ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」
ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 オッペンハイマーの孫が来日会見
6月24日(月)
In today's lesson, let's learn about some differences between a and the.
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オッペンハイマーの孫が来日会見
OPPENHEIMER GRANDSON RAISES ALARM ABOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS
The grandson of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who led the development of the atomic bomb in the U.S., is raising the alarm about nuclear weapons just as his grandfather did. Charles Oppenheimer spoke to Japanese media in Tokyo on Monday.
(Charles Oppenheimer / Grandson of J. Robert Oppenheimer)
“My main message is to listen to Robert Oppenheimer: we could have avoided the arms race and not been under the terrible danger that we are today from nuclear weapons.”
His grandfather opposed the development of the hydrogen bomb and the spread of nuclear warheads in response to the catastrophic consequences of the bombings on Japan in World War II.
Oppenheimer met with atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and reflected on the impact.
(Charles Oppenheimer / Grandson of J. Robert Oppenheimer)
“My personal observation is that I hope it shows the world that we should never use the bombs again.”
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- physicistは「物理学者」
- atomic bombは「原子爆弾」= A-bomb
nuclear weaponは「核兵器」 - raise the alarm about …は「～について警告を発する、警鐘を鳴らす」
= sound the alarm about - just as …は「～と全く同じように」
- armsは「兵器、武器」
arms raceは「兵器開発競争、軍備（拡張）競争」 - could have＋過去分詞は「～をするという選択もあった、～をすることもできたはず」
「（もしもロバート・オッペンハイマーの言葉に耳を傾けていたら）～することができていただろう」 - be under/in danger from …は「～の危険にさらされている、直面している」
- hydrogen bombは「水素爆弾」= H-bomb
nuclear warheadは「核弾頭」 - in response to …は「～を受けて、～に対応して」
- catastrophicは「壊滅的な、悲惨な」
- consequenceは「結果、結論、もたらされたもの」
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The grandson of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer is raising the alarm about nuclear weapons just as his grandfather did.
The grandson of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer
is raising the alarm about nuclear weapons
just as his grandfather did.
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★the grandsonとa grandsonのニュアンスの違い
-> When I hear the grandson in this sentence, I feel like we are talking about this specific person. He is the grandson of physicist J Robert, Oppenhieimer and there is only one of him.
The grandson of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who led the development of the atomic bomb in the U.S., is raising the alarm about nuclear weapons just as his grandfather did.
●the ＝ the onlyが省略されたもの
the grandson of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer ＝ the (only) grandson of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer
●a ＝ one of many「たくさんあるうちの（どれか）１つ」
-> In this case, it sounds like he's one of several grandsons of physicist, J, Robert Oppenheime.
a grandson of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer
＝ one of the grandsons of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer
●孫息子が複数いる場合に、それでもtheが使われているとき the grandson of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer ＝ the (publicly known) grandson of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer
-> Now, it soulds like that grandson of physicist J, Robert Oppenheimer is a famous or well-known person.
●孫息子は１人だけなのに、aが使われている
a grandson of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer
孫息子が１人しかいない場合には、the grandsonと言うのが具体的で正確な表現になります。しかし、a grandsonも間違いというわけではありません。
I learned a lot form today's lesson. I usually use the and a without thinking. So when I 'm asked why I used one of the other, I have to really think about it. It's actually quite difficult.
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ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 合計特殊出生率 1.20で過去最低
6月25日(火)
合計特殊出生率 1.20で過去最低
JAPAN'S TOTAL FERTILITY RATE HIT RECORD LOW IN 2023
We start with some worrying figures from Japan's government. The latest data shows the country's total fertility rate has been on the decline for eight straight years.
The number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime fell to 1.20 in 2023. It's the lowest it's been since records began in 1947.
The total fertility rate dropped in all prefectures. Tokyo posted the lowest figure of 0.99, and Okinawa had the highest rate of 1.60.
The number of Japanese babies born last year was the lowest since records began in 1899.
