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We can begin our discussion of “population as global issue” with what most persons mean when they discuss “the population problem”: too many people on earth and a too rapid increase in the number added each year. The facts are not in dispute, It was quite right to employ the analogy that likened demographic growth to “a long, thin powder fuse that burns steadily and haltingly until it finally reaches the charge and explodes.”
To understand the current situation, which is characterized by rapid increases in population, it is necessary to understand the history of population trends. Rapid growth is a comparatively recent phenomenon. Looking back at the 8,000 years of demographic history, we find that populations have been virtually stable or growing very slightly for most of human history. For most of our ancestors, life was hard, often nasty, and very short. There was high fertility
in most places, but this was usually balanced by high mortality. For most of human history, it was seldom the case that one in ten persons would live past forty, while infancy and childhood were especially risky periods. Often, societies were in clear danger of extinction because death rates could exceed their birthrates. Thus, the population problem throughout most of history was how to prevent extinction of the human race.
This pattern is important to notice. Not only does it put the current problems of demographic growth into a historical perspective, but it suggests that the cause of rapid increase in population in recent years is not a sudden enthusiasm for more children, but an improvement in the conditions that traditionally have caused high mortality.
Demographic history can be divided into two major periods: a time of long, slow growth which extended from about 8,000 BC.till approximately AD. 1650. In the first period of some 9600 years, the population increased from some 8
million to 500 million in 1650. Between 1650 and the present, the population has increased from 500 million to more than 4 billion. And it is estimated that by the year 2000 there will be 6.2 billion people throughout the world. One way to
appreciate this dramatic difference in such abstract numbers is to reduce the time frame to something that is more manageable. Between 8000BC and 1650, an average of only 50,000 persons was being added annually to the world’s population each year. At present, this number is added every six hours. The increase is about 80,000,000 persons annually.
1.Which of the following demographic growth pattern is most suitable for the
long thin powder fuse analogy?
A.A virtually stable or slightly decreasing period and then a sudden
explosion of population.
B.A slow growth for a long time and then a period of rapid, dramatic
increase.
C.Too many people on earth and a few rapid increase in the number added each
year.
D.A long period when death rates exceeds birthrates and then a short period
with higher fertility and lower mortality.
2.During the first period of demographic history, societies were often in
danger of extinction because___.
A.only one in ten persons could live past 40.
B.there was higher mortality than fertility in most places.
C.it was too dangerous to have babies due to the poor conditions.
D.our ancestors had little enthusiasm for more children.
3.Which statement is true about population increase?
A.There might be an increase of 2.2 billion persons from now to the year
2000.
B.About 50,000 babies are born every six hours at present.
C.Between 8000 BC and the present, the population increase is about
80,000,000 persons each year.
D.The population increased faster between 8000BC and 1650 than between 1650
and the present.
4.The author of the passage intends to___.
A.warn people against the population explosion in the near future.
B.compare the demographic growth pattern in the past with that after
1650.
C.find out the cause for rapid increase in population in recent years.
D.present us a clear and complete picture of the demographic growth.
5.The word “demographic” in the first paragraph means___.
A.statistics of human.
B.surroundings study.
C.accumulation of human.
D.development of human.
Part I Reading Comprehension
Passage 1
Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage:
In Washington D.C., 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is a very special address. It is
the address of the White House, the home of the president of the United
States.
Originally the White House was gray and was called the Presidential Palace.
It was built from 1792 to 1800. at this time, the city of Washington itself was
being built; it was to be the nation’s new capital city. George Washington, the
first president, and Pierre Charles L’Enfant, a French engineer, chose the place
for the new city. L’Enfant then planned they city. The president’s home was an
important part of the plan.
A contest was held to pick a design for the president’s home. An architect
named James Hoban won. He designed a large three-story house of gray stone.
President Washington never lived in the President Palace. The first president
to live there was John Adams, the second president of the United States, and his
wife Mrs. Adams did not really like hew new house. In her letters, she often
complained about the cold. Fifty fireplaces were not enough to keep the house
warm!
