Oscar-winning director Ang Lee' s new epic "Life
of Pi" reveals the relationship between a teenage Indian boy and a Bengal
tiger. But in reality, the predators(食肉動物)are under
increasing threat from humans. Animal rights group PETA is hoping to use the
popularity of the film to focus people's attention on the real life of Bengal
tigers.
With the rising demand for tiger parts from East Asia,
illegal hunting remains a tremendous danger for the remaining cat population.
Back in 1947, there were 40,000 tigers in India, but the number is experiencing
a sharp decline t0 1,706 despite campaigns to protect the animal.
Rising man-animal conflict is also one of the leading
causes of decline in tiger numbers. In one of numerous reported attacks on the
endangered big cats, villagers near The Bangladesh-India border, armed with
sticks and boat oars, set upon the animal suspected to have attacked a local
fisherman and beat it to death earlier this month. So far this year, 58 tiger
deaths have been reported in the country.
"The first instinct when a tiger is spotted is to
just kill it,"grieved Gurmeet Sapal, a wildlife filmmaker. "The
feeling of fear and revenge is so strong that it shuts out any other emotion.
What we don' t realize is that the tiger never attacks humans until it is
forced to. "'
India has been struggling to stop the tiger's decline
in the face of the loss of habitat as well that encourages the animals to leave
the forest for food. " The tiger's rapidly exhausted prey base causes the
predator to go al! out to get its food. Consequently, livestock and human
beings become easy prey, which leads inevitably to conflict," says a
wildlife conservationist.
Filmmaker Sapal says it is only normal for people to think
of the tiger as a dangerous animal, but its image as a human killer bears some
injustice. "Tigers never kill for sport nor store meat. They kill their
prey only in case of hunger. "
1.How can PETA take advantage over the hot movie “
Life of Pi ”?
A. PETA can count on the movie to promote people' s
awareness of tiger' s life.
B. PETA can make enough money by encourage people to
watch the movie.
C. The movie demonstrates that humans and tigers can
live in harmony.
D. The movie offers a wonderful opportunity for movie
to act in.
2.Why did the villagers beat the tiger to death?
A. Because it was a human killer and attempted to
attack people.
B. Because it was suspected to be a threat to local
people' s lives.
C. Because local people just followed their instinct
to kill it.
D. Because people wanted to carry out their revenge
for it.
3.According to the article, when will tigers attack
and kill people?
A. When they are annoyed by people.
B. When they have conflict with people.
C. When they are driven to act in the movie.
D. When they are hungry or attacked.
4.What contributes to the facts that livestock and
human beings become easy target of tigers?
A. It is easier for tigers to hunt human beings than
other animal for food.
B. Tigers are losing their habitat and forced to go
out of the woods.
C. People hold a strong belief that tigers are a born
threat to their lives.
D. Tigers can't be treated equally as other animal in
the forest
