other countries formally recognized that warming was creating new access to fishing stocks. In response, the 10 countries agreed to a stop that bans fishing until scientists are able to assess whether Arctic Ocean fisheries can be used sustainably.
29. Why do scientists pay more attention to the Arctic now?
A.To find newly opening waters. |
B.To offer a better environment for ocean life. |
C.To control more territories and natural resources. |
D.To study temperatures’ influence on Arctic Ocean waters. |
30. What does Paragraph 3 mainly talk about?
A.People’s hobbies in the Arctic region. |
B.People living in the Arctic region. |
C.Different countries’ territories. |
D.Arctic’s marine food web. |
31. Why is it said that studying life in the Arctic Ocean isn’t easy?
A.We have little knowledge about it. |
B.We lack enough underwater explorers. |
C.It is hard to have access to the region. |
D.It has been banned in much of the Arctic Ocean. |
32. Which has the closest meaning to the underlined word “sustainably” in the last paragraph?
A.Continuously. | B.Frequently. |
C.Immediately. | D.Carefully. |