Highlighted words are key vocabulary — tap one to see its translation. Colors show the part of speech:
VerbAdjectiveAdverbExpression
Sharks are often seen as fierce hunters of the modern seas, but they are also astonishinglyancient. Sharks have existed for roughly 450 million years, which means they were already swimming in the oceans long before the first trees appeared on land.
To put this in perspective, trees are thought to have grown around 390 million years ago — some 60 million years after sharks. Despite surviving several mass extinctions that wiped out countless other species, sharks have changed remarkably little. Their ancient and highly efficient design has allowed them to remain some of the ocean's most successful predators.
Vocabulary from this story
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fierce
yovuz, vahshiy
astonishingly
hayratlanarli tarzda
ancient
qadimiy
roughly
taxminan
appeared
paydo boʻldi
perspective
nuqtai nazar
extinctions
qirilib ketishlar
wiped out
yoʻq qildi
species
turlar
efficient
samarali
predators
yirtqichlar
Grammar from this story
Key patterns that appeared in the text.
which means (comment clause)
Bu shuni anglatadiki — oldingi fikrdan xulosa chiqaradi.
Sharks are 450 million years old, which means they are older than trees.
The shop is closed, which means we have to wait.
despite + noun / -ing
...ga qaramay (kutilgan natijaga zid holat).
Despite surviving many extinctions, sharks changed little.
Despite the rain, they went out.
Check your understanding
Read the story, then choose the best answer. Tap a choice to check it.
1. Why are sharks described as ‘older than trees’?
Akulalar taxminan 450 million yil avval, daraxtlardan (taxminan 390 million yil) oldin paydo boʻlgan.
2. What have sharks survived over their long history?
Akulalar koʻplab boshqa turlarni yoʻq qilgan bir necha ommaviy qirilishlardan omon qolgan.
3. Why have sharks remained such successful predators?
Ularning qadimiy va juda samarali tuzilishi deyarli oʻzgarmagani uchun ular muvaffaqiyatli yirtqich boʻlib qolgan.
