"Hey, little boy, will you support me when I’m getting old?" Wang Wenshan, 35, asked his newborn baby as he picked him up at home．
The Chinese tradition of raising sons to support parents in their old age has been weakened by the rapidly growing economy and improving standard of living．As is the case with more and more developed countries, China faces an aging society．People are living longer and having fewer children．Therefore, many Chinese families are falling into a 4-2-1 family pattern: a couple raises one child and supports four elderly parents．But few realize that a problem is likely to happen ahead．
The aging of the population is a trend that now affects a growing number of countries．Not long ago, the Information Office of the State Council, China’s cabinet, issued a white paper on measures China is taking to help its elderly population．The paper said China s population entered the aging period at the end of the 20th century as the proportion rote） of people aged 60 and above accounted for over 10 percent of the entire population, By the end of 2005, China had nearly 144 million people over 60, accounting for 11 percent of the population, according to the white paper．
An expanding aged population inevitably means that many issues must be settled, as the problem concerns every aspect of society．It puts more pressure on each family, causing disturbing economic consequences and serious social problems．It also challenges the labor force supply and the pension system．
"I used to think that it’s not an issue for me to provide, for the aged," said Wang, whose parents and parents-in-law all enjoy pensions and medical insurance．But last year Wang s father suffered a serious illness and afterward Wang began to feel the pressure on his shoulders．
After his father recovered, Wang opened bank accounts for each parent and deposited some money into the account every month to prepare for future uncertainties．In addition, he has to save money every month to provide for his son s future education．"I m now breaking my back working to support my family: saving pensions for the parents, my son s education funds, and living costs．"
Wang also bought some commercial old-age insurance for himself．"We have to take precautions before it is too late, and many of my colleagues share the same view," he said．
【小题1】Which of the following is not caused by an aging society?

A．Social problem．	B．The problem of the pension system．
C．More pressure on the family．	D．Unemployment．

【小题2】From the passage, we can infer___．

A．the aging people problem is one of the concerns for the Chinese government

B．China will encourage young couples to have more than one child

C．many people have realized the problem of aging society

D．children will not support their parents in an aging society

【小题3】Which of the following can be used to replace the underlined word inevitably?

A．Surprisingly．	B．Certainly．
C．Hopefully．	D．Unluckily

【小题4】From the text we can see that           .

A．China is the only country to face an aging society

B．most of the developing countries face an aging society

C．countries with a large population face an aging society

D．more and more developed countries face an aging society

The baby boy, born at two minutes past midnight Thursday in a Beijing hospital, counted China’s 1.3 billionth citizen and the date, January 6, 2005, became the 1.3 Billion Population Day of China.

With 3,600 grams and 52 cm, the boy is in good condition. So far, the boy has no name. His mother is Lan Hui in her 31 with the Shell Group of Companies and the boy’s father is one staff from Air China.

 "I am very happy, and I am the happiest man in the world," the boy’s father said.

Gu Xiulian, Vice-Chairperson of the NPC Standing Committee and President of the ACWF, visited the hospital to see the new coming citizen. Zhang Weiqing, director of National Population and Family Planning Commission (NPFPC) of China, awarded him the certificate and gifts.

China mainland would reach 1,299,880,000 by the end of 2004, with a daily net increase of 20,800 on average. Based on this statistics, on January 6, this population would top at 1. 3 billion. NPFPC had determined in advance that the first baby born in this hospital after midnight would be the symbolic 1.3 billionth Chinese.

On the same day, more than 20,000 other babies were added to China’s population list.

The nation’s population policy over the past 25 years has contributed to balanced development, delaying the date of the landmark figure by four years.  

