One of the consequences of improved medical care is that people are living longer and life expectancy is increasing. Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
The advancement of medical science has significantly extended human lifespans by enabling earlier disease detection and treatment. While this trend presents certain economic challenges, its benefits for families and society ultimately outweigh the drawbacks.
The primary concerns regarding increased longevity are financial. As life expectancy rises, pension systems face mounting pressure since retirees draw benefits for longer periods without contributing to pension funds. For instance, Japan’s aging population has strained its national pension system, requiring higher contributions from younger workers. Additionally, elderly populations typically require more healthcare resources. In the UK, NHS data shows that patients over 65 account for nearly 60% of hospital admissions, demonstrating the substantial healthcare costs associated with an aging society.
However, the social and economic advantages of longer lifespans are profound. Multigenerational households allow grandparents to provide childcare, enabling parents to work while children benefit emotionally and intellectually from this interaction. Studies from Harvard University reveal that children raised with grandparent involvement show 20% better developmental outcomes. Furthermore, many seniors continue working past retirement age. In the United States, 30% of adults aged 65-74 remain employed, contributing valuable experience to the workforce while paying taxes that support social services.
In conclusion, while extended lifespans pose fiscal challenges for pension and healthcare systems, the societal benefits—stronger family bonds, intergenerational knowledge transfer, and continued economic participation by seniors—make this trend overwhelmingly positive. With proper policy adjustments, societies can maximize these advantages while mitigating financial pressures.
Scoring Analysis
| Criteria | Band | Improvements |
|---|---|---|
| Task Response | 7.5 | Clear position maintained throughout with developed ideas |
| Coherence | 7.0 | Better paragraphing and linking words (“Additionally,” “However,” “Furthermore”) |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 | Stronger vocabulary (“mounting pressure,” “intergenerational knowledge transfer”) |
| Grammar | 7.0 | Fewer errors, more complex structures |