C. in a science textbook D. on a TV show

27. What is the main important reason for protecting the Coral Sea?

A. The Coral Sea,home to many species,will disappear soon.

B. The Coral Sea is rich in oil and gas.

C. The Coral Sea is three times larger than Great Barrier Reef.

D. The Coral Sea will be a marine park larger than any in the world.

28. Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage?

A. The reason for protecting the Coral Sea.

B. The way to protect the Coral Sea.

C. The location of the Coral Sea.

D. The money-raising for saving the Coral Sea.

C

One of the biggest social issues in Japan is the increasingly low marriage rate among young people and the small birth rate,which led to an aging and eventually shrinking(萎缩) population.Most young Japanese women simply don’t seem interested in having many children.

Now what began in Japan is happening globally.As David Brooks wrote,birth rate is becoming smaller in much of the world,from Iran-1.7 births rate per woman-to Russian,where low birth rates connected with high death rates mean the population is already shrinking.And this includes US,which has long had higher birth rates than most developed nations.Aging countries will face the burden of caring for large elderly populations without a larger source of young workers.

It’s true that global aging is going to present some major challenges.Who will take care of the elderly?Will an older world be less active and slower to change and adapt?It’s all true.Sometimes I worry about a coming generational war over resources,just as I worry about how I will take care of my own parents in their old age,just as I worry about who might take care of me.

But here’s the thing:an older world may have less pressure on the environment.As we all know,the environment is the real victim of overpopulation.

So maybe a world that grows slower and grows older will put less pressure on the environment,and buy us a few more years to ensure our energy use,along with our birthrates,reaches a sustainable(可持续的) level.After all,we’re supposed to get smarter as we got older.Hopefully that holds true for the planet as well.

29. The population issue in Japan was mentioned to ______.

A. show young people’s preference to marriage

B. introduce the topic of global birth rate becoming smaller

C. indicate the deeper cause of Japan’s depression

D.emphasize the revolution of Japanese women

30. What’s the author’s attitude to the worldwide birth rates becoming smaller?

A. Anxious. B. Disappointed C.Hopeful. D. Doubted

31. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to David Brooks?

A.The birth rates all over the world are becoming smaller.

B. The most developed countries have higher death rates.

C. America is the only developed country with higher birth rate.

D. Birth rate’s becoming smaller means a great risk to aging countries.

32. Which will be caused by low birth rates according to the passage?

A. Aging society. B. Environmental problems.

C. High death rates. D. Low employment rates.

D

The Oldies but Goodies jazz band will perform romantic music for Valentines' Day. The band's repertoire(常备节目) includes jazz music of the 1950-60s, domestic and overseas folk songs and pop songs. Programs of the latest concert include Moon River, Autumn Whisper, Butterfly Lovers, Love Story, Rosy Life, My Heart Will Go On and A Night at Moscow's Suburb.

7:30 pm, Feb 14

China National Library Concert Hall, 33 Zhongguancun Nandaji, Haidian district

010-6848-5462

The China National Symphony Orchestra will put on a concert named Romantic Early Spring. On the performance list are Tonight Unforgettable, In Memory, Beautiful Legend, I Hope You'll Come Back and This is Love.

7:30 pm, Feb 14

Beijing Concert Hall,I Xicheng district