Language Point 16

As the number of women going to school increases, the growth rate declines. (Para. 5)

Meaning: The population growth rate in China becomes lower because more and more women are going to school.

decline: v. 1. become worse or less

The number of staff has declined from 12,000 to 10,000.

職工的人數從一萬二千人降到了一萬人。

The value of the dollar on the world market has declined in recent years.

最近幾年美元在世界市場上的價值已有所下降。

The number of smokers in the United States declined greatly in the 1980s.

二十世紀80年代美國吸煙人數大量減少。

2. refuse usually politely; being unwilling

We had to decline the invitation to visit our friends in another city.

我們只得謝絕了去另一城市拜訪朋友的邀請。

The football star declined to answer the news writer's question.

那位足球明星拒絕回答新聞記者的提問。

n. process of becoming worse or less

If something is in decline, falling into decline, or on the decline, it is slowly growing smaller, weaker, or worse.

如果什么東西在縮減、衰弱或衰退，那它就是在漸漸變小、變弱或變差。

Thankfully the smoking of cigarettes is on the decline.

謝天謝地，抽煙的人越來越少了。