With 950 million people, India
ranks second to China among the
most populous countries. But since
China 71 a family planning
program in 1971, India has been
closing the 72. Indians have
reduced their birth rate but not
nearly 73 the Chinese have.
If current growth rates continue,
India’s population will 74
China's around the year 2028
75 about 1.7 billion.
　　Should that happen,it won't be
the 76 of the enlightened
women of Kerala,a state in
southern IndiA.77 India as a
whole adds almost 20 million
people a year, Kerala's population
is virtually 78 . The reason is
no mystery: nearly two-thirds of
Kerala women practice birth
control, 79 about 40% in the
entire nation.
　　The difference 80 the
emphasis put oil health programs,
81 birth control, by the state

authorities, 82 in 1957
became India's first elected
Communist 83 . And an
educationaltraditionand
matrilineal (母系的) customs in
parts of Kerala help girls and boys
get 84 good schooling.
While one in three Indian women
is 85 ,90% of those in Kerala
can read and write.
　　Higher literacy rates 86
family planning. "Unlike our
parents, we know that we can do
more for our children if we have
87 of them," says Laila
Cherian, 33, who lives in the
village of Kudamaloor. She has
limited herself 88 three
children－one below the national
89 of four. That kind of
restraint(抑制，克制) will keep
Kerala from putting added 90
on world food supplies.