Dear readers,
      Imagine a little girl who knows there will not be enough food for dinner, who can't fill her stomach with
water because it's polluted (被污染), and who has watched lives slipped away (消失) from her father, little
brother and sister because the family is too poor to see a doctor. She would gladly walk miles to school, but her
mother needs her badly (非常) at home. What will her future be?
     Is it hard to believe? For Maria Pestora, it is real life.
     But with just 52 pennies a day, you can sponsor (资助) a child like Maria. Through "Save the Children", you
can help Maria's mother get the tools and ways she needs to turn their poor food into a good dinner, and get the
money she needs to buy clothes and school things for Maria.
     To help Maria most, your money is put together with that of other sponsors. Building schools, hospitals,
bringing in clean water is what "Save the Children" has been working on since 1932.
     For you there are many rewards. You have the chance to write to or hear from the child you sponsored, to
receive photos or progress reports, to know you are reaching out to another person, not with a handout
(救济品), but a hand up. That's how "Save the Children" works. But without you, it can't work. Please take a
moment now to fill in and post the form below to help a child like Maria.
     It can make a difference in his/her life and yours.
                                                                                                                        For the children
                                                                                                                        David Li Guyer

1. We can read the letter in _______.

A. somebody's diary
B. a piece of newspaper
C. a progress report
D. a story book

2. What's Maria's most serious problem?

A. She has no chance to go to school.
B. Her father died of a serious disease.
C. Hard work has made her suffer a lot.
D. Her mother needs her badly at home.

3. What is "Save the Children"?

A. An activity to help poor children go to school.
B. An office of the government to collect money.
C. A program shown at theaters to help the poor.
D. A group who works for children in poor places.

4. The last sentence in the letter means "_______".

A. If Maria goes to school, you will be rewarded
B. What you give is more than what you take
C. Both Maria's life and yours will change a lot
D. Maria and you can help each other at school

5. Which activity is similar to "Save the Children"?

A. English Corner
B. Project Hope
C. The Summer Camp
D. Job Training

     Most new babies were born in the developing countries. These countries are found in Africa, South America
and parts of Asia. In the developed countries of Europe and North America, the population is growing very
slowly. This is because women in these countries have, on average (平均), only one or two children. In the
developing countries, many women have five or more children. In 1950, about one quarter of the world's
population lived in the developed countries. By 2050, these countries will be home to only about one tenth of the
world's people.
     In the developing countries, more than one billion people are still living below the poverty (贫困) line. These
people do not have enough food to eat and they live in poor housing conditions. Children get little time at school
and suffer (遭受痛苦) from many kinds of diseases.
     At the beginning of the 21st century, the world's population was around six billion. The U.N. has said that the
world's population will level off (平稳下降) at 12.5 billion by the year 2100. Other groups think the world's
population will continue to grow, reaching 14 billion before it becomes stable (稳定的), or even falls. 
1. In what areas of the world can developing countries be found?
   ________________________________________________
2. In 1950, what percent of the world's population lived in developing countries?
   ________________________________________________
3. How to describe the people who are living below the poverty line?
   ________________________________________________
4. There will be twelve and a half billion people on the earth in 2100, won't there?
   ________________________________________________
5. 将文中画线部分翻译成汉语。
   ________________________________________________