THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD
How would you like to spend six months living on an island and looking after the Great Barrier Reef? The working hours are flexible① and accommodation② is provided.Key duties include exploring the islands of the reef and finding out what the area has to offer.You'll need to report back via③ weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.You'll also be asked to promote④ the islands through newspapers, magazines and TV interviews.
This call for an island caretaker attracted interest from all over the world.It was actually a very clever means [1]to highlight the importance of⑤ the Great Barrier Reef and the need to protect it.
[1]动词不定式短语作后置定语，修饰名词means。
[2]Located off the coast of Northeast Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest living thing on the planet.About the size of Japan, it even can be seen from outer space.More than 25 million years old, the Great Barrier Reef is made up of⑥ living coral [3]growing on dead coral.It is host to many species of birds and sea creatures.But this unique⑦ and delicate place is now under threat⑧ from pollution and climate change.
[2]过去分词短语作状语。
[3]现在分词短语作定语，修饰living coral。
To get this job, the candidates⑨ had to make a short video [4]showing how much they knew about the reef.They also needed to prove why they were the best person [5]to do the job.Out of the thousands of applicants⑩， eleven were selected, including a young woman from China.Eventually?， the job was offered to Ben Southall from the UK.
[4]现在分词短语作定语，修饰名词video。
[5]动词不定式短语作定语，修饰名词person。
Ben did a lot during his time as an island caretaker.In addition to? blogging, taking photos and writing articles about the reef, he made a number of appearances on television to argue in favour of? its defence.He also worked as? a presenter? for the National Geographic Channel, before [6]going on to write a book about his experiences.Ben later joked that the job should have been advertised? [7]not as the “best”， but the “busiest job in the world”！
[6]going on to ...为动词ing形式作宾语，作介词before的宾语。
[7]not ...but ...不是……而是……，在句中连接两个宾语。
[8]Whether it was a genuine? job offer or an eyecatching marketing event isn't really important.The most important thing was [9]that people all over the world became aware of? the beauty of the ocean in the area.What's more?， they came to understand the delicate balance [10]that the environment exists in and [11]what can, and must, be done to protect the reef.That way, it will remain a safe habitat for wildlife, as well as a dream destination for the millions of tourists who visit it each year.
[8]Whether引导主语从句。
[9]that引导表语从句。
[10]that引导定语从句，修饰先行词balance。
[11]what引导宾语从句。
