Humanity reached a milestonein November 2022, when the global population exceededeight billion people. Reaching this number meanspeople are living longer, with generally betteraccess to healthcare, food, and sanitationthan past generations.
Along withpassing this milestone, many demographicchanges are expectedto 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 approximately10.4 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 to2050 will come from just eight countries—the DemocraticRepublic 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. 25 The global number has been growing at its slowest ratesince the 1950s. In fact, the rate has been below 1% since 2020.
Furthermore, fertilityrateshave beensteadilydeclining over the years. Around two-thirds of humanity lives in countrieswith fertilityrates below 2.1 births per woman, which is the number needed to maintain a population.
Meanwhile, the share of the global population aged 65 and above is rapidlyrising. It is predicted to rise from 10% in 2022 to 16% in 2050. Countries with aging populations should adapt their policies by establishing or improving universal healthcare and long-termcare systems.
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 fertilityrate of 2.1 births per woman significant?
(A) It is the highest fertilityrate ever recorded.
(B) It is the current global average fertilityrate.
(C) It is the average fertilityrate of the eight largest countries.
(D) It is the number of births a population needs to maintain itself.
3. What are governments in aging societies advised to do?
(A) Raise fertilityrates.
(B) Betterhealthcare.
(C) Spend more on education.
(D) Pay medical costs for the elderly.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
humanity
[hjuˋmænətɪ]
n. 人類（總稱，不可數）；仁愛，慈悲
=
mankind
=
human being
We should do things for the welfare of all humanity.
我們應該做對全人類有益的事。
We should do things for the good of all mankind.
我們應該做對全人類有益的事。
We should do things for the good of all humans.
我們應該做對全人類有益的事。
Mother Teresa was a woman of great humanity.
德蕾莎修女是個非常慈悲的女性。
高中 Level 4
●
exceed
[ɪkˋsid]
vt. 超過
=
surpass
Don’t exceed the speed limit when driving.
開車時不要超速。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
access
[ˋæksɛs]
n. （對人、地、物的）接近或使用的權利或門徑（與介詞 to 並用）
vt. 使用；（電腦）存取（資料）
The only means of access to the building is along a muddy track.
沿著一條泥濘小路是到那棟大樓的唯一途徑。
Students in this school have easy access to the lab.
該校的學生可隨時使用實驗室。
You need a card to access the building at night.
晚上時，你需要用一張卡來進入那棟建築。
Every time I access this file, my computer crashes.
每當我要讀取這個檔案時，我的電腦就會當機。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
generation
[͵dʒɛnəˋreʃən]
n. 世代
If the generation gap between parents and their children could be narrowed, there wouldn’t be so many social problems.
假使父母與子女間的代溝能縮小，就不會有那麼多的社會問題了。
多益綠色
英檢初級
高中 Level 4
●
predict
[prɪˋdɪkt]
vt. 預測
=
foretell
Dad predicted that I would win the contest, and he was right.
老爸預測我會贏得這次的比賽，結果他是對的。
高中 Level 4
●
approximately
[əˋprɑksəmɪtlɪ]
adv. 大約
The shareholders’meeting will begin in approximately half an hour.
股東會議大約在半小時後開始。
多益綠色
英檢中高
高中 Level 6
●
steadily
[ˋstɛdəlɪ]
adv. 不斷地，漸漸地
=
gradually
=
progressively
With the breeze blowing steadily from the window, I couldn’t help but fall asleep.
微風從窗口徐徐吹來，我忍不住睡著了。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
decline
[dɪˋklaɪn]
n. & vi. 下跌
vt. & vt. 婉拒
=
decrease
Bob declined to join Judy’s dinner party.
鮑伯婉拒出席茱蒂的晚宴派對。
I offered to give Tina a ride after the party, but she declined.
舞會結束後我提議讓蒂娜搭便車，但她婉拒了。
Car sales declined by 5% in the second quarter.
汽車銷售量在第 2 季下降了 5%。
Street violence seems to have been on the decline ever since the new mayor was sworn in.
新市長上任後，街頭暴力事件似乎已在減少中。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 5
●
maintain
[menˋten]
vt. 保持；維修保養；堅稱
Our team maintained the lead until the end.
