媒体英语
A23a: Monster iceberg just shy of a trillion tonnes数据显示巨型冰山A23a重达近万亿吨
科学家们现在有足够的数据来描绘世界上最大冰山A23a的实际规模。卫星测量数据显示，这块冰的平均厚度刚超过280米。
Imagine a field of ice more than twice the area of Greater London, but as thick as its skyscrapers are tall. This is A23a, current title holder of the world's biggest iceberg.
想象一下，一片冰原的面积是大伦敦面积的两倍多，而它的厚度却只有伦敦摩天大楼的高度那么厚。这就是 A23a 冰山，目前世界上最大的冰山。
Scientists have used radar pulses from a European Space Agency satellite to essentially take a tape measure to the colossus. The researchers from the UK Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling say the berg has lost quite a bit of mass since breaking away from the Antarctic coast in 1986, but it still tips the scales at 950 billion tonnes.
科学家以欧洲航天局的一颗卫星发出的雷达脉冲为测量尺，对这座庞然大物进行了测量。英国极地观测和建模中心的研究人员表示，自1986年脱离南极海岸以来，这座冰山已经失去了大量的冰，但现在仍重达9500亿吨。
As A23a moves north and warms in the coming weeks, its melt rate will accelerate, and it'll be dumping more fresh water into the ocean daily than is consumed by the entire UK population.
在未来几周，随着 A23a 向北移动并逐渐处于更温暖的环境中，它的融化速度将会加快，融化造成其每天向海洋倾入的淡水量将比英国总人口每天消耗的还要多。
词汇表
skyscrapers 摩天大楼
title holder 冠军头衔保持者
radar pulses 雷达脉冲
tape measure 卷尺
colossus 庞然大物
berg 冰山
mass （物理）质量
breaking away 脱离
tips the scales at 达到…重量
dumping 排放，倾入
阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。
1.True or false? The thickness of the iceberg is the same as the height of skyscrapers in London.
2.How has the iceberg been measured?
3.What is the current mass of the iceberg?
4.How much fresh water will melt from the iceberg in the coming weeks?
答案
1.True or false? The thickness of the iceberg is similar in height to skyscrapers in London.
True. The field of ice is as thick as Greater London's skyscrapers are tall.
2.How has the iceberg been measured?
Scientists have used radar pulses from a European Space Agency satellite to essentially take a tape measure to the colossus.
3.What is the current mass of the iceberg?
It is 950 billion tonnes.
4.How much fresh water will melt from the iceberg in the coming weeks?
More than what is consumed by the entire UK population daily.
