2017年普通高等學(xué)校招生全國(guó)統(tǒng)一考試（江蘇卷）

英語(yǔ)試題注意事項(xiàng)：1.答題前，先將自己的姓名、準(zhǔn)考證號(hào)填寫(xiě)在試題卷和答題卡上，并將準(zhǔn)考證號(hào)條形碼粘貼在答題卡上的指定位置。用

2B鉛筆將答題卡上試卷類(lèi)型

A后的方框涂黑。2.選擇題的作答：每小題選出答案后，用

2B鉛筆把答題卡上對(duì)應(yīng)題目的答案標(biāo)號(hào)涂黑，寫(xiě)在試題卷、草稿紙和答題卡上的非答題區(qū)域均無(wú)效。3.非選擇題的作答：用簽字筆直接答在答題卡上對(duì)應(yīng)的答題區(qū)域內(nèi)。寫(xiě)在試題卷、草稿紙和答題卡上的非答題區(qū)域均無(wú)效。4.考試結(jié)束后，請(qǐng)將本試題卷和答題卡一并上交。第一部分聽(tīng)力（共兩節(jié)，滿(mǎn)分20分）做題時(shí)，先將答案標(biāo)在試卷上，錄音內(nèi)容結(jié)束后，你將有兩分鐘的時(shí)間將試卷上的答案轉(zhuǎn)涂到答題卡上。第一節(jié)（共5小題；每小題1分，滿(mǎn)分5分）聽(tīng)下面5段對(duì)話(huà)。每段對(duì)話(huà)后有一個(gè)小題，從題中所給的

A、B、C三個(gè)選項(xiàng)中選出最佳選項(xiàng)。聽(tīng)完每段對(duì)話(huà)后，你都有10秒鐘的時(shí)間來(lái)回答有關(guān)小題和閱讀下一小題。每段對(duì)話(huà)僅讀一遍。例：Howmuchistheshirt.z.x.xk?A.?19.15.

B.?9.18.

C.?9.15.答案是C。1.Whatdoesthewomanthinkofthemovie?A.It'samusing.

B.It'sexciting.

C.It'sdisappointing.2.HowwillSusanspendmostofhertimeinFrance?A.Travelingaround.B.Studyingataschool.C.Lookingafterheraunt.3.Whatarethespeakerstalkingabout?A.Goingout.B.Orderingdrinks.C.Preparingforaparty.4.Wherearethespeakers?A.Inaclassroom.

B.Inalibrary.

C.Inabookstore.5.Whatisthemangoingtodo?A.GoontheInternet.B.Makeaphonecall.C.Takeatraintrip.第二節(jié)（共15小題；每小題1分，滿(mǎn)分15分）聽(tīng)下面5段對(duì)話(huà)或獨(dú)白。每段對(duì)話(huà)或獨(dú)白后有幾個(gè)小題，從題中所給的

A、B、C三個(gè)選項(xiàng)中選出最佳選項(xiàng)。聽(tīng)每段對(duì)話(huà)或獨(dú)白前，你將有時(shí)間閱讀各個(gè)小題，每小題5秒鐘；聽(tīng)完后，各小題將給出5秒鐘的作答時(shí)間。每段對(duì)話(huà)或獨(dú)白讀兩遍。聽(tīng)第6段材料，回答第6、7題。6.Whatisthewomanlookingfor?A.Aninformationoffice.B.Apolicestation.

C.Ashoerepairshop.7.WhatistheTownGuideaccordingtotheman?A.Abrochure.B.Anewspaper.C.Amap.聽(tīng)第7段材料，回答第8、9題。8.Whatdoesthemansayabouttherestaurant?A.It'sthebiggestonearound.B.Itoffersmanytastydishes.C.It'sfamousforitsseafood.9.Whatwillthewomanprobablyorder?A.Friedfish.

B.Roastchicken.C.Beefsteak.聽(tīng)第8段材料，回答第10至12題。10.WherewillMr.Whitebeat11o'clock?A.Attheoffice.

