The graph below shows the proportion of the population aged 65 and over
between 1940 and 2040 in three different countries.
The line graph compares the
percentage of people aged 65 or more in three
countries over a
period of 100 years.
It is clear that the proportion of
elderly people increases in each country
between 1940 and 2040. Japan is expected to see the most dramatic changes in its elderly population.
In 1940, around 9% of Americans were aged 65 or over, compared to about 7% of Swedish people and
5% of Japanese people.
The proportions of elderly people in the USA and Sweden rose gradually over the next 50 years,
reaching just under 15% in 1990.
By contrast, the figures for Japan remained below 5% until the early 2000s.
Looking into the future, a sudden increase in the percentage of elderly
people is predicted for Japan, with a jump of over 15% in just 10 years from 2030 to 2040.
By 2040, it is thought that around 27% of the Japanese population will be 65 years old or more,
while the figures for Sweden and the USA will be slightly
lower, at about 25% and 23% respectively.
Sample #37
It
has been more than 30 years since man first landed on the moon.
Some
people think that space research is a waste of money. Do you agree or disagree?
Model answer
For over fifty years, a number of
nations have been involved in the exploration of outer space. This research has
been very costly, of course.
Has this money been well-spent or
wasted?
Some people believe that all or
most space research should be eliminated because of its incredible expense, not
only in terms of money, but also in terms of scientific and human resources.
These people point out the fact
that it cost billions of dollars to send astronauts to the moon, but all they
brought back were some worthless rocks.
These people say that the money
and effort now being wasted in outer space could be spent for homeless people,
improving the education system, saving the environment, and finding cures for
diseases.
However, other people believe that
space research has provided many benefits to mankind.
They point out that hundreds of
useful products, from personal computers to heart pacemakers to freeze-dried
foods, are the direct or indirect results of space research.
They say that weather and
communication satellites, which are also products of space programs, have
benefited people all over the globe.
In addition to these practical
benefits, supporters of the space program point to the scientific knowledge
that has been acquired about the sun, the moon, the planets and even our own
earth as a result of space research.
I agree with those people who
support space research and want it to continue.
Space research, as shown, has
already brought many benefits to humanity.
Perhaps it will bring even more benefits in
the future, ones that we cannot even imagine now.
Moreover, just as individual
people need challenges to make their lives more interesting, I believe the
human race itself needs a challenge, and I think that the peaceful exploration
of outer space provides just such a challenge.
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