“A unique story of connection” is how South African filmmaker and naturalist Craig Foster refers to his underwater adventures with a wild common octopus documented in the film My Octopus Teacher.

The Netflix film shows the bond that develops between Foster and the eight-legged creature during a year of diving in a kelp forest in the Atlantic Ocean. It won this year’s Academy Award and British Academy Film and Television Arts Award for best documentary.

My Octopus Teacher has captured hearts worldwide because few of the many wonderful natural-history films are about a human’s relationship with the wild. “I think people around the world are longing to have some kind of real connection with the natural world, and this film speaks to that need,” Foster said.

He said he had many such experiences with nature, like having a fish swim into his hand or an otter swim with him and reach out and touch him. Still, he said, these strong bonds weren’t easily created often requiring years of tireless efforts. And he said he learned many lessons from the San masters, native people of South Africa’s Kalahari region. “They taught me to track on land and to look for signs. I applied those same lessons to looking in the water,” he said, “Tracking involves knowing the animals well and recognizing their behavior and movements.”

Observing his special octopus, part of a species known for its intelligence, has been a life-changing experience for Foster. One of the most remarkable moments was when the creature that initially hid in cracks allowed him to join her on a hunting expedition. How does Foster account for this? “When the same animal interacts with you every day over a long period of time, you can assume that there is trust involved.”

Foster said he learned that you can’t force this trust. “Everything must happen at the animal’s pace, comfort and convenience. In their eyes, we are big and aggressive, posing a threat to them. They make themselves vulnerable in allowing us into their space because trusting the wrong human could mean death. So it’s an immense privilege when they show trust.”

【小题1】Why is My Octopus Teacher well-received?

A．It shows adventures with a wild octopus.

B．It meets the need of natural-history films.

C．It has won many awards for best documentary.

D．It features a bond between man and nature.

【小题2】Which words can best describe Foster from his experiences?

A．Talented and ambitious.	B．Patient and persevering.
C．Adventurous and stubborn.	D．Professional and trustworthy.

【小题3】What can we learn from paragraph 5?

A．The octopus took Foster as a friend.

B．The octopus was curious about Foster.

C．The octopus had human-like intelligence.

D．The octopus enjoyed inviting Foster to hunt.

【小题4】Which can best replace the underlined word “vulnerable” in paragraph 6?

A．Easily hurt.	B．Well protected.
C．Very accessible.	D．Extremely aggressive.