# PTE RW FIB #36: Societal Impacts of Demographic...

Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks #36 - Level 3 - Feeds Reading

> Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choice will appear. Select the appropriate answer choice for each blank.

Population composition is changing at every level of society. Births increase in one nation and decrease in another. Some families ____ childbirth while others start bringing children into their folds early. Population changes can be due to random external ____ ,like an epidemic, or shifts in other social institutions, as described above. But regardless of why and how it happens, population trends have a ____ interrelated impact on all other aspects of society. For example, because we are experiencing an increase in our ____ population as baby boomers begin to retire, this will in turn change the way many of our social institutions are organized. For instance, there is an increased demand for housing in warmer climates, a massive shift in the need for elder care and assisted living facilities, and growing awareness of elder abuse. There is concern about labor ____ as boomers retire, not to mention the knowledge gap as the most senior and accomplished leaders in different sectors start to leave. Further, as this large generation leaves the workforce, the loss of tax income and pressure on pension and retirement plans means that the financial stability of the country is threatened.

## Answer

Population composition is changing at every level of society. Births increase in one nation and decrease in another. Some families **delay** childbirth while others start bringing children into their folds early. Population changes can be due to random external **forces** ,like an epidemic, or shifts in other social institutions, as described above. But regardless of why and how it happens, population trends have a **tremendous** interrelated impact on all other aspects of society. For example, because we are experiencing an increase in our **senior** population as baby boomers begin to retire, this will in turn change the way many of our social institutions are organized. For instance, there is an increased demand for housing in warmer climates, a massive shift in the need for elder care and assisted living facilities, and growing awareness of elder abuse. There is concern about labor **shortages** as boomers retire, not to mention the knowledge gap as the most senior and accomplished leaders in different sectors start to leave. Further, as this large generation leaves the workforce, the loss of tax income and pressure on pension and retirement plans means that the financial stability of the country is threatened.

## Explanation

Blank 3 needs a strong adjective before "interrelated impact." "Tremendous" means very large. "Tenuous" means weak, and "tremulous" means shaking, so they only look similar. In blank 4, retiring baby boomers increase the "senior" population. "Junior" means the opposite, and "tertiary" does not describe age.

## Hints

- Look at the words immediately before and after the blank to identify the grammatical role needed.
- Consider the overall theme of the passage, which focuses on the challenges posed by an aging population.

[Practise this question with the exam timer](https://testmigo.com/pte/practice/reading-writing-fill-in-the-blanks/societal-impacts-of-demographic-shifts) - [All Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks questions](https://testmigo.com/pte/practice/reading-writing-fill-in-the-blanks)