The shark is a meat- eating fish and one of the most feared animals of the sea. Scientists (1)………… about 250 species of fish as sharks. These fish live in oceans (2)………..the world, but they are most common in warm seas.

    Sharks (3)………….greatly in size and habits. Whale sharks, the largest kind of shark, may grow 60 feet long. A whale shark weighs up to 15 tons, more than twice (4)…………….much as an African elephant. The smallest shark may (5)…………..only 4 inches long and weigh less than 1 ounce. Some kinds of sharks live in the depths of the ocean, but (6)……………are found near the surface. Some species live in coastal waters, but others (7)……………far out at sea. A few species can even live in (8)…………..water.

    All sharks are carnivores (meat- eaters). Most of them eat (9)…………fish, including other sharks. A shark’s only natural enemy is a large shark. Sharks eat their prey whole, or they tear off large chunks of flesh. They also (10)………………..on dead or dying animals.