Health ministry officials said the declining birth rate is critical. They pointed out that the period before 2030 will be the last opportunity to reverse the trend, as the young population is expected to drop sharply after that.
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According to the US govenment in 2003 the birth rate dropped to 2.62 nationwide. That's a two percent decrease from 2022. It seems many countries are decreasing by various degrees.
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JAPAN'S TOTAL FERTILITY RATE HIT RECORD LOW IN 2023
JAPAN'S TOTAL FERTILITY RATE
HIT RECORD LOW
IN 2023
FERTILITY
[fərˈtɪləti]
[fərˈtɪlɪti]
---
★見出しでは「時制がずれる」などの特徴がある
LOST ITEMS REACHED RECORD HIGH IN 2023
過去形の時制が用いられています
●見出しの中に過去の出来事の時期を示す語句がある場合は、過去形にします。
JAPAN'S TOTAL FERTILITY RATE HIT RECORD LOW IN 2023
＝ Japan's total fertility rate hit a record low in 2023.
A good headline should be short and to the point. It needs to catch the readers or listners attention.
・a、the、be動詞など、なくても分かる単語は省略される
・過去のことでも現在形で表すなど、「時制がずれる」傾向がある
●見出しで未来を表すには「to」を使う
JAPAN'S TOTAL FERTILITY RATE TO HIT RECORD LOW
＝ Japan's total fertility rate is (going) to hit a record low.
●見出しで過去形に見えるものは受動態であることが多い
JAPAN'S TOTAL FERTILITY RATE SAID TO BE ‘CRITICAL’
＝ Japan's (declining) total fertility rate is (widely) said to be “critical.”
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I used to work as a preschool teacher and I really love being around children. I hope the birth rate can somehow increase and we can enjoy a future surrounded by young smilling faces.
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ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 インド モディ政権3期目発足
6月26日(水)
インド モディ政権3期目発足
INDIA'S MODI SWORN IN FOR THIRD TERM AS PRIME MINISTER
Narendra Modi has begun a third consecutive term as India's prime minister. This comes after a coalition led by his party won a majority of seats in the latest general election.
Modi took the oath of office at the presidential palace in the capital on Sunday.
Five-hundred and forty-three seats in the lower house were contested in the election. The voters gave 293 of them to the coalition spearheaded by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. That was more than enough for a majority. But the prime minister's party suffered a setback by failing to secure a majority on its own.
Analysts say Modi's government will need to take into account the interests of the regional parties in the coalition before it makes policy decisions. Observers are waiting to see whether Modi will steer his government in a stable manner.
Some wonder if he'll be able to take measures against wealth inequality, youth unemployment, and many of the country's other economic challenges.
Narendra Modi has begun a third consecutive term as India's prime minister.
- consecutiveは「連続した」
two consecutive terms「連続２期」/ second consecutive term「連続２期目」
a third consecutive term =>three cosecutive terms
-> If you were to use that phrase, you'd say something like,
He won three consecutive terms.
-> straight -> third straight term「連続３期目」
And also, you can use straight instead of consecutive.
A third straignt term means the same thing as a third consecutive therm.
