Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.
Lesson Info
Lesson Content
Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio
Understanding: True or False
Language: Vocab Match
Use It: Discussion Questions
Answers
(1) Do you think your town is getting bigger or smaller?
(2) What do you know about Greece?
Vocab List
Greece has announced a €1.6 billion plan to fight its falling population. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the plan will begin in 2026 and is the country’s “boldest tax reform in more than 50 years.”
Financial Support for Families
The new measures include a 2% cut for all tax groups and no tax at all for low-income families with four children. Families will also receive higher payments for having children. A “baby bonus,” first offered in 2020, has increased to €1,700 for a first child to €3,500 for a fourth child, plus up to €140 per child each month.
The government will also remove real estate taxes in remote areas to encourage young people to move to the countryside, where houses are more affordable than in cities.
Why the Crisis Is Serious
Greece’s fertility rate is only 1.4 children per woman, far below the replacement rate of 2.1. Experts say the population, now 10.2 million, could fall below 8 million by 2050. By then, 36% of Greeks may be over 65.
Officials warn this puts pensions, healthcare, and the job market at risk. The finance minister, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, said fertility rates dropped sharply after the economic crisis 15 years ago, during a period of austerity. During that time, more than 500,000 Greeks left the country in search of work, an exodus of mostly young and skilled workers.
Challenges Ahead
Although the government is offering incentives, many young Greeks say high living costs and low wages make it hard to start families. Housing prices are so high that many people live with their parents into their 30s. This year, Greece’s education ministry even closed over 700 schools because there were not enough students.
Officials call the population problem a “national threat,” but it remains to be seen if the new plan will change the country’s future.
Greece Spends to Fight Population Decline
(1) Do you think your town is getting bigger or smaller?
(2) What do you know about Greece?
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Incentive (n.)
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Fertility (n.)
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Replacement rate (n.)
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Austerity (n.)
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Exodus (n.)
-
Baby bonus (n.)
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Reform (n.)
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Real estate tax (n.)
Greece has announced a €1.6 billion plan to fight its falling population. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the plan will begin in 2026 and is the country’s “boldest tax reform in more than 50 years.”
Financial Support for Families
The new measures include a 2% cut for all tax groups and no tax at all for low-income families with four children. Families will also receive higher payments for having children. A “baby bonus,” first offered in 2020, has increased to €1,700 for a first child to €3,500 for a fourth child, plus up to €140 per child each month.
The government will also remove real estate taxes in remote areas to encourage young people to move to the countryside, where houses are more affordable than in cities.
Why the Crisis Is Serious
Greece’s fertility rate is only 1.4 children per woman, far below the replacement rate of 2.1. Experts say the population, now 10.2 million, could fall below 8 million by 2050. By then, 36% of Greeks may be over 65.
Officials warn this puts pensions, healthcare, and the job market at risk. The finance minister, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, said fertility rates dropped sharply after the economic crisis 15 years ago, during a period of austerity. During that time, more than 500,000 Greeks left the country in search of work, an exodus of mostly young and skilled workers.
Challenges Ahead
Although the government is offering incentives, many young Greeks say high living costs and low wages make it hard to start families. Housing prices are so high that many people live with their parents into their 30s. This year, Greece’s education ministry even closed over 700 schools because there were not enough students.
Officials call the population problem a “national threat,” but it remains to be seen if the new plan will change the country’s future.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. The government’s plan will begin in 2026. TRUEFALSE True
2. Greece’s fertility rate is higher than the replacement rate. TRUEFALSE False
3. Over 500,000 Greeks left the country to find work during the crisis. TRUEFALSE True
4. Families with four children will pay a higher tax rate. TRUEFALSE False
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
Greece has announced a €1.6 billion plan to fight its falling population. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the plan will begin in (1) and is the country’s “boldest tax reform in more than 50 years.”
