文章大意:本文是一篇新闻报道。文章主要报道了一位志愿者在英格兰发现了一种罕见的彩虹海蛞蝓,她对发现这种罕见物种表示惊讶和赞叹。同时,文章还科普了海蛞蝓对气候变化很敏感,能够快速反应水温变化,以及它们的习性和和防御机制。
Vicky Barlow is a volunteer for a non-profit environmental organization. She was overturning stones in a rock pool in Falmouth, England when something “extremely bright and unusual” caught her eye. Under a large seaweed-covered rock, she made a very rare find: a rainbow sea slug (蛞蝓).
Rainbow sea slugs are very uncommon in England — they’re usually found in warmer waters, such as those along the west coasts of Spain, Portugal and France. In fact, there have only been three previously documented sightings of the species in the UK. But those were all found by divers rather than rock poolers. “It’s a warm-water species but it looks as if it has arrived here,” said the sea biologist Ben Holt. He adds that waters around the UK have seen rapid warming due to climate change. By the end of the century, water temperatures in the UK will rise by more than 3℃.
Sea slugs are particularly useful in related research. Most sea slugs only live up to about one year, which means they can make a very quick response to the changes in water temperatures caused by climate issues. In Australia, climate scientists have been collecting information on sea slugs for over 10 years to record the species and learn about changes in their distribution (分布), including their arrival in historically cooler waters.
Around 3,000 species of sea slugs exist in waters worldwide. They mainly feed on seaweed and other sea slugs. Unlike snails, adult sea slugs don’t have shells to protect them from being eaten by hungry marine animals. Instead, many of them have formed bright colors to scare off their enemies such as sea turtles, starfish and crabs. Some species may even have the unusual ability to steal stinging cells (刺细胞) from animals they feed on and shoot them out when threatened.
Before sending it back where it came from, Barlow placed the sea slug in a pot to get a better look at its colors. “It is absolutely amazing that I could find it on our rocky coasts,” Barlow writes in her blog. “It’s a perfect example of the incredible wildlife we have on our doorstep.”
12. Why are rainbow sea slugs rare in England?
A.They prefer to live in deep waters. |
B.Divers are unable to recognize them. |
C.Rock pools are poorly managed here. |
D.The environment is normally unfavorable. |
13. What can we say about sea slugs according to Paragraph 3?
A.They are important in studying climate change. |
B.Their overall population continues to decrease. |
C.They mostly choose to live in cooler waters. |
D.Their sea habitats have been badly polluted. |
14. What does Paragraph 4 mainly tell us about sea slugs?
A.Their survival abilities. | B.Risks caused by their colors. |
C.Changes in their feeding habits. | D.Their common marine enemies. |
15. How does Barlow probably feel about her discovery?
A.Calm and peaceful. | B.Surprised and glad. |
C.Curious and doubtful. | D.Shocked and worried. |