Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. solitary (adj.) – having the desire to live alone
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. solitary (adj.) – having the desire to live alone
Example: The sharks are thought to be solitary because they hunt food alone.
2. predator (n.) – an
animal that kills other animals for food
Example: Sharks are predators of smaller fishes.
3. associate (v.) – to
be with a person or a group
Example: Social animals associate with others of their same kind.
4. factor (n.) – something
that contributes to a result
Example: Sharks’ violent behavior is one of the factors why people are scared of them.
5. aggression (n.) – angry
or violent behavior
Example: Hurting animals may lead them to aggression.
Article
Read the text below.
Deadly and solitary—these are qualities that usually describe sharks. But a
discovery by researchers from the Center for Island Research and Environmental
Study (CNRS-EPHE) may prove that sharks are friendlier than most people
think.
A team of researchers, led by Johann
Mourier, went to seven different dive sites in Moorea Island, French Polynesia
to observe and take pictures of sharks. The study found that even the famous predator forms communities within its
own species.
Researchers learned sharks such as
grey reef sharks and scalloped hammerheads collect into groups. On the other
hand, Mourier said, species like black tip reef shark associate more with other sharks of the same length and sex
within their communities.
In an earlier study, Mourier already
learned that a shark’s length determines its age. An adult 7-year-old blacktip
reef shark, for example, measures about 3.6 feet long. Now, researchers are
looking at age as an important factor
for shark relationships.
The scientists suggest that sharks
form communities to prevent aggression
toward one another. These sharks also have the advantage of teamwork when
hunting food. Moreover, Mourier explained, knowing other sharks would help a
shark become more familiar with its environment.
Mourier and his team have taken DNA
samples from 70% of the observed sharks, and are currently studying if sharks
also group with their relatives. Scientists say sharks have large brains for
their bodies, and it may be the reason why they are capable of complex social
behavior. But such studies on shark relationships have been few, because of
the difficulty in following sharks in open sea.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
How can the study of shark behavior be
beneficial?
·
Should
studies on animals continue even at the risk of harming them?
Discussion B
·
If
you could study the behavior of one of the deadliest animals (i.e., snakes,
sharks, lions, etc.) which animal and why?
·
How
can people overcome their fears of some animals?