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.
2022考博精选好考,点击图片查看详情!
资料下载
【必看】考博英语词汇10000例精解
发布时间:2020-09-02关注新东方在线服务号
回复【10000】免费获取
医学考博英语作文核心基础词汇整理
发布时间:2020-04-15关注新东方在线服务号
回复【医学考博】获取
医学考博英语阅读理解练习资料
发布时间:2020-04-15关注新东方在线服务号
回复【医学考博】获取
法学考博英语高频词汇word版
发布时间:2020-04-15关注新东方在线服务号
回复【医学考博】获取
医学博士英语统考真题及解析
发布时间:2019-12-26关注新东方在线服务号
回复【考博真题】获取
全国医学博士外语统一考试真题
发布时间:2019-12-26关注新东方在线服务号
回复【考博真题】获取
中科院考博英语复习备考实战经验分享
发布时间:2019-12-26关注新东方在线服务号
回复【考博经验】获取
中科院考博英语真题练习资料
发布时间:2019-12-26关注新东方在线服务号
回复【考博真题】获取
关注新东方在线服务号
关注新东方在线服务号,
免费获取考博必看干货资料
推荐阅读
更多>>医学2023年考博英语医患对话交流的英语表达 考博英语是考博中重点考察的科目,想要更好的拿到高分成绩,对于同学来说,大家在实际的备考
2023年医学考博英语:食物中毒、上吐下泻 考博英语是考博中重点考察的科目,想要更好的拿到高分成绩,对于同学来说,大家在实际的备考中
2023年医学考博英语就诊常用英语口语 考博英语是考博中重点考察的科目,想要更好的拿到高分成绩,对于同学来说,大家在实际的备考中,需
2023年医学考博英语儿科( Pediatrics)英语专业词汇 考博英语是考博中重点考察的科目,想要更好的拿到高分成绩,对于同学来说,大家在
20223年考博英语内外科常用字汇 考博英语是考博中重点考察的科目,想要更好的拿到高分成绩,对于同学来说,大家在实际的备考中,需要更
考博好课推荐
更多>>1节课解读博士考试,掌握备考秘诀!
价格 : ¥0元
基础薄弱,备考迷茫,送纸质资料
价格 : ¥2280元
资深教师,教学简明,直接有效!
价格 : 0元
资料下载
更多>>关注新东方在线服务号
回复【10000】免费获取
关注新东方在线服务号
回复【医学考博】获取
关注新东方在线服务号
回复【医学考博】获取
关注新东方在线服务号
回复【医学考博】获取
关注新东方在线服务号
回复【考博真题】获取
关注新东方在线服务号
回复【考博真题】获取
关注新东方在线服务号
回复【考博经验】获取
关注新东方在线服务号
回复【考博真题】获取
阅读排行榜
相关内容