Task

Task

1.Families are becoming smaller. Fifty years ago, a family of five or six members was

2. common. Nowadays the average family size is about 2.8 persons. At the same time people
3. are now living longer. The median age of people in the United States is now over 30. As a
4. result of smaller families and more old people, life in the United States will change in many
5. ways. These changes will affect education, housing, work, and crime.
6. If we have fewer children, we will need fewer elementary and secondary schools. We
7. will also need fewer teachers. But many older people will be interested in education, so
8. colleges and community centers will offer courses for these people. Older people will not
9. want to go to school full time because many of them work, so courses will probably be in
10. the evenings and at weekends.
11. The needs for housing will be different. It is common now for many people to live in
12. houses. There are rooms for the children and for the parents, so they can lead separate lives
13. and still be alone and be together. There is space outside for the children to play. But, if the
14. population gets older and if families have only one child, large homes will not be necessary.
15. People will probably live in small apartments that are near social and commercial centers.
16. They will have enough room there. They will be near their work and their entertainment.
17. They won’t have to take care of a large home.
18. The change in population will also affect work. Now young people do a lot of part-time
19. work in supermarkets, in fast-food restaurants, and in department stores. In the future, it is
20. possible that retired people, those over 65, will have to do this work. Also, the opportunities
21. for jobs will change. With fewer and fewer young people and more old people, there won’t
22. be a big need for toys, for automobiles, and for schools. There will be a greater need for such
23. things as buses, health care services, and home entertainment