Questão de Inglês — Preposições (Prepositions) — VUNESP 2026

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Bull sharks are some of the most aggressive and dangerous sharks on the planet. Despite their fearsome reputation, these creatures also seem to have a more sensitive side: Bull sharks form friendships of sorts with other members of their species, according to a study published in the journal Animal Behaviour.

“As humans, we cultivate a range of social relationships — from casual acquaintances to our best friends, but we also actively avoid certain people — and these bull sharks are doing similar things,” says Natasha Marosi, a shark behavior researcher.

The study revealed that sharks seemed to intentionally choose who they spent time with, preferring to associate closely with some individuals while actively avoiding others. The most common interactions were among sharks of a similar size.

Females were the most popular companions among both sexes, though males had more social connections, on average, according to the study. Adults were the most social of all the age groups and seemed to form the core of the reserve’s bull shark social network.

The researchers think male sharks might have more to gain from being socially connected. Because males are physically smaller, hanging out with the larger, more dominant females “can ensure their place within the group and give them access to food resources at the site”, says Marosi.

Understanding these social interactions could help conservationists better protect sharks, which are threatened by climate change, overfishing, pollution and other challenges.

(Sarah Kuta. www.smithsonianmag.com, 18.03.2026. Adaptado.)