What We Take Fromand Give to the Sea

As long as we havebeen on earth,we have used the sea around us.We take things from the ocean,andwe give to it.

We take fishes fromthe ocean-millions of kilograms of fish,every year,to feed millions ofpeople.______(46)We take minerals from the ocean.One way to get salt is toplace

seawater in ashallow basin and leave it until it evaporates.______(47) Much gold and silverdrift dissolved in the waters of the sea,too.But the sea does not give them upby

simple evaporation.

Other gifts from thesea are pearls,sponges and seaweed.Pearls become jewelry.______(48)

Seaweed becomes foodof many kinds-even candy,and ice cream-as well as medicine.Believe it ornot,fresh water is another gift from the sea.We cannot drink ocean

water.______(49)

But ocean waterbecomes fresh water when the salts are removed.In the future,we will findourselves depending more and more on fresh water from the sea.

The sea gives usfood,fertilizer,minerals,water,and other gifts .What do we give the sea?

Garbage.______(50)Hugeas it is,the ocean cannot hold all the water we pour into it. Dumping garbageinto the ocean is killing off sea life.Yet as the world population

grows,we may needthe sea and its gifts more than ever.

We are finallylearning that if we destroy our sea,we might also destroyourselves.Hopeful-ly,it is not too late.______(50)

A.Natural spongesbecome cleaning aids.

B. We pollute theocean when we use it as a garbage dump.

C. The area of thesea is becoming smaller and smaller.

D. Along withsalt,other minerals are left after evaporation.

E. We even use theirbones for fertilizer.