Directions: Read the following passage and choose the most suitable heading from A-F for each paragraph. There is one extra heading which you do not need.
A. Illegal hunting has caused a decrease in the number of sea turtles.
B. Most turtles are eaten by Mexicans and Mexican Americans.
C. A campaign to protect sea turtles.
D. Many people kill and eat turtles in a religious observance.
E. Government should prevent sea turtle being hunted to increase the number of the species.
F. A letter was written to Pope to save endangered sea turtles.
小題1: ___________
Environmental groups in the United States are leading a campaign to save thousands of endangered sea turtles. They have asked Pope John Paul the Second to ban turtle meat during the Christian religious observance known as Lent. Christians observe Lent in preparation for the holiday of Easter.
小題2: ___________
Environmental groups say illegal turtle hunting is one of the major threats to endangered sea turtles in southern California and Mexico. It has been illegal to harvest and eat sea turtle meat in Mexico for more than ten years. However, demand for sea turtle meat is widespread in both Southern California and Mexico. Biologists believe that illegal hunting is one of the main reasons for the sharp drop in sea turtle populations during the past thirty years.
小題3: ___________
The week before Easter Sunday is an especially deadly time for the turtles. As many as 5,000 turtles are killed during this time each year. Many Mexicans and Mexican Americans eat turtle meat during the days before Easter. Many people do not eat meat during this holy time in order to obey the rules of Lent. Because sea turtles swim, many people consider them to be fish. Fish is permitted during Lent.
小題4: ___________
The Sea Turtle Conservation Network is a union of fishermen, environmental activists and researchers. They sent a letter to Pope John Paul, urging the Roman Catholic Church leader to officially declare that sea turtle flesh is meat, not fish or seafood. They say thousands of these endangered animals would be saved if people did not eat them during this religious period. The letter also asked members of the Catholic Church to obey laws banning the capture of turtles in Mexico and the United States.
小題5:___________
About 35,000 endangered sea turtles are killed illegally near the coasts of Baja, California each year. Studies have shown a sharp drop in the numbers of females. They travel from as far away as Japan to lay their eggs on local beaches. Environmental activists say hunting sea turtles for their meat is the main barrier to the recovery of the species. They have urged the governments of the United States and Mexico to improve enforcement of the ban on sea turtle harvesting.
