英语听力精选进阶版 6331（在线收听）

As China's economy has grown bigger, its population has grown older. But is China growing too old, too fast?

The one-child policy has caused a decline in the birth rate, while the average age has gone up. One in four permanent residents in Shanghai is retired, and the rest of China will soon be just as mature. The Chinese population is no spring chicken: by the year 2050, a third of Chinese people will be over the age of 60.

A demographer from Fudan University said that "the speed of ageing in China is unique." It has only taken China 20 years to reach an age profile that took Britain or France 60 or 70 years.

But what problems are associated with living until a ripe old age? Fewer than 2% of the elderly will find a place in a state nursing home because all the beds are taken up.

China's economy also depends on a supply of cheap, young workers – and this supply is running out. "You can see the way an ageing society is affecting the labour force" says Jerry Mo, owner of a small factory. "We are becoming unprofitable."

An ancient Chinese saying sums up why this challenge is so worrying: China will become "too old to get rich." Despite its booming economy, China is still a developing country. Can it find solutions as quickly as new challenges are born?

Quiz 小测验

1. Find four words or expressions in the article that mean 'old'.

Mature, no spring chicken, ageing, elderly.

2. Is this statement true, false or not given? One in four Chinese people is retired.

False. One in four residents in Shanghai is retired, and soon the situation will be the same in the rest of China.

3. Is this statement true, false or not given? In 2050, a third of Chinese people will be in their 60s.

False. In 2050, a third of Chinese people will be over the age of 60, but not necessarily in their 60s.

4. Name two problems caused by China's ageing population and low birth rate.

1) Fewer than 2% of the elderly will find a place in a state nursing home. 2) The supply of young workers is disappearing.

5. Find two words in the article that mean 'growing'.

Booming and developing.

Glossary 词汇表

grown bigger 已经越来越大

grown older 已经越来越老

birth rate 出生率

average age 平均年龄

retired 退休的

mature 成熟的

no spring chicken 不再年轻了

demographer 人口统计学家

age profile 年龄轮廓

until a ripe old age 直到老年

elderly 老年人

nursing home 养老院

ageing society 老龄化社会

ancient 古老的

booming 蓬勃增长的

developing 发展中的