根據英國海洋環境保護協會的一項調查顯示，過去一年，人們在英國的海域中和海灘上發現的水母數量增加瞭32%。最多見的是巨型桶水母，但也有人看到過更少見的暖水性水晶果凍水母。
Most of these jellyfish sightings reported to the Marine Conservation Society were in Cornwall and off the west coast of Wales. The most commonly seen was the large barrel jellyfish with a bulbous head, which can measure up to a metre wide, and eight frilled legs – it can be shocking to spot at close quarters.
人們向英國海洋環境保護協會報告的目擊水母的地點大多是在康沃爾郡以及威爾士西海岸附近。最多見的是巨型桶水母，它的頭部呈球莖狀，頭寬可達一米，還有八條褶邊狀的觸手 —— 在近距離看到這種水母可能會令人感到很震撼。
Jellyfish populations do go through boom-and-bust cycles naturally, but climate change is also changing UK seas. A marine heatwave in June temporarily pushed up temperatures by around four degrees. The Marine Conservation Society and other experts say more research is needed to understand the precise link to climate change.
雖然水母數量本就會經歷自然的周期性增長，但氣候變化也在改變英國海洋和海洋生物。今年六月的海洋熱浪將海水溫度暫時性地提升瞭約四度。英國海洋環境保護協會和一些專傢表示還需作進一步研究以瞭解水母數量增加與氣候變化的確切聯系。
詞匯表
sightings 看見，目擊
off the coast of 在…海岸附近
bulbous 球莖狀的
frilled 褶邊的
close quarters 近距離
boom-and-bust cycles “盛衰周期”，（動物數量的）周期性增長
heatwave 高溫熱浪
pushed up 提升瞭
precise 確切的，精準的
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. Where have most of the jellyfish been seen?
2. What do large barrel jellyfish look like?
3. True or false? Boom-and-bust cycles are unusual for jellyfish populations.
4. Why did sea temperatures increase by around four degrees in June?
答案
1. Where have most of the jellyfish been seen?
Most of these jellyfish sightings reported to the Marine Conservation Society were in Cornwall and off the west coast of Wales.
2. What do large barrel jellyfish look like?
They have a bulbous head, which can measure up to a metre wide, and eight frilled legs.
3. True or false? Boom-and-bust cycles are unusual for jellyfish populations.
False. Jellyfish populations do go through boom-and-bust cycles naturally.
4. Why did sea temperatures increase by around four degrees in June?
A marine heatwave in June temporarily pushed up temperatures by around four degrees.
免費試聽
填表領取25分鐘真人外師課＋英文程度分析
