Fiona’s dad handed her a cup of steaming coffee from his thermos (n. 保温杯). Fiona wrapped her hand around her mug and watched the steam dance up into the watercolor blue morning sky. The water lapped gently against the boat, and Fiona smiled, remembering being rocked to sleep by the waves for dozens of long ago naps.

“I’m trying to remember the last time we did this, just the two of us,” wondered Mr. Dunkirk. He adjusted his hat and learned back for a moment, inhaling deeply, “I’ve been coming out here practically every day since I was 16,” he added, “and I still never get tired of the ocean air.”

What are you trying to bring in today, Dad?” Asked Fiona, standing up and stretching.

“Hold on a minute, and I’ll show you,” responded Mr. Dunkirk. He hauled in a small net, and a moment later there was a mess of flopping, wriggling dogfish on the boat’s deck.

Fiona laughed and gave her dad a searching look. “If I’m remembering correctly, and I’m pretty sure I am, you always said that dogfish was garbage fish, not worth even the fuel it costs to haul it in.”

Fiona’s dad grinned and clapped her on the shoulder. “I’m impressed that you were listening to all my words of wisdom out here, Fiona, but times are changing, and if I want to preserve the family tradition, I need to change too.”

Mr. Dunkirk proceeded to tell his daughter how hard things had actually been for the past few years. Fiona acted as though it was all news to her, but the truth was that she had overheard some of her parents’ hushed and worried conversations after they thought she was sleeping. And anyway, it was hard to live in a New England fishing village, surrounded by people who made their living from the ocean, without knowing that times were hard.

The fish that had supported that Dunkirk family for the past four generations were no longer available in quantities that they used to be. Some of the problem had to do with new government regulations, but Fiona knew that overfishing popular species was also an issue. She had heard some people complaining that it was ridiculous that you couldn’t even find local cod in Cape Cod anymore.

“So how is dogfish going to change all this for us?” Asked Fiona, starting with new interest at the large spotted creatures.

“It all started with Nico Kovitch,” began Mr. Dunkirk, “who opened that new restaurant out by the pier. His focus is on fresh, local, and sustainable, and his customers can’t get enough of it—he’s got lines out the door most nights.”

Fiona’s dad continued excitedly with his story. Chef Kovitch had been traveling in Europe and had tried cape shark (more commonly known as dogfish) at a restaurant. He loved the mild, creamy flavor and talked to the chef at the restaurant about his sources for the fish.

“Chief Kovitch couldn’t believe that the dogfish came from what is essentially his own backyard!” Exclaimed Mr. Dunkirk. “These dogfish we’ve been throwing albacore are getting all ki ponds of new attention her,” he added. “They are plentiful, tasty, and according to the chef, easy to cook. Apparently, calling them dogfish isn’t adding to their appeal, so on menus, they’re referred to as ‘cape shark’.”

“This is amazing, Dad,” replied Fiona. “Are the prices of dogfish going up since there’s more of a demand?”

Her dad nodded as he grabbed the old, well-seasoned cast iron pan from its hook. He lit the flame under the small camp stove he kept on the boat. “Want to try some of the fish that’s going tu turn things around for the Dunkirks?” He added.

“Who could pass that up?” Responded Fiona. “It’s been a while since I had fish for breakfast!”

问题：

1. How is dogfish regarded differently in Europe than in the United States?

2. Do you think Mr. Dunkirk would find it easy to switch professions if he could no longer make a living as a fisherman?

3. How would you characterize Fiona’s relationship with her dad?

4. Why are chefs calling dogfish “cape shark”?

8. Fiona knew that her family had been having hard times before her dad told her on the boat. Is this statement true or false?

6. How is the relationship between chefs and fishermen important?

7. Which word best describes Mr. Dunkirk’s attitude at the end of the story?

a. pessimistic

b. optimistic

c. independent