while South Korea has reported

[Maybo]

Last year, China's population fell for the first time since 1961, while South Korea has reported the lowest fertility rate in the world.
(Japan population: One in 10 people now aged 80 or older by BBC)

Why did the writer use "has reported" and not "reported"?

 

[jutfrank]

This is a news report. News reports typically uses present tenses to create a sense that the past events are current and ongoing, and relevant to the present day.

 

[Maybo]

This is a news report. News reports typically uses present tenses to create a sense that the past events are current and ongoing, and relevant to the present day.

So the sentence doesn’t mean that the Korean fertility rate was reported last year. Am I right? It emphasises the rate is still the lowest this year.

 

[jutfrank]

Right.

 

[Maybo]

Right.

What tense would we use for “has reported” if it was not a news report?

 

[jutfrank]

It is a news report.

The tense a person chooses depends on what she wants to focus on. News reports focus on what is going on presently.

 

[Maybo]

It is a news report.

The tense a person chooses depends on what she wants to focus on. News reports focus on what is going on presently.

I'm practising writing reports for charts and graphs so I'd like to know what tense should be used if it's for common writing, such as IELTS exams.
If I'm taking an exam, should I use the past tense instead?

 

[Piscean]

Your charts and graphs are almost certainly based on past-time situations, so past tenses are appropriate.

 

[Tarheel]

@Maybo I'm not sure what you mean by "common writing", but you seem to be talking about some kind of analysis. If you let me look at one I can comment on it.

 

[nobarrier]

The use of "has reported" instead of "reported" in the context of South Korea's fertility rate indicates a recent event or ongoing situation that is still relevant at the time of writing.

I am not a teacher.

 

[probus]

Hello @nobarrier and welcome to the forum. Our rules state that any member may answer questions provided they state they are not a teacher if that is the case. I have edited your post by adding the required disclaimer. The easiest way for you to comply in future is to create a signature file saying "Not a teacher".

 

[nobarrier]

have edited your post by adding the required disclaimer.

Alright, thank you!