Today’s article
“Ocean bacteria team up to break down biodegradable plastic” — Zach Winn, MIT News, March 16, 2026.
Original article: https://news.mit.edu/2026/ocean-bacteria-break-down-biodegradable-plastic-0316
Free to read without login. This is a selected article from March 16, not news published today. Read the full text at the source; the exercises below are original.
Suggested level: B2–C1 (editorial estimate) · Time: 10–12 minutes to read, plus 8 minutes for the questions.
Introduction
“可降解”意味着什么？从海洋细菌的分工入手，练习辨认实验结果与适用范围。先读原文，再答题。
Vocabulary
- biodegradable — 可生物降解的
- alleviate — 缓解
- ambiguity — 不明确
- complementary — 互补的
- isolate — 分离
- biofilm — 生物膜
- mineralization — 矿化
- constrain — 限制
Reading comprehension
Answer questions 1–3 briefly in English. For questions 4–5, choose TRUE, FALSE, or NOT GIVEN according to the original article.
1. Why can studying one species give an incomplete picture?
Reference answer
Different species perform different steps.
解析：注意分工与单菌研究的局限。
2. Which gas served as an indicator in the experiment?
Reference answer
Carbon dioxide.
解析：定位实验测量方法。
3. How many selected species matched the larger community’s performance?
Reference answer
Five.
解析：区分最初群落与精简组合。
4. The selected group succeeded with every plastic tested.
Reference answer
FALSE. Another plastic resisted mineralization.
解析：every 与实验例外冲突。
5. The same experiment was repeated in the Pacific.
Reference answer
NOT GIVEN. No Pacific replication is reported.
解析：未提及不等于明确否定。
Expression practice
Original practice sentence (not a quotation from the article):
Cooperation can matter more than individual capability.
合作可能比个体能力更重要。试着用 can matter more than 写一句自己的例子。