1993年01月英语四级试题(阅读)(2)

1993年01月英语四级试题(阅读)

Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage:

By 1970, according to a World Wildlife Fund report, only about 4,500 tigers survived throughout the world-half of them in India. Mr. Foresters, who followed and counted tiger footprints, estimated that in May 1972 only about 1,800 tigers existed in India. Project Tiger Supported by W.W.F. was immediately launched. Nine tiger reserves were created, with armed guards protecting them.

The project provided opportunities for researchers from India and abroad to study tigers in the reserves and gather previously unavailable information about their habits. Studies show that a male tiger may control a hunting territory of between 10 and 20 sq. kms. depending on its age, size and strength. The territory of male includes the smaller territories of three or four tigressess. A tiger marks the boundaries of its territories by spraying urine (尿) and other bodily liquids on bushes. But it tries to avoid territorial fights, being guided by the distinctive body smell of other tigers. Tigers fight to death only when a tigress is defending her young, or when a tiger is guarding a tigress from the attentions of other males.

The popular image of the tiger is that of a merciless and unconquerable hunter. But studies show that it catches only one of 20 victims (牺牲品) it tries to attack.

Fears have recently developed that Project Tiger has been too successful. It has enabled the tiger population to double (by mid-80 S), but India’s human population has also grown out of control. Currently it is 750 million and likely to be 900 million by the end of the century. Land problem is becoming serious and many rural people feel bitter about the fact that some rich forests are reserved for tigers. A growing number of attacks by tigers on man has added to the hostility (敌意).

26. The ultimate aim of Project Tiger is to _____.

(A) study the growth rate of tigers

(B) protect tigers from being killed

(C) promote the breeding of young tigers

(D) analyze the behavioral patterns of tigers

Passage Three

Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage.

In only two decades Asian Americans have become the fastest -growing U.S. minority (少数民族). As their children began

moving up through the nation’s schools, it became clear that a new class of academic achievers was emerging. Their achievements are reflected in the nation’s best universities, where mathematics, science and engineering departments have taken on a decidedly Asian character. This special liking for mathematics and science is partly explained by the fact that Asian-American students who began their educations abroad arrived in the U.S. with a solid grounding in mathematics but little or no knowledge of English. They are also influenced by the promise of a good job after college. Asians feel there will be less unfair treatment in areas like mathematics and science because they will be judged more objectively. And the return on the investment in education is more immediate in something like engineering than with an