It is believed that it took about 800 thousand to 1 million years for the earth’s population to reach the 250 million total which existed at the end of the first century AD. For some time after that, disease, famine(饥饿) and war kept the population increase down to a rate of 1 percent a year so that more than 15 centuries passed before the population reached 500 million. But in the next 250 years, up to 1850, the population of the world shot to 1 billion and today it has reached 3.5 billion. Scientists say that in the next 35 years the population of the world will double, reaching almost 7 billion by the year 2010.
When experts are asked what are the most effective measures that can stop over population, they reply that at least three measures can be considered.
(A) Increasing sources and supply of food for under-developed countries.
(B) Increasing the industrialization of under- developed countries.
(C) Controlling birth.
The experts add, however, that none of the above measures can be effective by itself, and that all must be combined into one whole program. They also agree that without controlling of births, any other measures are doomed (注定) to failure.
1. The population _______ because of disease, famine and war.
A. didn’t increase B. became less C. increased slowly D. still increased very fast
2. The population of the world doubled between the year _______.
A. 1850 and today B. 100 and the year 1400 C. 100 and the year 1600 D. 1 and the year 100
3. Which of the following is true?
A. the richer the country is, the faster the population increase.
B. Birth control is the most important way to control the growth of population.
C. the population in the developed countries is increasing faster than that in the underdeveloped countries.
D. It is impossible to control the increase of the population.
4. The passage was written in ________.
A. 1850 B. 1936 C. 2001 D. 1975
5. The main idea of this passage is that _______.
A. our earth will not meet the need of over population.
B. disease and war can help to decrease (减少) the over population.
C. our earth needs more sources and food.
D. the over population is a serious problem today.
(1—4 CCBD)
【答案与解析】本文提出了高速增长的人口问题及其控制的措施。
1. C。细节题。根据文章第1段第2句For some time after that, disease, famine (饥饿)and war kept the population increase down to a rate of 1 percent a year可推知此题的答案为C。
2. C。细节题。文章第1段第1句说：到第一个世纪末人口数量达250 million;第2句又说：十五个世纪过去后，人口达到了 500 million。由此可知此题的答案为C。
3. B。细节题。根据文章最后一句without controlling of births, any other measures are doomed (注定) to failure 可推知此题的答案为B。
4. D。根据第1段最后一句…today it has reached 3.5 billion. Scientists say that in the next 35 years the population of the world will double, reaching almost 7 billion by the year 2010 可知，该文章是2010年前35年写的，即1975年。
4. D。主旨题。阅读全文可知，本文主要讲述近年来人口增长过快的问题。过多的人口会带来许多负面影响，所以选D。
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