英语听力精选进阶版 7165（在线收听）

背景：波罗的海正面临5年来最大的海藻疯长问题。海藻的泛滥不仅对海洋生物的生长造成影响，同时也给对环境变化亮起了一个指示灯。

Satellite images show the green algae spreading across the Baltic from the coast of Sweden eastwards towards Lithuania and Latvia.

The growth of this algae is a natural event which occurs every summer as temperatures rise.

But it's not just the heat causing a record increase. This has been partly fuelled by agricultural fertilisers, applied on land, which find their way into water systems.

Researchers from the Department of Botany at Sweden's Stockholm University have raised concerns over potentially dangerous chemicals present in the algae, which they say are linked to degenerative brain diseases. They warn against swimming in any areas covered in algae.

Algae is a fairly fragile plant, and although the current bloom in the Baltic Sea covers over 350 thousand square kilometres, it is likely to be broken up by waves and summer storms.

For human health the high summer temperatures being experienced across northern Europe are more of a concern. A heatwave in 2003 killed more than 40 thousand people in the region and this year record temperatures have been reached in many places around the world.

Glossary 词汇表

green algae 绿藻 

Baltic 波罗的海 

Lithuania 立陶宛 

Latvia 拉脱维亚 

a record increase 创纪录的增长 

fuel 推动、加快 

fertiliser 肥料 

botany 植物学 

chemicals 化学品 

degenerative 退化的 

fragile 脆弱的 

bloom 茂盛时期 

break up 打破 

heatwave 热浪

Questions and Answers

True or False? The growth of algae in summer isn't a natural event. 

False. It is a natural event which occurs every summer.

Have agricultural fertilisers helped the growth of algae? 

Yes. The increase in algae has been partly fuelled by agricultural fertilisers.

Why do scientists warn against swimming in waters covered with algae? 

They are concerned that dangerous chemicals in the algae are linked to degenerative brain disease.

What are people across northern Europe concerned about in terms of human health this summer? 

The heatwave.