这篇文章的议题适合以下 DSE 作文方向： * 社会问题 / Social Issues * 老龄化社会 / Aging Society * 政府政策 / Government Policy * 心理健康与孤独 / Mental Health and Loneliness * 社区与人际关系 / Community and Human Connection 论点一：城市化和家庭结构改变，是老人孤立的根本原因 One of the most significant contributing factors to elderly isolation is the breakdown of the traditional family structure. As younger generations increasingly live alone and urban dwellers become strangers to their neighbours, senior citizens are left without a natural support network. In Hong Kong, where high-rise living is the norm, elderly residents may go days without any meaningful human contact. 关键词：contributing factors · breakdown of the family structure · support network · high-rise living 论点二：政府需要主动介入，打破污名，建立关怀网络 Addressing elderly isolation requires more than distributing leaflets or setting up hotlines. As Japan's experience shows, governments must take proactive steps — such as enacting legislation, training specialist staff, and funding community organisations — to reach out to vulnerable seniors. Crucially, efforts must also focus on breaking the social stigma that prevents many elderly people from seeking help. 关键词：proactive steps · enacting legislation · vulnerable seniors · breaking the social stigma 论点三：人与人的连结，是心理健康的基础 As Professor Tsuji argues, human beings are not meant to live in isolation. Social connection is fundamental to mental well-being, and the absence of it can have devastating consequences — not only for individuals, but for society as a whole. A community that fails to notice when one of its members has died is a community that has lost something essential. 关键词：social connection · mental well-being · devastating consequences · isolation 最后那一句——"a community that fails to notice when one of its members has died is a community that has lost something essential"——是我自己改写的，但这种结构在 DSE 作文结尾用，非常有力量。 🎯 结尾（约 30 秒） 好，今天的 DSE ReadLab 就到这里。 我们从一则香港新闻出发，读了一篇关于日本孤独死的英文报道，学了老年人的六种英文表达方式，拆解了七个核心词汇，讨论了问题在香港的本地语境，还整理了三个可以直接用的论点段落。 如果你身边有独居的老人家，记得多关心一下。我们下期见，take care。 📎 附：本期核心词汇速查表 词汇词性中文重点搭配isolationn.孤立；隔绝social isolation / live in isolationstem the tide短语遏制趋势struggle to stem the tide of...contributing factorsn.成因；促成因素contributing factors to this issueindividualizationn.个体化a shift towards individualizationclose-knit communityn.紧密的社区return to close-knit community livingstigman.污名；偏见break the stigma / social stigmaa new lease on life习语重获新生give sb. a new lease on life 老年人的英文表达 表达语境the elderly通用，最常见enior citizens正式文件、报告older adults新闻、学术，最尊重seniors简洁，新闻常用aging population宏观社会讨论the vulnerable elderly强调需要被保护的处境

📰 本期文章 Rubbish at Ham Tin beach shows dangers of overtourism, Hong Kong green advocates say — South China Morning Post, Kelly Fung 🗺️ 本期内容 香港的郊野景点越来越受内地游客欢迎，小红书爆红让橋咀洲、塔門、鳳凰山等地瞬间人满为患。本期我们通过一篇 SCMP 真实新闻，拆解过度旅游议题背后的词汇、论点与写作素材，帮你备战 DSE English Paper 2。 📚 本期核心词汇 Key Vocabulary 词汇词性中文重点搭配overtourism n.过度旅游 take a toll on / the problem of overtourismfragile ecosystemn. 脆弱的生态系统push … to its limitserodev.侵蚀；削弱erode the beauty / erode public trustvicious cycle / loopn.恶性循环take hold / be caught in a vicious cyclecarrying capacityn.承载力exceed / surpass the carrying capacityirreversible damagen.不可逆损害cause / prevent irreversible damageenforcementn.