Abalone tops the list of the most __28.__seafood in Chinese cuisine, and fresh South African abalone are always the first choice for feasts in Cantonese restaurants, where one fresh abalone alone can cost up to HK$2,000 (about 8,000NTD). In recent years, the overfishing and smuggling of wild abalone has pushed this __29.__ species of the South African coast towards extinction. "The South African wild abalone are heavier, and they are better than the farmed Japanese and Australian ones in terms of fresh flavor and texture," said Lau, general manager of Ah Yat Abalones restaurant in Hong Kong. "Our fresh South African abalone are all imported through __30.__ channels. The smuggled ones are usually dried and rare in Hong Kong."
The illicit abalone trade has been gathering significant attention from __31.__combating wildlife trafficking, who believe the profitable contraband market of abalone is linked to the black market of ivory and rhino horns - both of which are driven by high demand from the Chinese market. [excerpt taken and adapted from How SA's abalone ends up on China's plates by Crystal Chow, Oxpeckers]
【題組】29.
(A) pandemic
(B) pacific
(C) epidemic
(D) endemic