We can begin our discussion of population asglobal issue with what most persons mean when they discuss the population problem: too manypeople on earth and a too rapid increase in the number added each year. The facts are not indispute, It was quite right to employ the analogy that likened demographic growth to a long, thin powder fuse that burns steadily and haltingly until itfinally 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 comparativelyrecent phenomenon. Looking back at the 8,000 years of demographic history, we find that population have been virtually stable or growing very slightly for most of human history. Formost 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 wasseldom the case that one in ten persons would live past forty, while infancy and childhood wereespecially risky periods. Often, societies were in clear danger of extinction because death ratescould exceed their birthrates. Thus, the population problem throughout most of history washow 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 rapidincrease 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 some9600 years, the population increased from some 8 million to 500 million in 1650. Between 1650and the present, the population has increased from 500 million to more than 4 billion. And it isestimated that by the year 2000 there will be 6.2 billion people throughout the world. One wayto appreciate this dramatic difference in such abstract numbers is to reduce the time frame tosomething that is more manageable. Between 8000BC and 1650, an average of only 50,000 persons was being added annually to the worlds population each year. At present, this numberis 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 birth rates and then a short period with higherfertility 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 person seach 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
答案:ABADA
暑期来临,提防教育诈骗
你可以做到更好:9种方式做个更好的人
一个老外总结的中国式英语及正确的说法
吃货请注意:2050年时我们吃什么?
教你摆脱拖延症:拖延症与焦虑的恩恩怨怨
拉登隐秘生活曝光 超速被查牛仔帽护身
韩亚航空客机旧金山失事 2名中国女生遇难
粉丝称穆雷夺冠因数字7打破“卡梅伦魔咒”
飞机出事怎么办?11个不可不知的自救求生方法
别信规则信自己:10条毁掉你爱情的规则
澳大利亚女子嫁给600岁法国老桥 称与桥一见钟情
淘宝店推“代看望老人”服务
主持人称“庆幸遇难者为中国人” 韩国电视台道歉
威廉王子夫妇将迎新生儿 芬兰政府送避孕套做礼物
人类头颅移植?意大利医生说能做到
三招轻松搞定退休大计
《小时代》热映,中国电影何去何从
俄罗斯美女间谍向斯诺登示爱
百事可乐被指在加州以外地区仍使用致癌色素
研究:走路是最佳减压方式之一
打字时输入“the”太麻烦?用“Ћ”代替吧
美国大学毕业生的买房故事
每个毕业生都应该知道的十大理财观念
尚无权威消息证实南非前总统曼德拉逝世
失事飞机部分乘客带行李逃生引争议
时间管理课堂:时间是你的朋友还是你的敌人?
快乐不走寻常路:6种特别的方式让你更快乐
全职爸爸的自白
飞行员操作失误成旧金山空难调查重点
细菌有好有怀,益生菌有利于人体健康
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |