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Chapter 3. Unit 6. The World's Best Hope for the Future

Английский язык для международников и регионоведов. Часть I

Now the developing world is experiencing the same demographic change, only at a far faster pace. With the rapid growth of megacities, half the world’s population now lives in urban areas, where children offer little or no economic benefit to their parents. And like their counterparts in the industrialised world, women in the third world increasingly take jobs and so they, too, may lose income when they bear children.

The availability of television also seems to have a dramatic effect. Since 1975, for example, Brazil’s fertility rate has dropped to just 2.27 children per woman. This is not the result of a family planning programme, since Brazil has never adopted one. Today, the number of hours that a Brazilian woman spends watching telenovelas (domestically produced soap operas) strongly predicts how many children she will have. These soaps typically show wealthy individuals living the high life in big cities. The telenovelas have the same cultural message as many North American and western European cultural exports: that people with wealth are people who have at most one or two children.

At first, slower population growth, and the population ageing that goes with it, seems beneficial. Many economists believe that falling birth rates helped make possible the economic boom that occurred first in Japan, and then in many other Asian nations, beginning in the 1960s. As the number of children declined, so did the burden of their dependency.

Yet even if declining fertility rates bring a “demographic dividend”, that dividend eventually has to be repaid if the trend continues. At first there are fewer children to feed, clothe and educate, leaving more for adults to enjoy. But soon enough there are fewer productive workers as well, while there are also more and more dependent elderly, each of whom use up far more resources than a child does, mostly in health-related expenses.

This dynamic suggests one of the many ways in which population ageing may become a vicious cycle16. As the cost of supporting the elderly has risen, governments have already raised taxes on younger workers, and will have to do so much more often in the future. Younger workers will become less able to afford children, thus causing a new cycle of population ageing.

So where will the children of the future come from? Some biologists believe that modern human beings have created environment in which the “fittest”, or most successful, individuals are precisely those who have few, if any, children. So does the future belong to those who believe in large families out of religious or chauvinistic17 convictions?

It seems that those who oppose modern ideas will have an evolutionary advantage, whether they are clean-living Mormons(2), or Muslims who still live in comparatively large families, or members of new sects that believe in natalism(3).

Can secular societies avoid population loss and decline?

In his 1968 bestseller, The Population Bomb, Paul R. Ehrlich warned: “The battle to feed all of humanity is over. In the 1970s the world will suffer famines — hundreds of millions of people are going to starve to death.” Fortunately, Ehrlich’s prediction proved wrong, perhaps in part because so many people believed it would come true. The world now faces the unexpected challenge of population ageing and decline. We are in many ways lucky to have this problem instead of its opposite, but a problem it still is.

/after Philip Longman’s essay in New Statesman. May 2004/

Notes:

1.Fertility — the ability of a person to produce babies;

2. Mormons believe that if husband and wife are healthy they should have as many children as God sends them;

3.Natalism — the belief in human reproduction as a central priority of life.

16 замкнутый круг

17

Английский язык для международников и регионоведов. Часть I

Read the text for detail and answer comprehension questions:

1.What is a widespread belief about the causes of many environmental problems?

2.What changes will have taken place in the world’s population by 2050?

3.In what parts of the world will the population age more quickly?

4.What is the main economic factor which contributes to the decline in the number of children?

5.Where is this tendency more evident: in cities or rural areas? Why?

6.In what way is television to blame for fewer births?

7.Why is population ageing likely to become a vicious cycle?

8.Who are the “fittest” individuals in modern environment?

9.Why does the author believe that in a way we are lucky to face the problem of population decline?

Read the text again and sum up the information relevant to a) the developed countries, b) the developing world.

VOCABULARY LIST

Ex. 1. Study the Vocabulary List and translate all the examples.

1.pressing, adj. настоятельный, неотложный, безотлагательный

pressing problem / issue насущная, злободневная, актуальная, неотложная проблема

pressing need настоятельная необходимость

There is a pressing need to fight corruption.

What are the most pressing issues that face our planet?

