作文题目

It is expected that there will be a higher proportion of older people than young people in many countries in the future.
Do you think it is a positive or negative development?

题目翻译

据预测，将来很多国家的老龄化人口的比重将会超过年轻人。你认为这是一种积极还是消极的变化?

题目解读

【关键词分析】
older people
"老年人"有很多说法，这个词在文章中肯定会多次出现，因此一定要做好同义替换准备。elderly people, the elderly, pensioners, senior citizens都可以，但要少用old people.
ageing society (Br.E.) / aging society (Am.E.)
老龄化社会，这个词是必备的社会学术语。这个词虽然没有在题目中出现，但是考生一定会在正文中用到这个词。
关于ageing society的相关知识，请阅读维基百科
【话题分类与题型】
本题是老题，个别词句略有改动。与2006年2月11日、2011年10月8日的话题基本一致。短期内出现如此接近的题目，在雅思考试中并不多见。属于社会类话题的"人口结构与老龄化"分支。上一次出现社会类话题是在2011年12月17日。题型为议论文中的"利弊分析"，这种题型是所有议论文题型中最简单的，在2011年仅出现4次，这是2012年首次出现该题型。
【话题评价】
社会类话题共有两大分支:男女平等，人口结构与老龄化。本题在"十大话题万能分类题库"中属于母题，因此只要做好充足的复习准备，难度不大。
【类似话题】
1. Surveys show that in many countries, people are living longer but increased life expectancy has many implications for the aging individuals and for society as a whole. What are the possible effects of longer living for individuals and society? (100306)
2. Some people believe that in order to give opportunities to the new generation, companies should encourage high level employees who are older than 55 to retire. Do you agree or disagree? (030712, 030809)
5. Some countries have an ever-increasing proportion of population who are aged 15 and younger. What is your opinion of the current and future effects it may have in those countries? (080419)
【题型解析与结构思路】
"利弊分析"题型有几种出题方式:1. What are the advantages and disadvantages? 2. Do you think the advantages outweigh its disadvantages? 3. Do you think it is a positive or negative development? 其中，第一、二中好处和坏处都必须在文章中提及，文章必须写成双边讨论，结论既可以是好处坏处都有(完全中立)，也可以是好处大于或小于坏处(带偏向)。而第三种题型除了以上写法之外，也可以写成单边讨论。"单边讨论"题型必须用五段式写，正文三段分别阐述三个好处，或者三个坏处。
本题建议写成双边讨论带偏向的写法，正文第一段承认老龄化带来的好处(如老龄产业会带动相关产业发展)，而重点在正文第二段(或五段式的正文二、三段)，强调人口老龄化对社会产生的危害(给社会、子女造成负担)。结论段简单地介绍一下解决方法即可(如政府建立完善的社会保障体系，确保老年人的基本生活)。

范文

Population ageing has emerged as a global phenomenon in the wake of the now virtually universal decline in fertility and increases in life expectancy. Many countries are confronted with new demographic realities that spread from the cities to the villages. In my opinion, more problems than benefits will surface with this trend.
Admittedly, older people often have time to offer for the benefit of family and the community. Nowadays, the young tend to rely on the older generation for household chores. It is also reported that time devoted to voluntary work and care is at its height within the age groups over 55. Such devotion adds greatly to the community well-being, if not to the GDP.
Population ageing, however, brings about serious economic and social problems. When the number of workers decreases, the national income goes down. At the same time, as a person's use of health services increases significantly in the later years of their life, an ageing population causes a relative rise in the public resources required for pensions, health and residential care outlays. Moreover, with an ageing population, the problems associated with the "sandwich generation"， people who have both children and parents to look after, have gained increasing prominence. Members of this "in-between" generation are often torn between the needs of raising children, caring for ageing parents and job responsibilities.
To sum up, population ageing is an inevitable prospect, the negative effects of which outweigh the positive. As ageing is a normal part of lifecycle for human beings, we must recognize its challenges to our life and society, and work on effective strategies to minimize its adverse influences.