Disaster on the Ocean

When oil meets water, the ocean pays the price · 海上漏油·生态灾难

Every day, nearly 12 billion litres of oil are consumed around the world. Much of it is transported in overland pipelines, from the oil wells where it's found to the countries where it will be used.

However, the majority of the world's supply of oil is loaded onto "super tanker" ships and transported to distant destinations.

With so much oil moving on the world's oceans, there are bound to be accidents. Humans make mistakes. Ships run into bad weather. They are driven off course and tossed on rocks. Sometimes, the ships break. Millions of litres of oil spill out into the ocean. When this happens, an ecological disaster begins.

To understand why an oil spill on water is so dangerous for the environment, you have to understand the properties of oil and water. The two liquids do not mix. This fact can be easily demonstrated. Put some water in a bowl. Add a few drops of oil, and see what happens. The oil floats on top of the water. It quickly covers everything in sight.

Oil does not sink in salty ocean water. As it comes into contact with birds and other animals, it begins to cover them. The fur of sea mammals keeps them warm in the cold ocean waters. When oil covers these animals, they get cold. They get sick and die. Some animals try to clean themselves. They lick the oil from their bodies. It makes them very sick and they eventually die.

Clean-up specialists have developed ways to deal with oil spills on water. Large machines are brought to the site to begin the clean-up. Tools are used to surround the oil slick so that it will not spread any further. Some machines suck up the oil like a vacuum cleaner. Others try to soak it up like a sponge. Some people volunteer to help clean the oil off the birds and animals.

Until we find a better way to get oil safely from the oil wells to our homes, spills will continue to happen. For now, a quick response and international co-operation are the best hope for avoiding disasters on the ocean.

Disaster on the Ocean — When oil meets water, the ocean pays the price

Every day, nearly 12 billion litres of oil are c(1)__________onsumed around the world. Much of it is transported in overland pipelines, from the oil wells where it's found to the countries where it will be used.

However, the majority of the world's supply of oil is loaded onto "super tanker" ships and transported to d(2)__________istant destinations.

With so much oil moving on the world's oceans, there are b(3)__________ound to be accidents. Humans make mistakes. Ships run into bad weather. They are driven off course and tossed on rocks. Sometimes, the ships break. Millions of litres of oil spill out into the ocean. When this happens, an e(4)__________cological disaster begins.

To understand why an oil spill on water is so dangerous for the environment, you have to understand the p(5)__________roperties of oil and water. The two liquids do not mix. This fact can be easily d(6)__________emonstrated. Put some water in a bowl. Add a few drops of oil, and see what happens. The oil floats on top of the water. It quickly covers everything in sight.

Oil does not s(7)__________ink in salty ocean water. As it comes into contact with birds and other animals, it begins to cover them. The fur of sea mammals keeps them warm in the cold ocean waters. When oil covers these animals, they get cold. They get sick and die. Some animals try to clean themselves. They lick the oil from their bodies. It makes them very sick and they eventually die.

Clean-up specialists have developed ways to deal with oil spills on water. Large machines are brought to the site to begin the clean-up. Tools are used to surround the oil slick so that it will not s(8)__________pread any further. Some machines suck up the oil like a vacuum cleaner. Others try to soak it up like a sponge. Some people v(9)__________olunteer to help clean the oil off the birds and animals.

Until we find a better way to get oil safely from the oil wells to our homes, spills will continue to happen. For now, a quick response and international co-operation are the best hope for avoiding d(10)__________isasters on the ocean.

📌 重点单词 · Key Vocabulary

🔗 重点词组 · Key Phrases

💡 语法小贴士 · Grammar Tips

🎤 文化拓展 · 那些改变环保史的漏油事故

文中写的「millions of litres of oil spill out into the ocean」并非危言耸听：1989 年埃克森·瓦尔迪兹号（Exxon Valdez）在阿拉斯加威廉王子湾触礁，约 4000 万升原油倾入海湾，50 万只海鸟、数千只海獭丧命——正是这场灾难催生了《石油污染法》强制要求油轮改成双层船壳。

2010 年墨西哥湾「深水地平线」钻井平台爆炸更是史上最重：87 天漏了约 490 万桶油。清理手段和本文描写一致——围油栏（boom）圈住油膜、撇油机像吸尘器一样吸油、烧掉一部分，还有志愿者给沾油的海鸟「洗澡」：食用油喂它们补充体力，再用温和的洗洁精一遍遍刷洗羽毛。中国也经历过 2010 年大连新港管道爆炸漏油，当时渔民和消防员用草帘、吸油毡在码头外筑起了人墙。

为什么油对海鸟如此致命？海鸟羽毛和海獭毛皮靠一层「空气垫」保暖隔水（the fur keeps them warm），油一糊上，防水层失效，动物不是中毒而是先被冻死——这正是原文 they get cold 的科学注脚。文章结尾落在 quick response 和 international co-operation 上：海洋没有国界，油污也不认识国界。