阅读理解。
It is possible that in 50 years the only tigers in the world will be in zoos. One
hundred years ago there were maybe 100,000 tigers in the world. Today scientists are not sure how many are left, as it is difficult to count them. There rnay be only between 5,000 and 7,000 tigers in the world.
Tigers are only found in Asia. Already they have disappeared from many
countries. There are no longer any Caspian(黑海的) tigers in Central Asia. They have died out in the two islands of Java (爪哇 ) and Bali (巴里) . The situation in some
parts of Asia is also very serious. There are perhaps only 100 Chinese tigers left. In
eastern Russia, the number is a little higher. There are about 450 tigers left. On the
island of Sumatra (苏门答腊) , which has many thick forests , there are maybe 500
tigers.
Why has the number fallen so quickly? The first reason is that tigers are
meat-eaters. They need a lot of land to find enough food. Also they live in forests and many of these have been cut down. At one time, tiger shooting was a sport ,
especially in India. Local(当地的) people some- times kill tigers because they kill their cows. The other reason is that dead tigers are used for Traditional Chinese Medicine. All parts of the body are used, including the bones and whiskers (须) . People who
take TCM think chat these medicines will make them live longer.
How can we protect the tigers that are left? First, some wildlife parks have been
created. In these reserves (自然保护区 ) ,local people may not kill tigers and the
forests may not be cut down. And 145 countries have agreed to stop selling tiger
parts for medicine. With luck , the tigers can be protected in the few areas of the
world where they still live.
1. Which part of the world has the most tigers today?
A. Central Asia.
B. Fastern Russia.
C. Sumatra.
D. China.
2. Why arc there fewer tigers today?
A. Forests are needed for cows.
B. Tigers don't like living in forests.
C. Tigers have been killed for TCM and to protect other animals.
D. People still kill tigers for sport.
3. The third paragraph tells us that .
A. only two parts of the tiger's body are used in TCM
B. all parts of the tiger's body are used in TCM
C. people have kept tiger's body parts for a long time
D. scientists know that TCM gives people a longer life
4. Which of these plans will not protect tigers?
A. Stop local people from killing tigers.
B. Protect cows from tigers.
C. Stop selling tiger's body parts for TCM.
D. Stop cutting down forests.
5. What's the best title for the passage?
A. Killing the tigers
B. Saving the tigers
C. Fewer and fewer tigers left
D. More and more tigers needed
