China’s population has experienced a decline for the second consecutive year, raising concerns about the future growth of the country’s economy. The latest data shows a population of 1.409 billion at the end of 2023, which is a decrease of 2.08 million from the previous year. This decline is double that of the previous year, which marked the first population drop in 60 years. Experts attribute this fall to the expanding urban class and the record-low birth rate in China.

Beijing has announced that the birth rate in China has now dropped to 6.39 per 1,000 people, which is similar to other advanced East Asian nations like Japan and South Korea. China has been experiencing falling birth rates for decades, starting with the implementation of the controversial one-child policy in the 1980s. The government lifted this policy in 2015 and introduced various incentives to encourage people to have more children, including subsidies and payments. However, these policies have had little impact, with young people in modern cities citing factors such as the high cost of living and career priorities as deterrents to starting families.

Experts believe that the decline in new births has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, but underlying economic issues are a greater factor. China’s economic struggles, including a property crisis, falling consumer spending, and record youth unemployment, have also contributed to the population decline. The country’s aging workforce has been a key driver of its economy, and the increasing retiree population is putting pressure on healthcare and pension systems. However, experts believe that China has the time and resources to manage this transition in its workforce, as the population becomes more educated, skilled, and healthier.

China, once the world’s most populous nation, was overtaken by India last year according to the UN. India’s population currently stands at 1.425 billion. Despite the challenges posed by a declining population, experts believe that China has planned for this transition and will continue to move towards a service-based economy with a more educated and skilled workforce.

Original news source: China records population decline for second straight year (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the students into pairs or small groups. Give each group a copy of the article. Instruct them to read the article and then work together to write a summary of the main points. After they have finished, ask each group to share their summary with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write a series of questions related to the article on the board. For example, “Do you think the declining population will have a negative impact on China’s economy?” or “What factors do you think are contributing to the decline in birth rates?” Divide the class into pairs or small groups and ask them to discuss and share their opinions on each question. After they have finished, facilitate a class discussion to hear different perspectives.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask the class to individually think about the following question: “What are some potential consequences of a declining population for China?” After a few minutes, ask them to pair up with a partner and share their thoughts. Finally, open up the discussion to the whole class and ask each pair to share one idea.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Divide the students into pairs. Give each pair a sheet of paper and a pen or pencil. Instruct them to choose one aspect of the article (e.g. declining birth rates, aging workforce) and create a sketch or drawing that represents that concept. After they have finished, ask each pair to explain their drawing to the class.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Instruct each group to brainstorm and discuss their predictions for the future of China’s population and economy based on the information in the article. They should consider factors such as birth rates, workforce changes, and economic growth. After they have finished, ask each group to present their predictions to the class and encourage a discussion on the likelihood and potential consequences of each scenario.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the current population of China?
2. What is the main reason for the decline in China’s population?
3. How does China’s birth rate compare to other East Asian nations?
4. What policies did the Chinese government implement to encourage people to have more children?
5. What factors have deterred young people in modern cities from starting families?
6. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected China’s birth rate?
7. What economic issues have contributed to the population decline in China?
8. How does China plan to manage the transition in its workforce despite the declining population?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

China’s population has experienced a (1)______ for the second consecutive year, raising concerns about the future (2)______ of the country’s economy. The latest data shows a population of 1.409 billion at the end of 2023, which is a decrease of 2.08 million from the previous year. This decline is double that of the previous year, which marked the first population drop in 60 years. (3)______ attribute this fall to the expanding urban class and the record-low birth rate in China.

Beijing has (4)______ that the birth rate in China has now dropped to 6.39 per 1,000 people, which is similar to other (5)______ East Asian nations like Japan and South Korea. (6)______ has been experiencing falling birth rates for decades, starting with the implementation of the controversial one-child policy in the 1980s. The government lifted this policy in 2015 and introduced various incentives to encourage people to have more children, including subsidies and payments. However, these (7)______ have had little (8)______, with young people in modern cities citing factors such as the high cost of living and career priorities as deterrents to starting families.

