Part BDirections:In the following article, some sentences have been removed. For Questions 41-45, choose the most suitable one from the list A-G to fit into each of the numbered blanks. There are two extra choices, which do not fit in any of the blanks.A great many articles and books discussing environmental and resource problems begin with the proposition that there is an environmental and resource crisis. If this means that the situation of humanity is worse now than in the past, then the idea of a crisis-and all that follows from it-is dead wrong. In almost every respect important to humanity, the trends have been improving, not deteriorating.Our world now supports 5.6 billion people. In the nineteenth century, the earth could sustain only 1 billion. And 10,000 years ago, only 1 million people could keep themselves alive. People are now living more healthily than ever before.One would expect lovers of humanity-people who hate war and worry about famine in Africa-to jump with joy at this extraordinary triumph of the human mind and human organization over the raw forces of nature. 41.______It is amazing but true that a resource shortage resulting from population or income growth usually leaves us better off than if the shortage had never arisen. 42.______The prices of food, metals, and other raw materials have been declining by every measure since the beginning of the nineteenth century, and as far back as we know; that is, raw materials have been getting less scarce throughout history, defying the common sense notion that if one begins with an inventory of a resource and uses some up, there will be less left. This is despite, and indirectly because of, increasing population. 43.______Also, we do not say that a better future happens automatically or without effort. 44.______We are confident that the nature of the physical world permits continued improvement in humankind's economic lot in the long run, indefinitely. Of course, there are always newly arising local problems, shortages, and pollution, resulting from climate or increased population and income and new technologies. Sometimes temporary large-scale problems arise. 45.______That is the great lesson to be learned from human history.

A.If firewood had not become scarce in seventeenth-century England, coal would not have been developed. If coal and whale oil shortages hadn't loomed, oil wells would not have been dug.

B.But the world's physical conditions and the resilience ( power of recovering quickly) of a well-functioning economic and social system enable us to overcome such problems, and the solutions usually leave us better off than if the problem had never arisen.

C.The recent extraordinary decrease in the death rate-to my mind, the greatest miracle in history-accounts for the bumper crop of humanity. In the last 200 years, life expectancy in the advanced countries jumped from the mid-30's to 70's.

D.If coal and whale oil shortages hadn't loomed, oil wells would not have been dug.B.But the world's physical conditions and the resilience ( power of recovering quickly) of a well-functioning economic and social system enable us to overcome such problems, and the solutions usually leave us better off than if the problem had never arisen.C.The recent extraordinary decrease in the death rate-to my mind, the greatest miracle in history-accounts for the bumper crop of humanity. In the last 200 years, life expectancy in the advanced countries jumped from the mid-30's to 70's.D.Instead, they lament (feel sorrow for) that there are so many human beings, and wring their hands ( indicate despair) about the problems that more people inevitably bring, and the problem that resources will be further diminished.

E.It will happen because men and women -- sometimes as individuals, sometimes as enterprises working for profit, sometimes as voluntary nonprofit groups, and sometimes as governmental agencies-will address problems with muscle and mind, and will probably overcome, as has been usual through history.

G.Statistic studies show that population growth doesn't lead to slower economic growth, though this defies common sense. Nor is high population density a drag on economic development.

H.A.If firewood had not become scarce in seventeenth-century England, coal would not have been developed. If coal and whale oil shortages hadn't loomed, oil wells would not have been dug.B.But the world's physical conditions and the resilience ( power of recovering quickly) of a well-functioning economic and social system enable us to overcome such problems, and the solutions usually leave us better off than if the problem had never arisen.C.The recent extraordinary decrease in the death rate-to my mind, the greatest miracle in history-accounts for the bumper crop of humanity. In the last 200 years, life expectancy in the advanced countries jumped from the mid-30's to 70's.D.Instead, they lament (feel sorrow for) that there are so many human beings, and wring their hands ( indicate despair) about the problems that more people inevitably bring, and the problem that resources will be further diminished.E.It will happen because men and women -- sometimes as individuals, sometimes as enterprises working for profit, sometimes as voluntary nonprofit groups, and sometimes as governmental agencies-will address problems with muscle and mind, and will probably overcome, as has been usual through history.F.Statistic studies show that population growth doesn't lead to slower economic growth, though this defies common sense. Nor is high population density a drag on economic development.G.We don't say that all is well everywhere, and we don't predict that all will be rosy in the future. Children are hungry and sick; people live out lives of physical or intellectual poverty and lack of opportunity; war or some other pollution may do us in.A. B. C. D. E. F. G.