1 . New York, 11 July — The global population is projected to reach 8 billion on 15 November 2022, and India is projected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country in 2023, according to World Population Prospects 2022, released on World Population Day.
“This year’s World Population Day falls during a milestone year, when we expect the birth of the Earth’s eight billionth inhabitant. This is an occasion to celebrate our diversity, recognize our common humanity, and get amazed at advancements in health that have extended lifespans and dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates (孕妇及儿童死亡率),” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. At the same time, it is a reminder of our shared responsibility to care for our planet and a moment to reflect on where we still fall short of our commitments to one another,” he added.
World Population Prospects 2022 states that fertility (生育能力) has fallen markedly in recent decades for many countries. Today, two-thirds of the global population lives in a country or area where lifetime fertility is below 2.1 births per woman, roughly the level required for zero growth in the long run for a population with low mortality. The populations of 61 countries or areas are projected to decrease by 1 percent or more between 2022 and 2050, due to sustained low levels of fertility and, in some cases, increasing rates of emigration.
“The relationship between population growth and sustainable development is complex and multidimensional,” said Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. “Rapid population growth makes removing poverty, combating hunger and malnutrition (营养不良), and increasing the coverage of health and education systems more difficult. On the contrary, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to health, education and gender equality, will contribute to reducing fertility levels and slowing global population growth.”
1. The underlined word “surpass” can be replaced by ______.| A．overtake | B．overlook | C．overcome | D．overwhelm |
| A．The concern for global problems is a shared responsibility. |
| B．The only factor that affects those 61 countries’ populations is fertility. |
| C．The fertility has been decreasing in recent decades around the world. |
| D．The annual World Population Day is a milestone for global inhabitants. |
| A．Critical and direct. | B．Difficult and apparent. |
| C．Urgent and ambiguous. | D．Significant and complicated. |
| A．The sharp decline of fertility. |
| B．The current world population situation. |
| C．The ways to achieve sustainable development goals. |
| D．The celebration of the birth of the Earth’s eight billionth inhabitant. |
