No one knows the limits of population that the earth can support. Thomas Malthus, an English economist, developed a theory that became widely accepted in the nineteenth century. He suggested that because world population tended to increase more rapidly than the food supply, a continual strain was exerted upon available resources. Malthus cited wars, famines, epidemics, and other diseases as the usual limitations of population growth.

With recent advances in science and technology, including improved agricultural methods and great strides in medicine, some of the limiting factors in population growth have been lessened, with obvious results.

International organizations have put forward several recommendations to alleviate the problem of overpopulation, including an increase in food production, general economic development in target areas, and a decrease in birth rate. Most experts agree that it will be necessary to combine all three recommendations in an effort to affect a lasting solution.

 

What do most experts recommend in order to solve problems of overpopulation?

 

It has been thought that women are the second class in citizen, and men are the first. There is not a real equality of opportunity for men and women. Years ago, people were living in a man-dominated society. Women had to obey their husbands and fathers absolutely. Women's place was in the kitchen and women's work was housework. In many places, women were not even' allowed to go to school. Women had no rights, even the right to choose husband for themselves. Men usually occupied high positions in society so they thought they were more intelligent than women. Men often considered women as their property. Sometimes, they were mistreated by their husbands and suffered the problem as a fate. Many parents did not even want to daughters. 
Despite the progress, there remain outdated beliefs about women's roles, traditionally passed down from generation to generation. Men are commonly seen as the strong bodies, bread-winners in the family and key leaders in society, while women are restricted to being housewives and child bearing and care, and housework such as washing and cooking. According to social surveys, many women in the 21st century still have to work over 12 hours a day including working in offices and doing countless household chores without any help from their husbands. In some regions, the labor of women is not recognized despite the 
hardships they endure to support the whole family. Moreover, women are the direct victims of family violence, especially in rural areas. 
Thanks to the women's liberation movement, nowadays women have proved that they are equal to men in every aspect. An average woman has weaker muscles than an average man but she may be as intelligent as he is. Women can do everything that men can, and women can do one thing that no man can: they produce children.

What did women have to suffer? 

It has been thought that women are the second class in citizen, and men are the first. There is not a real equality of opportunity for men and women. Years ago, people were living in a man-dominated society. Women had to obey their husbands and fathers absolutely. Women's place was in the kitchen and women's work was housework. In many places, women were not even' allowed to go to school. Women had no rights, even the right to choose husband for themselves. Men usually occupied high positions in society so they thought they were more intelligent than women. Men often considered women as their property. Sometimes, they were mistreated by their husbands and suffered the problem as a fate. Many parents did not even want to daughters. 
Despite the progress, there remain outdated beliefs about women's roles, traditionally passed down from generation to generation. Men are commonly seen as the strong bodies, bread-winners in the family and key leaders in society, while women are restricted to being housewives and child bearing and care, and housework such as washing and cooking. According to social surveys, many women in the 21st century still have to work over 12 hours a day including working in offices and doing countless household chores without any help from their husbands. In some regions, the labor of women is not recognized despite the 
hardships they endure to support the whole family. Moreover, women are the direct victims of family violence, especially in rural areas. 
Thanks to the women's liberation movement, nowadays women have proved that they are equal to men in every aspect. An average woman has weaker muscles than an average man but she may be as intelligent as he is. Women can do everything that men can, and women can do one thing that no man can: they produce children.

Which is not women's role in the former days? 

Read the passage, then choose the correct answers.

The world's population increased from 3 billion in 1959 to 6 billion by 1999, a doubling that occurred over 40 years. The Census Bureau's lasted projections imply that population growth will continue into the 21st century, although more slowly. The world's population is projected to grow from 6 billion in 1999 to 9 billion by 2042, an increase of 50 percent that will require 43 years.

The world's population growth rate rose from about 1.5 percent per year from 1950 to 1951 to a peak of over 2 percent in the early 1960s due to reductions in mortality. Growth rates thereafter started to decline due to rising age at marriage as well as increasing availability and use of effective contraceptive methods. Note that changes in population growth have not always been steady. A dip in the growth rate from 1959 to 1960, for instance, was due to the Great Leap Forward in China. During that time, both natural disasters and decreased agricutural output in the wake of massive social reorganization caused China's death rate to rise sharply and its fertility rate to fall by almost half.

How many people did the world's population increase between 1959 and 1999?

Despite the fact that too much fat can be harmful, a moderate fat intake is actually essential to the maintenance of good health. Some of the symptoms of fat deficiency include flaking skin, emaciation, reduced functioning of the immune system, and fertility problems. Recent studies have linked fat-free diets to increased stress and aggression, and note that those who try to eliminate fat completely from their food intake may be at risk for developing eating disorders: a small amount of fat in a meal will produce a feeling of satiety which lasts much longer than the sensation of fullness produced by protein or carbohydrates. At least two teaspoons of fat per day is needed in order for the digestive system to absorb vitamins A, D, E and K, which are fat soluble. These vitamins are essential for healthy hair, skin, teeth, and eyes. Without the ability to absorb these vitamins, children run the risk of developmental and neurological disorders. Adults need these vitamins to manufacture fertility hormones. 

