Shark Facts
What type of animal is a shark?
A fish
True or False: Sharks often attack humans on purpose.
False
What does “portrayals” mean in the text?
Ways of being shown
What role do sharks play in the ocean food chain?
Apex predator
What is one main reason shark numbers are dropping?
Overfishing
What are shark skeletons made of instead of bone?
Cartilage
What do sharks often mistake humans for when they attack?
Seals or dolphins
What does “vulnerable” mean?
Open to attack or harm
What happens to the ocean food chain if sharks disappear?
It becomes unbalanced; other populations grow or shrink
About how many sharks are killed each year?
100 million
How long have sharks been around?
Over 450 million years
Which is more likely — being struck by lightning or being bitten by a shark?
Being struck by lightning
What does “apex” mean when describing sharks?
At the top or highest level of the food chain
What do tiger sharks help protect in Australia?
Seagrass meadows
What is “shark finning”?
Cutting off the fins and throwing the shark back into the ocean
How many different species of sharks exist?
Over 400 species
True or False: Sharks can smell a single drop of blood from miles away.
False
What does “strain” mean in the sentence “putting a strain on the number of sharks”?
Causing stress, pressure, or difficulty
Why do tiger sharks help protect seagrass meadows?
Their presence scares turtles away from overeating the grass
Why do people want shark fins?
For soup or as a sign of wealth
What helps sharks glide smoothly through the water?
Their flexible cartilage skeletons
What does the phrase “common misconception” mean?
A belief that is not correct or is misunderstood
What does “misconception” mean?
A wrong or mistaken idea
What is the result if seals eat too many fish because sharks are gone?
The fish population drops and seaweed overgrows
What action has China taken to help protect sharks?
Banned shark fin soup at official government dinners