执法enhanced enforcement / enforcement mechanismillusionn.假象；幻觉give the illusion of / create an illusion 🔑 本期金句 Quotes to Remember "The influx of visitors is pushing fragile ecosystems to their limits, eroding the very beauty that draws people to them." "This isn't just about tourist behaviour; it's about whether the government has a policy mindset for managing tourism pressure." — Greenpeace campaigner Ha Shun-kuen "With Hong Kong's limited environmental carrying capacity, the government must reflect seriously on how to conserve its natural resources before irreversible damage is done." ✍️ DSE 写作素材 Writing Points 议题关联： Environmental Conservation / Tourism / Government Policy / Social Media 三大论点方向： ① 过度旅游对自然环境造成不可逆损害 关键词：irreversible damage · fragile ecosystems · coral reefs · environmental degradation ② 政府监管缺失是问题根本 关键词：policy framework · enforcement · carrying capacity · proactive regulation ③ 社交媒体加速问题扩散 关键词：viral posts · RedNote · sudden surge in visitors · digital media 🧠 万能句型 Transferable Sentence Structures 以下句型可以套用到其他 DSE 议题： * "This isn't just about ___; it's about whether the government has a policy mindset for managing ___ pressure." * "Some efforts give the illusion of addressing ___, but fail to tackle deeper issues." * "Without proper regulation, the very ___ that draw people can be permanently destroyed." 📍 文中提到的香港地点 * 哈姆田沙滩 Ham Tin Beach — 西贡，宁静海滩，现成热门露营地 * 橋咀洲 Sharp Island — 香港联合国教科文组织世界地质公园，珊瑚礁受损 * 鳳凰山 Sunset Peak — 大嶼山，银草摄影热点 * 北果洲 North Ninepin Island — 西贡，六角形火山岩柱 * 塔門 Tap Mun — 西贡，被小红书称为"小瑞士"

文章词汇 1️⃣ admission ratio — 錄取比例 This means the percentage of students admitted to a university. 意思就是「大學錄取的比例」。 For example: The admission ratio of DSE students has dropped significantly. （DSE 學生的錄取比例明顯下降。） 👉 You can use this in any topic related to education or university admissions. 2️⃣ buck the trend — 逆勢而行 To “buck the trend” means to go against the general direction or pattern. 意思是「打破整體趨勢」，和大家都不一樣。 For instance: CUHK bucked the trend by admitting more local students. （中文大學逆勢而行，錄取了更多本地學生。） 👉 This is a very good idiom for DSE writing when you talk about exceptions or unique cases. 3️⃣ academic qualifications — 學歷、學術資格 This refers to the certificates or exams that prove your education level. 指的是學歷證明或考試資格。 Universities now recognize multiple academic qualifications. （大學現在承認多種學術資格。） 👉 In DSE writing, this phrase works well in education, employment, or fairness topics. 4️⃣ undermine the value of — 削弱……的價值 This is a formal expression meaning “to weaken or reduce the importance of something.” 意思是「削弱某件事的價值或地位」。 Some worry this may undermine the value of the DSE. （有些人擔心這會削弱 DSE 的價值。） 👉 Excellent for expressing negative effects or public concern in arguments. 5️⃣ diversify the student body — 使學生群體多元化 “To diversify” means to make something more varied or different. 意思是讓某個群體更有多樣性。 Universities aim to diversify the student body. （大學希望讓學生群體更具多元化。） 👉 You can use this when writing about inclusiveness, equality, or globalization. 6️⃣ globally competitive — 具全球競爭力的 This adjective means “able to compete internationally.” 形容一個人或系統「有全球競爭力」。 Hong Kong needs a more globally competitive education system. （香港需要一個更具全球競爭力的教育體系。） 👉 Great phrase for conclusion sentences — it sounds advanced and forward-looking.

