Humanity reached a milestone in November last year, when the global population exceeded eight billion people. Reaching this number means people are living longer, with generally better access to healthcare, food and sanitation than previous generations.
Along with passing this milestone, many demographic changes are expected to occur in the coming years. A United Nations report shows that the world’s population will increase to around 9.7 billion people by the year 2050. It is predicted to peak three decades later at approximately 10.4 billion people and stay around this number until the end of the century. What’s interesting to note is that more than half of the population growth up to 2050 will come from just eight countries—the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Tanzania.
Although the population is increasing, it isn’t climbing as quickly as in the past. The global number has been growing at its slowest rate since the 1950s. In fact, the rate has been below 1% since 2020. Furthermore, fertility rates have been steadily declining over the years. Around two-thirds of humanity lives in countries with fertility rates below 2.1 births per woman, which is the number needed to maintain a population.
Photo courtesy of Pexels 照片:Pexels提供
Meanwhile, the share of the global population aged 65 and above is rapidly rising. It is predicted to rise from 10% last year to 16% in 2050. Countries with aging populations should adapt their policies by establishing or improving universal healthcare and long-term care systems.
2022年11月,人類達成一項里程碑,就在那時全球人口超過八十億。人口達到這一數量表示跟過去幾代的人相比,人們普遍更容易取得醫療、食物和公衛設施資源,因而活得更久。
除了突破這一項里程碑外,預計未來幾年人口統計資料將發生許多變化。一份聯合國報告顯示,到了2050年,世界人口將增加至大約九十七億。再過三十年,預計將達到約一百零四億的巔峰,並維持在這個數字上下直到本世紀結束。值得注意的是,直到2050年,人口增長有一半以上將來自僅僅八個國家——剛果民主共和國、埃及、衣索比亞、印度、奈及利亞、巴基斯坦、菲律賓、坦尚尼亞。
儘管人口正在增加,但並不像過去那樣迅速攀升。自1950年代以來,全球人口數一直以最慢的速度增加。事實上,自2020年以來,人口成長率一直低於百分之一。此外,過去幾年來生育率持續下滑。全球約三分之二的人類生活在生育率低於每名婦女生2.1個小孩的國家中,這是人口持平所需的數量。
同時,全球六十五歲以上人口的比例正迅速攀升。預計這一比例將從2022年的百分之十在2050年增長至百分之十六。人口高齡化的國家應調整政策,建立或改善全民醫療保健和長期照護的體系。
What Did You Learn?
1. According to the passage, when is the global population supposed to reach its peak?
(A) 2022. (B) 2050. (C) 2080. (D) 2100.
2. Why is a fertility rate of 2.1 births per woman significant?
(A) It is the highest fertility rate ever recorded.
(B) It is the current global average fertility rate.
(C) It is the average fertility rate of the eight largest countries.
(D) It is the number of births a population needs to maintain itself.
參考答案
1. (C) 2. (D)
Word in Use
1. humanity n. 人類(總稱,不可數)
The development of this medicine benefits all of humanity.
這款藥物的研發造福了全人類。
2. exceed vt. 超過
The costs might exceed our budget, so we have to cut down on expenses.
那些費用可能超過我們的預算,所以我們得減少花費。
3. access n.(使用某物的)機會/權利(不可數,常與介詞to並用)
There is limited access to water in the drought-stricken region.
在那個受旱災侵擾的地區,使用水的機會有限。
4. generation n. 一代,世代
Humans should preserve resources for future generations.
人類應為後代保存資源。
5. predict vt. 預測,預料
It’s hard to predict which team will win in the soccer competition.
很難預測哪一隊會在那場競爭激烈的足球賽中獲勝。
Practical Phrases
1. along with. . . 除了……(還有);連同/以及……
Green Island, along with Penghu, is a popular tourist spot.
除了澎湖以外,綠島也是人氣觀光勝地。
The prince was killed, along with his bodyguards.
那位王子連同其保鑣都被殺死。
2. up to + 時間點 直到……,在……以前
Up to last week, eight people signed up for the event, and we are expecting more this week.
截至上週,有八人報名參加活動,我們預期這週會有更多人。
3. at + one’s / a / an + Adj. + rate 以……的速度
Sales of the popular new smartphone are increasing at a very fast rate.
