How many kinds of fish do you know?
Do you think fish get thirsty?
Shark
Mackerel
Clown fish Tuna
The Thirsty Fish
Do fish get thirsty?
The answer seems obvious: No; after all, they can
drink as much water as they want. A more
interesting question is this: Do fish need to drink
water ? The answer to this depends on the fish.
Fish that live in fresh water never drink. Because
they have a higher percentage of salt in their bodies,
fresh water flows into their bodies naturally.
Many kinds of ocean fish , such as tuna and herring,
have to drink water all the time for the same
reasons humans do.
The Thirsty Fish
If you have a chance to drink sea water, though, you
may wonder how fish do it? With all that salt, sea
water actually makes people thirsty. To handle this
problem, fish have special cells in their gills that get
rid of the extra salt.
Without these cells, they could not drink sea water
and would die of thirst. Sharks, however don't need
to drink water at all. They have a special element in
their bodies that prevents the water inside them
from getting out. Because of this, they never get
thirsty. Unfortunately for tuna, though, sharks do
get hungry.
True or False
1. All fishes get thirsty.
2. Fish that live in fresh water never drink water.
3. Ocean fish like tuna and herring have to drink water all the time.
4. Sea water makes fish thirsty.
5. Fish have special cells in their gills to get rid of extra salt.
6. Sharks need to drink water to stop feeling thirsty.
7. Sharks have a special element in their bodies to prevent water from getting out.
8. Tuna and sharks never get thirsty.
9. Fish in fresh water have a higher salt in their bodies.
10. Sharks can drink sea water without any problems.
VOC
1. obvious (adj): easy to see, understand, or recognize
Ex: It is obvious that wearing a coat in winter helps
keep you warm.
2. depends on (phrase): influenced or determined by
something else
Ex: Whether we go to the park or stay home for a
picnic depends on the weather.
3. flows (v): moves smoothly in a steady stream
Ex: The words flowed effortlessly as she delivered her
speech.
VOC
4. reasons (n): causes or explanations for why something happens
Ex: One of the reasons for his success is his out-going characteristic
and hard work.
5. handle (v): deal with or manage a situation or problem
Ex: She knows how to handle difficult customers with patience and
professionalism.
6. gills (n): organs in fish that allow them to breathe underwater
Ex: The gills of a fish let them live in their aquatic environment.
VOC
7. get rid of (phrase): eliminate or remove something
Ex: I need to get rid of these old clothes that I no longer wear.
8. element (n): a basic or important part of something
Ex: Good communication is an essential element for a healthy
relationship.
9. prevents (v): stops or keeps something from happening
Ex: Wearing sunscreen prevents sunburn and protects the skin
from damage.
1. obvious (adj): easy to see, understand, or recognize
2. depends on (phrase): influenced or determined by something else
3. flows (v): moves smoothly in a steady stream
4. reasons (n): causes or explanations for why something happens
5. handle (v): deal with or manage a situation or problem
6. gills (n): organs in fish that allow them to breathe underwater
7. get rid of (phrase): eliminate or remove something
8. element (n): a basic or essential part of something
9. prevents (v): stops or keeps something from happening
Additional
Information
Saltwater fish drinks water. The level of salt in seawater is higher than the level of salt in
their body. So water naturally leaves their bodies and they have to drink almost all the time
to stay hydrated.
Freshwater fish have the opposite problem. They salt in their bodies is higher than in the
surrounding water. They have to pee almost continuously to get rid of the water that get in
their bodies through skin.
Which is the word?
1. obvious (adj): 5. handle (v):
2. depends on (phrase): 6. gills (n):
3. flows (v): 7. get rid of (phrase):
4. reasons (n): 8. element (n):
9. prevents (v):
Comprehension Question
1. What animals live in the ocean that you know?
2. How is the water in the ocean different from the water in a river or a lake?
3. Do all fish need to drink water? Which fish need to drink water?
4. Freshwater fish and Seawater fish, which fish need to pee all the time?
5. If you have to go to the toilet or drink water all of the time, do you think it is
uncomfortable?
6. What would happen to fishes if the water is polluted?
7. How can we help the fish?
