作文題目
It is expected that there will be a higher proportion of older people than young people in many countries in the future.
Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
題目翻譯
據(jù)預(yù)測,將來很多國家的老齡化人口的比重將會超過年輕人。你認(rèn)為這是一種積極還是消極的變化?
題目解讀
【關(guān)鍵詞分析】
older people
"老年人"有很多說法,這個(gè)詞在文章中肯定會多次出現(xiàn),因此一定要做好同義替換準(zhǔn)備。elderly people, the elderly, pensioners, senior citizens都可以,但要少用old people.
ageing society (Br.E.) / aging society (Am.E.)
老齡化社會,這個(gè)詞是必備的社會學(xué)術(shù)語。這個(gè)詞雖然沒有在題目中出現(xiàn),但是考生一定會在正文中用到這個(gè)詞。
關(guān)于ageing society的相關(guān)知識,請閱讀維基百科
【話題分類與題型】
本題是老題,個(gè)別詞句略有改動(dòng)。與2006年2月11日、2011年10月8日的話題基本一致。短期內(nèi)出現(xiàn)如此接近的題目,在雅思考試中并不多見。屬于社會類話題的"人口結(jié)構(gòu)與老齡化"分支。上一次出現(xiàn)社會類話題是在2011年12月17日。題型為議論文中的"利弊分析",這種題型是所有議論文題型中最簡單的,在2011年僅出現(xiàn)4次,這是2012年首次出現(xiàn)該題型。
【話題評價(jià)】
社會類話題共有兩大分支:男女平等,人口結(jié)構(gòu)與老齡化。本題在"十大話題萬能分類題庫"中屬于母題,因此只要做好充足的復(fù)習(xí)準(zhǔn)備,難度不大。
【類似話題】
1. Surveys show that in many countries, people are living longer but increased life expectancy has many implications for the aging individuals and for society as a whole. What are the possible effects of longer living for individuals and society? (100306)
2. Some people believe that in order to give opportunities to the new generation, companies should encourage high level employees who are older than 55 to retire. Do you agree or disagree? (030712, 030809)
5. Some countries have an ever-increasing proportion of population who are aged 15 and younger. What is your opinion of the current and future effects it may have in those countries? (080419)
【題型解析與結(jié)構(gòu)思路】
"利弊分析"題型有幾種出題方式:1. What are the advantages and disadvantages? 2. Do you think the advantages outweigh its disadvantages? 3. Do you think it is a positive or negative development? 其中,第一、二中好處和壞處都必須在文章中提及,文章必須寫成雙邊討論,結(jié)論既可以是好處壞處都有(完全中立),也可以是好處大于或小于壞處(帶偏向)。而第三種題型除了以上寫法之外,也可以寫成單邊討論。"單邊討論"題型必須用五段式寫,正文三段分別闡述三個(gè)好處,或者三個(gè)壞處。
本題建議寫成雙邊討論帶偏向的寫法,正文第一段承認(rèn)老齡化帶來的好處(如老齡產(chǎn)業(yè)會帶動(dòng)相關(guān)產(chǎn)業(yè)發(fā)展),而重點(diǎn)在正文第二段(或五段式的正文二、三段),強(qiáng)調(diào)人口老齡化對社會產(chǎn)生的危害(給社會、子女造成負(fù)擔(dān))。結(jié)論段簡單地介紹一下解決方法即可(如政府建立完善的社會保障體系,確保老年人的基本生活)。
范文
Population ageing has emerged as a global phenomenon in the wake of the now virtually universal decline in fertility and increases in life expectancy. Many countries are confronted with new demographic realities that spread from the cities to the villages. In my opinion, more problems than benefits will surface with this trend.
Admittedly, older people often have time to offer for the benefit of family and the community. Nowadays, the young tend to rely on the older generation for household chores. It is also reported that time devoted to voluntary work and care is at its height within the age groups over 55. Such devotion adds greatly to the community well-being, if not to the GDP.
Population ageing, however, brings about serious economic and social problems. When the number of workers decreases, the national income goes down. At the same time, as a person's use of health services increases significantly in the later years of their life, an ageing population causes a relative rise in the public resources required for pensions, health and residential care outlays. Moreover, with an ageing population, the problems associated with the "sandwich generation", people who have both children and parents to look after, have gained increasing prominence. Members of this "in-between" generation are often torn between the needs of raising children, caring for ageing parents and job responsibilities.
To sum up, population ageing is an inevitable prospect, the negative effects of which outweigh the positive. As ageing is a normal part of lifecycle for human beings, we must recognize its challenges to our life and society, and work on effective strategies to minimize its adverse influences.