Daily Archives: 06/02/2014

Reading Comprehension 13

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Sharks have gained an unfair reputation for being fierce predators of large sea animals. Humanity’s unfounded fear and hatred of these ancient creatures is leading to a worldwide slaughter that may result in the extinction of many coastal shark species. The shark is the 5 victim of a warped attitude of wildlife protection; we strive only to protect the beautiful, non-threatening parts of our environment. And, in our efforts to restore only non-threatening parts of our earth, we ignore other important parts.10 A perfect illustration of this attitude is the contrasting attitude toward another large sea animal, the dolphin. During the 1980s, environmentalists in the United States protested the use of driftnets for tuna fishing in the Pacific Ocean since these nets also caught dolphins. The environmentalists generated enough political and economic 15 pressure to prevent tuna companies from buying tuna that had been caught in driftnets. In contrast to this effort on behalf of the dolphins, these same environmentalists have done very little to help save the Pacific Ocean sharks whose population has decreased nearly to the point of extinction. Sharks are among the oldest creatures 20 on earth, having survived in the seas for more than 350 million years. They are extremely efficient animals, feeding on wounded or dying animals, thus performing an important role in nature of weeding out the weaker animals in a species. Just the fact that species such as the Great White Shark have managed to live in the oceans 25 for so many millions of years is enough proof of their efficiency and adaptability to changing environments. It is time for us humans, who may not survive another 1,000 years at the rate we are damaging the planet, to cast away our fears and begin considering the protection of sharks as an important part of a program for protection of all 30 our natural environment. Continue reading →

IDIOM A DAY: Idioms with TAKE

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(It) takes one to know one.

Inf. You are one also. A: You are a stupid oaf. B: So are you. It takes one to know one.
See also: know, one

(It) takes two to tango.

Prov. Some things cannot happen by one person acting alone. Alan: You’re always arguing! Stop arguing all the time. Jane: I can’t argue all by myself. It takes two to tango. Fred: Did you hear? Janice got herself pregnant. Jill: Well, she didn’t do it all by herself. Takes two to tango, you know.