2025年中考英语【时文阅读训练】联合国报告全球生育率危机-U.N. issues report on global birth rate crisis

U.N. issues report on global birth rate crisis   (12th June 2025) The United Nations has said the world is experiencing a birth rate crisis. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has released a report called "State of World Population 2025". It highlights how fewer and fewer children are being born all over the world. At the same time, people are living longer. Falling birth rates and increased longevity are creating many problems. Smaller numbers of workers are having to pay the pensions of older people who have retired. Dr Natalia Kanem, executive director of UNFPA, said: "Many countries are [struggling] with ageing and shrinking populations, labour shortages, and rising healthcare and pension costs. These are real concerns." The United Nations surveyed over 14,000 people in 14 countries on five continents to make its report. One of the key findings was of the global fertility crisis. The UN said the high cost of parenthood is the biggest reason for women not having children. Many couples want children, but they cannot afford them. Nearly 20 per cent of adults believe they will not be able to have the number of children they want. There were other reasons for falling birth rates. These include low salaries, expensive housing, and worries about the future of our world. The UN said one solution to the crisis is to create "family-friendly policies, such as affordable childcare and paid leave for all carers". 1. Vocabulary Matching Paragraph 1 1. birth rate a. Gave or showed something to the public.  2. crisis b. How many babies are born in a place each year.  3. released c. Living for a long time.  4. longevity d. Money people get when they stop working because they are old.  5. pension e. A big and serious problem.  6. struggling f. Becoming smaller and smaller.  7. shrinking g. Having a hard time doing something. Paragraph 2 8. surveyed h. The seven big areas of land - Africa, Europe, South America, North America, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica. 9. continent i. Have enough money to buy or do something. 10. key j. Asked people questions to learn what they think. 11. couple k. Very (most) important. 12. afford l. The answer to a problem. 13. solution m. Two people in a relationship (like a husband and wife). 14. policy n. A plan or rule made by a group or government for people to follow. 【答案】 2. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if “1-8” below are true (T) or false (F). 1. The WHO said there will be a crisis because fewer babies are being born. T / F 2. Fewer babies are being born and people are living longer.     T / F 3. There are fewer workers to pay for the pensions of retired people.     T / F 4. Many countries are having problems finding workers.     T / F 5. The U.N. questioned people in 140 countries about having children.     T / F 6. A key finding of the report was a global virility crisis.     T / F 7. One in five adults worry they can't have the number of kids they want.    T / F 8. The U.N. said there should be more paid leave only for mothers.     T / F 【答案】 3. SYNONYM MATCH: (The words in bold are from the news article.) 1. 1. crisis 2. released 3. longevity 4. shrinking 5. concerns 6. surveyed 7. afford 8. reasons 9. solution 10. policies a. questioned b. getting smaller c. pay for d. issued e. strategies f. answer g. disaster h. worries i. causes j. long life 【答案】 4. READING COMPREHENSION: MULTIPLE CHOICE 1)  What U.N. agency is responsible for the report in the article? a) UNESCO b) UNFPA c) WHO d) UNICEF 2)  What is the name of the report? a) World State of Population b) Population State of World  c) State of World Population  d) State of Population World  3)  What is happening at the same time as falling birth rates? a) A.I. is taking over. b) Immigration is increasing. c) Climate change d) People are living longer. 4)  What do young workers have to pay for? a) travel b) pensions c) insurance d) healthcare 5)  What does the article say are shrinking? a) populations b) waistlines c) budgets d) hopes 6)  How many people did the U.N. interview? a) more than 14,000 people b) exactly 14,000 c) around 14,000 d) just fewer than 14,000 7)  What was one of the key findings of the report? a) domestic violence b) global hunger c) A.I. is a danger d) the global fertility crisis 8)  How many adults worry about not having the number of kids they want? a) nearly 40% b) nearly 30% c) nearly 20% d) nearly 10% 9)  What are young people worrying about the future of? a) investments b) children c) money d) our world 10)  What kind of policies did the U.N. say needed to be introduced? a) new laws b) family-friendly policies c) payments to parents d) more schools keys： 5. Comprehension questions 1. What U.N. agency is responsible for the report in the article? 2. What is the name of the report? 3. What is happening at the same time as falling birth rates? 4. What do young workers have to pay for? 5. What does the article say are shrinking? 6. How many people did the U.N. interview? 7. What was one of the key findings of the report?  8. How many adults worry about not having the number of kids they want? 9. What are young people worrying about the future of? 10. What kind of policies did the U.N. say needed to be introduced? 【答案】 1. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 2. State of World Population 2025 3. People are living longer. 4. The pensions of older people 5. Populations 6. More than 14,000 people 7. The global fertility crisis 8. Nearly 20 per cent 9. Our world 10. Family-friendly policies 6. Put the words in the right order 1. The   crisis   world   a   is   birth   rate   experiencing   . 2. Fewer   children   and   being   fewer   are   born   . 3. Smaller   having   to   are   workers   of   numbers   pay   . 4. The   retired   people   have   who   pensions   of   older   . 5. Countries   populations  and  with   shrinking  ageing   struggling   are  . 6. People   on   countries   five   in   14   continents   . 7. High   reason   is   the   of   costs   parenthood   biggest   . 8. Have   want   the   they   of   children   number   . 9. There   reasons   rates   were   other   birth   falling   for   . 10. Childcare   for   paid   leave   carers   and   all   . keys： 1. The world is experiencing a birth rate crisis. 2. Fewer and fewer children are being born. 3. Smaller numbers of workers are having to pay. 4. The pensions of older people who have retired. 5. Countries are struggling with ageing and shrinking populations. 6. People in 14 countries on five continents. 7. High costs of parenthood is the biggest reason. 8. Have the number of children they want. 9. There were other reasons for falling birth rates. 10. Childcare and paid leave for all carers. 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$