阅读理解。
Animals are natural resources that people have wasted all through our history.
Animals have been killed for their fur and feathers, for food, for sport, and simply because they were in
the way. Thousands of kinds of animals have disappeared from the world forever. Hundreds more are on
the er list today. About 170 kinds in the United States alone are considered in er.
Why should people care? Because we need animals. And because once they are gone, there will never
be any more.
Animals are more than just beautiful and interesting. They are more than just a source of food. Every
animal has its place in the balance of nature (生态平衡). Destroying one kind of animal can create many
problems.
For example, when farmers killed large numbers of hawks (老鹰), the farmers stores of corn and grain
were destroyed by rats and mice. Why? Because hawks eat rats and mice. With no hawks to keep down
their numbers, the rats and mice multiplied (繁殖) quickly.
Luckily, some people are working to help save the animals. Some groups raise money to let people know
about the problem. And they try to get the governments to pass laws protecting animals in er.
Quite a few countries have passed laws. These laws forbid (禁止) the killing of any animals or plants
on the er list. Slowly, the number of some animals in er is growing.
1. Animals are important to us mainly because ____.
[ ]
A. they give us a source of food
B. they are beautiful and lovely
C. they keep the balance of nature
D. they give us a lot of pleasure
2. What has happened to the animals on the earth?
[ ]
A. Hundreds of kinds of animals have disappeared forever.
B. Many kinds of animals have died out.
C. About 170 kinds of animals have disappeared forever.
D. All kinds of animals are in er.
3. Which of the following is NOT true?
[ ]
A. People care much about animals because they need them.
B. Once a certain kind of animals is gone forever, there will never be any more.
C. Killing all rats and mice may cause some problems.
D. People must not kill any animals.
4. What can we infer from the fact that quite a few countries have passed laws protecting animals in er?
[ ]
A. Every person will know the importance of protecting wild animals.
B. Animals in er will not be killed any more.
C. The number of some animals in er will increase.
D. Animals in er will be kept away from people.