Some types of fat actually help to reduce harmful cholesterol levels. Polyunsaturated fats such as corn, soybean, and sesame oil, and monounsaturated fats like chicken fat and olive oil, seem to lower blood cholesterol, while saturated fats – those found in red meat, dairy products, and tropical oils – seem to raise the level of the kind of cholesterol that accumulates as plaques on arterial walls. Paying attention to the type of fat consumed is just as important as reducing total fat intake.

What did the paragraph preceding this passage most likely discuss?

Choose the letter A, B, C or D to complete the passage below

"Sometimes people forget how we depend __________ (1) nature and environment surrounding us. We spend mindlessly __________ (2) resources given by nature and believe that they are unlimited. Over the last millennia the population on the planet grew immensely and our needs increase with every year. We achieved great breakthrough in industry __________ (3) other fields of production. But this growth resulted in poor environmental conditions. It seems that every achievement and advancement only __________ (4) damage to nature.

We __________ (5) natural resources thoughtlessly for many years. Once we exhausted one resource we started to use up another alternative. Have you ever thought what our life will be when coal and oil will come to the end? Plug-in hybrid vehicles are good solutions for the fuel crisis to come."

1. Sometimes people forget how we depend __________ (1) nature and environment surrounding us.

Read the passage below and decide whether the statements are TRUE or FALSE?

"Many environmental problems seem so big that only governments, local authorities or big companies can deal with them. One example is global warming. We need government action to reduce emissions from coal and oil burning power stations and to develop safer sources of power. These require tough regulations and huge investment. The loss of forests and other habitat is another problem. How can we as individuals stop the destruction of the Amazon or Indonesian rain forests? Yet another example is waste. When people live in cities, they may not be able store or recycle waste, so huge landfills or incinerators are needed.

However, as consumers, we are the ones responsible for all these problems. First of all, we all need to consume less power. We need to turn off lights, replace inefficient bulbs with low-power ones, and not leave equipment on standby. Secondly, we need to control our surging populations. Each of us can make a decision regarding family size. This has a huge impact on the size of our cities and the need for food and more agricultural land. In addition, we need to consider eating less meat and more vegetables and fruit, in order to reduce the amount of land needed for meat. Generally, the main step we need to take is to live more simply. We need to reduce our consumption, recycle, and reuse."

5: Family size is natural and we can do nothing about it.

ON YOUR BIKE!
If you are getting (1)______ up wasting time looking for parking spaces, my advice to you is to consider the bicycle as an alternate means of transport. Cycling is probably the cheapest and healthiest way of getting (2)________ in our congested city centers. Although it is convenient and environmentally desirable, it can be unattractive choice on a cold windy morning. It is much easier to get onto a nice warm bus or jump into your car, but the sight of cyclists as they weave their way in and out of the traffic may fill you with (3)_________ as you sit waiting in yet another traffic jam. In spite of the fact that worsening pollution is getting many people (4)___________ , causing more and more health problems, and while it is fashionable to express one’s approval of the environmentally safe bicycle, it is hard to deny the danger cyclists face in sharing the road with cars. Although cycling is not as risky as it looks at first (5)__________  , there are more and more accidents involving cyclists
(2)......................................

Read the passage, then choose the correct answers.

The world's population increased from 3 billion in 1959 to 6 billion by 1999, a doubling that occurred over 40 years. The Census Bureau's lasted projections imply that population growth will continue into the 21st century, although more slowly. The world's population is projected to grow from 6 billion in 1999 to 9 billion by 2042, an increase of 50 percent that will require 43 years.

The world's population growth rate rose from about 1.5 percent per year from 1950 to 1951 to a peak of over 2 percent in the early 1960s due to reductions in mortality. Growth rates thereafter started to decline due to rising age at marriage as well as increasing availability and use of effective contraceptive methods. Note that changes in population growth have not always been steady. A dip in the growth rate from 1959 to 1960, for instance, was due to the Great Leap Forward in China. During that time, both natural disasters and decreased agricutural output in the wake of massive social reorganization caused China's death rate to rise sharply and its fertility rate to fall by almost half.

In 1959 - 1960, the population growth in China ________ .

Seeing adults – and children – who simply refuse to be unglued from their cellphones, no matter where they happen to be, is very common. Cellphone users often seem to forget that others share the same planet, and the talkers can be completely insensitive to those around them – to the noticeable annoyance of non-cellphone users.

