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New Zealand will create one of the largest marine protected areas in the world, spanning an area of 620,000 sq km.

The Kermadec ocean sanctuary will be one of the world’s most significant fully protected ecosystems, the prime minister of New Zealand, John Key, told the UN General Assembly in New York.

The sanctuary is in the South Pacific Ocean, about 1000km north-east of New Zealand, and expands a marine reserve that surrounds some small islands. The area is considered crucial in terms of biodiversity, featuring nearly 35 species of whales and dolphins, 150 types of fish and three of the world’s seven sea turtle species. It is also geologically significant, including the world’s longest chain of underwater volcanoes and the second deepest ocean trench(沟), into 10km underwater — deeper than Mount Everest is tall.

Commercial and recreational fishing will be completely banned, as will oil, gas and mineral prospecting(勘探), exploration and mining.

“The Kermadecs is a world-class, unspoiled marine environment and New Zealand is proud to protect it for future generations,” Key said. “New Zealanders value our coasts and oceans. Creating protected areas will support not only our own fisheries, but those of our Pacific neighbors, adding to New Zealand’s efforts to help grow Pacific economies through the responsible management of their ocean resources.”

Nick Smith, New Zealand’s environment minister, said the sanctuary might impose a cost upon the mining industry but it was important to protect the ocean before exploration took place. “New Zealand needs to use its vast ocean resources for jobs and exports with industries like fishing, aquaculture, minerals and energy, but we also need to set aside special areas where nature comes first and marine life is fully protected,” Smith said.

Matt Rand, director of the Pew Charitable Trust’s global ocean legacy campaign, welcomed Key’s announcement. “New Zealand will create the gold standard of conservation areas in the Kermadecs, preserving one of the few relatively unspoiled areas of ocean on Earth,” he said.

1.Which of he following about Kermadec ocean sanctuary is TRUE?

A It will be the largest marine protected areas.

B It will be an area of fully protected ecosystems.

C It will also be protected by the UN.

D It will be managed by John Key.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据文章第二段可知这个海洋保护区是完全受到保护的生态系统，因此答案B项正确。

2.Why is Kermadec ocean sanctuary important in biodiversity?

A It surrounds certain small islands.

B It has the world’s longest chain of underwater volcanoes.

C It features about some whales and dolphins.

D It has many different kinds of sea animals.

解析：选D。细节理解题。文章第三段第二句提到这个海洋保护区有许多种不同的海洋动物，如鲸鱼、海豚、鱼和海龟等等，因此它在保护海洋的生物多样性方面很重要，故选D。

3.Which of the following will Key probably agree?

A People are allowed to fish for fun in the Kermadecs.

B Zealand’s coasts and oceans are world-class.

C Kermadec ocean sanctuary benefits Zealand’s neighbours.

D Some Pacific countries aren’t responsible for ocean resources.

解析：选C。推理判断题。文章第五段最后一句提到建立保护区不仅仅对新西兰的渔业有利，对其它临近的太平洋国家也有利，因此可知答案C项正确。

4.What can we infer from what Nick Smith said?

A Kermadec ocean sanctuary may affect New Zealand’s mining.

B It’s New Zealand’s duty to think for its future generations.

C Too many explorations happen before sanctuaries are built.

D Using ocean resources is more important than marine life.

解析：选A。推理判断题。文章第六段第一句的Nick Smith, New Zealand’s environment minister, said the sanctuary might impose a cost upon the mining industry but it was important to protect the ocean before exploration took place.说明 Nick Smith认为建立保护区会对采矿业有冲击作用，因此可知答案A项正确。

5.What does the passage mainly tell us?

A New Zealand's new ocean sanctuary.

B Some world's large protected areas.

C Ways to protecting ecosystems.

D Marine areas and New Zealand.

解析：选A。主旨大意题。文章开篇第一句是文章的主题句，主要讲新西兰将建立一个新的海洋保护区，因此A是最佳选项。