2.
Directions: Read the passage and complete it by using the sentences in the box below. Each sentence can only be used once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need.
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A. Sales like this caused a big increase in the breeding of these dogs as many would-be breeders hoped to make money quickly.
B. Buying into the popular trend led to severe consequences for the Tibetan Mastiff. C. One breed in particular had gained huge popularity in past years, which led to the tragic circumstances the breed currently faces.
D. Unfortunately, the Tibetan mastiff, once a highly desirable accessory for rich Chinese people to show off their fortunes, had lost its charm.
E. This breed saw a big increase in popularity several years ago and had become a status symbol for the wealthy in China.
F. The world's most expensive dogs are now being treated well in the dog houses.
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The End of the Tibetan Mastiff Craze The Tibetan Mastiff, also known as the lion dog, is an ancient dog breed originating from Central Asia. This is a massive dog weighing in around 65 to 80 kilograms, with a luxuriously long coat that contributes to its lion-like appearance.
In 2011, an 11-month-old Tibetan Mastiff named Big Splash made headlines for fetching an incredible 10 million yuan when it was sold. At the peak of the market, a pure-blood mastiff could be sold for an average of 30, 000 to 50, 000 yuan, with some famous breeds selling for more than 200, 000 yuan.
The bubble had burst and the once hot market had turned ice cold. Some breeders have had to get rid of their dogs by selling them to killing houses to be made into leather. The breed that had once sold for millions was now only selling for about 1, 000 yuan. Many breeders got stuck with unwanted dogs and were struggling to make ends meet.
Anew CCTV program showed an example in a county in Qinghai province. The local government of Maozhuang Township and the local Surmang Temple each raised 200, 000 yuan to build a dog shelter in 2015, which received about 1, 200 stray dogs within only two weeks.
Hopefully someday, this breed will be able to regain some of its past glory and be seen only as a pet to be cared for.