[2026] PTE Academic Reading - Multiple Choice, Single Answer

The rapid development of deepsea mining technology has positioned the ocean floor as the next frontier for critical mineral extraction. Proponents argue that the polymetallic nodules found in the abyss are essential for the global transition to green energy, providing the cobalt and nickel needed for electric vehicle batteries. However, marine biologists warn that we are on the verge of making irreversible decisions about an ecosystem we have barely begun to map. The deep sea is not a barren wasteland; it is a delicate, slow-growing environment where even minor disturbances can have far-reaching impacts on global carbon cycles and biodiversity. Furthermore, the plume of sediment stirred up by mining machinery could suffocate mid-water species far beyond the actual extraction site. To prioritize short-term mineral gains over the long-term health of the deep ocean is a dangerous gamble with the planet’s life-support systems. True sustainability cannot be achieved by destroying one ecosystem to save another; it requires a circular economy that reduces our dependency on virgin materials altogether.