Schedule 30 Oct 2024
  • IELTS writing -1

  • IELTS speaking -1

  • IELTS wordlist -3

  • water wave chapter 7 and part of chapter 8

Topic

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In many countries, the proportion of older people is steadily increasing. Does this trend have positive or negative effects on society?

Exercise

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The evolution of technology has precipitated a revolution in medical diagnostics, which has not only augmented human lifespan but also resulted in an annual increment in the number of elderly individuals. This demographic transformation carries consequences that surpass the beneficial effects it is known to produce.

A demographic landscape dominated by the elderly could potentially lead to a stagnation in economic progress, an increase in medical costs. The tendency among senior citizens to exhibit prudent consumption habits, coupled with their reduced desire for purchasing, often results in a sluggish market environment. As a consequence, such conditions not only impede the circulation of capital but also adversely affect the broader economy. Additionally, it is observed that with the progression of age, there is an escalating prevalence of conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure. Consequently, the elderly often require a greater allocation of medical resources, compelling governments to increase spending on healthcare. The consequent necessity for higher investment in medical coverage might detract from other critical areas of funding, possibly culminating in a financial crisis that could disrupt governmental operations.

It is also worth noting that the increasing ratio of the elderly in the population poses a serious impediment, as it is likely to considerably hamper the forward momentum of business expansion and diversification. Typically, advancing years are accompanied by a reduction in one's reflexes and physical strength. Nevertheless, modern enterprises, especially in the tech industry, tend to foster a culture of high-intensity work and competitive pressures, alongside sporadic yet unpredictable extended working hours to address sudden issues. Such conditions can be extremely taxing on the health of senior workers, possibly resulting in project schedule overruns and, ultimately, adverse impacts on corporate profitability.

In contrast, senior employees bring a wealth of experience and a greater sense of stability to the workplace, which often translates into a higher likelihood of successful project completion. In certain highly complex fields, such as aerospace engineering, a higher proportion of the workforce tends to be comprised of older professionals. These roles often require an extensive interdisciplinary knowledge base to address intricate operational challenges. Due to their limited experience and narrower range of expertise, younger employees may find it more challenging to tackle such sophisticated issues, whereas the accumulated wisdom and broad knowledge of their senior counterparts can prove invaluable. Furthermore, in the realm of education, parents often exhibit a preference for more seasoned teachers, as these educators are generally endowed with greater patience and a wealth of experience when it comes to guiding students who struggle academically or display problematic behavior, thus facilitating their behavioral and academic development.

In summary, while the experience of elderly individuals undoubtedly provides significant benefits in specific domains, an aging society often engenders a multitude of social challenges, such as a sluggish economy, financial constraints on government budgets, and impediments to corporate development.

GU version

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Technological change and the increase in personal wealth have contributed to the improvement in life expectancy, and many countries have seen their population ageing at an unprecedented pace. The problems of this demographic change far outweigh its positive impact.

One social problem related to population ageing is that the medical cost will increase dramatically and hurt the economy. The need for medical care as well as the spending on it tends to increase with age. Elderly people are prone to health problems such as heart disease, arthritis and cancer, so a country with a large proportion of people over 65 has to increase the expenditure on medical services to treat aging-related conditions. This leads to a budget cut for education, infrastructure projects and scientific research, which can affect a society adversely not only in the quality of life but also in longterm economic growth.

Another problem is that the productivity of the whole society will drop as the number of workers aged 65 and above increases. An ageing society normally has to raise the pension eligibility age to keep the pension scheme running, so it is not unusual for senior citizens to stay in the workforce even in their 60s. These people, however, struggle with cognitive decline and other conditions which can limit their ability to process information and handle work. If they delay retirement, their poor performance may have an adverse impact on companies' productivity and profitability. This can exacerbate the economic problem mentioned earlier and have an adverse impact on social progress.

On the other hand, it is possible that societies can tap into the wisdom and experience of elderly people. Having worked for decades, they are experts in their fields of work and have practical experience, specialist knowledge and work-related tips that they can share with younger generations. Senior business managers, for example, teach young people how to manage a company and to deal with complaints and queries of clients, while veteran researchers can pass on their knowledge to young scientists about how to oversee and execute projects. This would not happen if people did not live long lives.

In conclusion, a rapidly-ageing population can impose a strain on the medical system and reduce the productivity of a country. These social issues cannot be tackled easily, although the wisdom of elderly people can yield benefits for society.

Revision MYSELF

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in process