1 . An art program is helping students at some of the lowest performing schools in the United States.

On June 8，much of the world ____ the United Nations World Oceans Day. The idea is to remind people how important the world’s oceans are to all life on Earth, to celebrate their beauty, and to bring attention to the ____ human activity has on the oceans.

This year, the theme is “Our Oceans, Our Future,” with special emphasis on finding solutions to plastic pollution, and ____ marine litter for a healthier ocean and a better future.

The world's oceans ____ nearly three fourths of the Earth's surface, and contain 97 percent of our planet’s water. They produce over half of our oxygen，help regulate our climate, absorb carbon dioxide，and support the greatest ____ of life on our planet.

Nearly half of all species on Earth depend on the oceans for survival, and for many of the rest, including people, the oceans ____ the quality of life.

The oceans are also ____ to the world’s economy, because they are key to transportation and recreation. As over 95 percent of the underwater area remains unexplored, it is nearly a ____ that their depths may hold the cure to many a disease, the ____ to many a problem.

And yet, as much as 40 percent of the world’s oceans are ____ affected by human activities that result in pollution, over-fishing, and loss of coastal habitats. Of particular ____ is plastic garbage. Some of it comes from ships that use our rivers, lakes and seas, and eventually ____ into the ocean. But about 8 million metric tons of plastic waste washes off land into the ocean each year.

Once there, it begins to ____ until it turns into small fragments known as micro-plastics. Plastics are a serious threat, because they degrade very slowly, trap sea creatures, damage habitats like coral reefs, and are ____ by marine animals. Researchers have documented the impacts of plastic on over 650 different marine species—including sea turtles, seals, whales, dolphins，porpoises, seabirds, and fish.

On World Oceans Day, we must remember that the health and safety of our oceans is our collective ____，one that we cannot afford to neglect. Only through good stewardship can we safeguard the health of our oceans, and ensure that the oceans continue to meet the needs of future generations.