Cellphones have saved lives, increased business opportunities, and kept friendships going, but they have also been known to destroy the magic of the movies, make everyone at a restaurant turn around and stare, and bring many a meeting to an abrupt halt. People have even been known to carry their mobile phones to funerals!

Your cellphone is undoubtedly very important to you because it keeps you in touch with the hundreds of urgent things you have to do every day. If you are a frequent cellphone user, you will insist that these gadgets are, after all, supposed to be anywhere – anytime phones. Isn’t that why we call them mobile?

It is true that cellphones would not be of much use if you could not use them anywhere and anytime. And that is exactly why most cellphones come with a host of features you can use to ensure that disturbance to others is kept to a minimum. Even the most basic cellphones have a range of ring settings, with some sufficiently soft-toned not to annoy those around you. Some phones vibrate or flash a light to alert you, and some let out quiet little beeps. The voice mail option allows you to switch off and still no miss any calls or messages at all. So enjoy the benefits that cellphones bring, and at the same time, show consideration for others.

The author seems to think that taking cellphones to funeral ________.

No one knows the limits of population that the earth can support. Thomas Malthus, an English economist, developed a theory that became widely accepted in the nineteenth century. He suggested that because world population tended to increase more rapidly than the food supply, a continual strain was exerted upon available resources. Malthus cited wars, famines, epidemics, and other diseases as the usual limitations of population growth.

With recent advances in science and technology, including improved agricultural methods and great strides in medicine, some of the limiting factors in population growth have been lessened, with obvious results.

International organizations have put forward several recommendations to alleviate the problem of overpopulation, including an increase in food production, general economic development in target areas, and a decrease in birth rate. Most experts agree that it will be necessary to combine all three recommendations in an effort to affect a lasting solution.

It was suggested by Thomas Malthus that _______.

The world's population increased from 3 billion in 1959 to 6 billion by 1999, a doubling that occurred over 40 years. The Census Bureau's lasted projections imply that population growth will continue into the 21st century, although more slowly. The world's population is projected to grow from 6 billion in 1999 to 9 billion by 2042, an increase of 50 percent that will require 43 years.

The world's population growth rate rose from about 1.5 percent per year from 1950 to 1951 to a peak of over 2 percent in the early 1960s due to reductions in mortality. Growth rates thereafter started to decline due to rising age at marriage as well as increasing availability and use of effective contraceptive methods. Note that changes in population growth have not always been steady. A dip in the growth rate from 1959 to 1960, for instance, was due to the Great Leap Forward in China. During that time, both natural disasters and decreased agricutural output in the wake of massive social reorganization caused China's death rate to rise sharply and its fertility rate to fall by almost half.

The word "require" in line 3 means ________ .

The dramatic growth of the world's population in the twentieth century was on a scale without parallel in human history. Most of this growth had occurred since 1950 and was known as the population 'explosion'. Between 1950 and 1980 the world population increased from 2.5 to over 4 billion, and by the end of the twenty century the figure had risen to about 6.6 billion. Growth of this size cannot continue indefinitely. Recent forecasts suggest that the total population will level out at between 10 and 15 billion in the mid twenty first century. Already there are encouraging signs that the rate of increase in many less developed countries is beginning to slow down.

According to the passage, at no period in human history has there been ______.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

Education is also important (1)_____ it helps people get more out of life. It increases their knowledge and understanding of the world. It helps them acquire the skills that make life more interesting and enjoyable, (2)_____ the skills needed to participate in a sport, paint a picture, or play a musical (3)_____. Such education becomes (4)___ important as people gain more and more leisure time. Education also helps people adjust to change. This habit has become necessary because social changes today take place with increasing speed and (5)______ the lives of more and more people. Education can help a person understand these changes and provide him with the skills for adjusting to them.

(4)...............

 Read the passage carefully, then choose the correct answers.

The dramatic growth of the world's population in the twentieth century was on a scale without parallel in human history. Most of this growth had occurred since 1950 and was known as the population 'explosion'. Between 1950 and 1980 the world population increased from 2.5 to over 4 billion, and by the end of the twenty century the figure had risen to about 6.6 billion. Growth of this size cannot continue indefinitely. Recent forecasts suggest that the total population will level out at between 10 and 15 billion in the mid twenty first century. Already there are encouraging signs that the rate of increase in many less developed countries is beginning to slow down.

 According to the passage, at no period in human history has there been ______.

No one knows the limits of population that the earth can support. Thomas Malthus, an English economist, developed a theory that became widely accepted in the nineteenth century. He suggested that because world population tended to increase more rapidly than the food supply, a continual strain was exerted upon available resources. Malthus cited wars, famines, epidemics, and other diseases as the usual limitations of population growth.

With recent advances in science and technology, including improved agricultural methods and great strides in medicine, some of the limiting factors in population growth have been lessened, with obvious results.

