TOEFL ITP Reading set 013
Reading Comprehension practice — read the passage and choose the best answer.
การฟื้นฟูปะการังบนพื้นปะการังตื้น
- Line numbers appear every 5 lines.
- Answer all 10 questions, then choose ตรวจคำตอบ to see the Thai translation, score summary, and explanation.
- Use Previous / Next to open the previous or next practice set.
Along many tropical coasts, shallow reef flats look pale and
broken after storms, hot water, or careless fishing. Coral
restoration projects try to help these damaged areas recover.
Reef flats are the wide, mostly level shelves of rock and
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sand that sit between the shore and deeper water. They once
held thick colonies of coral that sheltered fish, crabs, and
young sea turtles. When those colonies die, the flat becomes
a bare field of rubble that offers little food or shade.
Restoration teams begin by surveying the damage. Divers map
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where living coral still grows and where only dead skeletons
remain. They also measure water temperature and clarity because
new fragments need clean, stable conditions to survive.
Next, workers collect small pieces of healthy coral from
donor colonies that can spare a few branches. These pieces,
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called fragments, are grown for weeks in underwater nurseries
made of frames or ropes. Nursery staff clean algae and check
growth each week. When fragments are strong enough, crews
attach them to the reef flat with cement, clips, or steel rods
that hold them upright against waves.
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Success depends on careful placement. Teams choose spots that
receive enough sunlight but are not crushed by boats or
constant foot traffic. They also mix coral species so that one
disease cannot wipe out the whole plot. Local fishers and
student volunteers often join weekend workdays. Their help
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lowers costs and builds community support for marine rules.
Monitoring continues long after planting. Scientists return to
count surviving colonies and photograph the same plots each
season. Early results show that restored patches can attract
small reef fish within months, though full recovery may take
30
years. Education programs explain why tourists should avoid
standing on living coral and why sunscreen chemicals can harm
fragile polyps. Coastal managers use the data to decide which
flats deserve the next round of funding. Coral restoration
cannot replace healthy reefs overnight, yet it offers a
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practical path to repair damaged flats and protect shoreline
communities that rely on them.