Fikiri Kiponda's path from accountant to marine (海洋的) conservationist was sparked by a chance encounter. After securing his dream job, Kiponda decided he wanted more. He wasn't quite sure what he was looking for until he ran across some turtle hatchlings.
He didn't know it was turtle. Fortunately enough he got the right person to ask and he got motivated. That person was Nkindi, a staff member at the Watamu Conservation project who later invited him to volunteer on the project. He later left his accounting job and fully devoted himself into the world of sea turtles. Now, he runs and spends his time nursing critically endangered sea turtles back to health.
Sea turtles have been around for nearly 110 million years and are now considered highly endangered. Their preservation rests on activities of conservationists such as Kiponda as these turtles face numerous threats and signs of their extinction in the next 50 years.
Local fishermen traditionally catch them to supplement their own low catch rates and sell them for their oil. As changes are made to accommodate more hotels for tourists, there is less available beach land for turtle nesting.
Kiponda's passion has now spread to his community, changing their attitude towards sea life preservation with his “bycatch release programme.”
Through this program, fishermen are now paid for returning turtles accidentally caught in their fishing nets. The healthy ones are tagged and released into the marine park while he takes care of sick and injured turtles back to health.
Before the launch of pioneering spirit like this, turtles caught by fishermen were used for their meat and their oil extracted (提炼) for its medicinal properties.
“Releasing the turtle back into the ocean is a very good feeling, like, you feel like you've done something concrete and I guess everybody would love to do that...so I guess it's unique work.”
本文主要讲述了Fikiri Kiponda从一名会计到一位投身于拯救濒临灭绝的海龟的海洋自然资源保护者的故事。
1．What was Fikiri Kiponda's dream job according to the text?
A．An accountant.
B．A marine conservationist.
C．A guide to the Watamu Conservation Project.
D．An advocate for turtles.
答案：A
解析：细节理解题。根据文章第一段Fikiri Kiponda's path from accountant to marine (海洋的) conservationist was sparked by a chance encounter. After securing his dream job, Kiponda decided he wanted more.可知，Fikiri Kiponda起初的梦想是成为一名会计，并实现了自己的梦想。但一次偶然的机会，他又成为一名海洋自然资源保护者。故选A。
2．What may be the main threat to the turtles?
A．The rising sea level.
B．Being caught by tourists.
C．Overdevelopment in the tourism.
D．The reduction in their nesting place.
答案：D
解析：细节理解题。根据文章第四段As changes are made to accommodate more hotels for tourists, there is less available beach land for turtle nesting.可知，酒店为了容纳更多的游客，海龟筑巢的滩涂越来越少。故选D。
3．Which of the following words can best describe Fikiri Kiponda?
A．Energetic but conservative.
B．Enthusiastic and caring.
C．Arbitrary but considerate.
D．Ambitious and knowledgeable.
答案：B
解析：推理判断题。根据文章第二段He later left his accounting job and fully devoted himself into the world of sea turtles. Now，he runs and spends his time nursing critically endangered sea turtles back to health.可知，他离开会计工作并全身心地投入到海龟的世界，从而推断出他是一位具有工作热情并富有同情心的人。故选B。
4．Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A．The man saving endangered sea turtles
B．An unique job of protecting sea turtles
C．A pioneer project protecting sea animals
D．The current situation faced by sea turtles
答案：A
解析：标题判断题。根据文章大意：本文主要讲述了Fikiri Kiponda从一名会计到一位投身于拯救濒临灭绝的海龟的海洋自然资源保护者的故事。可知选A。
