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By 1970, according to a World Wildlife Fund（WWF）report, only about 4,500 tigers survived throughout the world—half of them in India. Mr. Foresters, who followed and counted tiger footprints, estimated that in May 1972 only about 1,800 tigers existed in India. Project Tiger supported by WWF was immediately launched. Nine tiger reserves were created, with armed guards protecting them.
The project provided opportunities for researchers from India and abroad to study tigers in the reserves and gather previously unavailable information about their habits. Studies show that a male tiger may control a hunting territory of between 10 and 20 sq. kms., depending on its age, size and strength. The territory of a male includes the smaller territories of three or four tigresses. A tiger marks the boundaries of its territory by spraying urine（尿）and other bodily liquids on bushes. But it tries to avoid territorial fights, being guided by the distinctive body smell of other tigers. Tigers fight to death only when a tigress is defending her young, or when a tiger is guarding a tigress from the attentions of other males.
The popular image of the tiger is that of a merciless and unconquerable hunter. But studies show that it catches only one of 20 victims it tries to attack.
Fears have recently developed that Project Tiger has been too successful. It has enabled the tiger population to double（by mid-1980s）but India's human population has also grown out of control. Currently it is 750 million and likely to be 900 million by the end of the century. Land problem is becoming serious and many rural people feel bitter about the fact that some rich forests are reserved for tigers. A growing number of attacks by tigers on man has added to the hostility.
1．The ultimate aim of Project Tiger is to____.
A．protect tigers from being killed
B．study the growth rate of tigers
C．promote the breeding of young tigers
D．analyze the behavioral patterns of tigers
2．Studies have shown that____.
A．a tigress never attacks until attacked
B．the tigress is not as fierce as the tiger
C．the tiger is not an efficient hunter as is commonly described
D．a tiger usually fights another tiger to defend its own territory
3．According to the passage, a tiger's territory____.
A．remains unchanged
B．is often defended by tigresses
C．is the cause of most fights
D．expands as the tiger grows up
4．Some people are afraid that Project Tiger____.
A．has failed to achieve its goal
B．has not received enough attention
C．has been carried too far
D．is not worth the money spent on it
5．The author seems____.
A．to have a matter-of-fact attitude towards Project Tiger
B．to be enthusiastic about Project Tiger
C．to have a hostile attitude towards Project Tiger
D．to be satisfied with Project Tiger
1．【答案】A
【精析】文章第一段述说了老虎数量的锐减促使了老虎保护项目的启动，故A项正确。
2．【答案】C
【精析】由文章第三段“The popular image of the tiger is that of a merciless and unconquerable hunter. But studies show that it catches only one of 20 victims it tries to attack.”可知，C项正确。
3．【答案】D
【精析】从第二段第二句“Studies show that a male tiger may control a hunting territory of between 10 and 20 sq. kms., depending on its age, size and strength.”可知，D项正确。
4．【答案】C
【精析】从文章第四段第一句“Fears have recently developed that Project Tiger has been too successful.”及下文的描述可知，C项正确。
5．【答案】A
【精析】综观全文，作者主要讨论了对老虎的保护问题，列举了大量的数据及事例，表明了老虎保护项目带来的优势和问题，因此作者是实事求是的态度。故正确答案为A项。