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The kakapo, a bird that lives in New Zealand, is in danger now. Weighing up to 4 kilograms, it is the world's fattest parrot. It mates (½»Åä) only when the rimu tree is in fruit, which happens every few years. It developed gradually in the absence of land­based natural enemies, so instead of flying above the trees it walks like a duck across the dry forest floor. When it moves unsteadily across something that might kill it, it will stand still.

    Such unusual characteristics turned it into fast food for human settlers and other creatures. It seemed to have disappeared by the 1970s, until scientists came across two undiscovered populations in the country's south. These survivors were eventually moved to small enemy­free islands, where researchers spent decades trying to get them to breed (½»Åä·±Ö³)£®

      The scientists' patience was finally rewarded. The rimu tree was in fruit this year, and more than 80 baby kakapos were born, making this the best breeding season on record. Many have survived into adolescence, increasing the number of adult kakapos by a third, to 200 birds.

     Another danger to the kakapo is a lack of genetic diversity. This is one reason why fewer than half of kakapo eggs hatch. By sequencing the genome  (²â¶¨»ùÒò×éÐòÁÐ)  of every living bird,  scientists can identify closely­related individuals and put them on different islands. Every bird is fitted with something to record  its slightest movement. If a female mates with an “unsuitable”  male, the process can be stopped.

      All these efforts cost New Zealand almost $1.3 million this breeding season. Yet the kakapo's future  still looks unsafe. Earlier this year a severe disease spread through the population. And tiny as the number of kakapos is, space is running out on the two islands where most of them live. New enemy­free shelter must soon be found.

1£®Which of the following is a danger to the survival of   the kakapo?

    A£®It is the smallest bird in the world.

    B£®It lacks exercise and usually stands still.

    C£®It adapts slowly in genetic development.

    D£®It can't respond actively when facing danger.

2£®In what way may the scientists' patience be rewarded?

   A£®They hatched more than 80 kakapos' eggs this year.

    B£®They tried to make the rimu tree in fruit this year.

    C£®Two survivors were moved to enemy­free islands.

   D£®50 chicks hatched have survived into adults this year.

3£®Why did the scientists put kakapos in different   islands?

    A£®To stop closely­related kakapos mating.

   B£®To increase the population of kakapos.

    C£®To stop females mating with males.

    D£®To hatch more kakapos' eggs.

4£®According to the author,  the efforts to protect the  kakapo in New Zealand are ________.

  A£®successful          B£®unsafe

  C£®doubtful            D£®inadequate