题型：阅读选择 题类： 难易度：困难
浙江省杭州市余杭区2024-2025学年九年级上学期期中英语试题
When we talk about safaris (游猎), we usually think of excited tourists watching wild animals living freely in Africa. But did you know that in the beginning safaris had little to do with observing wildlife in its natural living areas?
The word safari comes from an Arabic word for "journey", and the earliest safaris were journeys to do trade, hundreds of years ago. These journeys through Africa were often difficult and dangerous, but people from different parts of the world were able to see the unbelievable wildlife there. Eventually (最终) people started to hunt or to study the wildlife, rather than to do trade. Today, most safaris are trips for holidaymakers who want to see animals such as zebras, giraffes, lions and elephants in their natural homes. Some countries also have safari parks-huge parks where the same animals live almost freely, and visitors drive through to see them from inside their cars.
Everyone knows that thousands of animals die out every year, and a lot of people believe that safaris and safari parks have an important role to play in the fight to protect some of the planet's best-known species (物种). Safari parks, like zoos, are places where animals can live safely, and receive food and medical treatment. But unlike zoos, the animals live in almost natural conditions. Real safaris help to protect animal living areas, as they not only bring in money but also help to educate people. Tourists on safari take photos and videos, which they share with their friends and family, and online, spreading the word about the beauty of nature and the importance of protecting it.
Not every side of safari tourism is positive (乐观), however. It's very expensive, and very few people can actually afford to experience it. Safari tourists travel in jeeps, trucks and tour buses, which cause pollution, and some tourists leave rubbish. Some people believe safaris could destroy the very places that they are supposed to protect.
As safaris become more popular, it is important that the people who organize and join in them do so responsibly. They must do their best to make sure that these trips into the natural world really are for the benefit of Mother Nature, and not to her disadvantage.
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