Chapter 3. Unit 6. The World's Best Hope for the Future

Chapter 3. Unit 6. The World's Best Hope for the Future

Английский язык для международников и регионоведов. Часть I

2.disappear, v. исчезать, пропадать

Chapter 3. Unit 6. The World's Best Hope for the Future

Английский язык для международников и регионоведов. Часть I

VOCABULARY PRACTICE

Ex. 2. Fill in the gaps with the correct word. The fi rst letter is given to help you.

1.The economies of such countries as North and South Korea, and the Philippines d_______

heavily on fishing.

2.Harry Potter d_______ from Privet Drive when he was six years old.

3.“I’m so sorry I said those horrible things — I didn’t m_______ a word of it.”

4.In the 16th century, Maori villages on the coast g_______ in number, and population p_______

pushed many people inland.

5.Restrictions on the use of sugar may d_______ the risk of d_______ing diabetes.

6.Albert Einstein described himself as a c_______ pacifist and believed that humanity would choose the path of peace.

7.Olives are g_______ in many Mediterranean countries, where they have been cultivated for centuries.

8.Remove any dust so that your plants b_______ from all the a_______ light.

9.The Dead Sea salt keeps the skin young and has a b_______ effect on the body on the whole.

10.Some people will spare no e_______ in achieving their goals, especially if it is at someone else’s e_______.

11.People cannot play a m_______ role in the country’s political life unless they know the facts.

12.The unemployment of young people is a p_______ economic and social issue in both d_______ and d_______ countries

13.Patriotism is your c_______ that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it. (Bernard Shaw)

14.What infections can d_______ from animal bites and scratches?

15.If you are a megastar, you can earn thousands for a five-second a_______ in a television ad.

16.Over the years, I have done renovations and improvements that have i_______ the value of my home.

17.The number of new houses has increased rapidly, so the gap between need and a_______ has been narrowed.

18.He has led a lonely life and cannot d_______ on his relatives to help him now.

Ex. 3.

a)Translate the following sentences paying special attention to the verb RAISE. Memorize the word combinations.

b)What other nouns can go with this verb? If necessary, consult a good dictionary.

1.To help tsunami survivors, students raised money in many ways, including after school food and drink sales and a talent show.

2.The company’s aim is to raise safety standards of its automobile models.

3.The documentary raises the question why so many teenagers suffer from depression.

4.Charlie raised his voice as he always did when he spoke to the old man.

5.Two mysterious deaths have raised fears that another lethal flu epidemic may be on the way.

6.The twins were raised by their grandma.

Английский язык для международников и регионоведов. Часть I

7.The rains raised hopes of putting an end to the four-year drought (засуха).

8.They raise sheep to feed the big family.

Ex. 4. Translate the following sentences paying special attention to the Active Vocabulary.

1.For many governments, poverty is a more pressing problem than the greenhouse effect.

2.Historians claim that our future depends on the understanding of the past.

3.If the meaning of a word cannot be understood from the context, consult a dictionary.

4.London grew in importance under the Tudor rule.

5.Many people appear happy on the outside but suffer in silence.

6.Many young people in Gateshead have grown up in families in which it is very rare for someone to have a well-paid job.

7.Microsoft develops and supports a wide range of software products for computers.

8.No one will ever be able to convince me that Madonna is worth listening to.

9.Oh, don’t be mad with Geraldine! She meant no harm; she was kidding.

10.Like many men, Warren didn’t care much about his appearance.

11.It is a mistake to suppose that all animal life exists only for man's benefit.

12.Regular exercise may decrease the risk of colds.

13.The UK has 3 million people on disability benefit, which makes 5% of the population.

14.What are the latest developments in e-learning (электронное обучение)?

15.There are wind-surfers and catamarans available for rent on the beach.

16.Both countries depend on tourism for their economic survival.

17.There have been a lot of rumours about the disappearance of the famous actress.

18.Many scientists believe that red wine or grape juice can decrease the risk of developing heart diseases.

19.Residents of big cities are always pressed for time.

20.Many teens have developed psychological dependence on the Internet.

21.I don’t want to be one of those who think only about their career at the expense of their family life.

Ex. 5. Make up sentences about the things / people in A using an appropriate suggestion from B. Use the pattern GROW IN + NOUN. Add a sentence or two to expand on the situation.

