Ⅳ. 阅读理解(10分)

India has a population of about 1. 28 billion. Its population is the second largest in the world. China has the largest population of over 1. 36 billion. One out of six people on this planet lives in India. Although the crown(王冠)of the world’s most populous(人口稠密的)country is on China’s head for ten years, India will take the position by 2030. With the population growth rate(率)at 1. 58%, India will have more than 1. 53 billion people by the end of 2030. 【 八年级英语期末试卷】

Now more than 50% of India’s population is below the age of 25 and over 65% below the age of 35. About 72. 2% of the population lives in some 638, 000 villages.

Some of the reasons for India’s quickly growing population are poverty, illiteracy(无知), decrease in death rates and immigration(移民)from Bangladesh and Nepal. India started taking measures to stop the growth rate quite early. India had the“National Family Planning Program”in 1952. It became the first country in the world to have a population policy. However, it failed to reach the final goal(目标).

1. The population of India is about ______ now.

A. 1. 58 billion　　　　　 B. 1. 53 billion

C. 1. 36 billion    D. 1. 28 billion

2. The underlined word“position”means“ ______ ”in Chinese.

A. 麻烦　　　 B. 现象　　 　C. 位置　　　 D. 考验

3. Over 65% of India’s population is below the age of ______ .

A. 25    B. 35    C. 45    D. 55

4. ______ is not the reason for India’s quickly growing population.

A. Poverty        B. Illiteracy

C. Increase in death rates    D. Immigration

5. Which of the following is TRUE?

A. India’s population growth rate is 1. 58%.

B. One out of seven people on the earth lives in India.

C. About 72. 2% of India’s population lives in the city.

D. In 1953, India started the “National Family Planning Program”.