2019年4月25日社会类(two-part question 型)

　　Young people are leaving their homes in rural areas to study or work in the cities. What are the reasons? Do advantages of this development outweigh its disadvantages?

　　Migration from rural areas to urban conurbations has become a modern phenomenon as the youth move away seeking a better, more prosperous life. This is often due to the availability of better job opportunities and education. In this essay I will consider both the advantages and disadvantages below.

　　One of the main causes of young people moving away from the countryside is lack of opportunity. They are constantly bombarded with advertising showing the benefits of a modern lifestyle, whereas life in rural communities is often hard and poor. The bright lights of the city beckon and many young people are drawn there looking for employment and more opportunities such as education, to create a better life for themselves. Moreover, job markets in the cities are more buoyant, and therefore, it is much easier for young people to find jobs there compared to the rural areas where economic activities are limited.

　　One of the disadvantages to this relocation is that firstly, rural areas are becoming depopulated and farmers and landowners find it difficult to find the manpower to tend to their crops and the land. Secondly, there are issues created by an ageing population. This imbalance puts extra strain on local support services as there is no longer the familial support there once was for the elderly.