Brazil has become one of the developing world' s great successes in reducing population
growth but more by accident than design. While countries such as India have made joint efforts
to reduce birth rates, Brazil has had better result without really trying, says George Martine at
Harvard.
Brazil' s population growth rate has dropped from 2. 99% a year between 1951 and 1960 to
1.93% a year between 1981 and 1990, and Brazilian women now have only 2. 7 children on
average. Martine says this figure may have fallen still further since 1990, an achievement that
makes it the envy of many other Third World countries.
According to Martine, both soap operas and instalment(分期付款) plans played an important role in lowering the birth rate. Brazil is one of the world' s biggest producers of soap operas. Global, Brazil' s most popular television network, shows three hours of soaps six nights a week, while three others show at least one hour a night. Most soaps are based on wealthy
characters living the high life in big cities.
"They described that middle and upper class values not many children and women
working. They influenced all parts of Brazil. " says Martine
Meanwhile，the instalment plans tired to encourage he poor to become consume（消费者）.
“This led to a great change in consumption patterns and consumption went against unlimited reproduction (生育)." says Martine.
53. Brazil has cut its population ，growth____.
A. by education B. by family plan C. by TV program D. by chance
54. Some Third World countries
A. have paid little attention to birth control
B. would soon join Brazilin controlling their birth rate.
C. haven't succeeded in controlling the population
D. didn't realize the role of TV plays in family planning
55. Soap operas have helped to lower Brazil's birth rate because____.
A. they keep people sitting long hour watching TV
B. they have gradually changed people's way of life
C. people are interested in the stories
D. they make birth control popular
56. What is Martine's conclusion about Brazil's population growth?
A. The rising in birth rate will increase consumption.
B. The desire for consumption helps to reduce birth rate.
C. consumption has nothing to do with reproduction.
D. Soap operas can always lead to low birth rate.