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The survival of about one fifth of the world’s vertebrates - animals with a backbone - is considered
threatened, according to new research published in the journalScience. That’s a large fraction of Earth’s
animals, but this new study held some good news too. Conservation efforts by humans have slowed the
loss of many species of amphibians (两栖动物), birds, and mammals. Losses in these groups would
have been about 20 percent greater had it not been for recent action of protection.
Among the animal-conservation success stories is one about birds called Mauritius kestrels (红隼).
In the 1970s, just four of these birds were left in the world. Through a special breeding program,
scientists were able to increase their number to about 1,000 and release them into the wild.
Humpback whales (座头鲸) have benefited greatly from recent conservation efforts as well. They
were once on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) list of species threatened
with extinction. But the species is now in less danger, thanks to laws that ban whale hunting. The IUCN
even moved the humpback into “species of the least concern”.
Over the past 100 years, the white rhino (犀牛) of South Africa has also made an amazing recovery
because of habitat protection. The breed multiplied from just 50 animals to about 17.000. Their home
has been turned into a protected area, safe from poachers (people who hunt animals illegally) and other
threats.
Stuart Butchart, one of the authors of the new study in Science, is encouraged by the positive effects
of conservation. But he says, “Biodiversity (生物多样化) of species is in a frightening state. Its situation
is getting worse. But our results show we can turn the situation around.”
New conservation policies hopefully are on the way. One hundred ninety-three countries recently met
in Japan at theConvention on Biological Diversity to set goals for preserving threatened wildlife and
their habitats Only 1 percent of ocean and 12 percent of land areas were protected under earlier
agreements. Two new goals set by the group are to designate (指定) 10 percent of the world’s ocean
and 17 percent of land environments as protected areas to help increase endangered-animal population.
1. What can we learn from the passage?
A. Though there was a special breeding program, the number of Mauritius kestrels didn’t increase.
B. Conservation efforts should not only be made by human beings.
C. Humpback whales are not no the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s list now.
D. Because many groups are working to protect wildlife, natural habitats are in good condition.
2. Which of the following is not mentioned in people’s conservation efforts?
A. Habitat protection
B. Breeding programs
C. Laws of banning whale hunting
D. Creation of studying organizations
3. The author uses some successful animal-conservation examples to show that _______.
A. conservation works
B. man conquers nature
C. animals are more important
D. law is fair
4. From the last paragraph we can infer that _______.
A. much more must be done to prevent species from becoming extinct
B. many animals should be removed from the endangered list
C. humans seem to be at a loss in face of the protection of biodiversity
D. people’s concern of species extinction is completely unnecessary
5. The purpose of the new goals set by theConvention on Biological Diversityis to ______.
A. protect ocean habitats
B. build land environments
C. increase the population of endangered animals
D. control animal population

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