The number of children in Japan aged 14 and under is the lowest ever. The figures show that the number of children in Japan fell by 160,000 from the previous year. It is the 33rd year in a row for the birth rate to decrease. There are 13 million fewer children in Japan today than there were in 1950. They said that out of 30 countries with a population of over 40 million, Japan has the smallest percentage of kids. Children make up 12.8 per cent of Japan's population. In France, the figure is 18.5 per cent and in the United States, it is 19.5 per cent.

While the number of children in Japan is going down, the number of old people is increasing. The over-65s now make up a record 25.6 per cent of the Japanese population. The government has warned that these trends will continue for decades to come. It said the proportion of people aged 65 or over could reach nearly 40 per cent in 2060. This will make life in Japan almost impossible for young, working people. They will have to pay much higher taxes to support the over-65s. The Japanese economy will also be in big trouble because there will not be enough young people to work. Japan's government has tried many things to get people to have more babies, but nothing seems to be working.

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1.For how many years has the birth rate been declining in Japan?

A 14

B 15

C 33

D 32

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据第一段第三句It is the 33rd year in a row for the birth rate to decrease.可知，故选C。

2.Which country has the smallest percentage of kids with a population of over 40 million?

A Japan.

B China.

C France.

D the United States.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据第一段第五句They said that out of 30 countries with a population of over 40 million, Japan has the smallest percentage of kids.可知，故选A。

3.What is increasing in Japan?

A The price of food.

B The number of old people.

C The number of babies.

D The number of young men.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据第2段第一句…the number of old people is increasing.可知，故选B。

4.What will NOT happen with more and more old people?

A Economy will be in big trouble.

B Higher taxes.

C Young men will have not enough money.

D The population will increase.

解析：选D。D 内容理解题。题干问随着老年人的增多，什么不会发生？根据文章内容，经济会出现问题；年轻人要交更高的税；交更高的税意味着收入降低；所以ABC选项错，D项人口会增加与事实刚好相反，故选D。

5.What is the best way to increase population in Japan?

A Support the over-65s.

B Get people working.

C Get couples to have babies.

D Increase the taxes.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据最后一句Japan's government has tried many things to get people to have more babies, but nothing seems to be working.可知，故选C。