# In deep water - 科目：雅思阅读真题（Part 1） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2026.2.9北京理工大学 - 题目数：13 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/ab54f6bc-f055-4aa5-8856-4583fc4fb9f0（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 Scientists are learning more about the sea floor around New Zealand A While we know that the sea is a big place, few of us realise just how big it really is. More than 66% of the world’s surface is covered by ocean, and the sea makes up 97% of the environments on Earth that can support living things. The vast majority of this area – and New Zealand’s seas are no exception – remains unexplored. In fact, the deepest parts of the ocean are so poorly known that nearly every submarine dive or research trawl (pulling up specimens from the seabed) brings new knowledge of genuine significance to oceanographers. Our present knowledge of land biodiversity (all animal and plant life) compared with ocean biodiversity is one measure of how early we are in the task of researching the deep sea. A good example is the New Zealand takahe bird. In 1948, a small population of takahe, a flightless bird which at that time was thought to be extinct, was found living in New Zealand’s mountains. The rediscovery of this one species created a sensation among bird lovers. In dramatic contrast, new species from New Zealand’s deep sea are today being discovered at a rate of about one every two weeks. B What’s more, catching, examining and naming a new species is only the first step in the learning process. Just because an animal has been given a scientific name and shelf space in a museum doesn’t necessarily mean that we know anything at all about its lifestyle and ecology. Most deep-sea animals have never been seen alive, and the few that have were almost certainly acting unnaturally in the glare of lights from the submarine camera with which they were observed. For this reason, our understanding of life in the deep sea relies heavily on conjecture: fierce debate continues among scientists over such details as how fast a giant squid can swim, and why lantern fish flash their little lights. In some respects, deep-sea biology parallels the way that detectives hunt for criminals, requiring comparable problem-solving and clue-finding skills. C The sea floor around New Zealand has a wide range of seabed features. One of the most important are seamounts, which are underwater volcanoes. Most of the world’s charted seamounts were discovered in the past 40 years, although the exact number around New Zealand is not known. One of the most conspicuous is the Bollons Seamount, which among others was visited by a scientific expedition in 2002. It rises more than three kilometres above the surrounding seabed, and measures two hundred kilometres across, making it a remarkable size, and therefore of particular interest. D Research has shown that these mountains of the deep are home to many species, although it is not clear why. One theory is that the ocean currents cause plankton, which is an important source of food, to thrive on their upper surfaces. Another factor is that they are not completely draped with the fine mud that covers just about everything else in the deep sea. Instead, their rocky surfaces provide attachment points for animals like sponges and anemones. Many seamounts are found on the Chatham Rise, which is a huge platform in a remote part of the ocean. The top of the rise is covered with small seamounts, many of which have been named by the inhabitants of the nearby Chatham Islands. They come fishing here because a valuable species called orange roughy seasonally migrates to these shallow waters to spawn. E Canyons are another of New Zealand’s underwater features. These trenches cut deeply into the sea floor and come unusually close to land. At Goose Bay, the squid that live in the canyon attract sperm whales, and every year thousands of people come to see the whales just off the coast, helping local tourism. Further south, near the city of Dunedin, several canyons are found. Since the 1960s, the University of Otago’s ship Munida has conducted research in this area, leading to many unusual discoveries. Among these was a population of button-sized coral, whose remains had originally been mistaken by early fossil collectors for small dinosaur bones. F Scientists believe that canyons were created when powerful underwater currents cut into the seabed. Nearly all submarine canyons are located offshore from a large river, as it is the force of this flowing from the land into the sea that set the underwater current in motion. However, there are other explanations for canyons in other parts of the world, and a spectacular example took place in November 1929, when a significant earthquake in Canadian waters triggered an underwater current that travelled more than 720 kilometres, creating a canyon and cutting an undersea communication cable in the process. G Research in the seas around New Zealand has resulted in a far better understanding of the seamounts, canyons and other underwater features that stand out from the otherwise flat sea floor. Indeed, the seabed generally is very flat compared to the land. To deal with this, oceanographers use a technique called ‘vertical exaggeration’ in their maps, to make changes in ocean depth more apparent. Unfortunately, this has resulted in many people believing that the seabed is much steeper than it really is. But this misunderstanding aside, we know much more about the deep ocean today than we did even 20 years ago, and the speed of scientists’ discoveries is only likely to increase. ## 题目与答案 ### 1. 