Section BDirections： In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter.Endangered SpeciesA) Life on Earth is struggling with a new wave of mass extinction, unlike anything since the death of the dinosaurs. In the last 500 years, 844 species are known to have died out, and up to 16,000 others are now known to be threatened. Two thirds of turtles could be gone by the 2025, great apes have recently declined by over 50% in parts of Africa, half of marsupials (有袋动物) and one in three amphibians (两栖动物) are in danger, and a staggering 40% of Asia's plants and animals could soon be lost.B) But this may only be a fraction of the true number facing extinction. Though only 1.5 million species have been described, there could be between 5 to 30 million in total. Of these, some experts predict that one could be falling extinct every 20 minutes or 27,000 a year.C) Conservationists argue that humans have an ethical obligation to protect other species, that diversity and natural beauty are highly prized by mankind, and that biodiversity is a vital resource: We rely on ecosystems to provide food, oxygen and natural resources, recycle wastes and fertilise soils for agriculture. Preserving species could help protect us from disease.Sixth waveD) Natural disasters and processes were behind the five major mass extinctions in geological history, but the current "sixth extinction" is caused by success of one species—humans. The six billion people crowding the Earth are driving out biodiversity in a variety of ways.E) Species form and die out naturally as a part of evolution. However, many experts argue the current extinction rate is as much as 100 or 1,000 times higher than the "background" rate. Bird extinctions were the first to hint at this, but in 2004, studies of declining butterflies and plants confirmed it.F) Humans began to destroy ecosystems in a major way about 10,000 years ago with the development of agriculture. But within the last 100,000 years, the hunting and burning practices of Palaeolithic people, along with climate change, drove many large mammals and birds to extinction.Habitat lossesG) The most common reason for extinction is habitat loss. Ecosystems from wetlands to prairies and cloud forests to coral reefs are being cleared or degraded for crops, cattle, roads and development. Even fragmenting habitats with roads or dams can make species more vulnerable. Fragmentation reduces population size and increases inbreeding, increases disease and opens access for poachers.H) The Amazonian rainforest is today being cleared at rate of 24,000 km2 per year—equivalent to New York City's Central Park being destroyed every hour. Worldwide, 90,000 km2 of forest is cleared annually.I) In East Africa deforestation is destroying game parks, Singapore has lost 95% of its tropical forests, Southeast Asia may lose 74% by 2100. More than a quarter of Earth's land is under cultivation and in 54 countries 90% of forests have been felled.Alien invadersJ) Some endangered species also have to contend with exotic invaders—the second biggest threat to rare species. Introduced species prey on them, eat their food, infect them or otherwise disrupt them.K) In Australia, rabbits and foxes are driving native marsupials to extinction; In New Zealand, weasels have been pushing the flightless Kakapo parrot to its doom; In North America, tiny European zebra mussels arrived in the 1980s with shipping, and clog waterways. And in Maryland, US, the voracious southeast Asian snakehead fish has been chomping its way through native fish and waterfowl since 2002.L) Often exotic species, such as the cane toad, have even been introduced intentionally, to control other species with disastrous consequences. One unusual way to eradicate invaders could be for people to eat them.ExploitationM) Exploitation—hunting, collecting, fishing or trading—is another factor driving extinctions. American bison were hunted down from a population of 30 million before Europeans arrived, to just 750 animals in 1890. Whales were exploited so fiercely that the International Whaling Commission voted in 1986 to place a moratorium on most whaling.N) Today we continue to rape the oceans through overfishing. The UN claims that 15 of the top 17 fisheries are in decline. Now, overfishing of the smaller species that fleets have switched to may inhibit the recovery of the more-prized species that prey on them.O) Other species are unintentionally killed as bycatch, by drift nets, longlines and deep-sea trawlers. Surveys reveal that 300,000 dolphins and small whales and as many as half of all remaining turtles are snared as bycatch each year. Overfishing could even put a strain on terrestrial wildlife.P) Another significant challenge to conservation is the international trade in rare species. Second only to the illegal drug trade, it is thought to be worth more than illegal arms, and may net $10 billion a year. Tropical fish, birds (particularly parrots), and other animals are captured and sold as pets. Some—like turtles, whales and sharks—are prized as delicacies.Q) Others are killed to supply bones, gall bladders, horns and other body parts for traditional medicine. Horns, feathers, eggs and other trophies are smuggled to unscrupulous collectors. Trade in elephant ivory was banned in 1990, but despite the ban 4,000 are still killed illegally each year.R) The UN's Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) was set up in 1975 to stem the flow. Another body, TRAFFIC, monitors trade in rare species. One US forensics lab is dedicated to uncovering the illegal trade. Detection kits for bear tissue and different kinds of fur may help uncover illegal imports. However, some experts argue that we must allow limited trade of species in order to save them.PollutionS) Pollution is another serious issue. If it does not kill animals outright, pollution can affect reproduction, mess with sexual development and trigger bizarre behavior.T) Mercury, dioxins, flame retardants, synthetic hormone, pesticides and other hydrocarbons such as DDT and PCBs are ubiquitous and carried far and wide. Carcinogenic (致癌的) pollutants are behind cancers in Canadian beluga whales. Sewage is ravaging Caribbean corals, while acid rain is killing fish and trees in Europe. Radioactive waste is found throughout oceans and ecosystems.U) Oil spills continue to kill seabirds, marine and coastal life in regions such as Spain, Pakistan and the Galapagos islands. Between 1993 and 2002, 580,000 tons of oil spilt into the sea in 470 separate accidents.Conservation measuresV) The World Conservation Union (IUCN) publishes the Red List—an annual index of threatened species. The IUCN, governments and conservationists try to protect these species by fencing them off and educating local people.W) In 1872 Yellowstone National Park, in the US, became the world's first modern reserve. During the last century 44,000 protected areas were designated, covering 10% of Earth's land. Marine reserves only cover 1% of oceans, and more are needed.X) The identification of biodiversity hotspots may help focus resources. Ecotourism may also be part of the solution, but could be part of the problem too. Returning the stewardship of forest reserves and other habitats to their indigenous inhabitants could help.Y) In Africa, 2 million km2 is designated as protected: reserves such as Kruger in South Africa; Garamba and Virunga in Congo; Queen Elizabeth in Uganda and the Serengeti in Tanzania. In 2002 Brazil created the vast Tumucumaque National Park, the largest tropical forest reserve in the world, the same year that Australia created the world's largest marine reserve.Z) Reintroducing species such as golden tamarin moneys, wolves and condors, has been a success. Some researchers even advocate reintroducing large animals such as lions and elephants to the US and wolves to the UK. Failing these methods, if we collect genetic material now, we may be able to reincarnate extinct species by cloning them in the future.11. In the last five centuries, more than 800 species have becomeextinct.12. According to the prediction of some experts, the extinction rate of species could be one in every 20 minutes or 27,000 a year.13. The sixth extinction in history is caused by the success of human beings.14. About 10,000 years ago, ecosystems began to be destroyed by human beings as a result of agricultural development.15. More than 25% of earth's land is being cultivates and in 54 countries 90% of forests have been cut down.16. The second biggest threat to some rare species is exotic invaders.17. Overfishing of smaller species may hinder the growth of some more precious species in the ocean.18. One of the biggest illegal trades around the world, second only to the illegal drug trade, is the international trade in rare species.19. The problem of oil spilling continues to exist in Spain, Pakistan and the Galapagos islands, killing seabirds, marine and coastal life there.20. The largest tropical forest reserve in the world is the vast Tumucumaque National Park, which was created in Brazil, 2002.