D
Many of the world’s countries have reached or are approaching zero population growth(ZPG). Nearly all such lands are economically well developed. They include much of Europe (including Russia),the United States, Canada,Japan, and Australia. As the rate of natural increase (RNI)declines, two things happen. First, the population begins to decline if the loss is not balanced by immigration. Second, a country's population ages because there are fewer births.
Is achieving ZPG good or bad? What happens when country's population begins to drop? Many people, after all，believe that population decline is a good thing. But is it good for everyone? Does everyone agree?
An aging population can create many problems. Senior citizens require more health care and medical attention. Rather than paying into retirement programs, they begin to draw from their pensions(退休金). In the US, the Social Security program, according to many experts, will be used up by 2018. It will pay out more money than it takes in. Additionally，a great number of jobs go begging in search of people willing or able to do them. Many of these jobs are entry-level positions that pay low wages. With an aging population，who will fill them? At the other extreme, some positions require a large number of training and highly specialized skills. Who will fill these positions as retirees leave the workforce?
The answer to the problem of declining and aging population is simple: increased migration. Today many people ,particularly those from less developed countries，are migrating in search of employment. Many are willing to take jobs that cannot (or will not) be filled by the domestic population. Others are well educated and highly skilled. Both groups contribute to a country's economy progress in many ways. Further, they add to the richness of a country's culture.Of greatest importance，perhaps is the fact that they have become absolutely necessary to the economy of many lands. As you can see, for many countries and for most immigrants，migration is a win-win situation.
43.In the writer’s view, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Achieving ZPG is good for senior citizens.
B. Achieving ZPG is every country’s aim despite its side effects.
C. Not everyone agrees that achieving ZPG is absolutely good.
D. Achieving ZPG is good for government.
44. According to the passage, the best way to solve the problem of declining and aging population is
A. to improve the health care system B. to increase migration
C. to increase employment D. to increase RNI
45. The underlined words "the domestic population" can be replaced by
A. people within the country B. people without a college education
C. people from developing countries D. people living abroad
46. The main idea of the last paragraph is
A. how to increase migration B. the problem of declining and aging population
C. the advantages of increased migration D. some ways to enrich a country's culture
