also creates a map of the sea.

　　Another vehicle is powered by the sun and the wind. It can stay floating on water for months. The robotic vehicle sends information about the so­called biodiversity hotspots. A biodiversity hotspot is an area of an ocean that has a lot of plant and animal life activity.

　　Lavinia Suberg is one of the scientists studying the Celtic Sea. She says productive ocean areas, like the Celtic Sea, attract zooplankton. The zooplankton then attracts fish. She adds that areas with a large increase of fish often attract sea mammals and birds.

　　Using these robotic ocean vehicles greatly reduces the cost of exploring the sea with manned laboratories. Scientists can spend more time analyzing the collected information. They say the research will give them a better understanding of the needs of the Celtic Sea for future management and protection.

　　语篇解读：本文为说明文，题材为科普环保类。英国科学家利用水中机器人探索凯尔特海，旨在弄清为什么有如此之多的动植物生活在该海域。

　　1．Why do the British scientists explore the Celtic Sea?

　　A．To study the geography of the sea.

　　B．To learn why the sea is rich in sea life.

　　C．To test their self­directed water vehicles

　　D．To learn about the sea creatures in the sea.

　　解析：选B　推理判断题。由第二段"Scientists want to know why sea creatures are so attracted to this part of the Atlantic Ocean"可知，研究旨在弄清为什么凯尔特海富含海洋生物。

　　2．According to the text, the water vehicles _________．

　　A．are controlled directly by humans

　　B．work depending on the map of the sea

　　C．can send the information back directly

　　D．can keep floating on water for a long time

　　解析：选D　细节理解题。由第三段"The vehicle's low energy requirements permit it to stay floating on water for up to 30 days"和第五段"It can stay floating on water for months"可知，它们都能在海中漂浮很久。

　　3．According to Lavinia Suberg, the sea mammals and birds _________．

　　A．are afraid of living alone

　　B．mainly feed on zooplankton

　　C．like to live in warm ocean areas

　　D．are especially interested in fish

解析：选D　细节理解题。由倒数第二段"She adds that areas with a large increase of fish often attract sea mammals and birds"可知，它们对鱼很感兴趣。