Dr. Sylvia Earle wants you to stop eating fish. It’s not because fish are endangered, though wild fish stocks in many oceans are very low. It’s not because they’re bad for you, though fish in many areas are exposed to poisonous substances in the water. It’s because they’re smart.
“Fish are sensitive, they have personalities,” says the marine biologist. For Earle, eating a fish would be like eating a dog or a cat. “I would never eat anyone I know personally.”
There’s a lot more to fish than meets the eye: they talk to each other, they like to be touched, and they engage in behavior that can seem very human. They can remember things and learn from experience. Earle and a growing number of animal rights activists see these as strong arguments against eating fish altogether.
The activists also point out that fish feel pain and fish suffer horribly on their way from the sea to the supermarket. “While it may seem obvious that fish are able to feel pain, like every other animal, some people think of fish as swimming vegetables,” says Dr. Lynne Sneddon. “Really, it’s kind of a moral question. Is the enjoyment you get from fishing (or eating fish) more important than the pain of the fish?”
Fishermen and (fried) fish lovers are doubtful. “I’ve never seen a smart fish,” says Marie Swaringen as she finishes off a plate of fish at a Seattle seafood restaurant. “If they were very smart, they wouldn’t get caught.”
“For years, everyone’s been telling us to eat fish because it’s so good for us,” says another diner. “Now I’ve got to feel guilty while I’m eating my fish? What are they going to think of next? Don’t eat salad because cucumbers have feelings?”
Dr. Sylvia Earle discourage people from eating fish because _____________.
A.there are not that many wild fish in the ocean |
B.fish actually are sensitive and have personalities |
C.some ocean fish contain poisonous substances |
D.fish are like dogs or cats that people know personally |
We can infer from the passage that _____________.
A.all people don’t agree with the idea to stop eating fish |
B.people will be persuaded not to eat fish in the future |
C.stopping eating fish will lead to people’s not eating vegetables |
D.we shouldn’t care too much about the feeling of fish |
By saying “There’s a lot more to fish than meets the eye,” the writer means ______.
A.there are far more fish than other animals in the world |
B.there are more fish in the world than people can see |
C.people can see more fish if they pay more attention |
D.fish are not that simple as they appear to people’s eyes |
What is the writer’s attitude towards people eating fish?
A.Neutral. | B.Indifferent. | C.Approving. | D.Opposed. |