A
Animal Conservation
Many animal and plant species have become extinct and many more are in critical danger. Finding ways to protect the earth’s wildlife and conserve the natural world they inhabit(居住) is now more important than ever.
Dodos
The dodo is a classic example of how human caused damage to the earth’s biology. The flightless dodo was native to the Island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It lived on fruit fallen from the island’s trees and lived unthreatened until humans arrived in 1505. The easily controlled bird became a source of food for sailors and was attacked by animals introduced to the island by humans such as pigs, monkeys and rats. The population of dodos rapidly decreased and the last one was killed in 1681.
Rhinos (犀牛)
The rhino horn is a highly prized item for Asian medicine. This has led to the animal being hunted in its natural habitat. Once widespread in Africa and Eurasia, most rhinos now live in protected natural parks and reserves. Their numbers have rapidly decreased in the last 50 years, and the animals remain under constant threat from poachers.
The Giant Pandas
The future of the World Wildlife Fund’s symbol is far from certain. As few as
1, 000 remain in the world.
The Chinese government has set up 33 panda reserves to protect these beautiful animals and made poaching them punishable with 20 years in prison. However, the panda’s distinct black and white patched coat fetches a high price on the black market and determined poachers still pose(造成) one of the most serious threats to the animals’ continued existence.
Tigers
The last 100 years has seen a 95% reduction in the numbers of remaining tigers to between 5, 000 and 7, 000 and the Bali, Javan, and Caspian tiger are already extinct. The South China tiger is precariously close to disappearing, with only 20 to 30 still alive. Like the rhino horn, tigers’ bones and organs are sought after for traditional Chinese medicines. These items are traded illegally along with tiger skins.
【文章大意】本文主要介绍了几种动物濒危的原因和它们的现状。
21. Which group of the following animals has already stopped to exist according to the text?
A. The dodo, rhino and giant panda.
B. The rhino and South China tiger.
C. The rhino, panda and tiger.
D. The dodo and the Bali, Javan, and Caspian tiger.
【解析】选D。细节理解题。根据文章第二段最后一句“The population of dodos rapidly decreased and the last one was killed in 1681. ”可知渡渡鸟是灭绝的动物之一; 再根据最后一段中的“. . . the Bali, Javan, and Caspian tiger are already extinct. ”可得出其他几种已灭绝的动物。
22. ________ can serve as a cure for certain diseases.
A. The whale’s rich oil
B. The panda’s black and white patched coat
C. The rhino horn and tigers’ bones and organs
D. The dodo’s delicious meat
【解析】选C。细节理解题。文章第三段和最后一段提到犀牛角和虎骨及其器官均可入药。
23. Which of the following is mentioned in all the descriptions of those wild animals?
A. The way of their life.
B. The reason for their extinction or being in danger.
C. Why they are hunted.
D. Punishment for hunting wild animals.
【解析】选B。细节理解题。对四种野生动物的介绍, 内容不尽相同, 但有一点是相同的, 即: 对动物灭绝或濒临灭绝的原因的探究。