我們的隊伍一直到終場都保持領先。
Such a large yard is hard to maintain.
這麼大的院子很難維護。
The man maintained that he didn’t steal the woman’s purse.
男子堅稱他沒有偷那位婦人的手提包。
多益藍色
英檢初級
高中 Level 2
●
adapt
[əˋdæpt]
.vt. & vi. （使）適應（與介詞 to 並用）、改編
It’s hard for me to adapt myself to city life.
我很不適應都市生活。
It’s hard for me to get accustomed to city life.
我很不適應都市生活。
It’s hard for me to adjust to city life.
我很不適應都市生活。
It took the new employee about a month to adapt to the new environment.
這名新進員工花了一個月左右的時間去適應新環境。
The blockbuster movie was adapted from an original novel.
這部賣座鉅片改編自一本原創小說。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
universal
[͵junəˋvɝs!]
a. 普遍的，全宇宙的；全世界的
n. 眾人皆知的概念或特色
=
international
It’s a universal truth that people need to be loved.
人人皆需要愛，舉世皆然。
Smiling is a universal expression.
微笑是全世界共通的語言。
The philosophy professor talked about universals, such as the need to feel loved.
哲學教授談到了一些普遍的概念，如被愛的需要。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
rate
[ret]
vt. 評比為
n. 比率、速率
The rate of unemployment has been rising in recent years.
近年來的失業率逐漸上升。
This resort is rated as the most beautiful place in the country.
這個觀光勝地被評為該國最美的地方。
At any rate, their performance did not live up to our expectations. 無論如何，他們的表現並不如我們所預期。
The country’s population is growing at a slow rate.
該國的人口以緩慢的速度成長。
高中 Level 3
●
milestone
[ˋmaɪl͵ston]
n. 里程碑
The navigator’s voyage around the globe marked an important milestone in history.
這名航海探險家環繞地球的航行在歷史上記下重要的里程碑。
高中 Level 5
●
sanitation
[͵sænəˋteʃən]
n. . 公共衛生系統（不可數）
Poor sanitation is a widespread problem in this
country. 公衛系統很差在此國是個普遍存在的問題。
高中 Level 6
●
democratic
[͵dɛməˋkrætɪk]
a. 民主的；〔美〕民主黨的（大寫）
The president was elected through a democratic process.
該總統是經由民主程序選出來的。
The Democratic and Republican Parties are the two major political parties in the US. 民主黨與共和黨是美國的兩個主要政黨。
高中 Level 3
●
demographic
[͵diməˋgræfɪk]
n. 族群
●
fertility
[fɝˋtɪlətɪ]
n. . 肥沃；生育力
The fertility of the land offered the farmer a decent
life.
這肥沃的土地使這農夫的日子過得不錯。
Maria took medicine to increase her fertility.
瑪麗亞吃藥以增進生育能力。
高中 Level 6
●
long-term
[ˋlɔŋ͵tɝm]
adj. 長期的
高中 Level 1
●
better
[ˋbɛtɚ]
adj. 更好的
adv. 更好地
n. 更好的事物 / 行為
vt. 提升，改善
George wants to buy a better car than his current one.
喬治想買一輛比現在更好的車。
Tony was unhappy because his sister did better than
him on the final exam.
湯尼很不高興，因為他妹妹期末考考得比他好。
Trevor had a hard life, but he wanted better for his kids.
崔佛的生活過得很艱難，但他想讓他的孩子有更好的生活。
Steve decided to better his job opportunities by getting a master’s degree.
史提夫決定去取得碩士學位好來提升自己的工作機會。
Josh knew, for better or worse, he must accept his parents’ decision.
喬許知道，無論好壞，他都得接受他父母的決定。
高中 Level 2
Practical Phrases
●
along with sb/sth
連同某人 / 物，以及某人 / 物
= together with...
My camera was stolen, along with my cellphone.
我的相機連同手機一起被偷了。
●
up to...
多達⋯⋯
The stadium is very large and can hold up to 60,000 people.
那間體育館很寬敞，可容納多達六萬人。
●
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。