B.Attheairport.

C.Attherestaurant.11.WhatwillMr.Whiteprobablydoatoneintheafternoon?A.Receliveaguest.

B.Haveameeting.

C.Readareport.12.WhenwillMissWilsonseeMr.White?A.Atlunchtime.B.Lateintheafternoon.C.Thenextmorning.聽(tīng)第9段材料，回答第13至16題。13.WhyisBillgoingtoGermany?A.Toworkonaproject.B.TostudyGerman.C.Tostartanewcompany.14.WhatdidthewomandislikeaboutGermany?A.Theweather.B.Thefood.C.Theschools.15.WhatdoesBillhopetodoabouthisfamily?A.BringthemtoGermany.B.LeavetheminEngland.C.Visittheminafewmonths.16.Whatistheprobablerelationshipbetweenthespeakers?A.Fellow-travelers.B.Colleagues.C.Classmates.聽(tīng)第10段材料，回答第17至20題。17.WhendiditrainlasttimeinJu

arez?A.Threedaysago.B.Amonthago.C.Ayearago.18.WhatseasonisitnowinJu

arez?A.Spring.

B.Summer

C.Autumn.19.Whataretheelderlyadvisedtodo?A.Takeawalkintheafternoon.B.Keeptheirhomescool.C.Drinkplentyofwater.20.Whatisthespeakerdoing?A.Hostingaradioprogram.B.Conductingaseminar.C.Forecastingtheweather.第二部分：英語(yǔ)知識(shí)運(yùn)用（共兩節(jié)，滿(mǎn)分35分）第一節(jié)：?jiǎn)雾?xiàng)填空（共15小題；每小題1分，滿(mǎn)分15分）請(qǐng)認(rèn)真閱讀下面各題，從題中所給的

A、B、C、D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。例：Itisgenerallyconsideredunwisetogiveachild

heorshewants.A.however

B.whatever

C.whicheverD.whenever答案是B。21.ManyChinesebrands,

theirreputationsovercenturies,arefacingnewchallengesfromthemodernmarket.A.havingdeveloped

B.beingdeveloped

C.developed

D.developing22.

notforthesupportoftheteachers,thestudentcouldnotovercomeherdifficulty.A.Itwere

B.Wereit

C.Itwas

D.Wasit23.Located

theBeltmeetstheRoad,JiangsuwillcontributemoretotheBeltandRoadconstruction.A.whyB.whenC.whichD.where24.ThepublicationofGreatExpectations,which

bothwidelyreviewedandhighlypraised,strengthenedDickens,statusasaleadingnovelist.A.isB.areC.wasD.were25.WorkingwiththemedicalteaminAfricahas

thebestinherasadoctor.27.Hehurriedhome,neveroncelookingbacktoseeifhe

B.wasfollowingD.followedA.wasbeingfollowedC.hadbeenfollowed28.In1963theUNsetuptheWorldFoodProgramme,oneof

purposesistorelieveworldwidestarvation.A.whichB.itsC.whoseD.whom

29.OnlyfiveyearsafterSteveJobs'death,smart-phonesdefeated

PCsinsales.A.controversialC.confidentialB.contradictoryD.conventional30.Aquickreviewofsuccessesandfailuresattheendofyearwillhelp

youryearahead.31.He'sbeeninformedthathe

forthescholarshipbecauseofhisacademicA.asclearasdayB.offthetopofmyheadC.undermynoseD.beyondmywildestdreams34.Thedisappearanceofdinosaursisnotnecessarilycausedbyastronomicalincidents.But

explanationsarehardtofind.A.alternativeB.aggressiveC.ambiguousD.apparent35.—GoingtowatchtheWomen'sVolleyballMatchonWednesday?—

!Willyougowithme?A.YouthereB.YoubetC.Yougotme

D.Youknowbetter第二節(jié)：完形填空（共20小題；每小題1分，滿(mǎn)分20分）請(qǐng)認(rèn)真閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的

A、B、C、D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。ForalongtimeGabrieldidntwanttobeinvolvedinmusicatall.Inhisfirstyearsofhighschool,Gabrielwouldlookpityinglyatmusicstudents,36acrossthecampuswiththeirheavyinstrumentcases.

