There are so many rabbits across Australia that it may be surprising to learn that they are a non-native species.A few rabbits arrived with British settlers in 1788，but it was not until 1859，when a British-born farmer named Thomas Austin brought 24 European rabbits to his land for hunting，that they began to live there.They are an excellent example of an invasive（侵入的）species，a non-native species that does harm to its new environment.
   Rabbits have lived well in many different environments within Australia，such as grasslands，coastal areas，farmland，and even in towns or cities.Their activities have destroyed crops and plants.They compete directly with other wildlife for food and shelter，including taking over burrows（地洞）of other animals.They have led to dangerously reduced populations of many plant and animal species.
   Efforts to control the rabbit population have had mixed success.The first main effort was the Rabbit-Proof Fence.In 1901，the government started building a knee in the state of Western Australia to protect farmland from rabbits.By the time it was finished in 1907，the Rabbit-Proof Fence ran some 2，000 miles from north to south.The Acting Chief Inspector of Rabbits，Alexander Crawford，headed a team whose job was to go around keeping the fence in working order.But over time，the fence proved to be no match for the rabbits.
   Other main efforts have included programs to destroy rabbit burrows or use viruses that sicken and kill rabbits.Again，these efforts have been less than successful.The big problem to any efforts to control the rabbit population is simply that their population grows so quickly.One female can have 30 young in a year.
   If Thomas Austin had known the damage that the rabbits would cause across the country，he might have had second thoughts about bringing rabbits to Australia.

（1）Why did rabbits begin to live in Australia？

B

B

A．They travelled there by chance.
B．They were brought in by Thomas Austin.
C．They were introduced by the government.
D．They moved there to escape bad environment.
（2）What is Paragraph 2 mainly about？

D

D

A．Some activities of rabbits.
B．Rabbits' ability to live in the wild.
C．How fast the population of rabbits grows.
D．The damage rabbits have caused to Australia.
（3）How successful was the Rabbit-Proof Fence？

B

B

A．It failed in the beginning.
B．It didn't live up to expectations.
C．It was unfinished for lack of money.
D．It failed later for nobody protected it.
（4）What would be the best title for the text？

D

D

A．Rabbits and farming
B．Efforts to control rabbits
C．Rabbits：experts in burrowing
D．Rabbits：unwelcome newcomers