Language Point 16

As the number of women going to school increases, the growth rate declines. (Para. 5)

Meaning: The population growth rate in China becomes lower because more and more women are going to school.

decline: v. 1. become worse or less

The number of staff has declined from 12,000 to 10,000.

职工的人数从一万二千人降到了一万人。

The value of the dollar on the world market has declined in recent years.

最近几年美元在世界市场上的价值已有所下降。

The number of smokers in the United States declined greatly in the 1980s.

二十世纪80年代美国吸烟人数大量减少。

2. refuse usually politely; being unwilling

We had to decline the invitation to visit our friends in another city.

我们只得谢绝了去另一城市拜访朋友的邀请。

The football star declined to answer the news writer's question.

那位足球明星拒绝回答新闻记者的提问。

n. process of becoming worse or less

If something is in decline, falling into decline, or on the decline, it is slowly growing smaller, weaker, or worse.

如果什么东西在缩减、衰弱或衰退，那它就是在渐渐变小、变弱或变差。

Thankfully the smoking of cigarettes is on the decline.

谢天谢地，抽烟的人越来越少了。