"Save the whales!" That's what the picture on Jake Smith's bedroom wall said. Jake liked having a picture that said something important to show what he cared. He just never expected to get a chance to save a real whale, one right in his own neighborhood.
It was a Saturday morning when the newspaper first reported the whales' coming. A group of the animals were swimming close to the beach in Jake's hometown. All the local people rushed out to the beach to see them. They were expecting a beautiful show, better than a movie.
Then one whale swam in the direction directly towards land. It came in with the waves and when the waves receded (退去), it stayed. Its huge body rested on the land. Suddenly, Jake and his family and all the others were no longer sightseers. They had to become rescuers (救援者). A few people ran towards the animal. They pushed and tried to force the whale back into the water, but it was no use.
An animal rescue service team soon arrived in a truck with heavy lifting machinery, to help move the animal. Jack and his family couldn't do much on the beach, so they went back to their house and made sandwiches and hot tea for the rescuers. At least, Jake thought, they could help in some ways.
Back at the beach, they offered the food to the rescuers and were happy to see that it was needed. It was getting dark. Some people lined up their cars along the beach and shined the headlights on the sand. The rescuers would not give up. After trying many times they were finally able to lift the whale into the water. Everyone cheered when it headed out to the sea. It swam out about a mile and then disappeared for a moment under the sea. Then, in what looked like a jump of joy, it rose high above the water—a thank-you to those who had worked so hard to save its life.
a. A huge whale rested on the land and couldn't swim back to the sea.
b. It was reported that a group of whales were swimming close to the beach.
c. An animal rescue service team came to help move the animal.
d. The whale swam out about a mile and then disappeared under the sea.