1 Research trawls in the deepest oceans tend to produce important findings. 1 Research trawls in the deepest oceans tend to produce important findings. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：In fact, the deepest parts of the ocean are so poorly known that nearly every submarine dive or research trawl (pulling up specimens from the seabed) brings new knowledge of genuine significance to oceanographers ### 10. ·10 The Chatham Rise is considered a good place for _____ by local people. ·10 The Chatham Rise is considered a good place for _____ by local people. **答案**：fishing 原文定位：They come fishing here because a valuable species called orange roughy seasonally migrates to these shallow waters to spawn ### 11. Canyons ·11 The presence of whales in Goose Bay has resulted in the development of _____ . Canyons ·11 The presence of whales in Goose Bay has resulted in the development of _____ . **答案**：tourism 原文定位：and every year thousands of people come to see the whales just off the coast, helping local tourism ### 12. ·12 A species of _____ has been discovered near Dunedin. ·12 A species of _____ has been discovered near Dunedin. **答案**：coral 原文定位：Among these was a population of button-sized coral, whose remains had originally been mistaken by early fossil collectors for small dinosaur bones ### 13. ·Most New Zealand canyons were created by a strong current caused by a river on the coast nearby. ·13 One canyon near Canada was formed when a big _____ started a current in 1929. ·Most New Zealand canyons were created by a strong current caused by a river on the coast nearby. ·13 One canyon near Canada was formed when a big _____ started a current in 1929. **答案**：earthquake 原文定位：when a significant earthquake in Canadian waters triggered an underwater current that travelled more than 720 kilometres, creating a canyon ### 2. 2 In New Zealand, research into land biodiversity is better understood than ocean research. 2 In New Zealand, research into land biodiversity is better understood than ocean research. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：Our present knowledge of land biodiversity (all animal and plant life) compared with ocean biodiversity is one measure of how early we are in the task of researching the deep sea ### 3. 3 The takahe bird was first recorded as a species in 1948. 3 The takahe bird was first recorded as a species in 1948. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：FALSE 原文定位：In 1948, a small population of takahe, a flightless bird which at that time was thought to be extinct, was found living in New Zealand’s mountains ### 4. 4 Museums only display a small number of their specimens from the deep ocean. 4 Museums only display a small number of their specimens from the deep ocean. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NOT GIVEN 原文定位：Just because an animal has been given a scientific name and shelf space in a museum doesn’t necessarily mean that we know anything at all about its lifestyle and ecology ### 5. 5 Filming specimens gives accurate information about the normal behaviour of their species. 5 Filming specimens gives accurate information about the normal behaviour of their species. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：FALSE 原文定位：Most deep-sea animals have never been seen alive, and the few that have were almost certainly acting unnaturally in the glare of lights from the submarine camera with which they were observed ### 6. 6 Scientists disagree about the swimming speed of giant squid. 6 Scientists disagree about the swimming speed of giant squid. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：fierce debate continues among scientists over such details as how fast a giant squid can swim ### 7. 7 The approach used by deep-sea biologists is similar to that used in police investigations. 7 The approach used by deep-sea biologists is similar to that used in police investigations. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：In some respects, deep-sea biology parallels the way that detectives hunt for criminals, requiring comparable problem-solving and clue-finding skills ### 8. The sea floor around New Zealand Seamounts ·The exact number of seamounts is not known. ·8 The Bollons Seamount is unusual because of its _____ . The sea floor around New Zealand Seamounts ·The exact number of seamounts is not known. ·8 The Bollons Seamount is unusual because of its _____ . **答案**：size 原文定位：It rises more than three kilometres above the surrounding seabed, and measures two hundred kilometres across, making it a remarkable size, and therefore of particular interest ### 9. ·9 Seamounts are home to many species, perhaps because there is more food and less _____. ·9 Seamounts are home to many species, perhaps because there is more food and less _____. **答案**：mud 原文定位：Another factor is that they are not completely draped with the fine mud that covers just about everything else in the deep sea --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。