The new measures include a 2% cut for all tax groups and no tax at all for low-income families with four children. Families will also receive higher payments for having children. A “(2) ,” first offered in 2020, has increased to €1,700 for a first child to €3,500 for a fourth child, plus up to €140 per child each month.
The government will also remove real estate taxes in remote areas to encourage young people to move to the (3) , where houses are more affordable than in cities.
Greece’s (4) rate is only 1.4 children per woman, far below the replacement rate of 2.1. Experts say the population, now 10.2 million, could fall below 8 million by 2050. By then, 36% of Greeks may be over 65.
Officials warn this puts pensions, healthcare, and the job market at risk. The finance minister, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, said fertility rates dropped sharply after the economic crisis 15 years ago, during a period of austerity. During that time, more than 500,000 Greeks left the country in search of work, an exodus of mostly young and skilled workers.
Although the government is offering (5) , many young Greeks say high living costs and low wages make it hard to start families. Housing prices are so high that many people live with their parents into their 30s. This year, Greece’s education ministry even closed over (6) schools because there were not enough students.
Officials call the population problem a “national threat,” but it remains to be seen if the new plan will change the country’s future.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
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Vocab Match
Drag each vocabulary word to its matching definition, or select a word and then select its definition:
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Vocab Match
Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.
1. Incentivef) Something that encourages a person to take action.
2. Fertilitye) The ability of people to have children; birth rate.
3. Replacement rated) The number of children needed to keep a population the same size.
4. Austerityc) Strict government spending cuts to fix economic problems.
5. Exodusb) A large number of people leaving a place.
6. Reforma) A change made to improve a system, such as laws or taxes.
a) A change made to improve a system, such as laws or taxes.
b) A large number of people leaving a place.
c) Strict government spending cuts to fix economic problems.
d) The number of children needed to keep a population the same size.
e) The ability of people to have children; birth rate.
f) Something that encourages a person to take action.
Discussion Questions
- How many brothers or sisters do you have? Is it more or less than your parents have?
- Several countries around the world have low birth rates. Why are people deciding to have fewer children?
- Does your country pay a baby bonus to couples when they have children? Is this kind of policy a good idea?
- How serious are the problems that Greece is facing? Do you agree that they are a "national threat"?
- Do you think tax cuts will help to raise the number of births? Explain.
- How does a low fertility rate affect schools, hospitals, and pensions?
- Do you think housing costs change people’s decisions about having children?
- Until what age do people usually live with their parents in your country?
- Would you consider living in the countryside to save money? Why or why not?
- A lot of young people left Greece for economic reasons. How can Greece encourage them to come back?
Discussion Questions
- How many brothers or sisters do you have? Is it more or less than your parents have?
- Several countries around the world have low birth rates. Why are people deciding to have fewer children?
- Does your country pay a baby bonus to couples when they have children? Is this kind of policy a good idea?
- How serious are the problems that Greece is facing? Do you agree that they are a "national threat"?
- Do you think tax cuts will help to raise the number of births? Explain.
- How does a low fertility rate affect schools, hospitals, and pensions?
- Do you think housing costs change people’s decisions about having children?
- Until what age do people usually live with their parents in your country?
- Would you consider living in the countryside to save money? Why or why not?
- A lot of young people left Greece for economic reasons. How can Greece encourage them to come back?
Answers
Listening: (1) 2026, (2) baby bonus, (3) countryside, (4) fertility, (5) incentives, (6) 700
True or False:
- True. The article says the plan will start in 2026.
- False. Fertility is 1.4, which is below the 2.1 replacement rate.
- True. The article says more than 500,000 people left to find jobs.
- False. The plan gives a zero tax rate for low-income families with four children.
Vocabulary:
- Incentive: Something that encourages a person to take action.
- Fertility: The ability of people to have children; birth rate.
- Replacement rate: The number of children needed to keep a population the same size.
- Austerity: Strict government spending cuts to fix economic problems.
- Exodus: A large number of people leaving a place.
- Reform: A change made to improve a system, such as laws or taxes.