练习:
1. The writer believes that the population explosion results from
A an increase in birthrates.
B the industrial development.
C a decrease in death rates.
D cultural advances.
2. It can be inferred from the passage that in hunting and gathering cultures
A it was a moral responsibility to keep old-aged people alive.
B infants could be left dead in times of starvation.
C parents had to impart the cultural wisdom of the tribe to their children.
D death was considered to be freedom from hardships.
3. According to the passage， which of the following statements about retired people in the United States is true?
A Many of them have a very hard life.
B They cannot live a decent life without enough bank savings.
C They rely mainly on their children for financial support.
D Most of them live with their children and therefore are well looked after.
4. In Paragraph 3， the phrase "this need" refers to
A the need to prolong the lives of old people.
B the need to enrich the life of the retired people.
C the need to build profit-making nursing homes.
D the need to take care of a sick and weak person.
5. Which of the following best describes the writers attitude toward most of the nursing homes， and convalescent hospitals?
A Sympathetic.
B Unfriendly.
C Optimistic.
D Critical.
答案与题解 :
1. C 第一段最后一句说： In fact， it is a decrease in death rates， not an increase in birthrates， that has led to the population explosion. 事实上，是由于死亡率的下降，而不是出生率的上升，导数了人口爆炸。因此，选项 C是正确答案。
2. B 第二段第四句说： In times of famine， infants might be allowed to die because they could not survive if their parents starved， whereas if the parents survived they could have another child. 在灾年，可能会容忍婴儿死亡，因为，如果他们的父母饿死了，他们也无法生存，而如果父母生存下来可重新生儿育女。因此，选项 B是正确的答案。
3. A 第二段倒数第二句是这么说的：In the United States many retired people live on social security checks which are so little that they must live in near poverty. (在美国，许多退休人员依靠社会保障金生活，其数额之小差不多使人穷困潦倒。)可以看出，在美国许多退休人员的生活是很艰难的。这正是选项A表达的意思，因而选项A是正确的答案。
4. D 第三段第三句：Today， with most members of a household working or in school， there is often no one at home who can care for a sick or weak person. (当今，由于家庭多数人都出去工作或上学，家里常常没有人来照顾有病或虚弱的人。)"this need" 出现在下面这个短语中："To meet this need"(为了满足这种需要)，它指句子前面的care for a sick or weak person.这正是选项D表达的意思。
5. D文章昀后一句说 : … most of them are simply "dumping grounds" for the dying in which "care" is given by poorly paid， overworked， and under-skilled personnel.大多数机构只不过是倾倒垂死的人的"垃饭场"，所谓的"照顾"都是由收入低、超量工作、技术水平低下的人员提供的。作者如此措辞显然是对大多数机构的强烈批评。因此，选项 D是正确答案。