In 1812 the United States and Britain went to war. In 1814 the British
invaded Washington. Theu burned many buildings, including the Presidential
Palace.
After the war James Hoban, the original architect, partially rebuilt the
president’s homes. To cover the marks of the fire, the building was painted
white. Before long it became known as the White House.
The White House is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United
States. Every year more than 1.5 million visitors go through the five rooms that
are open to the public.
1. The White House was built in Washington .
A. because a French engineer was invited to design it
B. because President George Washington liked to live in it
C. because the British invaders lived in it in 1812-1814
D. because it was to be the nation’s capital city
2. The Presidential Palace was .
A. painted gray and white B. made of gray stone
C. made of white stone D. made very warm in winter
3. The president’s home and the city of Washington were .
A. built by the American army B. built by the British troops
C. planned by George Washington D. planned by the French
4. The original home of the president needed to be rebuilt .
A. because John Adam’s wife did not like it
B. because it was cold in winter even with 50 fireplaces
C. because it had burned down during the war
D. because George Washington was not willing to live in it
5. The new presidential home was painted white to .
A. cover the marks of fire B. attract tourist from France
C. to please Mrs. John Adams D. keep it warm in winter
If the old maxim that the customer is always right still has meaning, then the airlines that ply the world’s busiest air route between London and Paris have a flight on their hands.
The Eurostar train service linking the UK and French capitals via the Channel Tunnel is winning customers in increasing numbers. In late May, it carried its one millionth passenger, having run only a limited service between London, Paris and Brussels since November 1994, starting with two trains a day in each direction to Paris and Brussels. By 1997, the company believes that it will be carrying ten million passengers a year, and continue to grow from there.
From July, Eurostar steps its service to nine trains each way between London and Paris, and five between London and Brussels. Each train carries almost 800 passengers, 210 of them in first class.
The airlines estimate that they will initially lose around 15%-20% of their London-Paris traffic to the railways once Eurostar starts a full service later this year (1995), with 15 trains a day each way. A similar service will start to Brussels. The damage will be limited, however, the airlines believe, with passenger numbers returning to previous levels within two to three years.
In the short term, the damage caused by the 1 million people-levels traveling between London and Paris and Brussels on Eurostar trains means that some air services are already suffering. Some of the major carriers say that their passenger numbers are down by less than 5% and point to their rivals-Particularly Air France-as having suffered the problems. On the Brussels route, the railway company had less success, and the airlines report anything
from around a 5% drop to no visible decline in traffic.
The airlines’ optimism on returning traffic levels is based on historical precedent. British Midland, for example, points to its experience on Heathrow Leeds Bradford service which saw passenger numbers fold by 15% when British Rail electrified and modernized the railway line between London and Yorkshire. Two years later, travel had risen between the two destinations to the point where the airline was carrying record numbers of passengers.
1.British airlines confide in the fact that__.
A.they are more powerful than other European airlines.
B.their total loss won’t go beyond a drop of 5% passengers.
C.their traffic levels will return in 2-3 years.
D.traveling by rail can never catch up with traveling by air.
2.The author’s attitude towards the drop of passengers may be described
as__.
A.worried.B.delightedC.puzzled.D.unrivaled.
3.In the passage, British Rail (Para 6) is mentioned to__.
A.provide a comparison with Eurostar.
B.support the airlines’ optimism.
C.prove the inevitable drop of air passengers.
D.call for electrification and modernization of the railway.
4.The railway’s Brussels route is brought forth to show that__.
A.the Eurostar train service is not doing good business.
B.the airlines can well compete with the railway.
C.the Eurostar train service only caused little damage.
D.only some airlines, such as Air France, are suffering.
5.The passage is taken from the first of an essay, from which we may well
predict that in the following part the author is going to__.
A.praise the airlines’ clear-mindedness.
B.warn the airlines of high-speed rail services.
C.propose a reduction of London/Paris flights.
D.advise the airlines to follow British Midland as their model.
