Polar bears were added to the list of threatened species and will receive special protection under the US law. In his statement, Us Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne noted that the decline of the Arctic sea ice is the greatest threat to the bears.
Polar bears live in the Arctic and hunt seals and other fatty marine mammals from sea ice. They also travel, mate and sometimes give birth on the ice. But sea ice is melting as the planet warms, and it is predicted to continue to do so for several more decades. “Polar bears are likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future,” Kempthorne said.
Although many scientists say that human activity is directly responsible for the melting of sea ice, the protection of polar bears will not change the US climate policy.
The US classifies the polar bear as a kind of marine Mammal, which means that the bear’s new threatened status will not stop oil exploration in its habitat. Hunting polar bears as a food source by certain native people will also continue. However, importing polar bear products from Canada will be banned.
Geological Survey, whose studies released in 2007 found that two-thirds of the world’s polar bears could go extinct by 2050. Bergen and other WSC staff are “almost elated” by the decision, he said.
“Even though it doesn’t directly influence the emission of carbon dioxide so to speak, we think it is a definite decision in the right direction and we’re pleased to see the US Fish and Wildlife Service is supporting the cause of the protection of this species,” he added.
Bergen noted that saving the polar bear mainly depends on international cooperation. Permanent sea ice habitat is likely to remain in areas outside of the US, particularly in Canada and Greenland. 1.What is the direct cause of the threatened polar bears? A. Food supply lack. B. Tourism development. C. Arctic sea ice declining D. Environmental pollution 2. Which of the following statements is TRUE? A. Seals feed mainly on polar bears.
B. Polar bears give birth to babies mainly on the ice. C. Sea ice is melting because of global warming. D. Polar bear threatened people’s lives. 3. Polar bear protection mainly lies in ______.
A. Canadian government B. international cooperation C. climate change D. carbon emissions 4. What can we know from the passage?
A. Polar bear products have been forbidden all over the world. B. Polar bears mainly fed on thinner and weaker marine mammals. C. People still have not stopped hunting for polar bears. D. Protecting polar bears must change the U.S. climate policy. 5.What’s the author’s attitude to polar bear protection? A. Hopeful B. Doubtful C. Critical D. Pessimistic
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