©(Meredith MacQueeney / Shark Bay Dolphin Research Project via AP)
Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Imagine you are in the ocean. What tools or objects would help you live there?
- If you could watch any animal in nature, what would you like to see it do?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- seafloor /SEE-flawr/
- form /fawrm/
- underwater /uhn-der-WAW-ter/
- successfully /suhk-SES-fuh-lee/
- practice /PRAK-tis/
[noun] – the bottom part of the sea or ocean; the ground under the water
Scientists found a new type of coral on the seafloor during a deep-sea mission.
[noun] – a type or kind of something; a way that something happens or exists
Meditation is a form of relaxation that many people use to reduce stress.
[adjective] – located below the surface of water
The team used an underwater camera to study fish in the lake.
[adverb] – in a way that achieves the goal; with good results
The rescue team successfully saved the hikers after the storm.
[noun] – the action of doing something many times to become better at it
Learning to play the guitar takes a lot of practice to improve.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
A new study published on July 15, 2025, in the journal Royal Society Open Science has shown that a group of wild bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Australia, uses a special method to catch fish. These dolphins place marine sponges on their beaks to protect themselves while searching for food on the seafloor. The sponges are about the size of a softball or cantaloupe. Using the sponge, the dolphins dig through rocks and sand to find fish like the barred sandperch. This special hunting method is a form of cultural transmission because the dolphins learn it from their mothers. Only about 5% of the dolphins in Shark Bay, around 30 dolphins, use this hunting method. Scientists believe it is rare because it is difficult to learn.
Researchers found that the dolphins still use echolocation during sponge hunting. Echolocation is when dolphins send out sounds and listen for the echoes to find objects. However, the sponge causes a muffling effect, similar to wearing a mask. Marine biologist Ellen Rose Jacobs from the University of Aarhus in Denmark studied this by using underwater microphones and sound models. Even with this difficulty, the dolphins continue to catch food successfully. Experts say the technique shows the dolphins’ dexterity and learning abilities, as it requires years of practice and close observation of their mothers.
Researchers found that the dolphins still use echolocation during sponge hunting. Echolocation is when dolphins send out sounds and listen for the echoes to find objects. However, the sponge causes a muffling effect, similar to wearing a mask. Marine biologist Ellen Rose Jacobs from the University of Aarhus in Denmark studied this by using underwater microphones and sound models. Even with this difficulty, the dolphins continue to catch food successfully. Experts say the technique shows the dolphins’ dexterity and learning abilities, as it requires years of practice and close observation of their mothers.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What special object do the dolphins use to protect their beaks?
- Why do the dolphins put sponges on their beaks?
- What is the size of the sponges the dolphins use?
- What kind of fish do the dolphins find when they dig in the sand?
- Who teaches the young dolphins how to use the sponges?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever used something to protect part of your body when doing an activity? If yes, what did you use, and why did you need it? If not, what do you think you would use if you wanted to protect yourself during an activity?
- Have you ever learned a special skill from your mother, father, or family member? If yes, what skill did you learn? If not, what skill would you like to learn from someone in your family?
- Do you agree that animals can learn special skills like humans?
- Why is it important for scientists to study how animals hunt and live?
- What can people learn from animals like dolphins who use tools or new methods to survive?