课时讲练通2017_2018学年高中英语Module2DevelopingandDevelopedCountriesPeriod1IntroductionReadingandVocabulary文本研读课课堂10分钟达标外研版必修.docVIP

Module 2 Developing and Developed Countries Period 1 Introduction Reading and Vocabulary 课堂10分钟达标 　　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 seventy-three 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 twenty-four 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 ledto 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