37atschoolforpracticehours38anyoneelsehadtobethere.Hesworetohimselfto39music,ashehatedgettingtoschoolextraearly.__40

,oneday,inthemusicclassthatwas__41__ofhisschool'standardcurriculum,hewasplayingidly（隨意地）onthepianoandfoundit

42

topickouttunes.Withasinkingfeeling,herealizedthatheactually__43__doingit.Hetriedtohidehis__44__pleasurefromthemusicteacher,whohad__45__overtolisten.Hemightnothavedonethisparticularlywell,__46__theteachertoldGabrielthathehadagood

47__andsuggestedthatGabrielgointothemusicstore-roomtoseeifanyoftheinstrumentsthere__48__him.Therehedecidedtogivethecello（大提琴）

a__49__.Whenhebeganpracticing,hetookitvery__50__.Buthequicklyfoundthathelovedplayingthisinstrument,andwas__51__topracticingitsothatwithinacoupleofmonthshewasplayingreasonablywell.This__52__,ofcourse,thathearrivedatschoolearlyinthemorning,__53__hisheavyinstrumentcaseacrossthecampustothe__54__looksofthenon-musicianshehadleft__55__.36.A.travellingB.marchingC.pacingD.struggling37.A.risingupB.comingupC.drivingupD.turningup38.A.beforeB.afterC.untilD.since39.A.betrayB.acceptC.avoidD.appreciate40.A.ThereforeB.HoweverC.ThusD.Moreover41.A.partB.natureC.basisD.spirit42.A.complicatedB.safeC.confusingD.easy43.A.missedB.dislikedC.enjoyedD.denied44.A.transparentB.obviousC.falseD.similar45.A.runB.joggedC.jumpedD.wandered46.A.becauseB.butC.thoughD.so47.A.earB.tasteC.heartD.voice48.A.occurredtoB.tooktoC.appealedtoD.heldto49.A.changeB.chaneeC.missionD.function50.A.seriouslyB.proudlyC.casuallyD.naturally51.A.committedB.usedC.limitedD.admitted52.A.provedB.showedC.stressedD.meant53.A.pushingB.draggingC.liftingD.rushing54.A.admiringB.pityingC.annoyingD.teasing55.A.overB.asideC.behindD.out第三部分：閱讀理解（共15小題；每小題2分，滿(mǎn)分30分）請(qǐng)認(rèn)真閱讀下列短文，從短文后各題所給的

A、B、C、D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng),并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。CHRONOLOGICATheUnbelievableYearsthatDefinedHistoryDIDYOUKNOW…卜:lln105ADpaperwasinventedinChina?卜:WhenColumbusdiscoveredtheNewWorld?卜：TheBritishMuseumopenedin1759?

CHRONOLOGICAisafascinatingjourneythroughtime,fromthefoundationofRometothecreationoftheinternet.Alongthewayaretalesofkingsandqueens,hotairballoonsmonkeysinspace.Travelthrough100ofthemostunbelievableyearsinworldhistoryandlearnwhybeingaRomanEmperorwasn'alwaysasgoodasitsounds,howtheHundredYearsWardidnactuallylastfor100yearsandwhySpencerPercevalholdsaratherunfortunaterecord.CHRONOLOGICAisan

informative

andentertainingtourintohistory,beautifullyillustratedandfullof.

unbelievablefacts.WhileCHRONOLOGICAtellsthestoriesoffamouspeopleinhistorysuchasThomasEdisonandAlexandertheGreat,this

bookalsogivesanaccountofthelivesof

lesser-known

individualsincludingtheexplorerMungoParkandsculptorGutzonBorglum.Thiscompletebutbriefhistoricalcollectioniscertaintoentertainreadersyoungandold,andguaranteedtopresenteventhebiggesthistoryloverwithsomethingnew!56.WhatisCHRONOLOGICAaccordingtothenext?B.A.Abiography.Atravelguide.C.Ahistorybook.