那款熱賣的新型智慧型手機以非常快的速度增加銷量。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
對許多人而言,雞蛋是生活上不可或缺的食物,不論是早餐三明治內的煎蛋、或是晚餐便當中的滷蛋,台灣人對雞蛋的需求量極大,根據統計,台灣人每年吃掉七十幾億顆蛋,是全世界雞蛋消耗量第一的國家。去年冬天開始禽流感侵襲全世界,全台雞蛋也受波及,嚴重缺貨,許多民眾排隊還不一定搶得到雞蛋,不只是大賣場與雜貨店,甚至早餐店都面臨了「缺蛋」的問題。全台面臨「蛋蛋危機」,政府也開始提出更多配套措施來應付目前缺蛋的窘況。本次就讓我們從「蛋荒」的議題來學各種描述社會現象及數據的英文吧! ========== 如何描述蛋荒? 一般講到「短缺」時,最常用shortage來形容,如去年的water shortage「缺水」、electricity/power shortage「缺電」。而現在全台面臨的就是一個egg shortage「蛋荒」。 Taiwan’s daily egg demand is about 24 million, while its daily production capacity during the shortage has been about 22.6 million eggs. (台灣每日的雞蛋需求約2,400萬顆,缺貨期間僅約2,260萬顆雞蛋。) shortage和shortfall的差別在於shortfall指的是「不足的(量)、缺額、短少的量」,簡單來說,fall short of…就是「短缺…」的意思。 Our sales have fallen short of the target set by the department. (我們的銷售額沒有達到部門設定的標準。) insufficient insufficient (adj)「不足,短少」在TOEIC測驗中經常出現,deficit (n)則可以解釋為「赤字、虧損」。 The bank just informed us that there were insufficient funds to make the transfer. (銀行剛通知我們帳戶資金不足以轉帳。) 另一個較難的單字是scarcity (n)「缺乏、不足、稀少」,形容詞為scarce (adj)。 The government decided to import eggs from other countries to address the scarcity. (政府決定從其他國家進口雞蛋來應付短缺的問題。) 「蛋蛋危機」? 造成這次蛋荒的原因究竟為何?根據報導,本次導致「蛋蛋危機」背後的因素相當複雜,從飼料價格上漲、日夜溫差大導致母雞致死率高、到禽流感肆虐等,都是引起缺蛋的主要原因。 The cold weather has been to blame, for some, and for others, the impact of avian influenza, climate instability, and rising international prices for materials. (天氣寒冷、禽流感、氣候不穩定以及國際原物料價格上漲都是罪魁禍首。) instability (n)「不穩定」,相反字為stability (n)、stable(adj)「穩定」,都是多益測驗高頻出現的單字。 Maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait is important
Global population hits 8 billion 全球人口突破八十億! Humanity reached a milestone in November last year, when the global population exceeded eight billion people. Reaching this number means people are living longer, with generally better access to healthcare, food and sanitation than previous generations. Along with passing this milestone, many demographic changes are expected to occur in the coming years. A United Nations report shows that the world’s population will increase to around 9.7 billion people by the year 2050. It is predicted to peak three decades later at approximately 10.4 billion people and stay around this number until the end of the century. What’s interesting to note is
The Arctic is not known for its abundance. On the contrary, people often think of it with a shiver, not only because of the brutal cold, but also because of the apparent lack of all forms of life. However, for the indigenous people of the area, including the “Inuit,” the Arctic has always been a place that provides for them. Despite conflicts with invaders and governmental persecution, Inuit culture has continued to connect people to the land — but climate change now threatens to undo that. For millennia, Inuit have lived and hunted on the ice in regions that are
James is surfing the Internet for lessons. 詹姆斯正在上網搜尋課程。 必備單字 1. experience v.經歷;n.經驗(國中基本1200字) 2. offer v.提供 (國中挑戰800字) 實用字詞 1. PE (Physical Education) class 體育課 2. voucher 現金券 3. ASAP (as soon as possible) 盡快 閱讀技巧: 將長句分成短字詞,以利閱讀 Become a member/of fUN Learning,/and choose the courses/you like. 成為一個會員/「fUN Learning」的/並且選擇課程/你喜歡。 斷句練習: If you have questions, you can also ask our online teachers. 解答: If you have questions,/you can also/ask our online teachers. 假如你有問題,/你也可以/ 問我們的線上老師。 考題練習: TOEIC Bridge測驗 X 國中會考題型 1. Which is true? (A) fUN Learning is a school. (B) fUN Learning is for students only. (C) You can learn from fUN Learning at midnight. 2. What does “them” in the text refer to? (A) The members. (B) The courses. (C) The questions. 3. James bought three