The black robin(旅鸫) is one of the world's rarest birds. It is a small, wild
bird, and it lives only on the island of Little Mangere, off the coast of New
Zealand. In 1967 there were about fifty black robins there; in 1977 there were
fewer than ten. {{U}} {{U}} 1 {{/U}} {{/U}}
Energetic steps are being taken to preserve the black robin. {{U}} {{U}}
2 {{/U}} {{/U}}The idea is to buy another island nearby as a special
home, a "reserve", for threatened wild life, including black robins. The
organizers say that Little Mangere should then be restocked(重新准备) with the
robin's food. Thousands of the required plants are at present being cultivated
in New Zealand. Is all this concern a waste of human effort?
{{U}} {{U}} 3 {{/U}} {{/U}}Are we losing our sense of what is
reasonable and what is unreasonable? In the earth's long, long
past hundreds of kinds of creatures have evolved, risen to a degree of success
and died out. In the long, long future there will be many new and different
forms of life. Those creatures that adapt themselves successfully to what the
earth offers will survive for a long time. {{U}} {{U}} 4
{{/U}} {{/U}}This is nature's proven method of operation. The
rule of selection—"the survival of the fittest"—is the one by which human beings
have themselves arrived on the scene. We, being one of the most adaptable
creatures the earth has yet produced, may last longer than most. {{U}}
{{U}} 5 {{/U}} {{/U}}You may take it as another rule that when, at
last, human beings show signs of dying out, no other creature will extend a
paw(爪) to postpone our departure. On the contrary, we will be hurried
out. Life seems to have grown too tough for black
robins. A. Some creatures, certain small animals, insects and
birds, will almost certainly outlast (比……长久)man, for they seem even more
adaptable. B. Those that fail to meet the challenges will
disappear early. C. Detailed studies are going on, and a public
appeal for money has been made. D. Both represent orders in the
classification of life. E. Is it any business of ours whether
the black robin survives or dies out? F. These are the only
black robins left in the world.