Running like the wind, roaring（咆哮）like thunder, tigers have long been feared and respected as a king of the animal world. But last week a report said that there are no more than 30 wild tigers left in south China.
This was the conclusion of a team of scientists from China's State Forestry Administration and the World Nature Fund.
The South China tiger, also known as the Chinese tiger, is native to southern China. In the 1950's, there were over 4000 tigers found in mountain forests in the country. But because of the destruction of their natural habitat and uncontrolled hunting, it has been pushed on to the list of the world's top ten most endangered species.
Sixty-six of the big cats can be found in the cages of a dozen zoos around China. But they are nothing like their wild cousins. They have lost their natural skills such as hunting and killing．If they were set free they could not look after themselves.
"Breeding has damaged the quality of the species", said Pei Enle, deputy director of the Shanghai Zoo.
To reintroduce the species into the wild, the country started a programme to send five to ten young tigers to South Africa. Four of them have already arrived. Progress has been made as two elder tigers have recovered some of their instincts and can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base.
"South Africans are very experienced in reintroducing big animals to the wild. The country has very good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in", said Lu Jun, office director of the National Wildlife Research and Development Center." We tried in Fujian Province, but it was not successful as there was not a complete eco-chain（生物链） and there was a lack of space." The tigers should return to China when the reservations in Fujian are ready.
46. What is the main reason for the South China tiger becoming one of the world's top ten most endangered species?（Please answer within 10 words.）
47. What is the purpose of sending young tigers to South Africa? （Please answer within 15 words.）
48. The underlined word “instincts” in paragraph 6 refers to ________.（Please answer within 5 words.）
49. Why South Africa has been chosen as the training place? （Please answer within 15 words.）
50. What is your advice for protecting endangered animals? （Please answer within 25 words.）
【答案】46. The destruction of their natural habitat and uncontrolled hunting.
47. To help the tigers recover their natural skills to live in the wild.
48. natural skills/abilities; or primary skills/abilities; or original skills/abilities
49. Because South Africans are experienced and the country has good natural conditions.
50. Open