International organizations have put forward several recommendations to alleviate the problem of overpopulation, including an increase in food production, general economic development in target areas, and a decrease in birth rate. Most experts agree that it will be necessary to combine all three recommendations in an effort to affect a lasting solution.

Which of the following was not mentioned as the usual limitations of population growth?

Read the passage carefully, then choose the correct answers.

No one knows the limits of population that the earth can support. Thomas Malthus, an English economist, developed a theory that became widely accepted in the nineteenth century. He suggested that because world population tended to increase more rapidly than the food supply, a continual strain was exerted upon available resources. Malthus cited wars, famines, epidemics, and other diseases as the usual limitations of population growth.

With recent advances in science and technology, including improved agricultural methods and great strides in medicine, some of the limiting factors in population growth have been lessened, with obvious results.

International organizations have put forward several recommendations to alleviate the problem of overpopulation, including an increase in food production, general economic development in target areas, and a decrease in birth rate. Most experts agree that it will be necessary to combine all three recommendations in an effort to affect a lasting solution.

 According to the passage, why has overpopulation been caused?

Read the passage below and decide whether the statements are TRUE or FALSE?

"Many environmental problems seem so big that only governments, local authorities or big companies can deal with them. One example is global warming. We need government action to reduce emissions from coal and oil burning power stations and to develop safer sources of power. These require tough regulations and huge investment. The loss of forests and other habitat is another problem. How can we as individuals stop the destruction of the Amazon or Indonesian rain forests? Yet another example is waste. When people live in cities, they may not be able store or recycle waste, so huge landfills or incinerators are needed.

However, as consumers, we are the ones responsible for all these problems. First of all, we all need to consume less power. We need to turn off lights, replace inefficient bulbs with low-power ones, and not leave equipment on standby. Secondly, we need to control our surging populations. Each of us can make a decision regarding family size. This has a huge impact on the size of our cities and the need for food and more agricultural land. In addition, we need to consider eating less meat and more vegetables and fruit, in order to reduce the amount of land needed for meat. Generally, the main step we need to take is to live more simply. We need to reduce our consumption, recycle, and reuse."

 2: When people live in cities, they may be able store or recycle waste.

ON YOUR BIKE!
If you are getting (1)______ up wasting time looking for parking spaces, my advice to you is to consider the bicycle as an alternate means of transport. Cycling is probably the cheapest and healthiest way of getting (2)________ in our congested city centers. Although it is convenient and environmentally desirable, it can be unattractive choice on a cold windy morning. It is much easier to get onto a nice warm bus or jump into your car, but the sight of cyclists as they weave their way in and out of the traffic may fill you with (3)_________ as you sit waiting in yet another traffic jam. In spite of the fact that worsening pollution is getting many people (4)___________ , causing more and more health problems, and while it is fashionable to express one’s approval of the environmentally safe bicycle, it is hard to deny the danger cyclists face in sharing the road with cars. Although cycling is not as risky as it looks at first (5)__________  , there are more and more accidents involving cyclists
(3)......................................

It has been thought that women are the second class in citizen, and men are the first. There is not a real equality of opportunity for men and women. Years ago, people were living in a man-dominated society. Women had to obey their husbands and fathers absolutely. Women's place was in the kitchen and women's work was housework. In many places, women were not even' allowed to go to school. Women had no rights, even the right to choose husband for themselves. Men usually occupied high positions in society so they thought they were more intelligent than women. Men often considered women as their property. Sometimes, they were mistreated by their husbands and suffered the problem as a fate. Many parents did not even want to daughters. 
Despite the progress, there remain outdated beliefs about women's roles, traditionally passed down from generation to generation. Men are commonly seen as the strong bodies, bread-winners in the family and key leaders in society, while women are restricted to being housewives and child bearing and care, and housework such as washing and cooking. According to social surveys, many women in the 21st century still have to work over 12 hours a day including working in offices and doing countless household chores without any help from their husbands. In some regions, the labor of women is not recognized despite the 
hardships they endure to support the whole family. Moreover, women are the direct victims of family violence, especially in rural areas. 
Thanks to the women's liberation movement, nowadays women have proved that they are equal to men in every aspect. An average woman has weaker muscles than an average man but she may be as intelligent as he is. Women can do everything that men can, and women can do one thing that no man can: they produce children.

Years ago, women are not allowed ……………….. 

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

Education is also important (1)_____ it helps people get more out of life. It increases their knowledge and understanding of the world. It helps them acquire the skills that make life more interesting and enjoyable, (2)_____ the skills needed to participate in a sport, paint a picture, or play a musical (3)_____. Such education becomes (4)___ important as people gain more and more leisure time. Education also helps people adjust to change. This habit has become necessary because social changes today take place with increasing speed and (5)______ the lives of more and more people. Education can help a person understand these changes and provide him with the skills for adjusting to them.

(3).................