The advantages and disadvantages of a large population have long been a subject

Theadvantages and disadvantages of a large population have long been a subject ofdiscussion among economists. It has been argued that the supply of good land islimited. To feed a large population, inferior land must be cultivated and thegood land worked intensively, each person produces less and this means a loweraverage income that could be obtained with a smaller population. Othereconomists have argued that a large population gives more scope forspecialization and the development of facilities such as ports, roads andrailways, which are not likely to be built unless there is a big demand tojustify them.

Oneof the difficulties in carrying out a world wide birth control program lies inthe fact that official attitudes to population growth vary from country todepending on the level of industrial development and the availability of foodand raw materials. In the developing country where a vastly expanded populationis pressing hard upon the limits of food, space and natural resources, it willbe the first concern of government to place a limit on the birthrate, whateverthe consequences may be. In a highly industrialized society the problem may bemore complex. A decreasing birthrate may lead to unemployment because itresults in a declining market for manufactured goods. When the pressure ofpopulation on housing declines, prices also decline and the building industryis weakened. Faced with considerations such as these, the government of adeveloped country may well prefer to see a slowly increasing population ratherthan one which is stable or in decline.

1. Asmall population may mean _______.

A. higherproductivity, but a lower average income

B. lowerproductivity, but a higher average income

C. lowerproductivity and a lower average income

D. higherproductivity and a higher average income

2.According to the passage, a large population will provide chance for developing_______.

A.agriculture   B.transport system

C.industry  D.national economy

3. In adeveloped country, people will perhaps go out of work if the birthrate _______.

A. goesup   B.goes down

C.remains stable  D.is out of control

4.According to the passage, slowly rising birthrate perhaps is good for _______.

A. adeveloping nation   B.a developed nation

C. everynation with a big population  D.every nation with a small population

5. It isno easy job to carry out a general plan for birth control throughout the worldbecause _______.

A. thereare too many underdeveloped countries in the world

B. underdevelopedcountries have low level of industrial development

C.different governments have different views of the question

D.even developed countries may have complex problems

试题答案

答案：D;B;B;B;C