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ESS Xe)\ BR The Passive; Passive with Modals

oO 1 READ the article about oceanographer Sylvia Earle. What message is she trying to
communicate to the world?

Sylvia Earle and the Deep Blue Sea

Ever since Dr. Sylvia Earle was knocked over by a wave as a young child, she has been
fascinated by the ocean. She has led more than a hundred ocean expeditions and spent more than
7000 hours underwater. Her research is guided by her commitment to preserving ecosystems!
and developing new technologies for exploring the sea.

People sometimes ask Earle, “Why is the ocean so important?” She explains how the natural
cycles that balance Earth’s water, air, and climate are all regulated by the ocean. She also notes
our dependence on the ocean’s food chain,” from the biggest fish to the tiniest organisms.? If just
one link in the chain is removed, it will affect the whole system. For example, if the plants that
feed the small fish are destroyed by pollution, the small fish will die. Then, the larger fish that
depend on the small fish will disappear as well.
In the past, people behaved as though the ocean could not be harmed. However, today, the
ocean is being damaged at a rapid rate, and it is clear that humans are responsible. More trash
and chemicals are being dumped into the water. This damages delicate ecosystems, such as coral
reefs, and all the life that they support. People are also overfishing. In fact, over 90 percent of big
fish such as tuna have been killed for food.

Earle firmly believes that the ocean must be protected from further harm. She urges people
around the world to help support what she calls “the blue heart” of the planet.

1 ecosystem: the plants and animals living in an area together, and the relationship that exists between them and the environment
? food chain: a series of living things that are linked to each other because each feeds on the one next to it
3 organism: an animal or plant, especially one that is so small that you can’t see it without a microscope

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236 THE PASSIVE