2016英语专四阅读练习（11）

2016英语专四阅读练习（11）

　　2016英语专四阅读理解要求考生掌握对一定难度新闻、文学等题材文章的阅读能力，从阅读速度和技巧，理解、判断和推理能力上都有更高要求，这就需要考生平时强加训练，新东方在线专四频道分享2016英语专四阅读练习，大家在冲刺阶段更是要多加练习，争取顺利通过专四考试。

　　We can begin our discussion of "population asglobal issue" with what most persons mean whenthey discuss "the population problem": too manypeople on earth and a too rapid increase in thenumber added each year. The facts are not indispute, It was quite right to employ the analogythat likened demographic growth to "a long, thinpowder fuse that burns steadily and haltingly untilit 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 acomparatively recent phenomenon. Looking back at the 8,000 years of demographichistory, we find that populations have been virtually stable or growing very slightly for most ofhuman history. For most of our ancestors, life was hard, often nasty, and very short. Therewas high fertility in most places, but this was usually balanced by high mortality. For most ofhuman history, it was seldom the case that one in ten persons would live past forty, whileinfancy and childhood were especially risky periods. Often, societies were in clear danger ofextinction because death rates could exceed their birthrates. Thus, the population problemthroughout 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 ofdemographic 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 animprovement in the conditions that traditionally have caused high mortality.

　　Demographic history can be divided into two major periods: a time of long, slow growth whichextended from about 8,000 BC.till approximately AD. 1650. In the first period of some 9600years, the population increased from some 8 million to 500 million in 1650. Between 1650 andthe 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 frameto something that is more manageable. Between 8000BC and 1650, an average of only 50,000persons was being added annually to the world's population each year. At present, thisnumber 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 thinpowder 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 higherfertility and lower mortality.

　　2.During the first period of demographic history, societies were often in danger of extinctionbecause___.

　　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 personseach year.

　　D.The population increased faster between 8000BC and 1650 than between 1650 and thepresent.

　　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.

　　参考答案

　　答案：ABADA

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