Bloque A - Texto 2 · Inglés PAU Andalucía Extraordinaria Titular (Admisión) 2021

TEXT 2: THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

The Great Barrier Reef, one of the earth's most precious habitats, has lost half of its coral populations in the last quarter century, a decline that researchers in Australia say will continue unless drastic action is taken to mitigate the effects of climate change.

According to a recent research led by Dr. Andy Dietze, colonies are getting smaller; there are fewer baby corals as well as fewer "big mamas" —the adults which produce most of the larvae. Both of them are vital to the reef's future ability to regenerate.

Bleaching —a process in which corals expel algae and turn white as water temperature rises— contributed to rapid losses of coral colonies in the northern and central Great Barrier Reef in 2016 and 2017. Furthermore, the southern part of the reef was also exposed to record-setting temperatures in early 2020, which became such a dangerous situation that these researchers now consider climate change as one of the major threats to this ecosystem.

The investigators regret what they see as a lack of attention to the study from government leaders in Australia, the world's biggest coal exporter. In fact, the government has resisted calls to reduce carbon emissions even though heat waves, droughts and fires continue to reveal the country's vulnerability to climate change.

"Coral reefs worldwide are responsible for billions of dollars in tourism and provide habitats for fish that feed close to one billion people on the planet," Dr. Andy Dietze says. "Another thing that we need to take into account is that coral reefs are amazingly resilient. If we don't continually damage them, they will recover," he adds.

CHOOSE AND WRITE THE CORRECT OPTION (A, B, C or D). (0.5 points each)

9.

The Great Barrier Reef...

10.

The Australian government...

ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH THE PRECISE WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT, OR USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (0.5 points each)

11.

Bleaching turns algae white.

12.

Some regions of the Great Barrier Reef reached all-time highest temperatures in 2020.

13.

Coral reefs contribute to food provision for many people.

14.

Corals can revive if normal conditions return.

15. FIND IN THE TEXT: (0.5 points)

15.1.

15.2.

16. FIND IN THE TEXT: (0.5 points)

16.1.

16.2.