LONDON (Reuters) Ecotourism is causing a lot of damage to wildlife and may be endangering the survival of the very animals people are flocking to see, according to researchers.
Biologists and conservationists are worried because polar bears, dolphins, penguins and other creatures are getting stressed and losing weight and some are dying.
Evidence is growing that many animals do not react well to tourists in their backyard，” New Scientist magazine said.
The immediate effects researchers have noticed are changes in behavior, heart rates. or stress hormone levels but they fear it could get much worse and over the long term “ could endanger the survival of the very wildlife they want to see. ”
Although money produced through ecotourism, which has been growing at about 10-30 percent a year, has major benefits for poor countries and people living in rural areas, the Swiss-based World Conservation Union (IUCN) and some governments fear not all projects are audited（审计） and based on environmentally friendly policies，according to the magazine.
Transmission of disease to wildlife，or small changes to wildlife health through disturbance of daily life or increased stress levels, while not obvious to the casual observer, may translate to lower survival and breeding，” said Philip Seddon , of the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Scientists have noticed that bottleneck dolphins along the northeastern coast of New Zealand bee nervously excited when tourist boats arrive. Similar changes in behavior have been observed in polar bears and yellow-eyed penguins in areas visited by colorists are producing smaller babies.
Conservationists are now calling for more research into the effect of ecotourism on animals and say the industry must be developed carefully. They also want studies done before new ecotourism projects are started.
“The animals’ welfare should be very important because without them there will be no ecotourism，” said Rochelle Constantine of the University of Auckland in New Zealand
【小题1】Which is not discovered to have changed in animals disturbed by tourists?A．behaviorB．birth rateC．hormone levelsD．heart rates【小题2】We may learn from the text that .A．ecotourism must be developed properlyB．polar bears are losing weight without enough foodC．all the poor countries have stopped ecotourismD．money produced through ecotourism should be spent on wildlife【小题3】Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text? A．Many animals do not react well in their backyardB．Studies should be done before new ecotourism projects are startedC．Ecotourism has been growing at about 10—30 percent a year.D．polar bears in areas visited by ecotourists are producing smaller babies.【小题4】What Rochelle Constantine said in the last paragraph implies that .A．if people want to get high ine, they must develop ecotourismB．animals have rights to live their own lifeC．animals are people's good friendsD．people should take good care of wildlifeB
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(答案→)B
解析：文章报道了旅游业给野生动物造成了危害，可能危及野生动物的数量，被游客打扰后，动物行为，荷尔蒙水平和心脏的比率都有了变化，动物保护主义者呼吁要合理的发展旅游业。
【小题1】细节题：从文章第四段的句子：The immediate effects researchers have noticed are changes in behavior, heart rates. or stress hormone levels but they fear it could get much worse and over the long term “可知被游客打扰后，动物行为，荷尔蒙水平和心脏的比率都有了变化，但是没有提到出生率的改变。选B
【小题2】细节理解题。从倒数第二段的第一句Conservationists are now calling for more research into the effect of ecotourism on animals and say the industry must be developed carefully.可知旅游业必须合理的发展，A项正确。
【小题3】细节理解题。从倒数第三段最后一句Similar changes in behavior have been observed in polar bears and yellow-eyed penguins in areas visited by colorists are producing smaller babies.可知可知是企鹅生出更小的孩子。选D
【小题4】句意猜测题。Similar changes in behavior have been observed in polar bears and yellow-eyed penguins in areas visited by colorists are producing smaller babies.结合上下文可作出正确判断：人们应该照顾好野生动物，选D