Sweden safeguards alleged Russian ‘spy’ whale

admin 2023年8月9日

Beginner

world news, world news - beginner

Pre-reading questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。

Are you familiar with the marine animal called a beluga whale?
Do you think animals can be trained to perform highly complicated tasks?

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。

whale /hweyl/

[noun] – a very large sea mammal that breathes air through a hole at the top of its head
The whale gracefully emerged from the water, showcasing its immense size.

coast /kohst /

[noun ] – the land next to or close to the sea
We took a leisurely walk along the sandy coast, enjoying the gentle breeze and the sound of crashing waves.

expert /EK-spurt/

[noun] – a person with a high level of knowledge or skill relating to a particular subject or activity
The expert was called in to provide insights and advice on the project.

equipment /ih-KWIP-muhnt/

[noun] – the set of necessary tools, clothing, etc. for a particular purpose
The chef relied on high-quality kitchen equipment to prepare delicious meals.

population /pop-yuh-LEY-shuhn /

[noun] – all the people living in a particular country, area, or place
The city’s population is diverse, with people from different cultural backgrounds.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。

The beluga whale named Hvaldimir has arrived in Swedish waters after swimming along the Norwegian coast for four years. OneWhale, an organization dedicated to protecting the whale, reported the sighting and praised Sweden for taking steps to keep Hvaldimir safe. The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries confirmed that Hvaldimir has been traveling along the Norwegian coast, occasionally stopping at fish farms to eat. The whale is friendly with boats and enjoys playing with people onboard.

Concerns arose when Hvaldimir approached Oslo, a densely populated area, increasing the risk of harm from human contact. Experts believe Hvaldimir is a trained animal because of the special harness he wore, which had markings and camera mounts saying “”Equipment St. Petersburg.”” There are allegations that the whale originated in Russia and might have been trained by the Russian Navy for military tasks. Although Hvaldimir faces challenges in Sweden due to the high population density, OneWhale and the Swedish authorities are committed to ensuring the whale’s well-being. Hvaldimir’s presence in Scandinavian waters highlights the interest and concerns regarding the potential involvement of marine animals in military activities.

True or False:

Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.

文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。

Hvaldimir is a dolphin that has been swimming in the Atlantic.
OneWhale is an organization dedicated to protecting Hvaldimir.
Hvaldimir occasionally stops at fish farms along the Norwegian coast to eat.
Experts believe Hvaldimir may have been trained by the American Navy for military tasks.
The Swedish authorities are committed to ensuring Hvaldimir’s well-being.

Fill in the blanks:

Choose the correct word from the table then fill in the blanks.

適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。

whale

coast

expert

equipment

population

They enjoyed a leisurely stroll along the sandy _______________, enjoying the sound of crashing waves.
The research team brought advanced scientific _______________ to study the whales’ migration patterns.
The majestic _______________ breached the water’s surface, displaying its immense size and grace.
The decline in the seal _______________ is affecting the food chain and impacting the whale population.
The conference featured a renowned marine _______________ as the keynote speaker, sharing insights on whale behavior.