A
The United Nations Human Development Program has announced its yearly study on the quality of life for people around the world. The UN report was started in nineteen ninety to measure the progress of nations based on the lives of their citizens.
This year’s report lists one hundred and seventythree countries. It is based on the length of time citizens are expected to live, their education level and the amount of money they earn. Norway was listed as the country providing the best quality of life for the second year.It was followed by Sweden, Canada, Belgium, Australia and the United States. The twentyfour countries at the bottom of the list are all in Africa.
The report says many countries in East Asia have made progress since nineteen ninety. They include China, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, as many as nine countries have improved since nineteen ninety. They include Chile, Costa Rica and Panama. At the same time, many countries in Eastern and Central Europe and the former Soviet Union lost progress in the quality of life for their citizens. This was because of problems with economic reforms.They include Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Tajikistan.
This year’s human development report centred on the issue of democracy(民主). Researchers found that a majority of people live in countries claiming to be democratic. However, civil rights and political freedoms were limited in one hundred and six nations. Also, the number of voters taking part in elections is decreasing.In addition, cheating, wrongdoing and unfair politics have weakened the democratic process. In some countries, elected governments have not carried out democratic reforms. This has led to public opposition to the government and a return to military rule.
UN officials say that democratic changes are slow in some countries. However, the report shows that international development goals set at the start of the twentyfirst century can be met.For this to happen, they say developing countries need to move quicker toward economic, social and political reforms. And they say rich countries must become more open to trade while increasing aid and other resources.
【解题导语】 本文主要讲述了《年度人类发展报告》的内容， 目的主要是让人们了解《年度人类发展报告》。
1．The Human Development Report is done ________．
A．every year
B.every four years
C．every two years
D．every ten years
A 解析：细节理解题。由文章第一句中的“its yearly study”可知选A。
2.Which of the following countries lost progress according to this year’s report?
A．Australia. B．Russia.
C．Singapore. D．Chile.
B 解析：细节理解题。由第四段中的“At the same time, many countries in Eastern and Central Europe and the former Soviet Union lost progress in the quality of life for their citizens.This was because of problems with economic reforms.They include Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Tajikistan.”可知选B。
3.Which is the most important issue in every country in this year’s report?
A．Life expectancy. B．Income.
C．Diseases. D．Democracy.
D 解析：细节理解题。由第五段中的第一句话“This year’s human development report centred on the issue of democracy(民主)．”可知选D。