ride-hailing service 原句： “More than a decade since the first ride-hailing service took to Hong Kong’s streets, the law is finally catching up.” 意思：打车服务；共乘平台。 说明：指透过手机应用程序叫车的服务，如 Uber、HKTaxi 等。乘客可即时预约司机，无需在街上招手。这个词体现了科技对传统行业的冲击。 ✅ Example: Ride-hailing services have made travelling around cities faster and more convenient. 打车平台让城市出行变得更快捷、更方便。 dampen public demand 原句： “Occasional crackdowns on illegal ride-hailing services have done nothing to dampen public demand for them.” 意思：抑制公众需求；削弱公众兴趣。 说明：dampen 本意为“使潮湿”“减弱”，在这里用作比喻，表示削弱热情或需求。常出现在社会、经济类议题中。 ✅ Example: High ticket prices did not dampen public demand for the concert. 昂贵的票价并没有削弱公众对这场演唱会的热情。 smashing the syndicate 原句： “The smashing of a syndicate that hired mainland drivers for ride-hailing apps served to underline the urgency.” 意思：捣毁犯罪集团；瓦解团伙。 说明：smash 在这里是比喻义，表示“彻底打击”或“摧毁”。syndicate 指有组织的集团（多为非法）。这个短语常出现在新闻报道中，语气正式。 ✅ Example: Police succeeded in smashing a drug syndicate operating across the border. 警方成功捣毁了一个跨境贩毒集团。 legalise and regulate 原句： “Government proposals could legalise and regulate ride-hailing apps by the end of next year.” 意思：使合法化并进行监管。 说明：legalise（使合法化）表示政府正式承认某事的合法地位；regulate（规范）指制定规则和标准以确保公平与安全。两者常搭配使用，出现在政策或社会议题类文章中。 ✅ Example: Many countries have moved to legalise and regulate online gambling to protect users. 许多国家开始使网络博彩合法化并加以监管，以保护用户。

Today’s article is titled “Lantern Maker Crafts a Family Tradition.” 今天的文章题为《花灯师傅的家族传承》。 Amid a jumble of colourful fabrics and bamboo strips, Hui Ka-hung works in his small workshop in Chai Wan. 在柴湾的一间小工坊里，47岁的许嘉雄在一堆五彩的布料和竹条之中忙碌着。 👉 Vocabulary: “Amid a jumble of …” 这个短语意思是「在一堆混乱的……之中」，常用来描写工作场景或创作空间，带有“杂乱但充满活力”的氛围。 ✅ Example: Amid a jumble of tools and paint, the artist quietly worked on his masterpiece. 在杂乱的颜料与工具中，艺术家静静创作。 Hui founded his workshop, Hung C Lau, on his own and struggled to stay afloat in the early years. 他独自创立了“雄狮楼”，在早期为了stay afloat —— 勉强维持生计 —— 付出了很多努力。 👉 Vocabulary: “Stay afloat” 字面意思是“漂浮在水面上”，在经济或生活语境中表示“勉强维持生计”。 ✅ Example: Many small shops struggled to stay afloat during the pandemic. 疫情期间，许多小店都在艰难支撑。 Later, his 80-year-old father joined him — not as a master, but as an apprentice. 后来，他80岁的父亲加入工坊，不是师傅，而是学徒。 Together, they kept the business running — his father often helped hold the fort during tough times. 他们共同支撑着工坊的运作，在困难时期，父亲常常hold the fort——坚守岗位，顶住压力。 👉 Vocabulary: “Hold the fort” 原为军事用语“坚守阵地”，现代英语中表示“顶替、撑场、守住工作”。 ✅ Example: While I was away, my colleague held the fort for me. 我不在的时候，同事帮我撑住了工作。 Lantern-making is a labour-intensive process, 花灯制作是一项labour-intensive process —— 劳动密集型的工作。 👉 Vocabulary: “Labour-intensive process” 这个短语形容需要大量人力与时间的制作过程，常用于手工艺或制造业。 ✅ Example: Handmade embroidery is a labour-intensive art form. 手工刺绣是一种劳动密集的艺术形式。 From splitting bamboo to mounting fabric and painting calligraphy, 从劈竹、糊纸到书写吉祥字样， each step demands great patience and skill. 每一步都考验着耐心与技巧。 Many people think papercraft is a sunset industry, 许多人认为纸艺是一门sunset industry —— 夕阳产业。 👉 Vocabulary: “Sunset industry” 这个词指“正在衰退的行业”，常用于描述逐渐式微的传统产业。 ✅ Example: Print newspapers are often seen as a sunset industry. 报业常被视为夕阳产业。 But Hui disagrees — as long as festivals and faith remain, the light of lanterns will never fade. 但许嘉雄不同意，他认为只要节日与信仰仍在，花灯的光就不会熄灭。 Do you think traditional crafts like lantern making can survive in a fast-changing, digital society?What can be done to make them appealing to younger generations? I think they can survive — if we make them part of modern life. For example, traditional lanterns can appear in art installations, cultural festivals, or even fashion design.When people see that these crafts still bring meaning and beauty, they’ll realize they’re not old — they’re timeless.