D.Ascieneefiction.57.HowdoesthewriterrecommendCHRONOLOGICAtoreaders?A.Bygivingdetailsofitscollection.B.Byintroducingsomeofitscontents.C.Bytellingstoriesatthebeginning.D.Bycomparingitwithotherbooks.

BBeforebirth,babiescantellthediffereneebetweenloudsoundsandvoices.Theycanevendistinguishtheirmother'voicefromthatofafemalestranger.Butwhenitcomestoembryoniclearning（胎教）,birdscouldruletheroost.AsrecentlyreportedinTheAuk:OrnithologicalAdvances,somemotherbirdsmayteachtheiryoungtosingevenbeforetheyhatch（孵化）.New-bornchickscanthenimitatetheirmom'callwithinafewdaysofenteringtheworld.Thiseducationalmethodwasfirstobservedin2012bySoniaKleindorfer,abiologistatFlindersUniversityinSouthAustralia,andhercolleagues.FemaleAustraliansuperbfairywrenswerefoundtorepeatonesoundoverandoveragainwhilehatchingtheireggs.Whentheeggswerehatched,thebabybirdsmadethesimilarchirptotheirmothers

—asoundthatservedastheirregular

“feeGtatle!”Tofindoutifthespecialqualitywasmorewidespreadinbirds,theresearcherssoughtthered-backedfairywren,anotherspeciesofAustraliansongbird.Firsttheycollectedsounddatafrom67nestsinfoursitesinQueenslandbeforeandafterhatching.Thentheyidentifiedbeggingcallsbyanalyzingtheorderandnumberofnotes.Acomputeranalysisblindlycomparedcallsproducedbymothersandchicks,rankingthembysimilarity.Itturnsoutthatbabyred-backedfairywrensalsoemergechirpingliketheirmoms.Andthemorefrequentlymothershadcalledtotheireggs,themoresimilarwerethebabies'beggingcalls.Inaddition,theteamsetupaseparateexperimentthatsuggestedthatthebabybirdsthatmostcloselyimitatedtheirmomsvoicewererewardedwiththemostfood.Thisobservationhintsthateffectiveembryoniclearningcouldsignalneurological（

神經(jīng)系統(tǒng)"Asaparent,的）strengthsofchildrentoparents.Anevolutionaryinferencecanthenbedrawn.doyouinvestinqualitychildren,ordoyouinvestinchildrenthatareinneed?”Kleindorferasks.“Ouresultssuggestthattheymightbegoingforquality.”58.TheunderlinedphraseinParagraph1means“

”.A.betheworst

B.bethebestC.betheasbad

D.bejustasgood59.WhatareKleindorfer'findingsbasedon?A.Similaritiesbetweenthecallsofmomsandchicks.B.TheobservationoffairywrensacrossAustralia.C.ThedatacollectedfromQueensland'locals.D.Controlledexperimentsonwrensandotherbirds.60.Embryoniclearninghelpsmotherbirdstoidentifythebabybirdswhich

.A.canreceivequalitysignals

B.areinneedoftrainingC.fittheenvironmentbetter

D.maketheloudestcallCAnewcommoditybringsaboutahighlyprofitable,fast-growingindustry,urgingantitrust

（反壟斷）regulatorstostepintocheckthosewhocontrolitsflow.Acenturyago,theresourceinquestionwasoil.Nowsimilarconcernsaresbeingraisedbythegiants

