Every ten years the United States carries out a census of the people population. Every family receives a form with questions about family size, income, jobs, etc. They answer questions such as: How many people are in your family? Do you live in a house or in an apartment? How long have you been living there? Where did you live before this? Where do you work? How much money do you make? The government uses this information to get a better picture of its people.
The last census was in 2000. The population of the United States is now 226, 500,000. The population is up to 23 million people from 1970. In 1970, the population was 203,000,000.
The census shows that some areas of the United States are decreasing in population while other areas are growing. In the past, more people lived in the Northeast and North Central areas. But this is changing. Now more people live in the South than in any other area. People are moving from the North to the South and the West. The population of northern cities is down from 1970. For example, the population of New York City down 11％, the population of Chicago is down 12％. In Pennsylvania, the population of Philadelphia is down 14％ and the population of Pittsburgh is down 18％. Washington D.C. has almost 16％ less people. At the same time that northern cities is,the population in southern and western cities are growing. The population of San Jose is up 24％. Phoenix is up 33％. In Texas, Houston is up 26％ and El Paso is up 31％. In Florida, the population of Lauderdale is up 10％. The population of Virginia Beach is up 52％.
Why are people leaving the North? Why are they moving to the South and West? The number one reason is jobs. Because the South and West are growing, there's a need for builders, teachers, sale people, etc. People still want to live in cities, but they are choosing smaller cities. They're tired of crime, traffic, and population. Finally, people say they are looking for warmer climate. They are moving away from the cold, toward the sun.
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Choose the best answer:
1. A census in the first paragraph means __________ .
A. an official survey of the land in the city or country
B. an official survey of the buildings in the city or country
C. a count of the people who live in a city or country
D. an official survey of the money people make in the city or in country
2. Which of the following questions is most likely to be on a census for?
A. How many children do you have?
B. How much money do you have in the bank?
C. How much money do you pay for your house or apartment?
D. Where will you do on vacation next year?
3. In 2000, the population of the United Sates was __________ .
A. 226,500,000 B. 249,5000,000 C. 203,000,000 D. 23,000,000
4. Among the cities, whose population is decreasing, __________ has the most serious decline.
A. Washington D.C. B. New York City C. Philippines D. Pittsburgh
参考答案：1.C 2.A 3.A 4.D
