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 southern China. In the 1950's, there were over 4000 tigers found in mountain forests in the country. But due to the destruction of their natural habitat and uncontrolled hunting, it has been pushed on to the list of the world's top ten most endangered species.
Sixtysix 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 country 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 recovered some of their instincts(本能) and can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base.
“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”, said Lu Jun, office director of the National Wildlife Research and Development Center.“We tried in Fujian Province, but it was not successful as there was not a complete ecochain(生物链) and there was a lack of space.”
The tigers should return to China in 2007 when the reservations in Fujian are ready.
小题1:What is the main reason for the South China tiger becoming 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 ecochain.
C．Because there is no space for it.
D．Because uncontrolled hunting has destroyed its natural living conditions.小题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.小题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 to 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小题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 ecochain for them.小题5:Which one is NOT the reason for South Africa being chosen as the training place?
A．Because the tigers can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base.
B．Because South Africans are skilled at dealing with the tigers.
C．Because there is a complete ecochain and enough space there.
D．Because the country has good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in.
小题1:D
小题2:C
小题3:B
小题4:A
小题5:A
题目分析：老虎一直以来都被尊为动物界的王者。但是，上周的一份报道显示，中国华南虎已不足30头。由于栖息环境遭到破坏，加上捕杀泛滥，华南虎熟练急剧减少。中国政府已经启动了一项计划，把五至十头老虎放到南非的自然环境中，让它们重获本能。
小题1:根据第三段“But due to the destruction of their natural habitat and uncontrolled hunting,”可知，自然生活环境的破坏，加上泛滥的捕杀，导致华南虎数量急剧下降，故选D。
小题2:根据倒数第三段“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。
小题3:根据第四段“They have lost their natural skills such as hunting and killing.”可知，关在动物园笼子里的老虎已经失去了本能和捕杀的能力，如果放回大自然，它们将不会自己捕食猎物，故选B。
小题4:根据倒数第二段“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，南非有着让大型动物重获本能的自然环境，适合老虎在那里学习技能，故选A。
小题5:A项颠倒了因果关系，把丧失本能的老虎放到南非，是为了让它们重获本能，并不是因为只有放到了南非，老虎就能捕猎食物，故选A。