The growth of population during the past few centuries is no proof that population will continue to grow straight upward toward infinity and doom. On the contrary, demographic history offers evidence that population growth has not been at all constant. According to paleo-ecologist Edward Deevey, the past million years show three momentous changes. The first, a rapid increase in population around one million B.C., followed the innovations of tool-making and tool-using. But when the new power from the use of tools had been exploited, the rate of world population growth fell and became almost stable. The next rapid jump in population started perhaps 10,000 years ago, when men began to keep herds, plow and plant the earth. Once again when initial productivity gains had been absorbed, the rate of population growth abated. These two episodes suggest that the third great change, the present rapid growth, which began in the West between 250 and 350 years ago, may also slow down when, or if technology begins to yield fewer innovations. Of course, the current knowledge revolution may continue without foreseeable end. Either way contrary to popular belief in constant geometric growth—population can be expected in the long mn to adjust to productivity.
单选题 Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】解析:从文章第一段的第一句和第二句可得出答案A选项正确。
单选题 How many significant demographic changes ever occurred in the past one million years?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:从第一段第三句可知:在过去一百万年中人口经历了三次重大变化。
单选题 What is found to have close relationship with rapid increase in population?
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】解析:答案必须在通读全文之后通过对各细节的概括才能得知:每一次都与生产力和生产方式的提高有关。即第一次在第一段倒数第二句;第二次在第二段第一句;第三次在第三段第一句。
单选题 What can be concluded when the current tide of knowledge revolution ebbs?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:从文中所提到的三次人口的重大变化中可知,每次增长后又开始趋于稳定。由此可推论出:在当前人类处于知识爆炸的时代,科学技术在不断地发展,但如果这一下降趋势持续的话,那么人口也会慢慢降下来。
单选题 What is the concept most people have on population growth?
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】解析:全文并未直接提到大多数人对人口增长的概念。从文中第一段的第一句和第二句可以推论出本题答案为A。