Sharkshavegainedunfairreputationforbeinglargefierceseaanimals.Thathumanity’sunfoundedfearandhatredoftheseancientcreaturesareleadingtoaworldwideslaughter(大屠杀)mayresultintheextinctionofmanylargercoastalsharkspecies.Thesharkisthevictimofawarped(有偏见的)attitudeofwildlifeprotection;westrive(努力)onlytoprotectthebeautifulnon-threateningpartsofourenvironment.Andinoureffortstorestoreonlynon-threatpartsofourearthweignoreotherimportantparts.
Aperfectillustrationofthisattitudeisthecontrastingattitudetowardsanotherlargeseaanimalthedolphin.Duringthe1980senvironmentalistsintheUnitedStatesobjectedtothepracticeofhuntingtuna(金枪鱼)inthePacificOceansincethesenetsalsocaughtdolphins.Theenvironmentalistsgeneratedenoughpoliticalandeconomicpressuretopreventtunacompaniesfrombuyingtunathathadbeencaughtindriftnets.IncontrasttothiseffortthepopulationsofsharksinthePacificOceanhavedecreasedtothepointofextinctionandtherehasbeenverylittleeffortbythesameenvironmentalismtosavethisimportantspeciesofwildlifeinwater.Sharksareamongtheoldestcreaturesonearthhavingsurvivedintheseasformorethan350millionyears.Theyareextremelyefficientanimalsfeedingonwoundedordyinganimalsthusperforminganimportantroleinnatureofknockingouttheweakeranimalsinaspecies.JustthefactthatspeciessuchastheGreatWhiteSharkhavemanagedtoliveintheoceansforsomanymillionsofyearsisenoughproofoftheirefficiencyandadaptabilitytochangingenvironment.Itistimeforhumanswhomaynotsurviveanother1000yearsattheratetheyaredamagingtheplanettocastawaytheirfearsandbeginconsideringtheprotectionofsharksascreaturesthatmayprovideuswithaninsightintoourownsurvival.
小题1:Thebestsummaryofthepassageis__________.A.sharkshavesuchabadreputationB.howsharksbecomesomeoftheoldestcreaturesonearthC.sharksshouldbeputunderwildlifeprotectionD.thecampaigntosavedolphinswasnotextendedtosavesharks小题2:Howlonghavesharksbeenlivingontheplanet?A.Morethan2