阅读下面短文，在空白处填写1个适当的单词或括号内所给单词的正确形式。

I can still remember my primary school homework on animals. I decided （1） （write）about the whale（鲸鱼）. I have loved them from a young age.

I’m not quite sure why I love them. It might be something about （2） （they）shape. They have a smooth shape, and their tails look like a heart. They also move so （3） （slow）and beautifully, like a tree dancing in the wind. This way, they seem very clever.

So, of course, one of my best memories （4） （be）when I got to see a type of whale called the Southern Right Whale in Argentina. Watching them moving smoothly in the water, I felt （5） （happy）than ever. They were so beautiful!

And I’m not the only one who loves whales. Different peoples across the world have a special place for whales in their （6） （heart）. Take the Maori people in New Zealand as （7） example. Living by the ocean, they see whales as guardians（守护者）of the ocean and talk about them a lot in their （8） （tradition）stories.

Why was I interested in whales like the Maori people? （9） they need our protection. That’s what my school homework was about— animals we need to protect. Whales play a big role （10） the ocean. So, protecting whales means protecting the whole ocean.