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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 II Vocabulary and Structure
Directions: In this part there are forty incomplete sentences. Each sentence
is followed by four choices. Choose the one that best completes the sentence and
then mark your answer on the Answer Sheet.
21. The teacher the students on a tour through the art museum.
A. made B. indicated C. forced D. took
22. Tom’s parents died when he was a child, so he was by his relatives.
A. grown up B. brought up C. raised D. fed up
23. Here is my card. Let’s keep in .
A. touch B. relation C. connection D. friendship
24. So far there is no proof people from other planets do exist.
A. which B. how C. what D. that
25. The newspapers reported yesterday several on the boundaries of these two
countries.
A. incidents B. happenings C. events D. accidents
26. We’ve worked out the plan and now we must put it into .
A. fact B. reality C. practice D. deed
27. He didn’t and so he failed the examination.
A. work enough hard B. hard work enough C. hard enough work D. work hard
enough
28. Not until Mr. Smith came to China what kind of country she is.
A. he knew B. he didn’t know C. did he know D. he couldn’t know
29. Scientists say it may be ten years this medicine was put to use.
A. since B. before C. after D. when
30. In some countries, is called “equality” does not really mean equal rights
for all people.
A. that B. what C. which D. how
31. We didn’t know his telephone number, otherwise we him.
A. would telephone B. would have telephone
C. had telephoned D. must have telephoned
32. We’ve missed the last bus, I’m afraid we have no but to take a taxi.
A. way B. possibility C. choice D. selection
33. Luckily, most sheep the flood last month.
A. endured B. survived C. lived D. passed
34. My parents always let me have my own of living.
A. way B. method C. manner D. fashion
35. Like other language skills, reading requires practice.
A. the most of B. much of the C. most of the D. more of the
36. It is only through practice one will be able to swim skillfully.
A. what B. who C. that D. which
37. The brain is capable of ignoring pain message of to concentrate on other
activities.
A. it allowed B. is it allowed C. allowed D. allowed it
38. Don’t worry, I have already them the decision.
A. informed; with B. informed; of C. informed; for D. informed; that
39. The child was sorry his mother when he arrived at the station.
A. to miss B. having missed C. missing D. to have missed
40. I wonder why he to discuss the problem at the meeting.
A. declined B. rejected C. refused D. delayed
41. You can hang up what you like on these walls.
A. bare B. empty C. blank D. vacant
42. According to a , the majority would rather have newspapers without a
government than a government without newspapers.
A. election B. campaign C. poll D. vote
43. The population of the village has decreased 150 to 500.
A. in B. at C. by D. with
44. It seems that there is that I can’t do.
A. nothing B. anything C. everything D. none
45. They are often caring more about animals than human beings.
A. accused if B. accused with C. charged of D. charged for
46. a good beginning is made, the word is half done.
A. As soon as B. While C. As D. Once
47. George could not his foolish mistake.
A. account in B. count on C. count for D. account for
48. We came into this field late, so we must work hard to the lost time.
A. make up for B. make out C. keep up with D. put up with
49. The new law will came into on the day it is passed.
A. effect B. use C. service D. existence
50. We can separate the mixture into the pure chemical compounds it is
composed.
A. in which B. of what C. of which D. from which
51. Mrs. Lincoln has that she is unable to get a job.
A. such small education B. so little education
C. a such little education D. a so small education
52. She can’t prevent her little boy shooting birds.
A. from; to B. on; at C. with; up D. from; at
53. Many countries are increasing their use of natural gas, wind and other
forms of .
A. energy B. source C. power D. material
54. A darkened sky in the daytime is usually and indication that a storm is
.
A. possible coming B. about to take place
C. close by D. expected to be severe
55. We all know that speak louder than words.
A. movements B. performance C. operations D. actions
56. , he could not cover the whole distance in fifteen minutes.
A. Fast as he can B. As he can ran fast
C. If he can ran fast D. Since he ran fast
57. Agricultural production in that country has increased in recent
years.
A. vastly B. strikingly C. considerably D. extremely
58. Peter has planned to some money every month so that he can buy a used car
next year.
A. set aside B. set up C. set in D. set along
59. Although I spoke to him many times, he never took any of what I said.
A. attention B. notice C. warning D. observation
60. They overcame all the difficulties and fulfilled the plan three months
ahead of time, is something we had not expected.
A. that B. what C. it D. which
