A
Our tiny boat was ploughing through (费力穿过) the waves across the Indian Ocean and I was absolutely freezing. The further we got from the shelter of the land, the more I thought how foolish I'd been to come along on this trip.
The pilot of the boat looked almost 60 but, perhaps because of a lifetime on the open sea in the hot sun, was very fit and strong. I was wondering how he managed to find his way. To me, it seemed difficult enough to navigate a boat without any electronic equipment even on a sunny day.
So at least we were safe. But this was not what we had come along for. A look at the other divers' faces suggested that now they were also doubtful that we'd ever get the chance to see a whale shark — these weather conditions were totally unsuitable for diving! None of us spoke. It seemed too much of an effort. Then suddenly the boatman stopped the engine. He said a few words in his own language to the diving instructor, who immediately jumped up from his seat and told us to get ready to dive.
When I jumped into the grey sea, I was sure I wouldn't see anything. But then ... there it was! An enormous whale shark, slowly swimming through the water. I couldn't believe my eyes — my first whale shark! I hardly dared breathe — I was afraid my streams of bubbles (气泡) might scare the huge creature away. And the other divers were equally awed. Slowly we approached this huge animal. It was swimming quite slowly and we were able to swim with it, looking at the beautiful markings on its back. I was still holding my breath, telling myself that this huge fish was harmless! Then I reached out and touched it, stroking (轻抚) its thick skin. It was amazing how this giant suddenly gained speed — we watched it as it swam away from us, and a few moments later it was gone.
21. While riding a tiny boat across the Indian Ocean, the author _____.
A. volunteered to act as a pilot
B. felt regret about his decision
C. enjoyed the beautiful sunshine
D. talked with other people happily
22. The author probably wanted to know how the boatman _____.
A. kept fit in his spare time
B. spent his life on the boat
C. navigated his boat at sea
D. communicated with others
23. What was the purpose of the author's trip?
A. To see a whale shark.
B. To learn how to dive.
C. To swim the Indian Ocean.
D. To save underwater creatures.
24. How did the author feel after he jumped into the sea?
A. Rather anxious and angry.
B. A little scared but excited.
C. Doubtful and disappointed.
D. A bit tired but later relaxed.
