Environmental scientists observe that it is of
great significance to protect wildlife and wild places
ff human beings want to survive. We must under-
stand the important links between ourselves and the
wild plants and animals in our environmental
(1)______ system. (1)______
Diseases and insects can develop to destroy
some kinds of plants and animals. So a supply of
different kinds of plants is needed. The new species
can be found in the wild or be obtained by Scientists
who mix (2)______material from different species. (2)______
For example, 100 years ago, scientists grew
the European vine on (3)______from the American (3)______
vine. In this way the European (4)______ (4)______
industry was saved.
In recent years, scientists have expressed concern
that coffee trees in Brazil and soybean plants in
America come from limited wild species. They are
easily attacked by insects, diseases, or severe
weather conditions.
Scientists are also concerned about the loss of
traditional farm animals. For example, almost 115
out of the original (5)______kinds of cattle in (5)______
Europe and the Mediterranean area are endangered.
Traditional farm animals can be very valuable,
e.g. a rare European sheep, Cornish hen etc. Some
scientists say this kind of hen can be mated with
other species of chickens to introduce a
(6)______ bird for food. (6)______
Wild plants and animals are important to medicine,
too. A study shows that about 40 percent of
the medicines in U.S. contain drugs from plants,
animals, etc. For example, cancer scientists are using
a plant to fight a cancer of (7)______ (7)______
Wild plants and animals are disappearing at an
increasing speed, yet there are still success stories.
For example, the number of elephants killed
(8)______in Africa has decreased dramatically. (8)______
In another case, 400 gorillas survive in a
(9)______area in Africa because Rwanda developed (9)______
an important business that relies on protecting
the gorillas.
Another successful program takes the endangered
animals from their natural homes to protected
zones where they can (10)______safely. (10)______