In many countries, the proportion of older people is steadily increasing. Does this trend have 

positive or negative ffects on society? 

在很多国家，老年人的比例不断增加。这种趋势对社会是有积极还是消极的影响

Technological change and the increase in personal wealth have contributed to the improvement in life 

expectancy, and many countries have seen their population ageing at an unprecedented pace. The 

problems of this demographic change far outweigh its positive impact. 

One social problem related to population ageing is that the medifal costs will increase dramatically and hurt the economy. The need for medical care as well as the spending on it tends to increase with age. Elderly people are prone to health problems such as heart disease, arthritis and cancer, so a country with a large proportion of people over 65 has to increase the expenditure on medical services to treat age-related conditions . This leads to a budget cut for education, infrastructure projects and scientific research, which can affect a society adversely not only in the quality of life but also in long-term economic growth. 

Another problem is that the productivity of the whole society will drop as the number of workers aged 65 and above increases. An ageing society normally has to raise the pension eligibility age to keep the pension scheme running, so it is not unusual for senior citizens to stay in the workforce even in their 60s. These people, however, struggle with cognitive decline and other conditions which can limit their

ability to process information and handle work . If they delay retirement, their poro performance may have an adverse impact on companies’ productivity and profitability. This can exacerbate the economic problem mentioned earlier and have an adverse impact on social progress. 

On the other hand, it is possible that societies can tap into the wisdom and experience of elderly people. Having worked for decades , they are experts in their fields of work and have practical experience, specialist knowledge and work-related tips that they can share with younger 

generations . Senior business managers, for example, can teach young people how to manage a company and deal with complaints and queries of clients, while veteran researchers can pass on their knowledge to young scientists about how to oversee and execute projects. This would not happen if people did not live long lives.

In conclusion, a rapidly-ageing population can impose a strain on the medical system and reduce the productivity of a country. These social issues cannot be tackled easily, although the wisdom of elderly people can yield benefits for society.   (390 words)

Low Carbon Life

Presently, a new lifestyle called low carbon life is spreading every corner of our country. The concepts of low carbon are low energy and no waste. It is such a significant project that I can’t wait to present my ideas on how to promote it. 

In the first place, a no-car day is supposed to set up every week in our school. Because cars not only cause serious air pollution but also waste energy. On no-car day, neither students nor teachers are allowed to drive to school. Meanwhile, just walk, jump, cycle or run. Use our legs and enjoy the fun. 

In the second place, we had best not use plastic bags any more. No one can stand the “white pollution”. So, it is wise to use bags which can be reused again and again.  Finally, one thing that we should keep in mind: every big thing comes from the subtle. Therefore, as students, we ought to turn out the lights the moment we leave, turn off the tap in time, and reuse our textbook and so on. 

All in all, it weighs greatly for all of us to put the low carbon lifestyle into practice. Just set our mind to these: no-car day, no plastic bags, and no waste. Let’s do it now.

presently [ˈprezntli]  adv.不久，一会儿；现在，目前

参考例句：

I'll go to see your uncle presently. 我一会儿就去看望你叔叔。

He is presently living in New York. 他目前住在纽约。

2 concepts ['kɒnsepts]   n.概念( concept的名词复数 )；观念；想法；总的印象

参考例句：

 He speaks in concepts rather than specifics. 他讲话时尽用抽象概念，而不谈具体。 

 The word "beauty" comprehends various concepts. “美”这个词包括许多概念。

3 significant [sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt]   adj.相当数量的；意义重大的；意味深长的

参考例句：

Your success today may be significant for your whole future. 你今天的成功对你的整个未来可能是重要的。

She cast him a significant smile. 她向他投去意味深长的一笑。

4 subtle [ˈsʌtl]    adj.难于觉察或描述的，精巧的

参考例句：

Her whole attitude had undergone a subtle change. 她的整个态度发生了微妙的变化。

There's a subtle hint of garlic in the sauce. 调味汁里稍微有一点蒜味。

Today, it is not unusual for consumers to purchase products imported from overseas, including food and clothing. I personally think it is a positive development, although it may cause damage to the environment. 

Imported products can benefit consumers by improving the standard of living. lmports are normally from countries which have comparative advantages, such as natural endowment, the availability of cheap labour and advanced technology, in the production of these products. These imports may fill unmet demands in the target market, where domestic businesses may not have technology or expertise to guarantee sufficient output, or intensify the competition in the market, which can drive down prices. Consumers can benefit from the greater variety of goods available on supermarket shelves and meanwhile enjoy a lower price, provided that the market is not distorted by high tariffs. A classic example is China-made textile products, which are now everywhere around the world and allow consumers worldwide to cut their spending on clothing, footwear, bed linen and blankets.

Importing can also promote economic growth of countries involved. Local producers can draw inspiration from foreign competitors about different aspects of business management, ranging from the design of a product, packaging and logistics to marketing. Small companies of less developed countries may innovate and optimise their own systems to upgrade their own offerings, which can help them grow their business. Meanwhile, importing and exporting go hand in hand, which will improve and strengthen the economic ties between countries. While importing commodities from abroad, merchants may also consider the possibility of exporting locally-produced products to other parts of the world. This can generate revenue for countries which struggle to grow their economy when the domestic market growth is stagnant. 

The downside of importing products is that it may have its environmental cost. In most cases, it involves cross boarder transportation, which relies on the use of different modes of transport, including airplanes and road transport, all of which can emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The dramatic increase in carbon dioxide emissions can cause various environmental issues, such as rising world temperatures and frequent extreme weather events, which can have long-term impacts on the well-being of people.

In conclusion, I believe that importing products has a beneficial effect on consumers although it can cause damage to the environment.

Laws can be taken to refer to the rules imposed on citizens. In my opinion, a society without laws cannot maintain order although tough laws can be counterproductive in some cases. 

A lawless society cannot function well because its economy would be chaotic. Laws specify what people should do in public places to make sure personal behaviour does not disrupt the operation of public systems and facilities. For example, motorists and pedestrians should obey traffic regulations to avoid traffic accidents and jams caused by reckless driving. This ensures that commuters can show up for work on time and companies can deliver goods to customers in a timely manner. Businesses can then operate smoothly and generate revenue, which is essential to a healthy economy. Economic prosperity provides sufficient cash for the government to finance public services, such as law enforcement, fire fighting and water and electricity supplies, without which a society could collapse.

Laws can also uphold some values which are critical to a harmonious society. Driven by self-interest,

people sometimes tend to do things that can hurt others, such as frauds and robberies. Laws punish these behaviours and encourage people to bear in mind virtues such as honesty, loyalty and integrity in social lives, professional lives and business settings. Some business laws, for example, impose harsh penalties on some business practices, such as making exaggerated claims on products or selling counterfeit goods so as to build trust between sellers and consumers. If people trust each other, they can live in harmony and society will not be crippled by misunderstandings and tensions.

On the other hand, laws sometimes tend to limit freedom and can at least appear to inhibit social progress. Strict laws can suppress creativity and discourage people from expressing their views and developing innovations that can improve the well-being of the community. One example is the censorship law that restricts the freedom of speech. If the press and citizens had no opportunity to voice their concerns, a country could not pinpoint and tackle such problems as corruption and bureaucracy. Society could not fulfill the function of improving or even overhauling its system and policies regularly to serve the interests of the public. 

In conclusion, it would be difficult to keep a society running without laws, although imposing tough laws can sometimes achieve very negative outcomes.