Caribbean coral reefs face disease threatCEFR A1
13 May 2025
Adapted from Janine Mendes-Franco, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Renaldo Matamoro, Unsplash
- Caribbean coral reefs are facing very serious threats now.
- A disease is killing coral tissue very quickly.
- It spreads in seawater and also by touch.
- Boats and ports can help spread the disease.
- Infected coral develop dead patches on their tissue.
- Scientists do not yet know the exact cause.
- People treat some coral with antibiotics on land.
- The disease can kill coral within weeks.
- Communities must act now to protect the reefs.
Difficult words
- disease — an illness that makes plants or animals sick
- tissue — material that makes up animal or plant bodies
- infect — to give an illness or germs to someoneInfected
- antibiotic — a drug that kills or stops bacterial growthantibiotics
- spread — to move or pass to new placesspreads
- community — a group of people living in one areaCommunities
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you seen a coral reef?
- Do you live near the sea or a beach?
- What can people in your community do to protect reefs?
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