Answers to reading comprehension

26. a) Asia.

b) Because it is one of the most powerful mammals.

27. a) They use their razor-sharp claws, their strong teeth and
their sheer weight.

b) They enable experts to tell individual tigers apart / Experts can

tell individual tigers apart by observing the markings and stripes closely.

28. a) They only attack people if they are provoked, injured or unable
to hunt for their usual food.

b) precious.

29. a) The tiger has been labelled an endangered species.

b) The sale of tiger-related products has been banned in many

countries.

30. Any logical answer is acceptable. Example: Yes, I believe

severe punishment will deter them as they will not want to take such a risk.
Or: No, I don’t think severe punishment will deter them. They would not
mind taking risks as they stand to gain a lot from the sale of tiger body
parts.

Answers to summary writing

Below are the sentences taken from the passage; the summary points are
in italics and have been numbered.

> These magnificent creatures have been hunted for hundreds of years for
sportas proof of one’s strength and manliness (point 1) and for their
skin (point 2).
> They have also been trapped and poisoned by farmers to protect their
livestock(point 3).
> In many Asian countries, tigers are killed for their precious claws. It is
believed that wearing a talisman made of a tiger’s claw can protect its
wearer (point 4).
> Other than that, tigers have been hunted for their body organs which are
believed to be a cure for many ailments (point 5).
> The hunting of these animals (tiger prey) by human beings has caused
tigers to starve to death (point 6).
> To ensure the survival of the tiger, conservation efforts need to be
improved to reduce threats to tigers (point 7).
> Efforts must also be made to improve tiger habitats (point 8) and to
increase tiger prey populations so that they will not starve to death
in the wild (point 9).
> There must be more stringent controls on the demand for tiger
parts (point 10).
> To drive the message home, poachers should be punished
severely (point 11).
Here is a sample summary using phrases and sentences from the passage.

The tiger population has suffered a serious decline because tigers have
been hunted for sport as proof of one’s strength and manliness and for
their skin. Besides, tigers have been killed by farmers to protect their
livestock. These beasts have also been killed for their claws which are
believed to protect the wearer. Worse still, tigers are killed for their body
organs, which are believed to cure many ailments. Moreover, hunting of
tiger prey has caused tigers to starve to death. Stern measures must be
taken to protect them. For instance, conservation efforts and tiger habitats
must be improved. To prevent tigers from starving, tiger prey populations
must be increased. Most importantly, there must be more stringent controls
on the demand.