一项新研究表明，随着全球变暖，日益频发的野火可能会减缓臭氧层的恢复。

The study found the Australian bushfires two years ago were so intense that smoke rose into the atmosphere, causing a complex set of chemical reactions that led to the loss of ozone in the layer that protects the Earth from damaging ultraviolet rays.

这项研究发现，两年前的澳大利亚林火非常猛烈，以至于烟雾上升到了大气层，造成一系列复杂的化学反应，导致臭氧的损失，臭氧层是大气中保护地球免受紫外线破坏的气层。

Satellite observations suggest a total ozone loss of 1% over the southern hemisphere within the month of March 2020 alone. Not insignificant, given the slow recovery of the ozone layer from damage caused decades ago.

卫星观测表明，仅在2020年3月，南半球上空就一共损失了1%的臭氧。鉴于臭氧层几十年前受到破坏后，恢复缓慢，这一数字不容忽视。

词汇表

bushfires 森林大火
complex 复杂的
ozone 臭氧
ultraviolet rays 紫外线
hemisphere （地球的）半球
insignificant 微不足道

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

1. What were the effects of the Australian bushfires two years ago?

2. What does ozone protect the Earth from?

3. According to satellites, how much of the ozone layer over the southern hemisphere was lost in March 2020?

4. True or false? The recovery of the ozone layer from decades ago has been fast.

答案  

1. What were the effects of the Australian bushfires two years ago?
The fires were so intense that the smoke rose and caused complex chemical reactions which damaged ozone.

2. What does ozone protect the Earth from?
It protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays.

3. According to satellites, how much of the ozone layer over the southern hemisphere was lost in March 2020?
1% of the ozone layer over the southern hemisphere was lost in March 2020.

4. True or false? The recovery of the ozone layer from decades ago has been fast.
False. The recovery has been slow.