问答题 Workforce is defined as the total number of people who are available to work and earn incomes. The definition includes everyone who is employed or seeking paid employment, so it includes employers and the self-employed.
Although the size of the workforce depends a great deal on the size of the total population, there are several other influences which also affect it. The age distribution of the total population has a very marked effect on the available workforce. If the population has a high proportion of very young people or of those too old to work, then the available workforce would be lower than if there were an evenly spread age distribution. If the population grows rapidly from natural increase, i. e. , the number of births greatly exceeds the number of deaths, then as the total population increases, the proportion in the workforce declines.
Sometimes a population is described as aging, which means that the birth rate is either falling or growing very slowly, and as people retire from the workforce, there are not enough young people entering it to replace those who are leaving it. The population is top-heavy with older people. So the percentage of the population in the workforce declines when there is either a rapid increase in births or a falling birth rate.
The age distribution of the population has several important effects on the economy. If the population is aging and there is an increase in the number of people retiring without a corresponding increase in the number entering the workforce, this raises the problem of the ability of the economy to provide a reasonable level of social services to the retired group, If the aged are to be cared for in special homes or hotels, finances must be available for that purpose. If the size of the workforce is small relative to the total population, then the government tax receipts are relatively low and either the government has less money available to it or the workforce members have to be taxed more heavily.

【正确答案】劳动力的定义是可以工作和赚取收入的总人数。这定义包括所被雇用的每个人或者说所需要支付的雇用,所以它包括雇用者和自我雇用者。
尽管劳动力的总数在很大的程度上取决于人口总数,但它同样受其他因素的影响。总人数的年龄分布状态对可利用的劳动力有很大的影响。如果人口中有很大一部分年龄很小或者很大,那么它的可利用劳动力的总数就要比年龄分布平均的可利用劳动力的总数低。如果人数自然增长,也就是说出生数远大于死亡人数,那么随着总人数增加,劳动力的总数就会减少。
有时人口可描述为人口老化,意思就是当出生率下降或增长得很慢的时候,有人退休而又无足够的年轻人代替那些即将离开的人,这就形成了人口老龄化。所以当人口增长快或出生率下降的时候,劳动力的人口百分比就会下降。
人口年龄的分布会对经济产生影响。如果人口老化,退休人员增加而无新成员的加入时,就会产生为退休人群提供合理化社会服务的经济问题。如果老人需要在特殊的老人之家或旅馆得到关怀和照顾,必须有足够的资金来保障这种服务。如果相比较于总人数,劳动力的总数太小,政府的税收就会相应的减少。政府就会减少资金的投入,或者工作人员的税收将会增加。
【答案解析】[长难句分析]
1.The definition includes everyone who is employed or seeking paid employment, so it includes employers and the self-employed.
[句子分析] 本句是由连词“so”连接的两个并列分句。在前一个分句中,关系代词“who”引导的定语从句修饰先行词“everyone”,并在从句中作主语。
[译文] 这定义包括所被雇用的每个人或者说寻求付费雇用的人,所以它包括雇用者和自我雇用者。
2.Although the size of the workforce depends a great deal on the size of the total population,there are several other influences which also affect it.
[句子分析] 本句的主句是“there are several other influences which also affect it”,主句中包含一个由关系代词“which”引导的定语从句,修饰先行词“influences”。“Although”引导的是让步状语从句。
[译文] 尽管劳动力的总数在很大的程度上取决于人口总数,但它同样受其他因素的影响。
3.If the population has a high proportion of very young people or of those too old to work.then the available workforce would be lower than if there were an evenly spread age distribution.
[句子分析] 本句的主句是“then the available workforce…age distribution”,该主句中包含一个由“if”引导的条件状语从句。前面的从句也是由“if”引导的条件状语从句,该从句中在“or”和介词“of”之间省略了“a high proportion”。“too…to…”结构意为“太……以致不能……”,如:The boy is still too young to go to school.小男孩还不到上学年龄。
[译文] 如果人口中有很大一部分年龄很小或者很大,那么它的可利用劳动力的总数就要比年龄分布平均的可利用劳动力的总数低。
4.Sometimes a population is described as aging,which means that the birth rate is either falling or growing very slowly,and as people retire from the workforce,there are not enough young people entering it to replace those who are leaving it.
[句子分析] 本句是由连词“and”连接的两个并列分句。在前一个分句中,“which means that…very slowly”是由“which”引导的非限制性定语从句,修饰先行词“aging”。“either…or…”结构意为“或者……或者……;不是……就是……”,如:When the girl is happy,she either sings or dances.那个女孩高兴时,不是唱就是跳。在后一个分句中,主句是“there are not enough…leaving it”,该主句中包含一个由“who”引导的定语从句,修饰先行词“those”。“as people retire from the workforce”是由“as”引导的状语从句。
[译文] 有时人们指出人口老化的问题,意思就是当出生率下降或增长得很慢的时候,有人退休而又无足够的年轻人代替那些即将离开的人。
5.If the size of the workforce is small relative to the total population,then the government tax receipts are relatively low and either the government has less money available to it or the workforce members have to be taxed more heavily.
[句子分析] 本句的主句是“then the government tax receipts are...be taxed more heavily”,该主句是由连词“and”连接的两个并列句。句首是由“if”引导的条件状语从句。
[译文] 如果相比较于总人数,劳动力的总数太小,政府的税收就会相应的减少。政府就会减少资金的投入,或者工作人员的税收将会增加。