Final Test Preparation READING PASSAGE – 1

Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral
reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most
coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups.
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A
Coral reefs are estimated to cover 284,300 km2 just under 0.1% of the oceans‘ surface area,
about half the area of France. The Indo-Pacific region accounts for 91.9% of this total area.
Southeast Asia accounts for 32.3% of that figure, while the Pacific including Australia accounts
for 40.8%. Atlantic and Caribbean coral reefs account for 7.6%. Yet often called ―rainforests of
the sea‖, coral reefs form some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. They provide a home
for 25% of all marine species, including fish, mollusks worms, crustaceans, echinoderms,
sponges, tunicates and other cnidarians. Paradoxically, coral reefs flourish even though they are
surrounded by ocean waters that provide few nutrients. They are most commonly found at
shallow depths in tropical waters, but deep water and cold water corals also exist on smaller
scales in other areas. Although corals exist both in temperate and tropical waters, shallow-water
reefs form only in a zone extending from 30°N to 30°S of the equator. Deepwater coral can exist
at greater depths and colder temperatures at much higher latitudes, as far north as Norway.
Coral reefs are rare along the American and African west coasts. This is due primarily to
upwelling and strong cold coastal currents that reduce water temperatures in these areas
(respectively the Peru, Benguela and Canary streams). Corals are seldom found along the
coastline of South Asia from the eastern tip of India (Madras) to the Bangladesh and Myanmar
borders. They are also rare along the coast around northeastern South America and Bangladesh
due to the freshwater released from the Amazon and Ganges Rivers, respectively.

B
Coral reefs deliver ecosystem services to tourism, fisheries and coastline protection. The global
economic value of coral reefs has been estimated at as much as $US375 billion per year. Coral
reefs protect shorelines by absorbing wave energy, and many small islands would not exist
without their reef to protect them.
C
The value of reefs in biodiverse regions can be even higher. In parts of Indonesia and the
Caribbean where tourism is the main use, reefs are estimated to be worth US$1 million per
square kilometer, based on the cost of maintaining sandy beaches and the value of attracting
snorkelers and scuba divers. Meanwhile, a recent study of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia
found that the reef is worth more to the country as an intact ecosystem than an extractive
reserve for fishing. Each year more than 1.8 million tourists visit the reef, spending an estimated
AU$4.3 billion (Australian dollars) on reef-related industries from diving to boat rental to posh
island resort stays. In the Caribbean, says UNEP, the net annual benefits from diver tourism were
US$2 billion in 2000 with US$625 million spent directly on diving on reefs. Further, reef tourism
is an important source of employment, especially for some of the world‘s poorest people. UNEP
says that of the estimated 30 million small-scale fishers in the developing world, most are
dependent to a greater or lesser extent on coral reefs. In the Philippines, for example, more than
one million small-scale fishers depend directly on coral reefs for their livelihoods. The report
estimates that reef fisheries were worth between $15,000 and $150,000 per square kilometer a
year, while fish caught for aquariums were worth $500 a kilogram against $6 for fish caught as
food. The aquarium fish export industry supports around 50,000 people and generates some
US$5.5 million a year in Sri Lanka along.

D
Unfortunately, coral reefs are dying around the world. In particular, coral mining, agricultural and
urban runoff, pollution (organic and inorganic), disease, and the digging of canals and access
into islands and bays are localized threats to coral ecosystems. Broader threats are sea
temperature rise, sea-level rise and pH changes from ocean acidification, all associated with
greenhouse gas emissions. Some current fishing practices are destructive and unsustainable.
These include cyanide fishing, overfishing and blast fishing. Although cyanide fishing supplies
live reef fish for the tropical aquarium market, most fish caught using this method are sold in
restaurants, primarily in Asia, where live fish are prized for their freshness. To catch fish with
cyanide, fishers dive down to the reef and squirt cyanide in coral crevices and on the fast-
moving fish, to stun the fish making them easy to catch. Overfishing is another leading cause for
coral reef degradation. Often, too many fish are taken from one reef to sustain a population in
that area. Poor fishing practices, such as banging on the reef with sticks (muro-ami), destroy
coral formations that normally function as fish habitat. In some instances, people fish with
explosives (blast fishing), which blast apart the surrounding coral.
E
Tourist resorts that empty their sewage directly into the water surrounding coral reefs contribute
to coral reef degradation. Wastes kept in poorly maintained septic tanks can also leak into
surrounding groundwater, eventually seeping out to the reefs. Careless boating, diving,
snorkeling and fishing can also damage coral reefs. Whenever people grab, kick, and walk on, or
stir up sediment in the reefs, they contribute to coral reef destruction. Corals are also harmed or
killed when people drop anchors on them or when people collect coral.

F
To find answers for these problems, scientists and researchers study the various factors that
impact reefs. The list includes the ocean‘s role as a carbon dioxide sink, atmospheric changes,
ultraviolet light, ocean acidification, viruses, impacts of dust storms carrying agents to far-flung
ultraviolet light, ocean acidification, viruses, impacts of dust storms carrying agents to far-flung
reefs, pollutants, algal blooms and others. Reefs are threatened well beyond coastal areas.
General estimates show approximately 10% of the worlds coral reefs are dead. About 60% of the
world‘s reefs are at risk due to destructive, human-related activities. The threat to the health of
reefs is particularly strong in Southeast Asia, where 80% of reefs are endangered. ieltsxpress

G
In Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
and is the subject of much legislation, including a biodiversity action plan. Inhabitants of Ahus
Island, Manus Province, Papua New Guinea, have followed a generations-old practice of
restricting fishing in six areas of their reef lagoon. Their cultural traditions allow line fishing, but
not net or spearfishing. The result is both the biomass and individual fish sizes are significantly
larger in these areas than in places where fishing is unrestricted.
Questions 1-6
The reading Passage has seven paragraphs A-G.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter A-G, in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.

1. Geographical Location of the world‘s coral reef

2. How does coral reef benefit economy locally
3. The statistics of coral reef‘s economic significance
4. The listed reasons for the declining number of coral reef
5. Physical approach to the coral reef by people
6. Unsustainable fishing methods are applied in regions of the world

Questions 7-12
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage?
Write your answers in boxes 7-12 on your answer sheet.
TRUE if the statement is true

FALSE if the statement is false

NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in the passage
7. Coral reefs provide habitat to a variety of marine life.
8. Coral reef distributes around the ocean disproportionally.
9. Coral reef is increasingly important for scientific purpose.
10. Coral reefs are greatly exchanged among and exported to other counties.
11. Reef tourism is of economic essence generally for some poor people.
12. As with other fishing business, coral fishery is not suitable to women and children.
Question 13
Choose the correct letter, A，B，C or D.

Write your answers in boxes 13 on your answer sheet.

What is the main purpose of this passage?
A Demonstrate how coral reef growth in the ocean
B To tell that coral reef is widely used as a scientific project
C Present the general benefits and an alarming situation of coral reef
D To show the vital efforts made to protect the coral reef in Australia