UNIT
Lesson 4
18
The Red Sea The Red Sea is one of the warmest seas in the world. For this reason, hundreds of fish and animals live there. In fact, if we didn’t have the Red Sea, the world would have 20 percent fewer kinds of fish. • One of the special kinds of fish that live in the Red Sea is the sailfish. This is the fastest fish in the world. It can jump out of the water at 110 kmh. • Stingrays also live in the Red Sea. They live in groups of five or six and usually stay at the bottom of the sea. They like it there because other fish can’t see them. • There are also more than 40 kinds of sharks. Some of these are up to three metres long, but not all of them are dangerous. You may be surprised to know that some coral can be more dangerous! Divers need to be careful of fire coral. It is called this because if you touch it, it will burn you. • Larger animals also live in the Red Sea. Green turtles grow to about 1.5 metres long and live for 23 years or more. If they are in water, they can swim at about 55 kilometres an hour, but they are very slow when they walk on beaches. They usually only visit beaches every two to four years, when they are ready to lay eggs. A mother turtle can lay up to 200 eggs in the sand.
1 Complete the sentences 1 If we didn’t have the Red Sea, the world 2 If you touch fire coral, it 3 If green turtles are in water, they
2 Answer the questions
2 Why do stingrays usually stay at the bottom of the sea? 3 How big are some sharks in the Red Sea? 4 Why and when do green turtles visit beaches?
3
CRITICAL THINKING
1 Why do so many birds and animals live in the Red Sea?
Do you think we should protect the sea life in the Red Sea? Why? / Why not?
Workbook page 35
49