Just the mention of the word "shark" still strikes fear into the http://www2.collegehearts of most people.

The wordem.qc.ca/prof/epritchard/sharkf.htm evokes images of huge maneaters, like the great white shark in the movie Jaws, that attack swimmers and divers, tear them to pieces or even swallow them whole. Such brutal attacks can and do occur but not to the extent that most of us imagine.

What does the word shark produce? What do people remember when the word shark is mentioned? Which word is used to mean the entire person or animal?

Play in matching and test

One reason sharks attack is territoriality. Sharks, like many other creatures, including us humans, are territorial, and we should be cautious when we swim, surf or dive in areas of the ocean where sharks are common. It is their element, not ours. Sharks are basically curious but usually avoid confrontation. They have a special body language that tells other sharks or large sea creatures to keep away from their space. Of course, most of us don't understand these signals and if we stay too long in a shark's space, it may attack us. Divers who explore wrecks or reefs are very vulnerable to this type of attack.