MiddleIsland,offthecoastofsouthernVictoria,Australia,is...

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Middle Island, off the coast of southern Victoria, Australia, is home to the world’s smallest penguins—fairy penguins. There used to be hundreds of them on Middle Island before foxes got to them. “We went from a point where we had around 800 penguins down to where we could only find four.” says Peter Abbott from the Penguin Preservation Project. “Once 360 birds were killed over about two nights.”

        That particular incident happened in 2005, but the problem had been building up for several years. Middle Island, where no people live, is separated from the mainland by a stretch of water measuring no more than 20 or 30m deep. At low tide, and when sand builds up in the narrow channel, foxes can cross from the mainland barely getting their paws（爪子）wet.

        A chicken farmer suggested sending his Maremma dogs to the Island. The first dog which was sent to Middle Island is called Oddball. The dogs operate in the penguins’ breeding（繁殖）season, from October to March, spending five or six days a week on the island. Even when the dogs are not there, the smell they left is enough to keep foxes away. The fairy penguin population has gone back up to almost 200.

        The project has been such a success that a movie called Oddball has been made about it. It has increased tourism, and in the summer months people can visit the island on a “Meet the Maremma Tour.” Many locals appeared as characters in the film. “My character was played by an American actor,” says Peter Abbott.“ I tell people it’s because they couldn’t find an Australian as good-looking as me.”

8. What happened to the fairy penguins after foxes appeared on Middle Island?

    A. They were frightened away from the island.

    B. They almost became extinct.

    C. They stopped breeding in breeding seasons.

    D. They daren’t go out at night.

9. How did the foxes reach Middle Island?

    A. By walking directly from the mainland.

    B. By following the tracks left by people.

    C. By swimming across the stretch of water.

    D. By building up sand in the stretch of water.

10. Why were Maremma dogs sent to the island?

    A. To kill more foxes.           

    B. To guard the islanders.

    C. To leave their smell there.     

    D. To protect the fairy penguins.

11. What made Middle Island famous?

    A. The movie Oddball.     

    B. The fairy penguins.

    C. Maremma dogs.      

    D. Meet the Maremma tour.

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