CCTV9英语新闻：中国计划生育的新规则将在2014生效

China may implement¹ changes to its one-child policy as early as next year. The bill proposes allowing couples to have two children if either parent is an only child. A bi-monthly session of China’s top legislature, the Standing² Committee of the National Peoples’ Congress reviewed the bill submitted by the State Council. An official from the National Health and Family Planning Commission confirmed the new policy is expected to take effect at the beginning of next year.

"Local health and family planning authorities are assessing the local demographical situation and family planning situation. They are also calculating the number of such couples and their situation. Local provincial³ congresses will make their arrangements and amend⁴ the regulation accordingly. I expect the new policy to go into force in some provincial regions in the first quarter of 2014," said Yang Wenzhuang from National Health and Family Planning Commission.
 
The State Council has argued for adjustment to the policy in the face of a steadily⁵ declining birth rate and changing demographics. The birth rate has remained relatively⁶ low and has shown a tendency to fall further. The rate has dropped to between 1.5 and 1.6 since the 1990s, far below the 2.1 rate recognized by the UN. The rate is defined as the average number of births per Chinese mother.

Meanwhile, the working population that began to drop in 2012 by 3.45 million annually⁷, is likely to fall by 8 million annually after 2023. The population aged⁸ 60 and above will reach 400 million and account for one-fourth of the total population in the early 2030s.

1 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

4 amend   

vt.修改，修订，改进；n.[pl.]赔罪，赔偿

参考例句：

• The teacher advised him to amend his way of living.老师劝他改变生活方式。
• You must amend your pronunciation.你必须改正你的发音。

5 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

6 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

7 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

8 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。