Read the following passage and choose the best answer for each question. WORLD POPULATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE In many ways, the increasingly rapid pace of climate change is a direct result of the growth of the human population. In the last 100 years, the world population has more than tripled, from just under 2 billion at the beginning of the century to nearly 7 billion today. Obviously, this has meant that the world has needed to produce three times as much food, energy, and other natural resources. In addition, the average person uses more energy and natural resources than the average person one hundred years ago, meaning that the rates of consumption are actually much higher than just the increase in population would imply. For example, it took the world 125 years to use the first one trillion barrels of oil. The next trillion barrels will be used in less than 30 years, which is almost 5 times as fast, not three. All of these activities: food production, energy usage, and the use of natural resources, contribute to climate change in some way. The greater amounts of oil and other fuels burned to create energy release chemicals which add to global warming. In order to produce more food farmers cut down trees to gain more land for their fields. In addition, we cut down trees to build the houses needed for a larger population. Those trees are an essential part of controlling global warming. These are just two examples of the impacts that the growing population has on global warming; others are too numerous to mention. In addition to a growing population, the world also has a population that desires a higher standard of living than in the past, and a higher standard of living requires the use of even more natural resources. A look at one country will provide a clear example of this fact. China is the world's most populous nation, with 1.3 billion people. Currently, the standard of living for most of those people is far below that of people in first world nations. Therefore, the average Chinese citizen uses far fever natural resources and less energy than the average citizen of the US or Japan. But China is growing in power, and more of its citizens are beginning to expect a first world lifestyle. If every Chinese person attains a first world lifestyle, the amount of energy and natural resources needed in the world will double, even if the standard of living in every other nation on Earth remains the same as it is today. 1. The word "pace" in the passage is closest in meaning to…. . A. growth B. speed C. problem D. pollution 2. The word "consumption" in the passage is closest in meaning to…. A. development B. usage C. population D. increase 3. According to the passage, how does food production contribute to global warming? A. Producing more food leads to growth in the world population. B. Food production uses many chemicals which add to global warming. C. Food production requires that the forests be cleared to create farmland. D. Food production decreases the ability of the air to release heat. 4. The word “others” in the passage refers to…. . A. problems of global warming in the modern world B. examples of the environmental consequences of population growth C. ways in which our usage of oil will effect the world climate D. the reasons why trees are essential in controlling global warming 5. According to the passage, how does the standard of living affect global warming? A. Higher standards of living are better for the environment. B. First world nations create less population than developing nations. C. The use of natural resources is directly related to the standard of living. D. High standards of living lead to increases in world population. 6A. To compare the standards of their citizens B. To explain why China will not be able to become a first world nation C. To better illustrate the effects of an increase in standards of living D. To explain why the world's use of energy will need to double soon