雅思阅读 101: The Hidden Coral Reef Off Argentina

Adapted from 'Stunning images reveal a massive coral reef for the first time', Scientific American, April 2026.

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Hidden on the ocean floor off the coast of Argentina is a coral colony absolutely bursting with life. Researchers have known of its existence for more than a century, but no one had ever seen it, until now.

Scientists conducted two expeditions with the Schmidt Ocean Institute in 2025 to image the ocean floor. One expedition took scientists to Mar Del Plata Submarine Canyon, estimated to be more than 3,500 meters deep and as large as South Africa. The other captured photos of other areas along the Argentine coast.

I have never seen such a lush environment, says Santiago Herrera, a deep-sea biologist at Lehigh University who took part in the July expedition. There is so much life, and it is so abundant that you can lose perspective on where you are. A kilometer deep in the South Atlantic, if you did not know any better, you could picture being somewhere tropical.

Unlike shallow-water coral reefs, deep-sea coral colonies live in complete darkness. They filter feed on the detritus that falls from the surface rather than on sugars produced by symbiotic plants. Many form huge mounds at the bottom of the ocean. But much like shallow-water corals, those born in the darkness can be brightly colored.

Basket stars perch on top of hard corals as they filter feed together. Small animals take shelter in lush coral colonies. And like tropical corals, these deep-sea ecosystems are sensitive to changes in water temperature and acidity.

But in the isolation of the seafloor, deep-sea corals have largely escaped the worst of these changes so far, offering researchers a chance to see what a thriving coral community really looks like. The researchers are now determined to save it and have a plan to restore it.

Questions 1-5

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

1. How long have researchers known the reef existed? A. 10 years B. More than a century C. Only since 2025 D. 50 years
2. How deep is the Mar Del Plata canyon? A. 350 meters B. 3,500 meters C. 35,000 meters D. 35 meters
3. How do deep-sea corals get food? A. From symbiotic plants B. By filtering detritus from falling surface material C. By hunting fish D. From sunlight
4. What color are deep-sea corals? A. Always black B. Only white C. They can be brightly colored D. Only blue
5. Why are deep-sea corals important for research? A. They are dying fast B. They show what a thriving coral community looks like C. They contain gold D. They are used as medicine

Questions 6-10

Do the following statements agree with the information? Write TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN.

6. The reef was first photographed in 2025.
7. Deep-sea corals live in complete darkness.
8. Deep-sea corals have been badly damaged by climate change.
9. The canyon is as large as South Africa.
10. Basket stars hunt coral polyps.

Questions 11-13

Complete the summary. Choose ONE WORD ONLY.

Deep-sea corals filter 11 from falling detritus. Unlike shallow corals, they have largely escaped temperature and 12 changes. Researchers now plan to 13 the reef.

Answers

1. B 2. B 3. B 4. C 5. B
2. TRUE 7. TRUE 8. FALSE 9. TRUE 10. FALSE
3. feed 12. acidity 13. restore

Key Vocabulary

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