The Suez Canal (苏伊士运河),which connects the Mediterranean Sea (地中海) and the Red Sea, opened in 1869. It helps speed world trade between the East and the West. But the man-made waterway has also helped speed the rise of other things, such as non-native species, which have damaged the Mediterranean’s environment and caused native species to disappear.
The number of non-native species has risen since the Suez Canal was widened in 2015. The “New Suez Canal” has raised concerns in many Mediterranean countries.
Bella Galil is an Israeli biologist who has studied the Mediterranean for over 30 years. She noted that the widening and deepening of the Suez Canal had created a “moving aquarium” of species. These species could make coastal waters almost unusable for human beings. Galil believes the number of invasive species has reached 400, which is twice the number from 30 years ago.
Scientists in Mediterranean countries from Turkey, Tunisia to Lebanon share the same concern. But some Egyptians don’t consider the environmental concerns as serious. They said only 5% of the invaders are a problem and that invasive species can be helpful by “replacing species that are overfished”. They don’t think that the widening of the canal is responsible for the increase in invasive species; they say the increase was caused by rising water temperatures and wastewater from ships.
The Suez Canal Authority runs the canal. Canal officials say they are closely watching the movements of sea species. They say they are requiring ships to take action to avoid carrying species from one side of the canal to the other. And they are trying to keep salt levels high in the Bitter Lakes to block invasive species out. Galil, however, questions whether these will be enough to protect the native species. “One day we will wake up to a complete and irreversible (不可逆的) change and know that there was something we could have done about it, if only it had been done on time,” she said.
10. What does the first paragraph show?
A.Seeing is believing. | B.Man will conquer nature. |
C.Let nature take its course. | D.Every coin has two sides. |
11. What does Galil say about the “New Suez Canal”?
A.Its environment is worsening. | B.It connects Mediterranean countries. |
C.It is widened to include more species. | D.It is to protect endangered native species. |
12. What do some Egyptians disagree on?
A.The results of overfishing. |
B.The decrease of native species. |
C.The cause of the increase in invasive species. |
D.The meaning of the widening of the Suez Canal. |
13. What is Galil’s attitude to the Suez Canal Authority’s action?
A.Uninterested. | B.Doubtful. | C.Supporting. | D.Understanding. |