BEIJING,China--ChineseleadersannouncedonThursdaythatthe...

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BEIJING, China -- Chinese leaders announced on Thursday that they would officially end the country’s “one-child policy,” allowing couples to have two children instead. The policy, which was designed to help curb the country's population growth, has been one of the most controversial policies of the last century. Here's what you need to know now that the policy is on its way out.

Under Chairman Mao Zedong’s rule between 1949 and 1976, China’s population nearly doubled to 940 million people. That spike （劇增） , combined with growing fears of global overpopulation, inspired China’s leaders to attempt to slow further growth.

China established the one-child policy in 1979. The “one-child” label itself is a bit of a misnomer（使用不當的名稱）. While urban families have largely been limited to one child, many couples were given exceptions, including ethnic minorities（少數民族）, rural families whose first child was a daughter and couples who were both only children. Still, for decades anyone who

exceeded（超過） the birth limits was subject to escalating（使上漲）fines, as well as forced sterilizations(不孕) and abortions .

Chinese leaders and experts now see the policy as fueling（激起） massive economic and social problems. Limiting births has contributed to unfavorable demographics（人口統計資料）, with a shrinking number of people supporting an ever-growing retired population. The country’s economy once benefited from a “ demographic dividend （紅利，股息）” of a swollen

working-age population, but China is starting to pay that debt down in the form of slowing growth and higher spending on health and retirements.

On top of age imbalances, the policy has also helped fuel an enormous sex-ratio（*別比例）

imbalance: Experts predict that by 2020 China will have 30 million more marriage-age men than

women. Traditional preferences for boys meant that families limited to one or two children often practiced illegal sex-selective abortions or abandoned newborn daughters. Authorities fear the resulting generation of bachelors（單身漢） could contribute to crime and social instability.

The Chinese Communist Party said it would allow for second children in all families, but further details on timing and regulations for “excess births” haven’t been announced. This is the latest and most decisive in a progressive series of steps to loosen the policy -- most notably, a change in 2013 allowed couples to have an extra child if either parent was an only child.

28. Which is the closest meaning of the underlined word “curb” in para.1 ?

A. advance B. cut C. control D. speed

29. Which was NOT the exception that a couple could have a second child before now ?

A. If they are ethnic minorities

B. If they are families whose first child was a daughter

C. If either parent was an only child

D. If they are couples who were both only children.

30. Why do experts predict that by 2020 China will have 30 million more marriage-age men than women?

A. Due to people’s age imbalances

B. Due to people’s practice of illegal sex-selective abortions

C. Due to people’s abandoning their newborn babies

D. Due to people’s traditional preferences for boys