（巨頭）thatdealindata,theoilofthedigitalage.ThemostvaluablefirmsareGoogle,Amazon,FacebookandMicrosoft.Alllookunstoppable.Suchsituationshaveledtocallsforthetechgiantstobebrokenup.Butsizealoneisnotacrime.Thegiants'successhasbenefitedconsumers.Fewwanttolivewithoutsearchenginesoraquickdelivery.Farfromchargingconsumershighprices,manyoftheseservicesarefree（userspay,ineffect,byhandingoveryetmoredata）.Andtheappearaneeofnew-borngiantssuggeststhatnewcomerscanmakewaves,too.Butthereiscauseforconcern.Theinternethasmadedataabundant,all-presentandfarmorevaluable,changingthenatureofdataandcompetition.Googleinitiallyusedthedatacollectedfromuserstotargetadvertisingbetter.Butrecentlyithasdiscoveredthatdatacanbeseyeviewturnedintonewservices:translationandvisualrecognition,tobesoldtoothercompanies.Internetcompanies'controlofdatagivesthemenormouspower.Sotheyhavea

“God'ofactivitiesintheirownmarketsandbeyond.Thisnatureofdatamakestheantitrustmeasuresofthepastlessuseful.BreakingupfirmslikeGoogleintofivesmalloneswouldnotstopremakingthemselves:intime,oneofthemwouldbecomegreatagain.Arethinkisrequired—andasanewapproachstartstobecomeapparent,twoideasstandout.Thefirstisthatantitrustauthoritiesneedtomoveformtheindustrialageintothe21stcentury.Whenconsideringamerger（兼并）,forexample,theyhavetraditionallyusedsizetodeterminewhentostepin.Theynowneedtotakeintoaccounttheextentoffirms'dataassets資產(chǎn)）whenassessingtheimpactofdeals.Thepurchasepricecouldalsobeasignalthatanestablishedcompanyisbuyinganew-bornthreat.Whenthistakesplace,especiallywhenanew-borncompanyhasnorevenuetospeakof,theregulatorsshouldraiseredflags.Thesecondprincipleistoloosenthecontrolthatprovidersofon-lineserviceshaveoverdataandgivemoretothosewhosupplythem.Companiescouldbeforcedtoconsumerswhatinformationtheyholdandhowmanymoneytheymakeformit.Govemmentscouldorderthesharingofcertainkindsofdata,withusers'consent.RestartingantitrustfortheinformationagewillnotbeeasyButifgovemmentsdon

'twantsadataoconomybyafewgiants,theymustactsoon.61.Whyisthereacalltobreakupgiants?A.TheyhavecontrolledthedatamarketB.TheycollectenormousprivatedataC.TheynolongerprovidefreeservicesD.Theydismissedsomenew-borngiants62.WhatdoesthetechnologicalinnovationinParagraph3indicate?A.Datagiants'technologyisveryexpensiveB.Google'sideaispopularamongdatafirmsC.Datacanstrengthengiants'controllingpositionD.Datacanbeturnedintonewservicesorproducts63.Bypayingattentiontofirms'dataassets,antitrustregulatorscould

.A.killanewthreat

B.avoidthesizetrapC.favourbiggerfirms

D.chargehigherprices64.Whatisthepurposeoflooseningthegiants'controlofdata?A.Bigcompaniescouldrelievedatasecuritypressure.B.Governmentscouldrelievetheirfinancialpressure.C.Consumerscouldbetterprotecttheirprivacy.D.Smallcompaniescouldgetmoreopportunities.DOldProblem,NewApproachesWhilecleanenergyisincreasinglyusedinourdailylife,globalwarningwillcontinueforsomedecadesafterCO2emissions（排放）peak.Soevenifemissionsweretobegintodecreasetoday,wewouldstillfacethechallengeofadaptingtoclimatechange.HereIwillstresssomesmarterandmorecreativeexamplesofclimateadaptation.Whenitcomestoadaptation,itisimportanttounderstandthatclimatechangeisaprocess.Wearethereforenottalkingaboutadaptingtoanewstandard,buttoaconstantlyshiftingsetofconditions.Thisiswhy,inpartatleast,theUSNationalClimateAssessmentsaysthat:

