『新东方在线托福阅读』为托福考生准备了ETS托福TPO/【学术文章】#7阅读练习：Tthe word “declines” is closest in meaning to真题题目及答案解析，TPO/【学术文章】#7阅读原文范文音频翻译

托福TPO/【学术文章】#7阅读原文Tthe word “declines” is closest in meaning to题目答案及解析-新东方托福官方网校手机版

两栖动物是地球上唯一在生命历程中兼顾水陆两栖的生物类群。

Amphibians are the only group of animals on the earth that spend part of their lives on land and part in the water.

自20世纪80年代末以来，全球多地记录到两栖种群数量急剧下降，这被视为对全球生物多样性的最严峻威胁之一。

Dramatic declines in amphibian populations have been noted since the late 1980s from locations all over the world, and amphibian declines are thus perceived to be one of the most critical threats to global biodiversity.

该现象的潜在成因中，污染因素尤为突出。

Among the possible causes for this phenomenon is pollution.

科学数据强烈表明，特定类型的污染至少负有部分责任。

Scientific data strongly suggest that certain kinds of pollution are at least partially responsible.

One of the sources of pollution is acid precipitation.

降水中的酸性物质在两栖动物栖息的湖泊池塘及周边区域持续累积。

The acid from precipitation accumulates in and around lakes and ponds where amphibians live.

春季酸度浓度达到峰值，使新孵化的两栖动物卵面临生存危机。

Concentrations of acid are the highest in the spring, which puts newly laid amphibian eggs at risk.

融化的酸雪会引发"酸脉冲"——酸性物质的突然释放。其毒性作用犹如一剂致命毒药。

Melting acid snow can produce an acid pulse, which is a sudden release of acid into the water. It acts like a dose of poison.

研究证实，即便弱酸性水体也足以导致蛙类卵群死亡或蝌蚪发育畸形。

Studies show that even slightly acidic water can kill the eggs of the frogs and toads or cause deformed tadpoles.

科罗拉多落基山脉部分区域虎纹钝口螈的绝迹，就被归咎于酸雨影响。

Acid precipitation has been blamed for the disappearance of the tiger salamanders from parts of the Colorado Rockies.

然而新泽西松林蛙等特定两栖物种，却在强酸性水体中繁衍生息。

Some amphibian species, such as the New Jersey Pine Barrens frog, thrive in water with high acid content.

科学家对此例外现象给出解释：由于该地区酸度水平长期稳定，这些蛙类已成功演化出适应机制，而这种环境对其他物种而言是致命的。

Scientists offer an explanation for this exception: because the level of acid has been the same for many years, the frogs have managed to adapt to conditions that would kill other species.

Tthe word “declines” is closest in meaning to

According to the text, in which season arethe concentrations of acid the highest?

According to the text, what damage can the acid rain bring?

Why does the author mention the NewJersey Pine Barrens frog?

Amphibian Declines and Acid Precipitation Amphibians are the only group of animals on the earth that spend part of their lives on land and part in the water. Dramatic declines in amphibian populations have been noted since the late 1980s from locations all over the world, and amphibian declines are thus perceived to be one of the most critical threats to global biodiversity. Among the possible causes for this phenomenon is pollution. Scientific data strongly suggest that certain kinds of pollution are at least partially responsible. One of the sources of pollution is acid precipitation. The acid from precipitation accumulates in and around lakes and ponds where amphibians live. Concentrations of acid are the highest in the spring, which puts newly laid amphibian eggs at risk. Melting acid snow can produce an acid pulse, which is a sudden release of acid into the water. It acts like a dose of poison. Studies show that even slightly acidic water can kill the eggs of the frogs and toads or cause deformed tadpoles. Acid precipitation has been blamed for the disappearance of the tiger salamanders from parts of the Colorado Rockies. Some amphibian species, such as the New Jersey Pine Barrens frog, thrive in water with high acid content. Scientists offer an explanation for this exception: because the level of acid has been the same for many years, the frogs have managed to adapt to conditions that would kill other species.