Breaking News English

Australia's government has [approved / approval] a plan to dump massive amounts of sludge in the Great Barrier Reef. The mud will come from a project to [expend / expand] a coal port at Abbot Point, [in / on] the coast near the reef. The decision to give the [go-ahead / get-go] to the dumping of the sludge was made by Australia's Environment Minister in December. It has caused environmentalists to be [an arm and a leg / up in arms] / about the possible damage to the world's largest and most famous coral reef. They say it is [outlandish / outrageous] to put corporate profits [ahead / front] of such an important [marine / maritime] environment. About 3 million cubic meters of mud will be poured into the reef's [watery / waters] . [Authorities / Authorises] say the sludge will not be dumped on top of any coral.

The Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef [systematic / system] . It stretches for over 2,600 kilometres, covering an area of [approximated / approximately] 344,400 [square / circular] kilometres. It receives special protection from Australia's government to [delimit / limit] the impact of fishing and tourism. Climate change is already damaging its [delicacy / delicate] ecosystems by [bleaching / belching] and killing the coral. The reef creates $3 billion a year in [tourism / tourists] revenue. Greenpeace warned that the dumping, "is one more body [brow / blow] for the Reef which further threatens marine life, its World Heritage [statues / status] and Australia's tourism and fishing industries". The World Wildlife Fund said the decision [graded / marked] , "a sad day for the reef and anyone who cares about its future".