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be sharing a birthday with a few hundred thousand people and in the next year another eighty million will be joining him on the planet. The earth’s population has doubled since 1960 and with more than a billion young people just entering their productive years. The population growth has plenty of momentum. But birth control programs are beginning to have an impact. Demographers predict that by the middle of the new century the global count will level off at something under ten billion. The UN population agency has presented today’s achievement as a success for humanity, pointing out that people are living longer and healthier lives than any generation in the history.

B b c a

The boy will be sharing a birthday with a few hundred thousand people and in the next year, another eighty million will be joining him on the planet.

The earth’s population has doubled since 1960 and with more than a billion young people just entering their productive years.

Demographers predict that by the middle of the new century, the global count will level off at something under ten billion.

Part III A

water/ 70% red or brown/ plant cover snow/ continents islands arms of the ocean connecting a channel valleys plains

B 12 million / 2/ 10 million/ 10/ 3/ 6/ 4/16 million/ 18 million

1. Mexico City 2. Sao Paulo 3. Rio de Janeiro 4. Bombay

5. Delhi 6. Shanghia 7. Seoul

I-Interview E-Expert

I: In Britain we are often told that people are leaving the big cities to live in the countryside but is this the case worldwide?

E: Not at all. If you look at the biggest cities in 1950, seven out of the top ten were in the developed countries but by the year 2000, the developing countries will have eight out of the top ten. New York, which in 1950 was number one with a population of around 12 million, will only be the sixth largest city in the world but with an extra 2 million.

I: And London?

E: London, which was number two, won’t even be in the top ten. Its population in 1950, by the way, was about 10 million.

I: And why is this happening? Why are people moving to the big cities from the country in the developing countries?

E: The reasons are complex but many are moving to look for work. And the problems this creates are enormous. It’s estimated that 26 million people will be living in Mexico City by the year 2000, with Sao Paulo in Brazil not far behind.

I: It’s difficult to believe.

E: I know. Rio de Janeiro will have a population of a mere 13 million. Well, just imagine the kinds of difficulties this is going to cause in terms of health, transport and education.

I: Yes. What about the cities of Asia? Will they be experiencing a similar sort of growth?

E: In some cases, yes. Calcutta in India which was No. 10 in the league in 1950 is expected to be the fourth biggest city in the world with a population of 16 million- quadrupling its size in just 50 years. Bombay and Delhi too are expected to be in the top ten.

I: What about Japan?

E: Ah! Well, Tokyo was number three in 1950 and that’s where it’ll be at the beginning of the next