Many of the world's countries have reached or are approaching zero population growth (ZPG). Nearly all such lands are economically well developed. They include much of Europe (including Russia), the United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia. As the rate of natural increase (RNI) declines, two things happen. First, the population begins to decline if the loss is not balanced by immigration. Second, a country's population ages because there are fewer births.

Is achieving ZPG good or bad? What happens when a country's population begins to drop? Many people, after all, believe that population decline is a good thing. But is it good for everyone? Does everyone agree?

An aging population can create many problems. Senior citizens require more health care and medical attention. Rather than paying into retirement programs, they begin to draw from their pensions. In the US, the Social Security program, according to many experts, will be used up by 2018. It will pay out more money than it takes in. Additionally, a great number of jobs go begging in search of people willing or able to do them. Many of these jobs are entrylevel positions that pay low wages. With an aging population, who will fill them? At the other extreme, some positions require a large number of training and highly specialized skills. Who will fill these positions as retirees leave the workforce?

The answer to the problem of declining and aging population is simple: increased migration. Today many people, particularly those from less developed countries, are migrating in search of employment. Many are willing to take jobs that cannot (or will not) be filled by the_domestic_population. Others are well educated and highly skilled. Both groups contribute to a country's economy progress in many ways. Further, they add to the richness of a country's culture. Of greatest importance, perhaps, is the fact that they have become absolutely necessary to the economy of many lands. As you can see, for many countries and for most immigrants, migration is a winwin situation.

【1】In the writer's view, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．Not everyone agrees that achieving ZPG is absolutely good.

B．Achieving ZPG is every country's aim in spite of its side effects.

C．Achieving ZPG is bad for senior citizens.

D．Achieving ZPG is good for employment.

【2】According to the passage, the best way to solve the problem of declining and aging population is ________.

A．to improve the health care system

B．to increase RNI

C．to increase employment

D．to increase migration

【3】The underlined words “the domestic population” can be replaced by ________.

A．people within the country

B．people from developing countries

C．people without a college education

D．people living abroad

【4】The main idea of the last paragraph is ________.

A．the advantages of increased migration

B．the problem of declining and aging population

C．how to increase migration

D．some ways to enrich a country's culture

【答案】

【1】A

【2】C

【3】A

【4】A

【解析】

试题分析：

【1】推理判断题。第三段作者认为：人口零增长会导致人口老龄化，从而导致劳动力不足，加大社会福利负担，不利于国家的经济发展。由此可知，作者认为人口零增长有一些不利之处。故A项正确。

【2】细节理解题。根据最后一段第一句“The answer to ... increased migration.”可知，作者认为解决人口减少和人口老龄化的方法是增加移民。故选D项。

【3】词义猜测题。根据第三段最后五句“Additionally, a great number of jobs ... as retirees leave the workforce？”可知，人口老龄化会导致社会劳动力不足，这些职位将由谁来担任？第四段作者指出增加移民可以解决这些问题。许多移民愿意承担本国人不能或不愿做的事。由此可知，“the domestic population”是指相对移民而言的本国人。故选A项。

【4】段落大意题。最后一段的中心句是该段第一句。由该句和下文可知，本段主要说明了增加移民的好处。故选A项。