Page 28 - Grasp English C1 (Workbook)

3 Nature

C. Read the text. Fill in the blanks with words from exercise B on page 25.

Oceans cover seventy percent of the earth’s surface and reach unfathomable depths. Consequently, it’s
tempting to believe that their wealth of resources is inexhaustible. However, oceans are under serious threat
because of human activities, including pollution and the plundering of their resources.

The dumping of garbage is turning some parts of the ocean into a plastic soup. The Great Pacific garbage
patch, located in the ocean between California and Hawaii, has a surface area of 1.6 million square kilometres,
three times the size of France. An estimated 1.1 to 2.4 million tonnes of 1 plastic enter the ocean
each year. More often than not, the plastic floats, and is transported extended distances by ocean currents
and accumulates in the gyre. Rubbish has a devastating effect on marine life, as animals frequently get
2 , trapped or wounded by it. Once the plastic finally breaks down by the effects of waves and
sun, it turns into 3 , which marine animals mistake for food. Once they have entered the food
web, chemicals from the plastic affect the heath of marine life, and in turn, human health.

But rubbish is just one of the pollutants affecting the oceans. Oil spills have devastating effects on marine
life. Oil destroys the insulating ability of fur-bearing animals, such as 4 and the repellency of
birds’ feathers, meaning that they are dangerously susceptible to cold water. Moreover, when they try to clean
themselves, they ingest the oil, which can poison them. Fish that come into contact with oil often suffer health
and growth problems. Other pollutants enter the sea from rivers, aquaculture and air pollution. Mercury, a
pollutant released from burning coal, can cause serious diseases in humans if it enters the 5 .
Meanwhile, carbon pollution is the main cause of rising sea temperatures. This, in turn, causes 6 ,
damaging beautiful, rich and fragile ecosystems, sometimes irreversibly.

Overfishing is also having a devastating effect on our oceans. 7 catch masses of fish
indiscriminately, wiping out not only those fish that are caught, but also those that depend on them as part of
the food chain. Commercial fishing of 8 , such as sharks, is especially harmful, as they mature
slowly and have relatively few young, so it is more difficult for their numbers to recover when under stress. Some
ocean species are in danger of extinction, and long-term fishing bans are needed if the balance of ocean
species is to be restored.

Identifying the problems in our oceans is the first step in ensuring they remain healthy. Ensuring their
sustainability is a far more difficult matter. Controlling our plastic waste and checking the source and
sustainability of the seafood we eat, are some steps we can take to conserve this vital resource.

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