Experts believe that the decline in new births has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, but underlying economic (9)______ are a greater (10)______. China’s economic struggles, including a property (11)______, falling consumer spending, and record youth unemployment, have also contributed to the population decline. The country’s (12)______ workforce has been a key driver of its economy, and the increasing retiree population is putting pressure on healthcare and pension systems. However, experts believe that China has the time and resources to manage this transition in its workforce, as the population becomes more educated, (13)______, and healthier.

China, once the world’s most populous nation, was overtaken by India last year according to the UN. India’s population currently stands at 1.425 billion. Despite the challenges posed by a declining population, experts believe that China has (14)______ for this transition and will (15)______ to move towards a service-based (16)______ with a more educated and skilled workforce.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What are your thoughts on China’s declining population?
2. How would you feel if your country experienced a decline in population?
3. Do you think the declining birth rate in China is primarily due to economic factors or cultural factors? Why or why not?
4. What are some potential consequences of a declining population for a country’s economy?
5. How do you think China can address the challenges posed by a declining population?
6. Do you think the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on China’s declining birth rate? Why or why not?
7. What are some possible solutions to encourage people to have more children in China?
8. How do you think a declining population could affect the healthcare and pension systems in China?
9. What are some potential advantages of having a more educated and skilled workforce in China?
10. Do you think China’s transition towards a service-based economy is a good strategy? Why or why not?
11. How do you think a declining population could affect the housing market in China?
12. What are some potential consequences of a declining population for the environment?
13. Do you think the declining birth rate in China is a global trend? Why or why not?
14. What are some potential long-term effects of a declining population on a country’s culture and traditions?
15. How do you think a declining population could affect the overall quality of life in China?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. consecutive
2. decline
3. urban
4. incentives
5. subsidies
6. deterrents
7. accelerated
8. pandemic
9. property
10. consumer
11. workforce
12. retiree
13. healthcare
14. transition
15. service-based

Meanings:
(A) Financial assistance granted by a government to support an economic sector
(B) The organized provision of medical care to individuals or a community
(C) Following one after another in uninterrupted succession
(D) Relating to the ownership or use of land and buildings
(E) Relating to individuals who purchase goods and services for personal use
(F) Factors that discourage or prevent someone from engaging in an activity
(G) Things offered to persuade or encourage someone to do something
(H) A widespread outbreak of an infectious disease
(I) The process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another
(J) A decrease or reduction in number or quantity
(K) Increased speed or rate of a process or action
(L) Relating to or characteristic of a city or town
(M) The group of people who are available for work, especially in a country or area
(N) Focused on the provision of services rather than the production of goods
(O) A person who has stopped working due to reaching a certain age
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the current population of China?
(a) 1.425 billion
(b) 1.409 million
(c) 1.425 million
(d) 1.409 billion

2. How many consecutive years has China’s population declined?
(a) 3
(b) 1
(c) 4
(d) 2

3. What is the main reason for the population decline in China?
(a) COVID-19 pandemic
(b) Economic struggles and property crisis
(c) Expanding urban class and low birth rate
(d) Aging workforce and retiree population

4. What was China’s birth rate in 2023?
(a) 6.39 per 1,000 people
(b) 2.08 million
(c) 60 years
(d) Similar to Japan and South Korea

5. When was the one-child policy implemented in China?
(a) 2015
(b) 1980s
(c) 2023
(d) 60 years ago

6. What incentives did the Chinese government introduce to encourage people to have more children?
(a) Expanding urban class and low birth rate
(b) COVID-19 pandemic
(c) Subsidies and payments
(d) Economic struggles and property crisis

7. What country overtook China as the world’s most populous nation?
(a) India
(b) Japan
(c) South Korea
(d) Russia

8. What do experts believe China’s future economy will be based on?
(a) Expanding urban class and low birth rate
(b) Service-based economy with a more educated and skilled workforce
(c) COVID-19 pandemic
(d) Economic struggles and property crisis

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. China has been experiencing falling birth rates since the implementation of the one-child policy in the 1980s.
2. The decline in population is half that of the previous year.
3. China’s population has declined for the second consecutive year.
4. Despite the challenges, experts believe China has not planned for this transition and will not move towards a service-based economy with a more educated and skilled workforce.
5. The COVID-19 pandemic has not accelerated the decline in new births in China.
6. The latest data shows a population of 1.509 billion at the end of 2023.
7. Experts attribute the population decline to the expanding urban class and record-low birth rate.
8. China’s birth rate has dropped to 6.39 per 1,000 people, similar to other advanced East Asian nations.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is the cause of China’s declining population?
2. How does China’s birth rate compare to other East Asian nations?
3. What policies did the Chinese government implement to encourage people to have more children?
4. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected China’s birth rate?
5. What challenges does China face as a result of its declining population?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the current population of China?
The current population of China is 1.409 billion.

