1. surface | /SUR-fis/ |
-the outer face, outside, or exterior boundary of a thing | |
Humans landed on the surface of the moon for the first time in 1921. | |
2. trivial | /TRIV-ee-uhl/ |
-of very little importance or value; insignificant | |
The manger disregarded trivial matters during the meeting. | |
3. regardless | /ri-GAHRD-lis/ |
-having or showing no regard; heedless; unmindful | |
Anyone can join the club regardless of age. | |
4. downward | /DOUN-werd/ |
-from a higher to a lower place or condition | |
The submarine began moving downward. | |
5. predator | /PRED-uh-ter/ |
-any organism that exists by preying upon other organisms | |
The predator attacked its prey incessantly. |
According to experts, sound can extend far downward underwater. It is also easier for fish to sense their environment with sound rather than light. It turns out that sound helps sea animals to communicate with each other. Many of them rely on sound to locate food and steer clear of predators. It is also useful for spotting suitable places for mating. Having said that, sound is crucial in marine life’s survival and sustainability.
However, louder noises generated by humans overpower the natural sounds undersea. Sounds derived from human activities such as marine vessel traffic, motorized fishing vessels, deep-sea exploration, and coastal construction interrupt the sounds underwater marine animals need for survival.
Experts have also observed that the population of sea animals has declined by about half since 1970. According to their records, marine creatures singing and calling are now fewer. They stress that noise pollution needs as much attention as climate change, plastic pollution, and overfishing.
1. | How important is sound to marine life? |
2. | What human activities generate disruptive noises? |
3. | When did the population of marine life start to decline? |
1. | Did you find the study surprising? |
2. | Do you believe that noise pollution is easier to solve compared to other forms of pollution? |
3. | What caused human-generated noises to get louder? |
4. | Can you think of ways to reduce noise pollution? |
5. | How is noise perceived in general in your culture? |
Grammar 文法 |
Pronunciation 発音 | Vocabulary 単語 |
Comprehension 理解 |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
GOOD | 文法の誤りはほとんどなく、完全な文章で話すことができる | ほとんどの単語をはっきりと正しく発音することができる | 習った表現を適切に使うことができる | 文章を理解し、質問に正しく答えることができる |
FAIR |
文法の誤りはあるが、完全な文章で話すことができる | 発音の練習が必要な言葉がいくつかある | たまにミスはあるが、習った表現を適切に使うことができる | 文章を完全に理解するのは難しく、質問に正しく答えられないときもある |
POOR |
文章で話すのは難しく、単語だけで話すことができる | 発音の練習が必要である | 習った単語と表現を少しだけ使うことができる | 文章を理解するのは難しく、質問に答えるのは難しい |