Swim with sharks

主题语境：人与自然 篇幅：321词 建议用时：6分钟

1Valerie Taylor,now 86 years old,holds much curiosity(好奇心)and humility(谦逊)for oceans after a lifetime of swimming in them and learning about one of the oldest animals to still exist(存在),the shark.

2Taylor grew up on the coast of New South Wales,Australia and swimming in the ocean was part of her everyday life.She began spear(矛)fishing in her early 20s.But as she spent more time underwater—especially with sharks,she had a change of heart and decided,along with her husband Ron Taylor,to finish using her spear.From that point on,she would only shoot them with her camera.Thus(因此),the Taylors became two of the first underwater photographers to document sharks.“We spent so much time underwater.It was our office,”says Taylor,who still dives today.

3As a pioneering shark conservationist(自然环境保护主义者),Taylor succeeded in many firsts throughout her life's work.She was the first person to swim with sharks cageless.She was also the first person to test the power of a shark bite.Her husband was the first person in the world to film a great white shark swimming underwater.It's been said that they were the first person to say that sharks aren't dangerous.

4“I learned that sharks all have different personalities.I also learned that you could train them to do a simple trick.With a little piece of fish,I've trained several sharks to do something I wanted them to do,”says Taylor.

5“We were going back to a world that existed millions of years ago.And the things that happen in that world are still unchanged.The only thing that's changed is us,the humans.We made a place in the pack of sharks and we were accepted as other marine(海洋的)animals.And I think that was possibly the most exciting time I've ever had in my life,”Taylor adds.

Reading Check

1.What's Valerie Taylor's attitude to the ocean?

A.Surprised. B.Curious.

C.Fearful. D.Disappointed.

2.Which of the following is true about Valerie Taylor?

A.She likes swimming very much.

B.She began fishing in her early 80s.

C.She sometimes uses spears to kill some whales.

D.She built an office in the ocean.

3.The third paragraph mainly talks about Taylor's _______.

A.fishing skills B.family life

C.successful action D.personal habits

4.What can be learned from the last two paragraphs?

A.It is hard to train sharks.

B.The ocean world has changed a lot.

C.All sharks have the same personalities.

D.The sharks have accepted Taylor and her husband.

Language Study

熟词生义

1.From that point on,she would only shoot them with her camera.从那时起，她只会用相机拍摄它们。

shoot v.拍摄

e.g.The movie was shot in black and white.那部电影被拍成了黑白片。

2.I also learned that you could train them to do a simple trick.我还了解到，你可以训练它们去做一个简单的把戏。

train v.训练

e.g.All members of the team have trained in first aid.全队队员都接受过急救培训。