European Consortium for the Certificate of Attainment in Modern Languages (READING)-B2



Reading
Level B2 (intermediate)
20 minutes

You read a report about tigers in India. The second half of each paragraph is missing but can be found below (A-H). Match the beginning of the paragraphs with the appropriate second half by writing the correct letter in the box.
You need to fill in all the 6 boxes.
We have done the first one as an example.

Example:
The tiger, arguably the world's most charismatic predator, is at the centre of two related tragedies in India...


It is ironic that the world`s most densely populated subcontinent should be home to the largest population of surviving tigers in the world...

Ordinary Indians have an innate reverence for life...

The tiger is associated with the goddess Durga and for millions it would be inconceivable even to consider harming the animal. Likewise, Lord Ganesh, the elephant God, is propitiated in almost every Hindu home. The mouse, the snake, the lion and peacock are also venerated...

On another level, there are Indians who have 'risen above' the superstitions of nature worship, and who now view tigers as just another danger to their daily life...

Most corporate executives, while outwardly supportive of nature conservation, campaign furiously for the construction of new airports, dams, roads, thermal plants and what have you that will cut the heart out of Tigerland...

The tiger is well and truly caught in a crossfire between habitat destruction and poaching. That is why it is dying out...















A ...But for the modern poacher this living heritage has little significance - and dead tigers mean millions of dollars for people who would never otherwise be able to make such an amount of money. The still-thriving fur trade ensures their continued financial survival.

B ...They do not demand 'an eye for an eye, even when livestock or human lives are lost. It is seen merely as the course of nature.

C ...The first involves the rapid slide of the species towards oblivion; the second concerns the Indian Government's apathy towards the impending catastrophe.

D ...I was devastated to learn that some 400 impoverished tribal people, traditionally respectful of nature, had taken part in the laughter for less than $5 per day.

E ...This has less to do with modern conservation objectives than with ancient Indian attitudes towards all living creatures. Wild animals have traditionally been treated with much more reverence and respect in India than in the Western world.

F ...For example, in December 1996, the Streering Committee of Project Tiger was stunned to hear that the State Government of Andhra Pradesha has approved the construction of a road which threatens to cut a swathe through the Nagarjunasagar Tiger Reserve.

G ...But there are still some of us who refuse even to contemplate losing this fight. In our view nature is resilient and the tiger has the capacity to withstand considerable pressure, including the actions of poachers and those who do not care if the tigers are driven out of existence.

H ...They justify the destruction of the tiger's home in the name of development, becoming upwardly mobile, and prioritising material acquisitions, as the movement towards creating a 'western' lifestyle gathers pace, especially among the younger generation.

Adapted from 'Tigerland' by Bittu Sahgal in The New Internationalist, No. 28, March 1997