The Matschie’s tree kangaroo is one of 10 species of tree kangaroos, all of which are endangered or threatened. A tree kangaroo is typically about the size of a raccoon (浣熊) and weighs around 19 pounds. They live in the high canopy (树冠) of the rainforest , about 100 to 150 feet in the air. The Matschie’s tree kangaroo is orange and brown with a face that looks like a teddy bear. They can leap 60 feet to the ground from trees without getting hurt.
In 1996, Dr Lisa Dabek helped found the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program (TKCP). Now, 16 years later, though still endangered, the population of the Matschie’s tree kangaroo is stabilizing. Much of the success is due to the work of Dabek, Senior Coservation Scientist at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seatle, Washington, and Director of the TKCP.
According to Dabek , the TKCP needed to cooperate with the local clans (部落) , some of whom kill them for food and ceremonial clothing. Dabek said, “We and the clans made a compromise. The clans would dedicate a part of their land as a “no hunting area”. But they could continue to hunt on their other land. Together they set aside 180,000 acres of land. They called this a “Wildlife Bank”.
Animal behavior has always been interesting to Dr Dabek. She said, “When I was 8 years old, a friend and I wrote down what we wanted to be when we grew up and sealed it inside an envelope to open when we were teenagers. When I opened it I was reminded that I wanted to be an animal trainer. And that is kind of what I am today.”
24. We know that Matschie’s tree kangaroo ____________.
A. live at the bottom of trees in the rainforest B. are orange from head to foot
C. are the only species of tree kangaroos D. face the possibility of extinction
25. Dabek’s work in protecting the Matchie’s tree kangaroos is _____________.
A. disappointing B. amazing C. ridiculous D. meaningful
26. According to the Paragraph 3, local clans agreed to ____________.
A. stop hunting the Matschie’s tree kangaroo completely
B. leave all their land to the Matschie’s tree kangaroos
C. set aside a ‘ no hunting area’
D. hunt the Matschie’s tree kangaroos for special events
27. The best title of the passage could be “_______________”.
A. Dr Dabek, a famous naturalist
B. The protection of the Matschie’s tree kangaroo
C. The living habits of the Matschie’s tree kangaroo
D. How Dabek became an animal lover