Sun bears are the tiniest bears in the animal kingdom. Tenom is a sun bear who lived in captivity after someone killed her mother and attempted to sell her as a pet. A wildlife rescue team recently began a four-phase plan to train Tenom to live in the wild.

    Sun bears shape the ecosystem in their territory. They can tear up rotted trees, opening cavities (洞) for bugs and birds to feed on and create homes. Secondly, they eat various fruits, leaving fertilized seeds everywhere they travel. This creates new growth throughout their wide territory, which is important to the survival of the rainforest. Lastly, they absolutely love feasting on termites (白蚁). This controls the insect population, saving trees throughout the rainforest.

    Planet Wild provides funding to assist the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) with its rehabilitation (修复) efforts. Fewer than 10,000 sun bears remain in the wild, so the BSBCC program can be instrumental in preserving the species’ survival.

• Phase one of Tenom’s rehabilitation is a “soft release.” The team transports Tenom to the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, a protected area of the Bornean rainforest that is a natural habitat for sun bears. She will live with her foster family for about two years, learning to be a bear.
• Phase two is a settling-in period. The team works to familiarize Tenom with her new surroundings. She will remain safe in a cage for much of this phase but make short excursions (涉猎) into the rainforest with team members.
• Phase three continues Tenom’s training with longer excursions into the rainforest. She returns to the enclosure each night for rest. This is the longest part of her training.
• Phase four is the final step in the rehabilitation plan. Tenom will go out one day and not return. The decision not to return to the enclosure will be Tenom’s and is a natural part of the bear’s growing process.

    Please join us in wishing success to the BSBCC and Planet Wild team as they follow Tenom on this journey.

1.What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A The threats that the tiniest bears are facing.

B To save sun bears, scientists first have to find them.

C The importance of sun bears to the ecosystem.

D The future looks better for the world’s smallest bear.

解析：选C。C段落大意题。根据该段内容：马来熊可以帮助昆虫和鸟类提供食物、建造家园，传播种子，消灭白蚁保护雨林。可知本段主要讲了马来熊在生态系统中的重要作用。故选C。

2.Which of the following can replace the underlined word “instrumental” in Paragraph 3?

A Strange.

B Gentle.

C Needless.

D Vital.

解析：选D。D词义猜测题。根据第二段内容可知，马来熊是生态系统的重要组成部分，但是它们的数量不断减少，因此，该计划对于帮助保护该物种的生存十分重要。故选D。

3.What can we know about the four-phase plan?

A Phase one of Tenom’s rehabilitation is a settling-in period.

B In phase two, Tenom will be transported to a wildlife reserve.

C Phase four is the longest part of Tenom’s training.

D It’s up to Tenom to decide whether she will return to the enclosure.

解析：选D。D细节理解题。根据倒数第二段的“The decision not to return to the enclosure will be Tenom’s and is a natural part of the bear’s growing process.”可知，不回到围栏的决定将由Tenom决定，这是其成长过程中自然的一部分。故选D。

4.What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A To show his love for sun bears.

B To introduce a rehabilitation program.

C To remember sun bears.

D To share his experience with sun bears.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。本文主要描述了为保护马来熊Tenom并训练在野外生活的能力，一支野生动物救援队最近开始了一项分四个阶段的计划。故选B。