The number of sheep in New Zealand has dropped to the lowest on record since the Second World War – at 29.6 million.

Sheep were first introduced to New Zealand in 1773 by British explorer Captain James Cook and later by missionary Samuel Marsden. 

The rapid sheep population growth happened in the 1850s and 1860s because thousands of people came to New Zealand, the government said. 

The animals now outnumber people living there at a ratio of six to one, but in 1982, New Zealand had 70.3 million sheep and a population of 3.18 million people – the equivalent of 22 sheep per person. 

This decline comes despite meat exports in the country hitting a record high of $5.3bn last year. Beef and Lamb chief economist Andrew Burtt said lamb exports are down three per cent. He said the drop in sheep numbers is related to a strong demand for mutton from China and a relentless increase in dairy farming.

Other factors believed to be contributing to the decreasing numbers include depressed wool prices, droughts, urban growth and competition from other land-intensive farming.

However, beef and lamb are still New Zealand’s second highest exports.

本时文内容由奇速英语国际教育研究院原创编写，禁止复制和任何商业用途，版权所有，侵权必究！

1.Sheep were introduced to New Zealand in________.

A 1773

B 1850

C 1860

D 1982

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据文章第2段“Sheep were first introduced to New Zealand in 1773”可知。

2.Sheep increased quickly in the 1850s and 1860s because_________.

A The government needed it

B Thousands of people came into New Zealand

C The weather was good for sheep to grow.

D There was too much grass in New Zealand

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据文章第3段“because thousands of people came to New Zealand, The government said. .”可知。

3.What does the underlined word equivalent in Chinese?

A 类似

B 比例

C 消费

D 食量

解析：选B。B词义理解题。根据文章第4段“but in 1982, New Zealand had 70.3 million sheep and a population of 3.18 million people与of 22 sheep per person. ” 可知，每人比例为22头羊。

4.Why did the decline of the sheep take place in New Zealand?

A Because of the demand from China and an increase in dairy farming.

B Because of low wool prices and the weather.

C Because of the pollution in it.

D Because the other countries’ sheep increased quickly.

解析：选A。A 推理判断题。根据第5段最后1句“a strong demand for mutton from China and a relentless increase in dairy farming.”可知。

5.Where may you see the passage?

A In a sports magazine.

B In a healthy website

C In a travel guidebook

D In a news website.

解析：选D。D 推理判断题。 全文都在讲可知新西兰的养羊数减少的现实及原因分析，故可以排除A.B.C。