[2026] PTE Academic Reading - Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers

Hydrothermal vents are fissures on the seafloor that release geothermally heated water rich in dissolved minerals.Discovered in 1977, these vents are typically found along mid-ocean ridges where tectonic plates are spreading apart.The water temperature around these vents can reach over 400 degrees Celsius, yet it does not boil due to the extreme pressure of the deep ocean.Unlike most life on Earth, which depends on sunlight and photosynthesis, the ecosystems surrounding hydrothermal vents are driven by chemosynthesis.In this process, specialized bacteria convert chemical energy from hydrogen sulfide and other minerals into organic matter.These bacteria form the foundation of a unique food web that includes giant tube worms, eyeless shrimp, and ghost crabs.Some scientists hypothesize that hydrothermal vents may have been the cradle of life on Earth, providing the stable chemical energy needed for early biological molecules to form.In addition to their biological importance, these vents are of interest to the mining industry due to the high concentrations of valuable metals, such as gold, copper, and zinc, in their mineral deposits.However, the prospect of deep-sea mining raises significant environmental concerns regarding the destruction of these fragile and largely unexplored habitats.International organizations are currently working to establish regulations that balance economic interests with the preservation of deep-sea biodiversity.