1. The baby is regarded as China’s 1. 3 billionth citizen because ________.

A. our population was just one less than 1.3 billion before his birth

B. he was the first baby China had on January 6,2005

C. he was lucky enough to be born at the right time and place

D. he was the healthiest of all born on the same day

2. The baby’s birth is worth so much attention because ________.

A. 1.3 billion is a landmark figure in China’s population statistics

B. 1.3 billion is a turning point in China’s population growth

C. the birth symbolizes China’s success in family planning

D. the birth makes China’s population large enough for celebration

3. Which statement is correct according to the statistical data?

A. In 2004 China had 20,800 babies born on an average day.

B. China’s population reached 1.3 billion by the end of January 5.

C. The exactly 1.3 billionth citizen should be born on January 5.

D. China’s actual population became over 20,000 larger on January 6

"Hey, little boy, will you support me when I'm getting old?" Wang Wenshan, 35, asked his newborn baby as he picked him up at home．

The Chinese tradition of raising sons to support parents in their old age has been weakened by the rapidly growing economy and improving standard of living．As is the case with more and more developed countries, China faces an aging society．People are living longer and having fewer children．Therefore, many Chinese families are falling into a 4-2-1 family pattern: a couple raises one child and supports four elderly parents．But few realize that a problem is likely to happen ahead．

The aging of the population is a trend that now affects a growing number of countries．Not long ago, the Information Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, issued a white paper on measures China is taking to help its elderly population．The paper said China s population entered the aging period at the end of the 20th century as the proportion rote） of people aged 60 and above accounted for over 10 percent of the entire population, By the end of 2005, China had nearly 144 million people over 60, accounting for 11 percent of the population, according to the white paper．

An expanding aged population inevitably means that many issues must be settled, as the problem concerns every aspect of society．It puts more pressure on each family, causing disturbing economic consequences and serious social problems．It also challenges the labor force supply and the pension system．

"I used to think that it's not an issue for me to provide, for the aged," said Wang, whose parents and parents-in-law all enjoy pensions and medical insurance．But last year Wang s father suffered a serious illness and afterward Wang began to feel the pressure on his shoulders．

After his father recovered, Wang opened bank accounts for each parent and deposited some money into the account every month to prepare for future uncertainties．In addition, he has to save money every month to provide for his son s future education．"I m now breaking my back working to support my family: saving pensions for the parents, my son s education funds, and living costs．"

Wang also bought some commercial old-age insurance for himself．"We have to take precautions before it is too late, and many of my colleagues share the same view," he said．

1.Which of the following is not caused by an aging society?

A．Social problem．	B．The problem of the pension system．
C．More pressure on the family．	D．Unemployment．

2.From the passage, we can infer___．

A．the aging people problem is one of the concerns for the Chinese government

B．China will encourage young couples to have more than one child

C．many people have realized the problem of aging society

D．children will not support their parents in an aging society

3.Which of the following can be used to replace the underlined word inevitably?

A．Surprisingly．	B．Certainly．
C．Hopefully．	D．Unluckily

4.From the text we can see that           .

A．China is the only country to face an aging society

B．most of the developing countries face an aging society

C．countries with a large population face an aging society

D．more and more developed countries face an aging society

 

"Hey, little boy, will you support me when I'm getting old?" Wang Wenshan, 35, asked his newborn baby as he picked him up at home．

The Chinese tradition of raising sons to support parents in their old age has been weakened by the rapidly growing economy and improving standard of living．As is the case with more and more developed countries, China faces an aging society．People are living longer and having fewer children．Therefore, many Chinese families are falling into a 4-2-1 family pattern: a couple raises one child and supports four elderly parents．But few realize that a problem is likely to happen ahead．

The aging of the population is a trend that now affects a growing number of countries．Not long ago, the Information Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, issued a white paper on measures China is taking to help its elderly population．The paper said China s population entered the aging period at the end of the 20th century as the proportion rote） of people aged 60 and above accounted for over 10 percent of the entire population, By the end of 2005, China had nearly 144 million people over 60, accounting for 11 percent of the population, according to the white paper．

An expanding aged population inevitably means that many issues must be settled, as the problem concerns every aspect of society．It puts more pressure on each family, causing disturbing economic consequences and serious social problems．It also challenges the labor force supply and the pension system．

