VOA标准英语--Japan Marks Respect for the Aged Day
时间：2018-12-16 作者：英语课 分类：2017年VOA慢速英语(九)月
Over 200 people gathered recently on a hot day at a shrine 1 in downtown Tokyo.
Many in the crowd were older adults. Some chewed gum and lifted dumbbells. The weight lifting was meant to increase their strength and balance.
The elderly Japanese had gathered for an event to mark Respect for the Aged 2 Day.
The observance comes at a time when Japan’s population is aging. The number of people aged 65 and over has grown to 27.7 percent of the population. That information comes from government reports.
The number of elderly Japanese who still work has also hit a new high. These numbers are evidence of efforts by the government and private businesses to keep the elderly at work.
The government estimates, released on Monday, are a sign of the problems resulting from a declining 3 birthrate. Now, there are around 1.45 births for every woman in Japan. Many economists 4 say a developed country needs a birthrate above 2 births per woman to prevent its population from shrinking.
Japan has struggled with a declining workforce 5 for many years. The percentage of elderly people is among the highest in the Group of Seven Nations. Italy, for example, has an elderly population of around 23 percent. Germany has around 21.5 percent, while France has 19.7 percent.
In Japan, the government estimates that 35.14 million Japanese people are age 65 or older. 7.7 million of those men and women are still working.
For the first time, the number of Japanese aged 90 or older rose above two million.
Natsu Naruse joined the group exercise in Tokyo last week. She recently turned 100 years old.
"I think my children would have trouble," if I lived longer, she said.
I'm John Russell.
Words in This Story
shrine – n. a place connected with a holy person or event where people go to worship : a place that people visit because it is connected with someone or something that is important to them
dumbbell – n. a short bar with weights at the ends that is used to make muscles stronger
chew – v. to bite on (something) repeatedly with the teeth
gum – n. a type of soft candy that you chew on but do not swallow
birthrate – n. a number that shows how many babies are born in a particular place or during a particular time
- The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
- They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。
- He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
- He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。
- The nub of the matter is that business is declining. 事情的实质是工商业在萎缩。
- It is encouraging to read that illiteracy is declining. 从读报中了解文盲情况正在好转，这是令人鼓舞的。
- The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
- Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》