Read the article about the future of country life. Tick the topics which are mentioned. Choose M (mentioned)/NM (not mentioned)

Rural communities all over the world have experienced an astonishing decrease in population since the 1960s. In most cases, people are leaving the countryside for financial reasons. As agricultural machinery has improved, the need for workers has been reduced. At the same time, people are attracted to the well-paid jobs which they can find in the cities. As a result, some rural villages are like ghost towns now. So, what is the future of country life? We hear two different views.

Moira Holt

I’ve got plenty of friends who have moved to the countryside in recent years. The majority of them made the change because they wanted a better quality of life.  It’s true that you’re likely to earn more money if you work in the city and, of course, there are schools and leisure facilities. The problem is that cities can have a negative effect on your health. The busy lifestyle can affect your mental health while air pollution is bad for your physical health. In contrast, life in the countryside is more peaceful and the air is cleaner. Not only that, but there is more of a sense of community because you know all your neighbours and you tend to look out for each other.

While the number of people leaving the countryside has risen continually for a number of years, this trend is likely to be reversed in the future. The possibility of working remotely means they’ll be able to carry on doing their old jobs while living in villages. They won’t need to commute, either, which means their lives will probably be less stressful. It will also help to reduce traffic and pollution in urban and rural areas. What’s more, as the countryside becomes repopulated, there are bound to be better services like shops, schools and libraries. The countryside will be the place to live for people looking for a better quality of life.

Damien Ngo

I must admit that I’ve thought about moving out of the city. I think anyone who lives in an urban area dreams about living amongst woodland and open fields, but the reality of living in the countryside is rather different. The biggest problem is a lack of work for younger people, which means they’re all moving away and some villages are becoming deserted. I know for a fact that many of them don’t even have a school or doctor’s surgery anymore. When you look at that aspect of country life, it doesn’t seem quite so attractive. There’s no doubt that city life can be stressful, but there are also benefits, like good schools, reliable healthcare, and a wide choice of cultural activities.

I’m not 100 percent sure, but I’d imagine that country life is going to become more difficult for a lot of people. I get the impression that jobs are being destroyed in farming because robots can do the work more efficiently. Other areas like forest management will also be less dependent on people as drones will be used to manage forests and national parks. I suppose people who work remotely might choose to live in the countryside, but it won’t be the dream they imagine. With no communities and no services, people will feel isolated from the rest of the world.