19.Many of the world's countries have reached or are approaching zero population growth (ZPG).Nearly all such lands are economically well developed.They include much of Europe(including Russia),the United States,Canada,Japan.and Australia.As the rate of natural increase(RNI)declines,two things happen.First,the population begins to decline if the loss is not balanced by immigration.Second,a country's population ages because there are fewer births.
Is achieving ZPG good or bad?What happens when a country's population begins to drop?Many people,after all,believe that population decline is a good thing.But is it good for everyone?Does everyone agree?
An aging population can create many problems.Senior citizens require more health care and medical attention.Rather than paying into retirement programs,they begin to draw from their pensions.In the US,the Social Security program,according to many experts,will be used up by 2018.It will pay out more money than it takes in.Additionally,a great number of jobs go begging in search of people willing or entry level positions that pay low wages.With an able to do them.Many of these jobs are aging population,who will fill them?At the other extreme,some positions require a large number of training and highly specialized skills.Who will fill these positions as retirees leave the workforce?
The answer to the problem of declining and aging population is simple:increased migration.
Today many people,particularly those from less developed countries,are migrating in search of employment.Many are willing to take jobs that cannot(or will not) be filled by the domestic population.Others are well educated and highly skilled.Both groups contribute to a country's economy progress in many ways.Further,they add to the richness of a country's culture.Of greatest importance,perhaps,is the fact that they have become absolutely necessary to the economy of many lands.As you can see,for many countries and for most immigrants,migration is a win-win situation.
29.In the writer's view,which of the following statements is TRUE?C
A.Not everyone agrees that achieving ZPG is absolutely good
B.Achieving ZPG is every country's aim in spite of its side effects
C.Achieving ZPG is bad for senior citizens
D.Achieving ZPG is good for employment
30.According to the passage,the best way to solve the problem of declining and aging population isD.
A.to improve the health care system
B.to increase RNI
C.to increase employment
D.to increase migration
31.The main idea of the last paragraph isA.
A.the advantages of increased migration
B.the problem of declining and aging population
C.how to increase migration
D.some ways to enrich a country's culture.
分析 本文讲述了一个人口零增长的社会现象.在很多国家,尤其是一些发达国家,人口呈现零增长或者负增长的现象.但是这种现象并不是只有好处的,它带来的危害也很多.所以移民可以带来双赢的作用.
解答 29-31CDA 32.C 细节理解题.文中第三段说 An aging population can create many problems.人口老龄化的问题严重,人口零增长会造成人口老龄化的,所以C选项表述正确,故选C
33.D 细节理解题.最后一段第一句The answer to the problem of declining and aging population is simple:increased migration.解决这个问题就要增加移民,故选D
34.主旨大意题.文章开头讲了人口零增长或负增长的弊端,解决办法就是增加移民,并且解释了移民的好处,故选A
点评 阅读理解题测试考生在阅读基础上的逻辑推理能力,要求考生根据文章所述事件的逻辑关系,对未说明的趋势或结局作出合理的推断;或根据作者所阐述的观点理论,对文章未涉及的现象、事例给以解释.考生首先要仔细阅读短文,完整了解信息,准确把握作者观点.