The advantages and disadvantages of a large population have long been a subject of discussion among economists. It has been argued that the supply of good land is limited. To feed a large population, inferior land must be cultivated and the good land worked intensively. Thus, each person produces less and this means a lower average income than could be obtained with a smaller population. Other economists have argued that a large population gives more scope for specialization and the development of facilities such as ports, roads and railways, which are not likely to be built unless there is a big demand to justify them.
One of the difficulties in carrying out a worldwide birth control program lies in the fact that official attitudes to population growth vary from country to country depending on the level of industrial development and the availability of food and raw materials. In a developing country where a vastly expanded population is pressing hard upon the limits of food, space and natural resources, it will be the first concern of government to place a limit on the birthrate, whatever the consequences may be. In a highly industrialized society the problem may be more complex. A decreasing birthrate may lead to unemployment because it results in a declining market for manufactured goods. When the pressure of population on housing declines, prices also decline and the building industry is weakened. Faced with considerations such as these, the government of a developed country may well prefer to see a slowly increasing population, rather than one which is stable or in decline.
1. A large population may mean _________.
A.higher productivity, but a lower average income
B.ower productivity, but a higher average income
C.higher productivity and a higher average income
D.ower productivity and a lower average income
2.A large population may offer more scope for the development of _________.
A.economy
B.transportation
C.extensive cultivation
D.Agriculture
3.In highly industrialized countries, unemployment may result from _________.
A.a decreasing birthrate
B.an increasing birthrate
C.a stable birthrate
D.a birth control program
4.What may the government of a developed country prefer?（）
A.A rapidly increasing population.
B.A rapidly decreasing population.
C.A slowly increasing population.
D.A slowly decreasing population.
5.Why is it difficult to carry out a worldwide birth control program?（）
A.Because it will do harm to the national economy in most countries.
B.Because it will lead to complex social problems in developing countries.
C.Because people are unwilling to practice birth control.
D.Because different governments have different opinions.
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