美英报刊阅读教程答案

1 Lesson 1

Answers to the Questions

V. 1. D 2. B 3. A 4. B 5. D

VI.

1. The three big milestones for America’s population are the following: 1915 when America’s

population grew to 100 million, 1967 when America’s population increased to 200 million and

2006 when America’s population reached 300 million.

2. America’s recent population growth has been extraordinary. Since 2000 alone, America has

added 20 million people. In sharp contrast with America’s population increase, Europe’s birth

rates have been plunging and Japan’s population has been shrinking.

3. There are the following three trends: migration to the west and the south, sharp increase of

immigrants and fast increase of the over-65 population.

4. The fast growth of the South and the West has been buoyed by immigration, lower costs, and

recreational opportunities.

5. The major factor in the population growth is immigration. Since 2000 alone, there has been a 16

percent rise in the number of immigrants living in American households.

6. The most striking difference is the change of the main source. Before 1967, the main source of

immigrants was Western Europe. However, after President Johnson signed the Immigration and

Naturalization Act in 1965 to stop racial and ethnic quotas for new immigrants, and once the

Mexican economy tanked in the 1970s, immigrants from Mexico sharply increased. In Fort Wayne,

nearly 80 percent of Hispanics are Mexican. An estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants

now live in America.

7. According to the article, the influx of new immigrants has caused the problem of racial

tensions.

8. Back in 1990, the median age in America was 22.9 years. But with people having fewer babies,

that number started to climb. Lower fertility rates mean older populations. The baby boom caused

a brief pause in this movement during the 1950s and 1960s, but the aging trend has since resumed.

The median age is up to 36.5 and is expected to rise to 39 by 2030 before leveling off.

9. People like Mayor Bill Saffo consider the senior citizens as a real asset because they are active

in the community, and they work part-time and create businesses.

10. Its main attractions are its great beaches, low cost of living and abundant golf courses.

11. The enlarged senior population will overburden Social Security and Medicare, the two largest

entitlement programs.

Outline

I. Growth of America’s population

(1—2)

1. Population growth to 300 million in October, 2006

2. Extraordinary recent growth compared with other countries

II. America’s population trends and their impacts

(3—4)

1. Three broad trends

a. Migration to the west and the south 2 b. Sharp increase of immigrants

c. Baby-boomers’ getting close to retirement age

2. Great impacts of the trends on America’s culture, politics and economy

III. The new migration: case study of Boise

(5—13)

1. Boise’s fast development

2. Challenge for city planners

3. Four-decade migration pattern

4. Factors in the fast growth

5. Sources of new residents in Boise

6. Developers’ purchase of land at a feverish pace

7. Economic planners’ effort to attract solid jobs

IV. Big wave of immigrants

(14—19)

1. Increase of ethnic diversity at Northwood Middle School

2. Fort Wayne’s population composition change

3. Fast growth of Hispanics

a. Example of Fort Wayne

b. Example of Goshen

4. Tensions caused by the influx of Hispanics

V. Graying of America and its impacts

(20—26)

1. Onslaught of 77 million aging boomers

2. Growth of America’s median age

3. Impacts of senior people’s increase on the economy: case study of Wilmington

a. Attractions for the senior people

b. Specific examples of Bill and Bryden

c. Senior people’s contribution to the local economy

VI. Prospects of America’s population change

(27-31)

1. Further acceleration of population growth

2. Increase of population proportion of the South and the West

3. Greater impacts of births by new immigrants

4. Doubling of the over-65 population and the heavy loads on Social Security and Medicare

3 Lesson 2

Answers to the Questions

V. 1. B 2. A 3. A 4. A 5. D

VI.

1. Because they are pragmatic and resourceful in money matters. They not only work hard to earn

more money, but also save for retirement, make investment and hedge against the unexpected.

2. The first grim reality is that in about 30 years, just as the first of this age group step into

retirement, the traditional Society Security System won’t be able to support them. The second one

is the decreased job security today. The third one is that they carry more debt at their age than any