"I used to think that it's not an issue for me to provide, for the aged," said Wang, whose parents and parents-in-law all enjoy pensions and medical insurance．But last year Wang s father suffered a serious illness and afterward Wang began to feel the pressure on his shoulders．

After his father recovered, Wang opened bank accounts for each parent and deposited some money into the account every month to prepare for future uncertainties．In addition, he has to save money every month to provide for his son s future education．"I m now breaking my back working to support my family: saving pensions for the parents, my son s education funds, and living costs．"

Wang also bought some commercial old-age insurance for himself．"We have to take precautions before it is too late, and many of my colleagues share the same view," he said．

Which of the following is not caused by an aging society?

       A．Social problem．           B．The problem of the pension system．

       C．More pressure on the family．       D．Unemployment．

From the passage, we can infer___．

       A．the aging people problem is one of the concerns for the Chinese government

       B．China will encourage young couples to have more than one child

       C．many people have realized the problem of aging society

       D．children will not support their parents in an aging society

Which of the following can be used to replace the underlined word inevitably?

       A．Surprisingly．        B．Certainly．       

       C．Hopefully．             D．Unluckily

From the text we can see that            .

       A．China is the only country to face an aging society

       B．most of the developing countries face an aging society

       C．countries with a large population face an aging society

       D．more and more developed countries face an aging society

A baby born in India has been declared the world's seven billionth person by child rights group Plan International. Baby Nargis was born at 07:25 local time (01:55GMT) in Mall village in India's Uttar Pradesh state. Plan International says Nargis has been chosen symbolically as it is not possible to know where exactly the seven billionth baby is born. In addition to baby Nargis in India, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Cambodia have all identified seven billionth babies. The United Nations estimated that on Monday 31 October, the world's population would reach seven billion.

  Populations are growing faster than economies in many poor countries in Africa and some in Asia. At the same time, low birth rates in Japan and many European nations have raised concerns about labor shortages.

  Population experts at the United Nations estimated that the world reached six billion in October 1999. They predict nine billion by 2050 and ten billion by the end of the century. China's population of one and a third billion is currently the world's largest. India is second at 1.2 billion. But India is expected to pass China and reach one and a half billion people around 2025.

  India will also have one of the world's youngest populations. Economists say this is a chance for a so-called demographic dividend. India could gain from the skills of young people in a growing economy at a time when other countries have aging populations. But economists say current rates of growth, although high, may not create enough jobs. Also, the public education system is failing to meet demand and schooling is often of poor quality. Another concern is health care. Nearly half of India's children under the age of five are malnourished(营养不良).

  Michal Rutkowski, the director of human development in South Asia at the World Bank, says reaching seven billion people in the world is a good time for a call to action. He says, “I think the bottom line of the story is that the public policy needs to become really, really serious about sex equality and about access to services—to fight against malnutrition, and to provide for access to health services, water and schooling.”

1.What is true about the world's seven billionth person?

A. Baby Nargis is not the only child chosen as the seven billionth baby.

B. Baby Nargis has been chosen carefully so it is exactly the seven billionth baby.

C. Three countries have all declared Baby Nargis as the seven billi011th baby.

D. The United Nations declared Baby Nargis as the world's seven billionth person.

2.Which of the following problems do many European countries worry about?

A. Labor shortage.                B. Poor health care.

C. Not enough jobs.            D. Schooling of poor quality.

3.According to population experts, how long will it take for population to grow from six billion to nine billion?

A. About 12 years.    B. About 40 years.   C. About 50 years.   D. About 110 years.

4.What does the underlined phrase “demographic dividend” in the fourth paragraph refer to?

A. Possibility of lower birth rate.

B. Benefit gained by working young people.

C. Chances for more employment.

D. Disadvantages caused by aging population.

5.Which of the following public policies does Michal Rutkowski call on?

A. To encourage late marriage.       B. To reduce world's population.

C. To gain economic equality.             D. To improve health and education.