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     Arx animal that is of great importance to the jOTlftieaifcem coast of Oman is the abalone,a shellfish that has become the center of the nation' s multi-million-dollar industry. Once,abalone shellfish were brought to the surface in the hope that their bodies had beautiful pearls. Today,the shellfish are caught for a' different reason —

restaurant menus!The fresh white shellfish has a pleasant taste and is the most highly valued product from Omani waters.

    Abalone live in shallow (浅的) sea waters. Young abalone live in small groups,holding on to the undersides of rocks,while the adults live in larger groups together in rocky cracks. They can only survive successfully in areas where cold,rich water rises from the sea bed. There,in the shallow,brightly lit conditions,the abalone shellfish live.

    The environmental requirements for cool water conditions are seldom met and,as a result,abalone fisheries worldwide are very restricted. Until recently,there was a three-year official order against abalone fishing in Oman and now fishing is only allowed from October 20 to November 15 each year.

       The coast of Dhofar in Oman is one of the friendly environments that support abalone populations. The southern coast of Oman experiences (季风) winds across the surface of the sea from April to September. As these winds blow across the surface,the rich cold water from the depths of the Arabian Sea can easily rise and move towards the coast.

     After the monsoon period,fishermen jump into the sea,reaching a depth of 10 meters. Groups of up to ten men search for abalone living on rocks and remove the shells using a knife,before coming up for air. A good fisherman searches for large adults and will get up to 600 abalone a day.

25. Why do Omani fishermen catch abalone nowa- nowadays?

   A. They are good pets.

   B. They are very delicious.

   C. There are pearls in their bodies.

   D. Their shells are beautiful and useful.

26. What do we know about abalone?

   A. They prefer the darkness.

   B. They live under the sea bed.

   C. They face bad rocky conditions.

   D. They need special environments.

27. What does the underlined word “restricted” in Paragraph 3 mean?

   A. Strange. B. Controlled.

   C. Unpopular. D. Underdeveloped.

28. What influence do monsoon winds have on abalone?

   A. They are helpful for abalone's survival.

   B. They carry abalone to the surface.

   C. They bring abalone to the coast.

   D. They help abalone to move.

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