The Great Barrier Reef Reading Answers

The Great Barrier Reef

Inshore coral reefs are dying all along the Queensland’s coast, choked by sediment and algae. Tropical paradises like lagoons and reefs, are now made up of fragmented skeletons of dead coral covered under layers of silt. Pollution from tourist facilities and ships dumping their waste threatens even the most remote reefs. There are so many tourists at a popular reef that their urine and the droppings from the fish they feed have increased the nutrient content in the water to the point that the algae blooms have flourished, endangering the beautiful coral's existence. According to marine experts, 70% of coral reefs throughout the world are dead or seriously deteriorated. The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest reef system with 2900 individual reefs and a length of 2300 kilometres, is in better form than most. Experts warn, though, that keeping it that way will take effort and dedication, and that it may already be too late in some locations. 

The Great Barrier Reef is known around the world for its incredible marine life, and the tourism and fishing sectors are key economic drivers. The total economic value of reef-based tourism and fishing is more than 1 billion dollars a year. Reef tourism is already worth more than sugar exports, with visitor numbers expected to triple in the next 8 years.The industry depends on protecting the spectacular marine environment that is home to at least ten thousand species of animals (including 400 varieties of coral) and plants. They include endangered creatures such as the dugong, the giant clam and the humpback whale.

Questions 1–5

Complete the table below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the reading passage for each answer.

1.   70%

Explanation: According to marine experts, 70% of coral reefs throughout the world are dead or seriously deteriorated.

2.   2300 km

Explanation: The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest reef system with 2900 individual reefs and a length of 2300 kilometres, is in better form than most.  

3.   reef-based tourism

Explanation: The total economic value of reef-based tourism and fishing is more than 1 billion dollars a year. 

4.   400

Explanation: The industry depends on protecting the spectacular marine environment that is home to at least ten thousand species of animals (including 400 varieties of coral) and plants.

5.   2900

Explanation: The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest reef system with 2900 individual reefs and a length of 2300 kilometres, is in better form than most.