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  • 1. (2019·黄山模拟) 阅读理解

        In this Pennsylvania city, Pittsburgh is shrinking but getting wealthier. Since 2000, its population has declined by 95,000 while its income per capita (人均) has shot up 24 percent. The trend is taking hold in many other cities, like Buffalo in New York, Providence in Rhode Island and New Orleans.

        Some of these areas have created more high-paying jobs in energy, health care or education. Others have managed to reshape their producing industry for a new economy. Higher-paying jobs have a greater effect because they create demand for additional services. "The story in Pittsburgh is very positive, and other areas are looking at it as an example of the transformation that might be possible," said Guhan Venkatu, who wrote an economic history of the area called “Rust and Renewal" for the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.

        Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh have helped bring tech jobs and innovation(革新) to the area by sponsoring tech centers that help graduates start companies without moving to Silicon Valley or San Francisco. This has helped keep Pittsburgh's educated young population growing even as the entire population in the city has dropped.

        Pittsburgh has more STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) jobs than other shrinking cities, about 80, 000 or 7% of all jobs. STEM jobs add productivity and income growth to the area. Manufacturers of high-tech medical equipment in the Pittsburgh area also have doubled employment in the last 10 years.

        However, some experts question whether growing income per capita can really make up for a declining population. According to Patrick Adler, a researcher at the University of Toronto, population loss does matter if it means lower-skilled workers have fled because of a lack of opportunity. What's more, high-paying jobs in education and health care can disappear if the population declines too greatly. So it'd be wise to find ways to increase the population.

    1. (1) In what aspect does Pittsburgh set a good example?
      A . Transforming old energy into new energy. B . Creating more well-paid jobs. C . Prohibiting the manufacturing. D . Sponsoring higher education.
    2. (2) How do some academic institutions help with the local economy?
      A . By helping to attract more talents from other areas. B . By providing much technical support to local companies. C . By hosting tech centers for local educated graduates. D . By assisting in employing a large number of educated youths.
    3. (3) Why is Patrick Adler mentioned in the last paragraph?
      A . To show the disadvantage of a declining population. B . To suggest increasing high-paying jobs. C . To raise doubts about growing income per capita. D . To tell a reason why lower-skilled workers flee.
    4. (4) What can be a suitable title for the text?
      A . How Fast Job Growth Is Related to Population Growth B . How Less-crowded Cities Plan Their High-tech Economy C . Why Some Cities Are Losing People but Getting Wealthier D . Why Some Cities Are Suffering From a Shrinking Population

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