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The wildfires burning in southern Australia have wiped out much of the koala population, adding the fear that the national icon is getting closer to extinction. "In what is a national tragedy, the fires in and around Port Macquarie in November killed a genetically diverse koala population," Port Macquarie Koala Hospital said. "As many as 350 koalas have perished, with approximately 75% of the fireground footprint being prime koala habitat."

The hospital established a GoFundMe account to help affected koalas recuperate. The terrible fire have caused a devastating blow to the koala population, which was decreasing greatly before this month's wildfires. There are only about 40,000 to 100,000 koalas remaining after "uncontrolled habitat destruction" reduced the population, according to the Australia Zoo.

In addition to bushfires, habitat clearing, dog attacks and road accidents, more than 2.5 million koalas have been killed to supply the fur trade in America and Europe, the zoo said. Koalas are now considered endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. "We believe the wild population of koalas is critically threatened and in need of our protection," the Australia Zoo said.

The number of people affected from the wildfires has also been large. Four people have died and hundreds of homes have been destroyed. In New South Wales, which is home to nearly 8 million people, wildfires have already burnt an area three times larger than during the entire fire season last year. The fires are fueled by soaring temperatures, fierce winds and the worst drought in decades. Even worse, summer in Australia doesn't even start until December 1.

1.The underlined word “perished” in the first paragraph may mean _______.

A burnt

B died

C ran

D left

解析：选B。词义猜测题。根据文章第一段第二句the fires in and around Port Macquarie in November killed a genetically diverse koala population可以得知大火造成了考拉的死亡，因此多达350只考拉“死了（died）”，故选B。

2.What did the hospital do to help the affected koalas?

A They collected money.

B They stopped the fire.

C They built habitats.

D They drew national icons.

解析：选A。推理判断题。根据文章第二段第一句The hospital established a GoFundMe account可以得知医院成立了一个账号来筹集钱来帮助考拉，故选A。

3.What made the koalas endangered?

A The increased habitats.

B The railway accidents.

C The fur business.

D The cat attacks.

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据文章第三段第一句more than 2.5 million koalas have been killed to supply the fur trade in America and Europe可以得知皮毛贸易导致了考拉成为濒危物种，故选C。

4.What may help people end the wildfires?

A The soaring temperatures.

B The fierce winds.

C The worst drought.

D The coming summer.

解析：选D。推理判断题。根据文章第四段最后一句Even worse, summer in Australia doesn't even start until December 1可以得知“糟糕的是12月1号才是澳大利亚的夏季”据此推知夏季的来临可能会帮助灭火，故选D。