14．At the beginning of the 20th century there were more than a million lions worldwide．Today there are less than 30，000in the wild．The remaining lions are increasingly threatened by habitat loss，hunting and activities to protect farms and cattle．
For generations，Masai tribesmen on the large African plains in southeastern Kenya have hunted lions---to protect their farms and cattle．Today they celebrate the lions'life．
Noah is an elder in the Masai community．"We have decided as a community of the Masai to lay down our spears，and there will be no more killing of lions in our community．"He is part of a group of Masai visiting the United States promoting （推广） the Predator （捕食性动物） Compensation Program．
Conservation International's Frank Hawkins explains，"The Masai have been living with wildlife for many generations and it has been a conflicting relationship in many ways．They compete with the animals for food as lions eat their cattle．We're trying to find ways in which the wildlife will become something useful to them．"They had the Predator Compensation Fund founded in 2003．After much discussion，a group of Masai farmers agreed to protect lions．In turn，if lions or other predators kill their cattle，the Masai owner will be paid market value for the dead animals from the fund．
One man said that in the past，when a lion killed cattle，they killed it on the spot．And now，after the start of the program，the Masai see the lion population growing．Since 2003，only four lions have been killed here．
21．What is this passage mainly about？B
A．The wildlife in the world．
B．Lions and the Masai．
C．The reason why lions are killed．
D．The living ways of the Masai．
22．What is the aim of the Predator Compensation Program？D
A．To protect people in the wild．
B．To help the Masai protect their farms and cattle．
C．To protect lions only．
D．To protect the wildlife．
23．Masai tribesmen killed lions before 2003D．
A．because lions were dangerous for people there
B．because dead lions were worth a lot of money
C．because they wanted lions'meat
D．because they wanted to protect their farms and cattle
24．According to the passage，why haven't Masai tribesmen killed many lions since 2003？C
A．Because lions don't eat their cattle any more．
B．Because they will be fined if they kill lions there．
C．Because if a lion kills their cattle，they will be paid for the dead animals from the fund．
D．Because there are less than 30，000lions in the wild now．
25．What do you think of the Masai？A
A．Reasonable．
B．Cruel．
C．Poor．
D．Stupid．
分析 在二十世纪初世界上有超过一百万头狮子，今天，野生的不到30000头，其余的狮子越来越多地受到栖息地丧失、狩猎和保护农场和牛的活动的威胁．文章主要介绍了马赛人通过"捕食性动物补偿计划"来保护野生动物，并使野生动物成为对他们有用的东西．
解答 21．B 主旨大意题．根据文章内容可知，狮子经常吃掉马赛人的牲口，所以马赛人杀死狮子从而导致狮子的数量减少．在"捕食性动物补偿计划"实施之后，马赛人得到了补偿所以不再杀害狮子，因此文章主要是关于马赛人与狮子之间的关系．故选B．
22．D 细节理解题．本文虽然主要谈论了"捕食性动物补偿计划"怎样保护狮子，但该计划并非只是为了保护狮子．根据第四段中的"We're trying to findways in which the wildlife will become something useful to them．"说明"捕食性动物补偿计划"是为了保护所有野生动物的．故选D．
23．D 细节理解题．根据第二段第一句"Forgenerations，Masai tribesmen on the large African plains in southeastern Kenya havehunted lions-to protect their farms and cattle．"可以看出马赛人是为了生计和保护牲口才杀死狮子的．故选D．
24．C 细节理解题．根据第四段最后一句"In turn，if lions or other predators kill their cattle，theMasai owner will be paid market value for the dead animals from the fund．"可知现在如果有狮子或别的肉食类动物杀死了他们的牛，他们就可以从"捕食性动物补偿基金"里获得补偿，所以他们没必要再杀狮子了．故选C．
25．A 推理判断题．根据文章内容可知，为了保护牲口马赛人不得已而杀狮子，得到补偿后同意保护狮子，这都显示了马赛人是很通情达理的．故选A．
点评 这类阅读理解要求考生根据文章所述事件的逻辑关系，对未说明的趋势或结局作出合理的推断；或根据作者所阐述的观点理论，对文章未涉及的现象、事例给以解释．考生首先要仔细阅读短文，完整了解信息，准确把握作者观点．
