二、单项选择
考核学生对词语在上下文中的确切含义的理解。考生根据该词语在文中含义从所提供的解释中勾出正确答案。
词汇题的提问方式主要有：
1) By “...”, the author means…
2) In 1ine..., the word “...” could best be replaced by…
3) In line..., the word “...,’ most probably means
4) In line..., the word “this (that, these, those, it, them)” stands for… -
5) The ita1icized word in line... means…
6) The word (phrase) “...” is closest to…
7) The word (phrase) “...” probably means…
8) What is the possible meaning of the word”...” in line… ?
9) Which is the probable definition of the word ‘...’?
10) Which of the following is nearest (closest) in meaning to ‘...’?
例如：
The wor1d's population continues to grow. There now are about 4 bi1lion of us on earth. That could reach 6 billion by the end of the century and 11 billion in another 75 years. Experts long have been concerned about such growth. Where will we find the food, water, jobs, houses, schools and health care for all these people?

A major new study shows that the situation may be changing. A large and rapid drop in the world's birth rate has taken place during the past 10 years. Families generally are smal1er now than they were a few years ago. It is happening in both developing and industrial nations.

Researchers said they found a number of reasons for this. More men and women are waiting longer to get married and are using birth contro1 devices and methods to prevent or delay pregnancy. More women are going to school or working at jobs away form their homes instead of having children. And more governments, especially in developing nations, now support family planning programs to reduce population growth.

China is one of the nations that has made great progress in reducing its population growth. China has already cut its rate of population growth by about one half since 1970. China now urges each fami1y to have no more than one child. And it hopes to reach zero population growth, the number of births equaling the number of deaths, by the year 2000.

Several nations in Europe already have fewer births than deaths. Experts said that these nations cou1d face a serious shortage of workers in the future. And the persons who are working could face much higher taxes to help support the growing number of retired people.

Question: "Fami1y p1anning programs" means _______________.
A. birth control policy in a country
B. economic policy in a family
C. TV programs designed for a family
D. economic policy in a country

解答：选A。
本题问“计划生育”的含义是什么。第三段最后一句指出：‘more governments especially in developing nations，now support family planning programs to reduce population growth’，因此计划生育是减少人口增长的手段，A为正确选项。