2. What is the main reason for the decline in China’s population?
The main reason for the decline in China’s population is the expanding urban class and the record-low birth rate.

3. How does China’s birth rate compare to other East Asian nations?
China’s birth rate is similar to other advanced East Asian nations like Japan and South Korea.

4. What policies did the Chinese government implement to encourage people to have more children?
The Chinese government implemented various incentives, including subsidies and payments, to encourage people to have more children.

5. What factors have deterred young people in modern cities from starting families?
Factors such as the high cost of living and career priorities have deterred young people in modern cities from starting families.

6. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected China’s birth rate?
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the decline in new births in China.

7. What economic issues have contributed to the population decline in China?
China’s economic struggles, including a property crisis, falling consumer spending, and record youth unemployment, have contributed to the population decline.

8. How does China plan to manage the transition in its workforce despite the declining population?
China plans to manage the transition in its workforce by focusing on developing a more educated, skilled, and healthier workforce, and moving towards a service-based economy.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) decline
(2) growth
(3) Experts
(4) announced
(5) advanced
(6) China
(7) policies
(8) impact
(9) issues
(10) factor
(11) crisis
(12) aging
(13) skilled
(14) planned
(15) continue
(16) economy
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. consecutive
Answer: (C) Following one after another in uninterrupted succession

2. decline
Answer: (J) A decrease or reduction in number or quantity

3. urban
Answer: (L) Relating to or characteristic of a city or town

4. incentives
Answer: (G) Things offered to persuade or encourage someone to do something

5. subsidies
Answer: (A) Financial assistance granted by a government to support an economic sector

6. deterrents
Answer: (F) Factors that discourage or prevent someone from engaging in an activity

7. accelerated
Answer: (K) Increased speed or rate of a process or action

8. pandemic
Answer: (H) A widespread outbreak of an infectious disease

9. property
Answer: (D) Relating to the ownership or use of land and buildings

10. consumer
Answer: (E) Relating to individuals who purchase goods and services for personal use

11. workforce
Answer: (M) The group of people who are available for work, especially in a country or area

12. retiree
Answer: (O) A person who has stopped working due to reaching a certain age

13. healthcare
Answer: (B) The organized provision of medical care to individuals or a community

14. transition
Answer: (I) The process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another

15. service-based
Answer: (N) Focused on the provision of services rather than the production of goods
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the current population of China?
Answer: (d) 1.409 billion

2. How many consecutive years has China’s population declined?
Answer: (d) 2

3. What is the main reason for the population decline in China?
Answer: (c) Expanding urban class and low birth rate

4. What was China’s birth rate in 2023?
Answer: (a) 6.39 per 1,000 people

5. When was the one-child policy implemented in China?
Answer: (b) 1980s

6. What incentives did the Chinese government introduce to encourage people to have more children?
Answer: (c) Subsidies and payments

7. What country overtook China as the world’s most populous nation?
Answer: (a) India

8. What do experts believe China’s future economy will be based on?
Answer: (b) Service-based economy with a more educated and skilled workforce
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. China has been experiencing falling birth rates since the implementation of the one-child policy in the 1980s. (Answer: True)
2. The decline in population is half that of the previous year. (Answer: False)
3. China’s population has declined for the second consecutive year. (Answer: True)
4. Despite the challenges, experts believe China has not planned for this transition and will not move towards a service-based economy with a more educated and skilled workforce. (Answer: False)
5. The COVID-19 pandemic has not accelerated the decline in new births in China. (Answer: False)
6. The latest data shows a population of 1.509 billion at the end of 2023. (Answer: False)
7. Experts attribute the population decline to the expanding urban class and record-low birth rate. (Answer: True)
8. China’s birth rate has dropped to 6.39 per 1,000 people, similar to other advanced East Asian nations. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