✶為什麼船底要塗成紅色？ Red beneath the Sea

    Another reason for the red color is to indicate a vessel’s load status. The more the red paint is visible above the waterline, the lighter the load is. Having the hull painted red can also be helpful in case of an __4__ by increasing a ship’s visibility. If a ship has capsized or is sinking, the red color of the hull contrasts with the blue or green color of the water. This gives other ships or rescue aircraft a better chance of __5__ it.
    An underlying historical tradition further contributes to the preference for the color red. With its origins dating back over 2,000 years and popularity to this day, we are likely to continue seeing hulls painted red for a long time to come.

1. (A) humid (B) external (C) scarce (D) empty

2. (A) Once raised high (B) If left unprotected (C) After found flooded (D) When kept balanced

3. (A) acts as (B) occurs to (C) calls for (D) gives away

4. (A) adjustment (B) opportunity (C) emergency (D) investigation

5. (A) repairing (B) locating (C) disguising (D) surrounding

答案: 1.D 2.B 3.A 4.C 5.B

    When large ships carry a lot of cargo, they sit quite low in the water. However, if a ship is empty, you’ll likely be able to see its lower hull, which will probably be painted red. There are several reasons why special paint of this color is used for marine vessels.

    First and foremost, the red paint shields the underside of the ship. If left unprotected, the hull will eventually become covered with marine organisms such as barnacles, algae, and mollusks, which will cause damage to the metal in the long run. Red marine paint gets its red color from copper oxide. This material acts as a biocide, a chemical compound that repels and prevents the growth of organisms. In addition, the paint guards the metal of the hull against corrosion from salt water, which can greatly weaken the structure and cause leaks.

  Another reason for the red color is to indicate a vessel’s load status. The more the red paint is visible above the waterline, the lighter the load is. Having the hull painted red can also be helpful in case of an emergency by increasing a ship’s visibility. If a ship has capsized or is sinking, the red color of the hull contrasts with the blue or green color of the water. This gives other ships or rescue aircraft a better chance of locating it.
    An underlying historical tradition further contributes to the preference for the color red. With its origins dating back over 2,000 years and popularity to this day, we are likely to continue seeing hulls painted red for a long time to come.