The advantages and disadvantages of a large population have long been a subject of discussion among economists (经济学家). It has been argued that the supply of good land is limited. To feed a large population, inferior land must be cultivated and the good land worded intensively. Thus , each person produces less and this means a lower average income than could be obtained with a smaller population. Other economists have argued that a large population gives more scope for specialization and the development of facilities such as ports, roads and railways, which are not likely to be built unless there is a big demand to justify them.
　　One of the difficulties in carrying out a world—wide birth control program lies in the fact that official attitudes to population growth vary from country to country depending on the level of industrial development and the availability of food and raw materials. In the developing country where a vastly expanded population is pressing hard upon the limits of food, space and natural resources, it will be the first concern of government to place a limit on the birthrate, whatever the consequences may be. In the highly industrialized society the problem may be more complex. A decreasing birth rate may lead to unemployment because it results in a declining market for manufactured goods. When the pressure of population on housing declines, prices also decline and the building industry is weakened. Faced with considerations such as these, the government of a developed country may well prefer to see a slowly increasing population, rather than one which is stable or in decline.
　　6. A smaller population may mean_________.
　　A higher productivity, but a lower average income
　　B lower productivity, but a higher average income
　　C lower productivity, and a lower average income
　　D higher productivity, and a higher average income
　　答案:D
　　本题考查的是考生对细节的把握。见段，人口多时“each person produces less and this means a lower average income…”人口相对少时情况相反。因此D选项符合题意。A、B和C选项均不符合题意。
　　7. According to the passage, a large population will provide a chance for developing_________.
　　A agriculture
　　B transport system
　　C industry
　　D national economy
　　答案:B
　　本题考查的是考生对具体句子意思的把握。见段后一句，“Other economists have argued that a large population gives more scope for specialization and the development of facilities such as ports，roads and railways，which are not likely to be built unless there is a big demand to justify them。”依据这句话，举例“roads and railways”提示我们选“transport system”。概括成B选项。其余选项文中找不到根据。
　　8. In a developed country, people will perhaps go out of work if the birthrate_________.
　　A goes up
　　B is decreasing
　　C remains stable
　　D is out of control
　　答案:B
　　本题考查的是考生对关键句子及整篇文章的把握。第二段指出，“A decreasing birth rate may lead to unemployment because it results in a declining market for manufactured goods．”这个题在文章中找不到直接的答案，必须通过间接的推理和排除。低出生率导致失业。所以选B。
　　9. According to the passage slowly rising birthrate perhaps is good for_________.
　　A a developed nation
　　B a developing nation
　　C every nation with a big population
　　D every nation with a small population
　　答案:A
　　本题考查的是考生对文章细节的把握。第二段后一句，“the government of a developed country may well prefer to see a slowly increasing population，rather than one which is stable or in decline发达国家政府更希望看到人口缓慢增长而不是……”可见，低增长的出生率更有利于发达国家。
　　10. It is no easy job to carry out a general plan for birth control throughout the world because_________.
　　A there are too many underdeveloped countries in the world
　　B underdeveloped countries have low level of industrial development
　　C different governments have different views about the problem
　　D even developed countries may have complex problems
　　答案:C
　　本题考查的是考生对全文的整体理解。“One of the difficulties in carrying out a world-wide birth control program lies in the fact that official attitudes to population growth vary from country to country depending on the level of industrial development and the availability of food and raw materials．在世界范围实施总体的计划生育不是一个简单的工作”，原因在开头提到“态度……各国不同。”

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