Question

Running like the wind, roaring (咆哮)like thunder ,tigers have long been feared and respected as a king of the animal world. But last week a report said that there are no more than 30 wild tigers left in South China.

This was the conclusion of a team of scientists from China's State Forestry Administration and the World Nature Fund.

The South China tiger, also known as the Chinese tiger, is native to the .southern China. In the 1950s， there were over 4， 000 tigers found in mountain forests in the country. But due to the destruction of their natu?ral habitat and uncontrolled hunting, it has been pushed on to the list of the world's top ten most endangered species.

Sixty-six of the big cats can be found in the cages of a dozen zoos around China. But they are nothing like their wild cousins. They have lost their natural skills such as hunting and killing. If they were set free they could not look after themselves.

"Breeding has damaged the quality of the species," said Pei Enle, deputy director of the Shanghai Zoo.

To reintroduce the species into the wild, the coun?try started a programme to send five to ten young tigers to South Africa. Four of them have already arrived. Progress has been made as two elder tigers have recov?ered some of their instincts (本能)and can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base.

"South Africans are very experienced in reintrodu?cing big animals to the wild. The country has very good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in," said Lu Jun, office director of the National Wildlife Research and Development Centre. "We tried in Fujian Province, but it was not successful as there was not a complete eco-chain (生物链)and there was a lack of space.，，

These tigers should return to China in 2007 when the reservations in Fujian are ready. 

1. What is the main reason for the South China tiger be?coming one of the world's top ten most endangered species?

A. Because it has lost its natural instincts.

B.    Because there is not a complete eco-chain.

C.    Because there is no space for it.

D.    Because of the uncontrolled hunting and destroyed natural living conditions.

2.    How is the programme of sending several tigers to South Africa getting on?

A.    Its effect still remains to be seen.

B.    Two tigers can already compete with their wild cousins.

C.    Some of the tigers are already on the road to recovering their natural skills.

D.    The tigers should be able to recover their instincts completely by 2007.

3.    By saying "but they are nothing like their wild cousins" ,the writer means that    .

A.    they are no longer feared by other wild animals

B.    they don't know how lo hunt or kill

C.    a complete change has resulted in the species because of breeding

D.    to reintroduce them into the wild has become an urgent task

4.    What is the purpose of sending young tigers to South Africa?

A.    To help the tigers recover their ability to live in the wild.

B.    To provide them with a better environment.

C.    To get the tigers to go on a tour.

D.    To find a complete eco-chain for them.

Answer 1

【文章大意】本文是一篇说明文，介绍了华南虎濒临灭绝的情况以及对此政府采取的措施。由于它们的栖息环境遭到破坏，加上捕杀泛滥，华南虎数量急剧减少，已不足30只。中国政府已经启动了一项计划，把五至十只老虎放到南非的自然环境中，增加野生老虎的数量。

D 细节理解题。根据第三段中的"But due to the destruction of their natural habitat and uncontrolled hunting..."可知,自然生活环境的破坏和滥杀，导致华南虎数量急剧下降，故选

D项。

C细节理解题。根据倒数第三段中的"Progress has been made as two elder tigers have recovered some of their instincts (本能)and can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base."可知，有两只较年长的老虎已经恢复了一些本能，并且能独立捕捉猎物，故选C项。

B 推理判断题。根据第四段中的"They have lost their natu?ral skills such as hunting and killing."可知，关在动物园笼子里的老虎已经失去了猎杀的能力，如果放回大自然，它们将不会自己捕食猎物，故选B项。

A细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中的"'South Africans are very experienced in reintroducing big animals to the wild. The country has very good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in…"可知，南非有着能让大型动物重获本能的自然环境，适合老虎在那里练习捕食技能，故选A项。