PASSIVE

   

   

   1 Underline the correct words in this article.

   

   A Race Against Time

   Governments across Europe are already (1) starting/being started to worry. Why? Because low
   birth rates combined with longer life expectancy (2) mean/are meant that the Continent will
   soon have fewer people working and fewer people paying taxes. As a result, a whole range of
   measures must (3) take/be taken to deal with the problems that this change in demographics (4)
   will bring/will be brought.

   At the recent Annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, a session called 'Reforming
   Pension Systems' (5) took place/was taken place. The speaker, director of the population
   division of the United Nations, (6) highlighted/was highlighted that this is a global problem,
   not just a European one. However the facts cannot (7) ignore/be ignored: the situation in
   Europe is particularly serious. Look at the findings of a recent European Commission study:
   Italy's population (8) expects/is expected to drop from 58 million to 48 million by 2050,
   Spain's (9) will fall/will be fallen from 40 million to 35 million, and Germany's from 82
   million to 76 million. Sweden is one of the few countries where the population will probably
   (10) increase/be increased.

   And as the populations get smaller, they are also getting older. From 2007 onwards an enormous
   part of Europe's population (11) will start/will be started to retire. Solutions will have
   (12) to find/to be found to deal with the problems that this will (13) create/be created.
   Certainly governments must (14) encourage/be encouraged private pension plans, and
   old-fashioned tax and social security models must (15) look at/be looked at in a completely
   new way.

   

   

   2 Complete the second sentence so it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Do not
   mention who did the action.

   

   1          They grow much less coffee in Colombia these days.  

               These days ______________________________________

   2          Someone delivered this package this morning. 

               This package ______________________________________        

   3          The city council is redeveloping the old docklands area.          

               The old docklands area ______________________________________                

   4          They've put up interest rates again.      

               Interest rates ______________________________________                    

   5          We'll discuss your idea in the meeting tomorrow.        

               Your idea ______________________________________             

   6          When is your date of birth?     

               When exactly ______________________________________ born?

   7          Someone stole Peter's car last week.

               ______________________________________ stolen last week.   

   8          Did anyone tell Alex about the meeting?

               ______________________________________ about the meeting?