Thereisno‘ne-sizefitsall'adaptation.”Nevertheless,therearesomeactionsthatoffermuchandcarrylittleriskorcost.Aroundtheworld,peopleareadaptinginsurprisingways,especiallyinsomepoorcountries.FloodshavebecomemoredamaginginBangladeshinrecentdecades.MohammedRezwansawopportunitywhereotherssawonlydisaster.Hisnot-for-profitorganizationruns100riverboatsthatserveasfloatinglibraries,schools,andhealthclinies,andareequippedwithsolarpanelsandothercommunicatingfacilities.Rezwaniscreatingfloatingconnectivity（連體）

toreplacefloodedroadsandhighways.Butheisalsoworkingatafarmorefundamentallevel:hisstaffshowpeoplehowtomakefloatinggardensandfishpondspreventstarvationduringthewetseason.ElsewhereinAsiaevenmoreastonishingactionsarebeingtaken.ChewangNorphellivesinamountainousregioninIndia,whereheisknownastheIceMan.Thelossofglaciers（冰川）thereduetoglobalwarmingrepresentsanenormousthreattoagriculture.Withouttheglaciers,waterwillarriveintheriversattimeswhenitcandamagecrops.Norphel'inspirationcamefromseeingthewasteofwateroverwinter,whenitwasnotneeded.Hedirectedthewastedwaterintoshallowbasinswhereitfroze,andwasstoreduntilthespring.Hisfieldsoficesupplyperfectlytimedirrigation(灌溉)water.Havingcreatedninesuchicereserves,Norphelcalculatesthathehasstoredabout200,000m3ofwater.Climatechangeisacontinuingprocess,soNorphel'icereserveswillnotlastforever.Warmingwillovertakethem.Butheisprovidingafewyearsduringwhichthefarmerswill,perhaps,beabletofindothermeansofadapting.IncreasingEarthbreflectivenesscancooltheplanet.InsouthernSpainthesuddenincreaseofgreenhouses(whichreflectlightbacktospace)haschangedthewarmingtrendlocally,andactuallycooledtheregion.WhileSpainasawholeisheatingupquickly,temperaturesnearthegreenhouseshavedecreased.Thisexampleshouldactasaninspirationforallcities.Bypaintingbuildingswhite,citiesmayslowdownthewarmingprocess.InPeru,localfarmersaroundamountainwithaglacierthathasalreadyfallenvictimtoclimatechangehavebegunpaintingtheentiremountainpeakwhiteinthehopethattheaddedreflectivenesswillrestorethelife-givingice.Theoutcomeisstillfarfromclear.ButtheWorldBankhasincludedtheprojectonitsof"100ideastosavetheplanet

”.Moreordinaryformsofadaptationarehappeningeverywhere.AfriendofmineownsanareaoflandinwesternVictoria.Overfivegenerationsthelandhasbeentoowetforcropping.Butduringthepastdecadedecliningrainfallhasallowedhimtoplanthighlyprofitablecrops.Farmersinmanycountriesarealsoadaptinglikethis—eitherbygrowingnewproduce,orbygrowingthesamethingsdifferently.Thisiscommonsense.Butsomesuggestionsforadaptingarenot.Whenthepollutingindustriesarguethatwe

'velostthebattletocontrolcarbonpollutionandhavenochoicebuttoadapt,it

'sanonsensedesignedtomakbuisineaseasousual.Humanbeingswillcontinuetoadapttothechangingclimateinbothordinaryandastonishingways.Butthemostsensibleformofadaptationissurelytoadaptourenergysystemstoemitlesscarbonpollution.Afterall,ifweadaptinthatway,wemayavoidtheneedtochangeinsomanyothers.65.TheunderlinedpartinParagraph2implies

