Directions : Read the following passage and answer the given questions. Japan…
2024
Directions : Read the following passage and answer the given questions.
Japan is grappling with a demographic crisis as it faces the reality of being one of the oldest nations in the world. Recent data shows that more than 10% of Japan’s population is aged 80 or older, while 29% are over the age of 65. This aging population, coupled with a declining birth rate, is putting unprecedented pressure on Japan’s government and economy. Projections estimate that the population could shrink from its current 125 million to around 96 million by 2060. By that time, nearly 40% of the population will be over 65, a demographic scenario unparalleled in modern history.
Recognizing the urgency, the Japanese administration has initiated a quick and lighten movement towards solutions. Policymakers are implementing reforms at an accelerated pace to address the challenges posed by this demographic shift. Key strategies include providing (A) older citizens to participate (B) in the workforce and encouraging (C) incentives for women to remain (D) more actively in the job market. In tandem, efforts to modernize industries are being supported by technological advancements such as robotics and artificial intelligence, which are increasingly used to fill labor gaps in eldercare and manufacturing.
Despite these measures, the situation remains complex. Healthcare and pension costs account for approximately 30% of public expenditure, and sustaining the pension system is becoming increasingly difficult. By 2050, there will be nearly one retiree for every working-age person, a stark contrast to the 1970s when the ratio was 1:4. The administration’s lighten movement also focuses on incentivizing higher birth rates by investing in childcare subsidies, parental leave policies, and family support programs. However, societal preferences for smaller families persist, complicating these efforts.
Culturally, Japan’s historically restrictive stance on immigration continues to slow progress in diversifying the workforce. While immigration reform has been explored, achieving substantial change requires overcoming deep rooted societal resistance.
Japan’s quick and lighten movement reflects a determined approach to tackling this demographic crisis, but the road ahead demands multifaceted solutions and cultural shifts. The country’s experience serves as a global case study, offering lessons for nations facing similar demographic transitions.
Which of the following can be inferred from the passage regarding the global relevance of Japan’s demographic crisis?
- A.
Japan’s aging population serves as an isolated case study with minimal implications for nations with diverse demographics and robust birth rates.
- B.
The challenges faced by Japan highlight the importance of cultural adaptability in implementing effective immigration reforms.
- C.
Other nations with aging populations must adopt Japan’s robotics and AI strategies to completely resolve their demographic challenges.
- D.
Japan’s experience underscores the need for immediate global attention to pension sustainability and workforce management as universal concerns.
- E.
Comprehensive government intervention alone is sufficient to address the issues of aging populations worldwide.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept
An inference question in reading comprehension asks for the conclusion that is logically supported by what the passage states — not merely restated. The correct choice is a valid generalization grounded in the text; valid inferences avoid overstatement ("completely", "alone is sufficient"), avoid contradicting the passage, and are not so narrow that they miss the question's actual focus (here, the wider relevance of the crisis for other societies).
Application
The passage closes by stating that the country's experience "serves as a global case study, offering lessons for nations facing similar demographic transitions," and it foregrounds pension sustainability and workforce management (for example, the projected one-retiree-per-worker ratio, and healthcare and pension costs together at about 30% of public expenditure). The choice stating that the experience underscores the need for attention to pension sustainability and workforce management as concerns shared by such societies is the direct, supported generalization of these stated points.
Contrast
Calling the situation an isolated case with minimal implications directly contradicts the passage, which presents it as instructive for other societies facing similar change.
Highlighting cultural adaptability in immigration reform isolates one specific sub-challenge the passage mentions; it is too narrow to be the inference the question asks for.
Saying other nations must adopt robotics and AI to completely resolve their challenges overstates the text — these are described as tools to help fill labour gaps, never a complete solution.
Claiming government intervention alone is sufficient is contradicted by the passage, which stresses that societal preferences and cultural resistance persist, so multifaceted solutions are required.