Read about the world's largest coral reef, learn reported speech, and practise writing about environmental issues.
Read the text carefully and answer the questions below.
The Great Barrier Reef stretches for over 2,300 kilometres along the northeast coast of Australia. It is the largest coral reef system in the world and can even be seen from space. The reef is home to more than 1,500 species of fish, 400 types of coral, and many other marine animals, including sea turtles, dolphins, and sharks.
The reef was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981 because of its outstanding natural beauty and ecological importance. Every year, around two million tourists visit the reef. Tourism brings in billions of dollars for the Australian economy and creates thousands of jobs in Queensland.
However, the Great Barrier Reef is in serious danger. Scientists have reported that the reef has lost more than half of its coral cover since 1985. The biggest threat is climate change. When ocean temperatures rise, corals become stressed and lose their colour — a process called "coral bleaching". If temperatures stay high for too long, the corals die.
Other problems include pollution from farming. When it rains heavily, chemicals and soil wash into rivers and flow out to the reef. The crown-of-thorns starfish is another threat — these large starfish eat coral and can destroy large areas of reef very quickly.
Marine biologists are working hard to protect the reef. Dr Sarah Mitchell, a researcher at James Cook University, said: "We are developing new methods to help damaged coral recover. We grow healthy coral in special nurseries and then transplant it onto damaged parts of the reef." The Australian government has also invested over two billion dollars in reef protection programmes.
Choose the correct word to complete each reported speech sentence.
When we report what someone said, we usually change the tense one step back:
"I love the reef." → She said she loved the reef.
"We are working on it." → He said they were working on it.
"I have visited the reef." → She said she had visited the reef.
We also change pronouns and time/place words: today → that day, here → there, this → that
Each sentence reports what someone originally said. Choose the correct option.
1. The scientist said that the reef 1 in serious danger.
2. Dr Mitchell explained that they 2 healthy coral in special nurseries.
3. The tour guide told us that the reef 3 be seen from space.
4. A fisherman said that he 4 so much bleaching before.
5. The journalist reported that climate change 5 the biggest threat to the reef.
6. The park ranger explained that tourists 6 touch the coral.
7. The diver told me that she 7 back to the reef the following week.
8. The professor said that the reef 8 more than half of its coral since 1985.
Rewrite each sentence in reported speech. Begin with the words given.
Read the interview below, then write a short report using reported speech.
Interviewer: How long have you been working on the reef?
Dr Chen: "I have been studying the Great Barrier Reef for fifteen years. It is the most important ecosystem in Australia."
Interviewer: What is the biggest problem right now?
Dr Chen: "Ocean temperatures are rising too fast. The coral cannot adapt quickly enough. We had a terrible bleaching event last summer."
Interviewer: Is there any good news?
Dr Chen: "Yes, some areas are recovering. Young coral is growing in places where we planted it two years ago. I believe we can save the reef if governments act now."
Write a short report (8–12 sentences) about what Dr Chen said. Use reported speech throughout. Begin like this: "Dr Chen said that he had been studying..."
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