A.adaptationisanever-changingprocessB.thecostofadaptationvarieswithtimeC.globalwarmingaffectsadaptationformsD.adaptationtoclimatechangeischallenging66.WhatisspecialwithregardtoRezwan'project?A.Theprojectreceivesgovernmentsupport.B.Differentorganizationsworkwitheachother.C.Hisorganizationmakesthebestofabadsituation.D.Theprojectconnectsfloodedroadsandhighways.67.WhatdidtheIceMandotoreducetheeffectofglobalwarming?A.Storingiceforfutureuse.B.Protectingtheglaciersfrommelting.C.Changingtheirrigationtime.D.Postponingthemeltingoftheglaciers.68.WhatdowelearnfromthePeruexample?A.Whitepaintisusuallysafeforbuildings.B.Theglobalwarmingtreadcannotbestopped.C.Thiscountryisheatinguptooquickly.D.Sunlightreflectionmayrelieveglobalwarming.69.Accordingtotheauthor,pollutingindustriesshould

.A.adapttocarbonpollutionB.planthighlyprofitablecropsC.leavecarbonemissionaloneD.fightagainstcarbonpollution70.What'theauthor'preferredsolutiontoglobalwarming?A.Settingupanewstandard.B.Reducingcarbonemission.C.Adaptingtoclimatechange.D.Monitoringpollutingindustries.第四部分：任務(wù)型閱讀（共10小題；每小題1分，滿(mǎn)分10分）最恰當(dāng)?shù)膯卧~請(qǐng)認(rèn)真閱讀下面短文，并根據(jù)所讀內(nèi)容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一個(gè)學(xué)科&網(wǎng)。注意：請(qǐng)將答案寫(xiě)在答題卡上相應(yīng)題號(hào)的橫線(xiàn)上。每個(gè)空格只填一個(gè)單詞。PopulationChangeWhyistheworld'spopulationgrowing?Theanswerisnotwhatyoumightthink.Thereasonfortheexplosionisnotthatpeoplehavebeenreproducinglikerabbits,butthatpeoplehavestoppeddroppingdeadlikeflies.In1900,peoplediedattheaverageageof30.By2000theaverageagewas65.Butwhileincreasinghealthwasatypicalfeatureofthe20thcentury,decliningbirthratecouldbeadefiningoneofthe21st.Statisticsshowthattheaveragenumberofbirthsperwomanhasfallenfrom4.9intheearly1960sto2.5nowadays.Furthermore,around50%oftheworld'spopulationliveinregionswherethefigureisnowbelowthereplacementlevel(i.e.2.1birthsperwoman)andalmostalldevelopednationsareexperiencingsub-replacementbirthrate.Youmightthinkthatdevelopingnationswouldmakeuptheloss(especiallysince80%oftheworld'speoplenowliveinsuchnations),butyou'dbewrong.Decliningbirthrateisamajorprobleminmanydevelopingregionstoo,whichmightcausecatastrophicglobalshortagesofworkforcewithinafewdecades.AgreatdeclineinyoungworkforceislikelytooccurinChina,forinstance.Whatdoesitimply?First,Chinaneedstoundergorapideconomicdevelopmentbeforeapopulationdeclinehitsthecountry.Second,ifotherfactorssuchastechnologyremainconstant,economicgrowthandmaterialexpectationswillfallwellbelowrecentstandardsandthiscouldinvitetrouble.Russiaisanothercountrywithpopulationproblemsthatcouldbreakitseconomicpromise.Since1992thenumberofpeopledyinghasbeenbiggerthanthatofthosebeingbornbyamassive50%.Indeedofficialfiguressuggestthecountryhasshrunkby5%since1993andpeopleinRussialiveashorterlifenowthanthosein1961.Whyisthisoccurring?Nobodyisquitesure,butpoordietandabovealllong-timealcoholismhavemuchtodowithit.Ifcurrenttrendsdon

'tbend,Russia'spopulationwillbeaboutthesizeofYemen'sbytheyear2050.InthenorthofIndia,thepopulationisboomingduetohighbirthrates,butinthe

south,wheremosteconomicdevelopmentistakingplace,birthrateisfallingrapidly.Inafurthertwist,birthrateishighestinpoorlyeducatedruralareasandlowe