（2011·上海卷）(B)

Humpback whales

Quick Facts Size:  14m-18m in length;       30-50 tons in weight Living: Open ocean and shallow coastline waters Environment: From warm tropical(热带的) waters, where they breed, to cold     polar waters, where they eat Diet:  Shellfish, plants and fish of small size Hunting: Sometimes in groups, in which several whales form a circle under the water, blowing bubbles that form a “net” around a school of fish. The fish are then forced up to the surface in a concentrated mass. Current state; endangered; it  is estimated that there  are about 5000-7500 humpback whales  worldwide

Blowhole          dorsal fin

                                    Pectoral fin

       Humpback whales are sometimes called performers of

the ocean. This is because they can make impressive

movements when they dive. The name “humpback”, which

is the common name for this whale, refers to the typical

curve shape the whale’s back forms as it dives.

       Sometimes the humpback will dive with a fantastic

movement known as a breach. During breaching the whale

uses its powerful tail flukes to lift nearly two-thirds of its

body out of the water in a giant leap. A breach might also

include a sideways twist with fins stretched out like wings,

as the whale reaches the height of the breach.

       A humpback whale breathes air at the surface of the

Water through two blowholes which are located near the top

of the head. It blows a double stream of water that can rise

up to 4 meters above the water.

       The humpback has a small dorsal fin located towards

the tail flukes about two-thirds of the way down its back.

other distinguishing features include large pectoral fins,

which may be up to a third of the body length, and unique

black and white spots on the underside of the tail flukes.

These markings are like fingerprints: no two are the same.

       Humpback whales live in large groups. They

communicate with each other through complex “songs”.

69. According to Quick Facts, a humpback whale _____.

       A. cannot survive in waters near the shore   B. doesn’t live in the same waters all the time

C. lives mainly on underwater plants           D. prefers t work alone when hunting food

70. To make a breach, a humpback whale must _____

       A. use its tail flukes to leap out of the water  B. twist its body sideways t jump high

       C. blow two streams of water                           D. communicate with a group of humpbacks

71. From the passage we can learn that a humpback whale ________.

       A. has its unique markings on its tail flukes  B. has black and white fingerprints

       C. gets its name from the way it hunts         D. is a great performer due to its songs