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.
"Oh, you must have been a spoiled(宠坏的) kid. You must be really bossy. I wonder what you're going to be like to deal with?" That's often the response Angela Hult gets when people find out she's an only child, she told ABC News, Despite such negative(消极的) remarks, Hult has decided to have only one child herself. And she's not alone.
According to the US' Office for National Statistics, women approaching the end of their childbearing years had an average of l.9 children in 2004, compared with 3.1 for their counterparts in 1976. The percentage of one-child families in Britain had risen from 18 percent in 1972 to 26 percent in 2007.
But even though only children are becoming increasingly common, the traditional view that they're selfish, spoilt and lack social skills holds strong. Even parents of only children, like Hult, are made to feel guilty about having only one child. Worried that they're being selfish and endangering their child's future, they flock to online discussion forums seeking advice. Soon, however, they ask themselves: is this social prejudice really reasonable?
"There have been hundreds and hundreds of research studies that show that only children are no different from their peers(同龄人) ," Susan Newman, a social psychologist at Rutgers University in the US, told ABC News.
This raises another question: why are only children still viewed with such suspicion?
"There is a belief that's been around probably since humans first existed that to have just one child is somehow dangerous, both for you and for the continuation of your race," Toni Falbo, a professor of educational psychology, told the Guardian." In the past a lot of children died, You'd have had to be crazy to only have one. "
Times, of course, have changed and infant mortality(婴儿死亡率) has largely reduced. So what do only children themselves say?
Kayley Kravitz, a blogger for The Huffington Post, grew up as an only child and highly recommends the experience. "Being an only child taught me the most valuable skill of all: the ability to be alone," she said.
1.Which of the following could be the best title for the text?
A. Are only children lonely?
B. Are only children common?
C. Are only children dangerous?
D. Are only children different?
2.What does Susan Newman mean?
A. Only children are as good as their peers.
B. Only children are more selfish and spoiled.
C. Parents feel guilty about having only one child.
D. Parents will endanger their only child's future.
3.What is the common belief since human existed?
A. The infant death rate always stays high.
B. People are crazy to have only one child.
C. It's easy for only children to earn their living.
D.It's hard to continue the family line with only one child.
4.An only child like Kayley _______.
A. must be difficult to persuade
B. can possibly learn to be alone
C. should value special skills
D. need ignore bad experience
5.What's the author's attitude towards having only one child?
A. Neutral. B. Negative. C. Positive. D. Doubtful.
In America, Virginia Beach has all the elements of a classic seaside resort: brilliant beaches, a lively boardwalk, plenty of restaurants and nightspots, and amusement rides are sure to appeal to kids. Many believe Virginia Beach is at its best in the off-season, when the town is less crowded but the weather is still mild.
Meanwhile, some safety tips should be followed, enjoying the happiness and excitement the beach offers.
The number l safety tip concerns ocean safety: pay attention to Flag conditions posted on the lifeguard stands. Lifeguards post a red flag to warn when the ocean water is dangerous. Take them seriously! Tourists from land-locked regions are particularly easily attracted by the magic of the waves. However, a calm ocean can become risky without warning. Make sure you swim near a lifeguard. Swimming without lifeguard protection is almost five times as great as drowning at a beach with lifeguards.
Never swim alone. Many drownings involve single swimmers. When you swim with someone else, if one of you has a problem, the other may be able to get help, including signaling for assistance from others.
Don't fight the current. The facts show that some 80% of rescues by lifeguards at ocean beaches are caused by currents. These currents are formed by surf and gravity, because once surf pushes water up the slope of a beach, gravity pulls it back. This can create concentrated rivers of water moving offshore. If you are caught in a rip current, don't fight it by trying to swim directly to shore. Instead, swim parallel to shore until you feel the current relax, then swim to shore. Most rip currents are narrow and a short swim parallel to shore will help bring you to safety.
1.When coming to Virginia Beach, children can enjoy the happiness of .
A. walking on the road made of wood B. joining the nightspots
C. having interesting rides D. skiing in the sea
2.Many people believe the best time to visit Virginia Beach may be .
A. after autumn school term beginning B. in the slimmer vacation
C. during the Christmas holiday D. in the cold winter
3.Swimming in the sea you'd better not swim .
A. with a friend B. within the sight of the lifeguard
C. with the current D. as far as you like
4.From the passage, we can know .
A. one in five persons swimming in the sea is drowned
B. if one with lifeguard were drowning, five persons without lifeguard would be
C. some 80% people drowning by the currents are rescued by lifeguards
D. some 20% drowning by the currents are rescued by life guards
5.The passage mainly tells us .
A. some safety tips when swimming in the sea
B. the happiness and excitement the beach offers
C. Virginia Beach has all the elements of a classic seaside resort
D. the dangers for tourists from land-locked regions to swim in the sea
A man hired a taxi outside the airfield. The cab had a woolen carpet with 26 lace edges. On the glass partition that 27 the driver's seat was a copy of a famous painting. Its windows were all clean.The customer was very much 28 and said to the driver, “I've never seen a nicer 29 .”“Thank you for your praise.”the driver answered 30 .
“The car isn't mine,” said the driver. “It belongs to the company. I used to be a 31 of cabs. When they returned, all of them were as 32 as garbage cans with cigarette butts and rubbish 33 here and there. On the seats and door-handles could be found something 34 like peanut sauce or, chewing gum.Why so? I thought if the car itself were very clean the passengers would most 35 be considerate and refrain from littering.”
“So when I got a 36 to be a taxi-driver, I began 37 my idea into practice-to tidy and 38 the car. Now before a new passenger gets on my car, I'd make a cheek and be sure it is in good order.When my car 39 after a day's work, it always remains 40 .”
When doing a thing, one makes efforts and wants to see the result. To change others, one has to make twice the 41 but get half the result. To change oneself is the other way round-more fruit with less effort. One had better ask oneself why one makes 42 on others much more than on oneself. 43 you take enough care to do as best you can for other people's sake, your efforts will yield results, If you 44 the inner world of your own, examine yourself and wipe out the dust and dirt, instead of fixing your eyes on other people, you will find a cheerful 45 for yourself and create a pleasant environment for others.
1.A．ugly B．exciting C．brilliant D．favorite
2.A．separated B．covered C．protected D．prevented
3.A．moved B．annoyed C．disappointed D．surprised
4.A．seat B．carpet C．garage D．cab
5.A．naturally B．smilingly C．hopefully D．firmly
6.A．driver B．cleaner C．repairer D．customer
7.A．attractive B．pleasant C．dirty D．clean
8.A．spread B．extended C．dotted D．1eft
9.A．funny B．busy C．sticky D．clumsy
10.A．likely B．willingly C．extremely D．regularly
11.A.permit B.1icense C.certificate D.passport
12.A.put B.take C.make D.get
13.A.provide B.drive C.decorate D.describe
14.A.speeds B.leaves C.arrives D.returns
15.A.spotless B.pretty C.bright D.dirty
16.A.progress B.effort C.attempt D.trial
17.A.suggestions B.comments C.demands D.decisions
18.A.Though B.While C.As D.If
19.A.look into B.look for C.look up D.look through
20.A.spirit B.mood C.mind D.sense
—You always go to the seaside and swim during the summer vacation. Don’t you want to try something different this year?
—
A.Like what? B.With pleasure. C.Let’s go then. D.That’s all right.
In my daily life I ignore work, study, and other activities to check my phone for messages.
A.fluently B.frequently C.immediately D.practically
