LISTENING & SPEAKING
TRENDS IN SOCIETY
A. You are going to hear a strong candidate being asked the questions below by an examiner. Before you listen, discuss each question with a partner.
• Can you explain why the birth rate is falling in many countries?
• What impact does an ageing population have on society?
• Should the state provide completely free care for the elderly?
• In the future, will working people have to retire at a later age than they currently do?
• What can young people learn from their grandparents and great-grandparents?
• Why are people generally living longer nowadays, in your opinion?
B. As you listen, notice how the candidate uses the language below.
- I’m not an expert, but...
- I read somewhere that...
- That’s a real possibility.
- It has many implications.
- There’s a question mark over
- Yes, in theory... but in practice ...
- I suppose so.
- Speaking personally...
- That’s crucial.

Recording Script

Examiner: OK, let`s continue our discussion of changes in society. Can you explain why the birth rate is falling in many countries?
Candidate: Well, of course I`m not an expert, but there are probably several reasons for this decline. Often, both people in a relationship are working, so it’s hard for them to bring up large families ...mm...they are choosing not to, in other words. Also, I read somewhere that there may be an environmental issue ... that pollution is causing couples to be less fertile. I think that’s a real possibility.
Examiner: And ... what impact does an ageing population have on society?
Candidate: It has many implications. First, older people usually need more support ... I don’t just mean healthcare, but also social support, you know, like entertainment, to give them a better quality of life, to stop them feeling lonely. Secondly, because there are fewer younger people working and paying taxes, it




means that there is a question mark over resources, how much the state can provide.
Examiner: Do you think the state should provide completely free care for the elderly?
Candidate: Yes, I do, in theory, but as I said earlier, in practice, there may be not enough money to do that. People are going to have to save for their old age, I guess.
Examiner: And in the future, will working people have to retire at a later age than they currently do?
Candidate: Um ... I suppose so. yes. Actually, I don’t think there`s anything wrong with that. I mean if you want to go on working, you’re healthy and your brain is still sharp, you have a lot to offer, all that experience and knowledge...
Examiner: And, more generally, what can young people learn from their grandparents and great-grandparents?
Candidate: Oh. many, many things! Sometimes we complain that old people don`t understand us, but they have seen a lot, experienced many different things. So they can give us advice on life, and speaking personally, my grandmother is a really good listener. I talked to her about many things I wouldn’t ever discuss with my parents ...
Examiner: Why are people generally living longer nowadays, in your opinion?
Candidate: It must be down to healhcare, good hospitals, and a better diet as well. That`s crucial, you know, what you eat.
Examiner: Thank you.

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Notes:
- to bring up a large family = take care of; giving supplies for living, etc.
- It must be down to = It must be the responsibility of…