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In the 20th century, the world population has increased dramatically, doubling in ever-shortening cycles. According to the statistics of the United Nations Population Fund, at the beginning of the 19th century, the world population stood at 1 billion, and by 1987 it reached 5 billion. And by the end of the 21st century, it will double to 10 billion.

Population explosion has become a serious problem. Above all, population growth has put enormous pressure on world food supplies, making it difficult, if not impossible, to avoid hunger on a massive scale. Furthermore, the growing population poses a threat to our environment. Finally, overpopulation affects our quality of life.

To sum up, unchecked population growth is the most serious problem humanity faces today. It is ultimately up to us, and in the best interests of other life that we do our utmost to solve this problem.

20世纪，世界人口有了大幅增长，翻倍速度越来越快。根据联合国人口基金会的统计数字，19世纪初，世界人口有10亿，1987年达到了50亿。到了21世纪末，世界人口将翻倍，达到100亿。

人口爆炸已成为一个严重的问题。首先，人口增长给世界粮食供应带来了巨大的压力，使人们很难--如果不是不可能--在大范围内消除饥饿现象。而且，日益增长的人口也对环境构成了威胁。最后，人口过多还影响我们的生活质量。

总之，人口的盲目增长是目前人类面临的最严峻的问题。竭尽全力去解决这个问题终归是我们的义务，这对其他生物也最有利。

population 人口

dramatically 显著地

double 翻倍

ever-shortening 越来越短的

cycle（循环）周期

according to 根据

statistics 统计数字

United Nations Population Fund 联合国人口基金会

avoid 避免

hunger 饥饿

massive 大的

scale 范围

furthermore 而且

growing 日益增长的

stand 有......数量／水平

reach 达到

by the end of... 到......末期

explosion 爆炸

serious 严重的

above all 首先

population growth 人口增长

food supply 粮食供应

impossible 不可能的

overpopulation 人口过多

quality of life 生活质量

unchecked 不加制止的

humanity 人类

ultimately 最终

life 生物

1 Hundreds of millions of people still suffer from hunger and malnutrition.

数亿人仍然遭受着饥饿与营养不良的折磨。

2 Destruction of the land has also increased as vegetation is removed to make room for more houses and roads.

随着人们移除植被为建更多的房屋和道路腾出空地，土地破坏也进一步加剧了。

3 Water shortage has already affected people's living conditions.

缺水已经影响了人们的生活条件。

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