PRE-LISTENING VOCABULARY

population (población) = all of the people or animals who live in a particular place

estimate (estimar) = to roughly calculate the cost, size, or number of something

decline (disminución / descenso) = a continuous decrease in amount or quality

trend (tendencia) = the general way in which something is changing or developing

make up (constituir / formar) = to form or be part of a whole

represent (representar) = to be equal to or amount to something

LISTENING TASK

FIRST LISTENING

Listen and answer the question:

Why is Japan worried about its population?

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

SECOND LISTENING

Choose the correct answer.

1. What was Japan’s estimated child population?
   a) 10.2 million
   b) 13.3 million
   c) 36.2 million

2. By how much did the child population fall from the previous year?
   a) 360,000
   b) 3 million
   c) 45,000

3. How many years in a row has Japan’s child population declined?
   a) 25 years
   b) 35 years
   c) 45 years

4. Which age group was the smallest?
   a) Ages 12–14
   b) Ages 6–8
   c) Ages 0–2

5. What percentage of Japan’s population is under 15?
   a) 29.5%
   b) 10.8%
   c) 40%

6. What is expected to happen by 2070?
   a) The population will increase
   b) Four out of ten people will be under 15
   c) About 30% of the population will disappear

LANGUAGE FOCUS

decline → a continuous decrease

trend → the general direction of change

make up → form part of something

represent → equal or amount to something

estimate → calculate approximately

SPEAKING QUESTIONS

1. What are your thoughts on Japan’s declining child population?

2. Why do you think many people today have fewer children?

3. Do you think governments should encourage people to have children?

4. Are families becoming smaller in your country?

5. What challenges do parents face today?

ANSWER SECTION

First Listening

Japan is worried because the number of children is continuing to decline while the elderly population is increasing.

Second Listening

1. b) 13.3 million

2. a) 360,000

3. c) 45 years

4. c) Ages 0–2

5. b) 10.8%

6. c) About 30% of the population will disappear

AUDIO SCRIPT

Japan’s child population has fallen again, and the country now has fewer children than ever before.

According to government data, the estimated child population under the age of 15 was 13.3 million in April. This number includes 6.8 million boys and 6.5 million girls.

The total number of children fell by 360,000 compared with the previous year. This decline is not new. In fact, it is the forty-fifth straight year that Japan’s child population has decreased.

Looking at different age groups, the trend is clear. Children aged 12 to 14 were the largest group, while children aged 0 to 2 were the smallest.

Children under 15 now make up only 10.8% of Japan’s total population. Compared with other large countries, Japan has one of the world’s lowest percentages of children.

At the same time, older people continue to represent a larger part of society. People aged 65 and older now total 36.2 million, or 29.5% of the population.

Government estimates suggest that Japan’s total population could fall by around 30% by the year 2070.