四、閱讀測驗【請依照段落上下文意，選出最適當的答案】
第一篇：
           Human activity is changing the surface and temperature of the planet. But new research shows it is also changing thesound of the Earth’s oceans and seas. Scientists say the changes in the sounds of our oceans, seas, and other waterwaysaffect many marine animals -- from very small shrimp to huge whales. Sound travels "very far underwater,” Francis Juanestold the Associated Press. Juanes is an ecologist at the University of Victoria in Canada. He is also co-writer of the recentresearch published in the magazine, Science.“For fish,” he explained, “sound is probably a better way to sense theirenvironment than light.”
         Sounds help fish and other marine animals survive. They use sounds to communicate with each other. Sounds alsohelp some ocean animals find food and avoid their hunters. Many ocean animals use sounds to find good places to mate.However, increased noise from humans is making it harder for these animals to hear each other. The noise is coming fromshipping traffic, motorized fishing ships, underwater oil and gas exploration, offshore construction, and other noisy humanactivity.“For many marine species, their attempts to communicate are being masked by sounds that humans haveintroduced,” said Carlos Duarte. The marine ecologist at the Red Sea Research Center in Saudi Arabia co-wrote the paperwith Juanes.
         Experts at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, explain the term masking on itswebsite. Masking happens when one or more noises in the water block sound important to a marine animal’s existence.The Red Sea, Duarte said, is one of the world’s most important shipping passages. It is full of large ships traveling to Asia,Europe, and Africa. Some fish and other animals, he said, now avoid the noisiest areas. Also, the overall number of marineanimals has gone down by about half since 1970. In some parts of the ocean, scientists now record “fewer animals singingand calling than in the past – those voices are gone,” said Duarte.
        Juanes and Duarte examined studies and research articles documenting changes in noise volume and frequency in theworld’s oceans. Then they put together a detailed picture of how the ocean soundscape is changing and how marine life isaffected.
        Scientists use underwater devices to record fish sounds. These sounds are in the same low frequencies as shippingtraffic noise. NOAA experts state that masking is most noticeable when “a noise is at the same frequency and loudness asbiologically important sounds, such as mating calls.” Climate change, the researchers found, also affect physical processesthat shape ocean sounds. These include such things as wind, waves, and melting ice. Experts at NOAA say that effects ofnoise on marine mammals are not well understood. However, some studies suggest that noise may cause hearing loss. Thestress from human noise might also affect the immune system - an animal’s natural defense system - as well asreproductive health or behavior.
      “Imagine having to raise your kids in a place that’s noisy all the time,” said Joe Roman. He is a marine ecologist atthe University of Vermont and was not involved in the research. Roman added that it should come as no surprise that manymarine animals are showing higher “levels of stress due to noise.” Another marine ecologist not involved with the paper isNeil Hammerschlag of the University of Miami. “When people think of threats facing the ocean,” he said, “we often thinkof climate change, plastics, and overfishing. But noise pollution is another essential thing we need to be monitoring.”“Ifyou make something for the ocean,” Hammerschlag suggested, “think about how to make it quieter.” Scientist Juanes sayssound pollution may be easier to deal with than other ocean threats. “In theory,” he said, “you can reduce or turn off soundimmediately. It’s not like plastics or climate change, which are much harder to undo.”
【題組】41. What is one way sounds can help fish and other sea animals survive?
(A) They can help some animals avoid their hunters.
(B) They can lead sea animals to warmer waters.
(C) They can warn of incoming severe weather events.
(D) They can guide animals through new travel paths.