【熱點(diǎn)話題】今天想就老齡化導(dǎo)致的退休年齡問題和大家聊聊寫作。
前面這則新聞來源于ebusiness,報(bào)道源于歐盟出臺(tái)的一份報(bào)告,敦促歐洲各國(guó)提高退休年齡,以緩解退休金支付壓力。根據(jù)歐盟委員會(huì)預(yù)計(jì),為了保持現(xiàn)有的退休金支付水平,至2060年,歐盟27個(gè)成員國(guó)必須將退休年齡提高至70歲。后面的幾則新聞則摘取了來自于中國(guó)﹑法國(guó)和英國(guó)政府及民眾對(duì)于提高退休年齡這一問題的不同態(tài)度和行動(dòng)。一向關(guān)注“弱勢(shì)群體”和“熱點(diǎn)問題”的雅思出題者,也在曾經(jīng)的題目中談及這方面的內(nèi)容,我們來看一下以下兩道題目:
1. In many countries, the proportion of older people is steadily increasing. Does this trend have more positive or negative effects on the society?
2. In some countries the average worker is obliged to retire at the age of 50, while in others people can work until they are 65 or 70. Meanwhile, we see some politicians enjoying power well into their eighties. Clearly, there is little agreement on an appropriate retirement age. Until what age do you think people should be encouraged to remain in paid employment?
一道題目是討論老齡化帶來的影響,眾所周知,這一現(xiàn)象給社會(huì)造成了沉重的經(jīng)濟(jì)壓力,在出生率低壽命較長(zhǎng)的西方國(guó)家,這一問題導(dǎo)致的直接后果就是“是否要提高退休年齡”,因?yàn)檫@是解決養(yǎng)老金缺口最立竿見影的辦法。
另一道題目是關(guān)于退休年齡的討論,實(shí)際上,各國(guó)對(duì)于退休年齡的不同態(tài)度取決于自身利益,發(fā)達(dá)國(guó)家民眾反對(duì)延遲退休,是因?yàn)閾?dān)心福利;而在中國(guó),特別是體力勞動(dòng)者及低收入群體反對(duì)延遲退休,是因?yàn)閾?dān)心生計(jì)。
建議考生可以從這樣的一些現(xiàn)實(shí)問題中去看待甚至分析題目,并給出相對(duì)全面的觀點(diǎn)。
【精彩片段】下面我們回到剛才的那則新聞?wù)?,關(guān)注其中對(duì)雅思寫作此類話題構(gòu)思及語言有幫助的精彩片段:
The choice we face is poorer pensioners, higher pension contributions or more people working more and longer.
這句話很好地回答了在老齡化的背景下人們將會(huì)面臨的問題:靠養(yǎng)老金生活的人生活更為窘迫,養(yǎng)老金繳款更高,人們需要工作更多更長(zhǎng)。
We know the life expectation is rising but see no evidence that a higher age of retirement would be matched by employers developing workplaces which encourage older workers to remain at work.
人們都知道人均壽命在增長(zhǎng),但沒有證據(jù)證明延遲退休年齡將適合那些準(zhǔn)備鼓勵(lì)上了年紀(jì)的勞動(dòng)者繼續(xù)留在工作崗位上的雇主。”
【高端詞匯】為大家整理了雅思寫作中與話題相關(guān)的一些常用詞匯。
life expectancy 預(yù)期壽命
ageing 老齡化
fertility出生率
mortality 死亡率
senior citizen 老人
spend one’s remaining days happily 安度晚年
enjoy family union 享受一家團(tuán)聚的樂趣
live in solitude 孤獨(dú)地生活
financial difficulty 經(jīng)濟(jì)困難
unstable life without pension 沒有保險(xiǎn)金的不穩(wěn)定生活
nursing home 養(yǎng)老院
show filial obedience 表現(xiàn)出孝順
spiritual comfort 精神安慰
emotional support 精神支持
provision for the aged 養(yǎng)老
social security fund 社保基金