职称英语阅读理解Why So Many Children.doc

+第三十八篇 Why So Many Children?为什么人口剧增？In many of the developing countries in Africa and Asia , the population is growing fast . The reason for this is simple : Women in these countries have a high birth rate from 3.0 to 7.0 children per woman . The majority of these women are poor , without the food or resources to care for their families ? The answer may be that they often have no choice . There are several reasons for this . One reason is economic . In a traditional agricultural economy , large families are helpful .Having more children means having more workers in the fields and someone to take care of the parents in old age1. In an industrial economy, the situation is different. Many children , do not help a family; instead, they are an expense. Thus, industrialization has generally brought down the birth rate. This was the case in Italy, which was industrialized quite recently and rapidly. In the early part of the twentieth century, Italy was a poor, largely agricultural country with a high birth rate. After World War, Italys economy was rapidly modernized and industrialized. By the end of the century, the birth rate had dropped to 1. 3 children per woman, the worlds lowest.However, the economy is not the only important factor that influences birth rate. Saudi Arabia, for example, does not have an agriculture-based economy, and it has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. Nevertheless, it also has a very high birth rate(7.0). Mexico and Indonesia, on the other hand, are poor countries, with largely agricultural economies, but they have recently reduced their population growth.Clearly, other factors are involved. The most important of these is the condition of women. A high birth rate almost always goes together with lack of education and low status for women.2 This would explain the high birth rate of Saudi Arabia. There, the traditional culture gives women little education or independence and few possibilities outside the home. On the other hand, the improved condition of women in Mexico, Thailand, and Indonesia explains the decline in birth rates in these countries. Their governments have taken measures to provide more education and opportunities for women.Another key factor in the birth rate is birth control. Women may want to limit their families but have no way to do so. In countries where governments have made birth control easily available and inexpensive, birth rates have gone down. This is the case in Singapore, Sri Lanka, and India, as well as in Indonesia, Thailand, Mexico, and Brazil. In these countries, women have also been provided with health care and help in planning their families.These trends show that an effective program to reduce population growth does not have to depend on better economic conditions.3 It can be effective if it aims to help women and meet their needs. Only then, in fact, does it have any real chance of success.答案与题解：1. A 本题的问题是：在传统的农业经济中，大的家庭的影响是什么？从文中第二段第二句和第三句话可以得出明确的答案。“In a traditional agricultural economy, large families are helpful. Having more children means having more workers in the fields and someone to take care of the parents in old age.”所以答案为A，是优势。2. B 本题的问题是：当国家工业化后，人口和出生率的状况是什么？从第二段意大利的例子可以明确得出答案。“In the early part of the twentieth century, Italy was a poor, largely agricultural country with a high birth rate. After World War , Italys economy was rapidly modernized and industrialized.”由此可见出生率降低。3. C 本题的问题是：本文举出意大利的例子要说明什么？从第二段意大利的前后对比的情况可以看出正确答案为C。4. B 本题的问题是：文中提到沙特阿拉伯的例子说明了什么？由第三段开头可知“However, the economy is not the only important factor that influences birth rate.”下面将要介绍其他的因素，之后以沙特阿拉伯为例。故正确答案为B。经济以外影响出生率的因素。5. D本题的问题是：墨西哥、泰国、印度尼西亚的政府采取了怎样的措施？从文中第四段后半部分“On the other hand, the improved condition of women in Mexico, Thailand, and Indonesia explains the decline in birth rates in these countries. Their governments have taken measures to provide more education and opportunities for women.”可以得出结论。另一方面从第四段开头也可以得出结论。“The most important of these is the condition of women.”之后举出这几个国家的例子，从而也可以得出结论。2013年职称英语考试综合类A级重点阅读理解文章第三十八篇Why So Many Children（为什么人口剧增？）（要求：背诵）问题答案1) In a traditional agricultural economy, a large family_.2) When countries become industrialized, _.3) According to this passage, Italy today is an example of an _.4) Saudi Arabia is mentioned in the passage because it shows that _.5) In Mexico, Thailand, and Indonesia, the government _.1) can be an advantage2) the birth rate generally goes down3) industrialized country with a low birth rate4) factors other than the economy influence birth rate5) has tried to improve the condition of women在传统的农业经济中，家庭人口众多意味着 。当国家工业化后， 。根据文章意思，如今的意大利是 的榜样。文中提到沙乌地阿拉伯人是为了表明 。墨西哥，泰国和印度尼西亚的政府 。一种优势人口出生率大大降低了出生率低的工业化国家除经济外，影响出生率的因素试图提升妇女的各方面条件为什么人口剧增（要求：背诵）在非洲和亚洲的一些发展中国家，人口激增。造成人口激增的理由很简答：那里出生率高，平均每个妇女有37个孩子。这些妇女大多贫穷，没有足够的食物和物质照顾家庭，那么为什么他们还要生这么多孩子呢？她们也是出于无奈的。关于这个问题有许多的原因。其中一个理由是经济，在传统的农业经济国家，大家庭有着自己的优势，孩子多意味着会有更多的劳动力投入田间工作和照顾老人。在工业经济国家，情形却有所不同。孩子太多对于家庭不仅没有任何帮助，相反的，他们会成为家庭的累赘。因此，工业化使得出生率大大降低了。在近年来工业化脚步加快和增长快速的意大利更是如此。在20世纪早期，意大利是一个贫穷并有着高出生率的农业大国。二战后，意大利的经济快速现代化、经济化。在世纪末，出生率降低成为世界上最低的，平均每位妇女1.3个孩子。然而，经济并不是影响出生率的最重要因素。例如，沙乌地阿拉伯人并非是以农业为基础经济的国家，而是有着世界上平均牲口头数最多的国家。虽然如此，它仍然有着惊人的高出生率（平均每位妇女有7个孩子）。另一方面，大部分以农业为基础经济的贫穷的国家，如墨西哥，印度尼西亚，他们的人口数也在降低。明显的，另外一个原因已经有答案了。最重要的是妇女的各方面条件。高出生率往往和教育的缺失和妇女低下的地位相关。这个原因可以解释沙乌地阿拉伯人的高出生率。因此，传统文化使得妇女们很少有接受教育