Atthebeginningofthe20thcenturythereweremorethanamillionlionsworldwide.Todaytherearelessthan30000inthewild.Theremaininglionsareincreasinglythreatenedbyhabitatlosshuntingandactivitiestoprotectfarmsandcattle.
ForgenerationsMasaitribesmenonthelargeAfricanplainsinsoutheasternKenyahavehuntedlions---toprotecttheirfarmsandcattle.Todaytheycelebratethelions'life.
NoahisanelderintheMasaicommunity."WehavedecidedasacommunityoftheMasaitolaydownourspearsandtherewillbenomorekillingoflionsinourcommunity."HeispartofagroupofMasaivisitingtheUnitedStatespromoting(推广)thePredator(捕食性动物)CompensationProgram.
ConservationInternational'sFrankHawkinsexplains"TheMasaihavebeenlivingwithwildlifeformanygenerationsandithasbeenaconflictingrelationshipinmanyways.Theycompetewiththeanimalsforfoodaslionseattheircattle.We'retryingtofindwaysinwhichthewildlifewillbecomesomethingusefultothem."TheyhadthePredatorCompensationFundfoundedin2003.AftermuchdiscussionagroupofMasaifarmersagreedtoprotectlions.InturniflionsorotherpredatorskilltheircattletheMasaiownerwillbepaidmarketvalueforthedeadanimalsfromthefund.
Onemansaidthatinthepastwhenalionkilledcattletheykilleditonthespot.AndnowafterthestartoftheprogramtheMasaiseethelionpopulationgrowing.Since2003onlyfourlionshavebeenkilledhere.
21.Whatisthispassagemainlyabout?
A.Thewildlifeintheworld.
B.LionsandtheMasai.
C.Thereasonwhylionsarekilled.
D.ThelivingwaysoftheMasai.
22.WhatistheaimofthePredatorCompensationProgram?
A.Toprotectpeopleinthewild.
B.TohelptheMasaiprotecttheirfarmsandcattle.
C.Toprotectlionsonly.
D.Toprotectthewildlife.
23.Masaitribesmenkilledlionsbefore2003_______.
A.becauselionsweredangerousforpeoplethere
B.becausedeadlionswereworthalotofmoney
C.becausetheywantedlions'meat
D.becausetheywantedtoprotecttheirfarmsandcattle
24.Accordingtothepassagewhyhaven