Model:

stay-at-home mothers — number → Stay-at-home mothers are growing in number because the child benefit has been increased dramatically, and more women can afford not to work.

Chapter 3. Unit 6. The World's Best Hope for the Future

Chapter 3. Unit 6. The World's Best Hope for the Future

Английский язык для международников и регионоведов. Часть I

Ex. 6. For each word given below fi nd at least three words from the box that can go with it. Some words from the box can go into several groups. Can you continue the lists? Use the expressions in sentences of your own.

Ex. 7. Think of a phrase with an Active Vocabulary word that means the opposite. When in doubt, consult the Vocabulary List.

to do harm to eyes

a catalogue that cannot be found on-line questionable source of information

to play the role in such a way that nobody believed the acting to be unwilling to pay for the repairs of the apartment

the factory is declining a senseless job

an unimportant question to become unseen

a slight salary rise

Ex. 8. Odd one out. Find in each set one word that does not go with the main one.

BENEFICIAL: relationship, development, drug addiction, cooperation, influence; DEPENDABLE: babysitter, pressure, conclusions, company, web site; EXPENSIVE: city district, sport, clothing, sufferer, camera, medicines; CONVINCING: evidence, speaker, argument, hunger, victory;

CONVINCED: atheist, reformer, liberal, supporter of ..., management.

Ex. 9. Short story contest.

Make up a short story (10–12 sentences) with the Active Vocabulary words and present it in class. Don’t read when making your presentation. Choose the best story using the following criteria:

1.interest of the plot;

2.use of the Active Vocabulary (the number of words and their acceptability);

3.grammatically correct sentences.

Ex. 10. Pairwork. Make up and answer questions using the Active Vocabulary and the following suggestions.

Model:

companies, employees, work under pressure → Why do you think some companies are looking for employees who can work under pressure?

2.no expense to …;

3.an important test, to be pressed for time;

Английский язык для международников и регионоведов. Часть I

4.age; to be dependent on your parents, till;

5.singer(s), popularity, the increase / decrease;

6.to increase one’s vocabulary;

7.humanity, will benefit, global warming;

8.dependable, sources of;

9.to judge, appearance, you;

10.how, convincingly, to lie.

Ex. 11. Translate the sentences using the Active Vocabulary.

1.Существует настоятельная необходимость повысить качество медицинского обслуживания по всей (throughout) стране.

2.Я выполняю свою работу не на благо какой-то организации, а на благо всей страны.

3.Если вы будете удерживать (давить на) кнопку в течение нескольких секунд, компьютер автоматически отключится.

4.Ричард начал проявлять (приобрёл) интерес к математике, когда учился в школе.

5.Муж Луизы, убежденный атеист, не разрешает детям ходить в церковь.

6.Не судите о людях по внешности.

7.В современном английском языке очень многие слова потеряли свои старые значения и приобрели (gain) новые.

8.В будущем зависимость человека от компьютера возрастет.

9.Томас может убедить кого угодно в чём угодно.

10.Власти города надеются установить взаимовыгодные отношения с городом-побратимом (sister town) из США.

11.Новый фильм предназначается для детей младше 12 лет.

12.К сожалению, численность населения в стране снижается.

13.Ему было очень трудно убедить своих друзей, что он выполнит обещание.

14.Можем ли мы рассчитывать, что ты придешь в воскресенье?

15.Шло время, и его популярность среди читателей росла. Он больше не испытывал нужды в деньгах и был убеждён, что его жизнь наполнена смыслом.

16.Результаты экзамена будут известны через два дня.

17.В развитых странах тучность (obesity) стала насущной проблемой.

WORD BUILDING

Ex. 12. Forming nouns. Analyze the following patterns. Form nouns from the suggested words using the appropriate suffix and explain how the resulting noun is connected with the original word.

A.to achieve, archaeology, art, to believe, to collect, to design, economics, electricity, humour, mathematics, to manage, philosophy, physics, politics, racism, science, solo, tactics, tour.

B.to blend, to cook, to cool, to compress, to freeze, to highlight, to mix, to print, to toast.

Chapter 3. Unit 6. The World's Best Hope for the Future