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According to a recent report from the UN, the world’s population continues to grow. It could reach 8.9 billion in the year of 2025.
But during the past 10 years or so, a large rapid drop in the world’s birth rate（出生率）has taken place. Families generally（通常的）are smaller now than they were a few years ago. It is happening in both developing and developed countries.
China has already cut its rate of population growth by about one half since 1970. Each Chinese family is allowed to have no more than one child. And the hope is to reach a zero population growth rate by 2000.
Several countries in Europe already have a negative growth rate. Experts（专家）said that these countries would not have enough workers in the future. And the people who are working could face much higher taxes（税）to support the growing retirees（退休人员）.
( ) 1. In the past ten years, ___________.
A. there are fewer and fewer people
B. the world’s population has not been growing as fast as it used to be
C. the world’s birth rate has risen D. the number of people has grown up
( ) 2. In China each family is allowed to have only one child so that________.
A. the birth rate can be cut down
B. half of the number of people has been cut down
C. the number of people has dropped by 1/2 D. each family is smaller
( ) 3. A negative growth rate means __________.
A. the birth rate is unknown B. the death rate is larger than the birth rate
C. the birth rate is too large D. the birth rate is large than the death rate
( ) 4. In European countries___________.
A. not many people would like to work B. the retirees live on their families
C. how to support the retired would be a big problem
D. the people who are working would refuse to pay taxes
( ) 5. The underlined word “cut” in the Chinese means.
A.分割 B.切 C.伤害 D.减少