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- come after …「～の結果起こる、～のあとに来る」「～を受けて」
- coalition「（２つ以上の政党による）
- 連立、連合」majorityは「過半数」
- general electionは「総選挙」
- winは「勝ち取る、自分のものにする」
「ＡがＢに勝った」A won Bではなく、
A won against B
A defeated B、A beat B - take the oath of officeは「就任の誓いをする」= make an oath of office
- office「役職、権威ある地位」政府や企業、その他の団体の責任ある重要ポストについて
-> この意味でのofficeは数えられない名詞How long has he been in office? - presidential palaceは「大統領府」
- lower houseは「下院」
２院制の「下院」は略式でlower houseまたはlower chamber、
「上院」はupper houseまたはupper chamber
日本の国会でthe Lower House（the lower chamber）=>「衆議院」
the Upper House（the upper chamber）=>「参議院」 - spearheadは「～の先頭に立って行動する、～の陣頭指揮をとる」
名詞のspearは「やり」、
spearheadは「やりの先端、やりの穂」
動詞のspearheadには「戦闘で先陣を切って進む、先頭に立つ」
spearhead efforts to …なら「～する取り組みの先頭に立つ」 - Bharatiya Janata Partyは「インド人民党」
- more than enough「十二分、有り余るくらい」
- the prime minister's party => モディ首相が率いる与党 Bharatiya Janata Party
- on one's own「単独で、独力で」
- ここでのinterestは「興味、関心」ではなく、
「利益」->この意味ではよく複数形
national interest(s)なら「国益」
party interest(s)なら「党の利益」 - wait to see …「（～がどうなるかを）見守る、～を静観する」
- steer 「運営する、かじを取る」<- 本来、船や自動車などの進路をコントロールする
自動車の「ハンドル」steering wheel - in a stable manner「安定したやり方で」
- wonder if …は、文字どおりには「～かどうか考える」
wonder + howやwhat、when、where、who「～かな？」や「～かしら？」
I wonder who that woman is.
wonder if/whether …-> 丁寧な疑問・依頼を表す場合にも使えます。
-> I wonder if you could help me with this translation. 手伝っていただけますか - take measuresは「対策を講じる」
- wealth inequalityは「富の不平等、貧富の格差」
- unemploymentは「失業（率）」/ youth unemployment「若者の失業」
three consecutive terms 「連続３期」
coalition 「（政党などの）連合」
suffer a setback 「敗北を喫する」
regional party 「地域政党」
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But the prime minister's party suffered a setback by failing to secure a majority on its own.
- setback 「後退、敗北」
- suffer a setback 「敗北を喫する」
- set … back「（人の計画・仕事などを）遅延させる」
- set A back 50,000 yen *+金額 =>
「Ａ（人）に５万円の負担を生じさせる、Ａ（人）に５万円を費やさせる」
“setback” is made up of two words: “set,” or “put in a position,” and “back,” or “in the reverse direction.”
So when you're trying to make progress toward a goal, a “setback” is something that pushes you backward, farther away from the goal. It's like when you're playing a board game and you draw a card that says “Move back two spaces.”
I'm a fan of this phrase. Here's an example,
This new TV set me back 450,000 yen. The idea is the same buying something pushes you backword a bit on your saving goals. If you think about it.
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Well, if you had a hard time understanding today's story, you are not alone. It was a bit of a challenge for me, too.
When you're listening, don't try to understand every single word. Focus on ones that come up a lot, like “coalition” today. You might not know what a key word means — but don't think of that as a setback. Think of it as a golden opportunity to learn. Don't you think so, Maeshima-san?
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ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 中国の大学入試 出願最多
6月27日(木)
How many more students registered for the exam this year compared to last year?
-510,000 students
<- That's an increase of 510,000 students from last year.
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中国の大学入試 出願最多
CHINESE TAKING COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAM JUMPS TO RECORD
The number of students taking China's national college entrance exam has hit a record high.
China's education ministry says more than 13.4 million high schoolers registered for the two-day exam that started Friday. That's an increase of 510,000 students from last year.
Chinese youth face severe competition in the labor market, and even university graduates are struggling to find jobs amid growing economic uncertainties. Observers say more students are seeking to enter universities that can give them an edge in the job market after graduating.
The ratio of Chinese high school students who advance to universities or other institutions of higher education has been rising. It has grown from 30 percent in 2012 to more than 60 percent last year.
Household expenditures on education have also increased. China's National Bureau of Statistics says parents will spend more than 63,000 dollars on raising their children until they reach 17 years of age.
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- expenditureは「支出」 = spending
-> 対義語はrevenue「収入、収益」
expenditureを使った経済用語
capital expenditure「設備投資、資本支出」
政府の財政でのexpenditureは「歳出」
revenueは「歳入」
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- the number of … 「～の数」
- a number of … 「多くの～、いくつかの～」
->any number of, not only many.
The number of students taking China's national college entrance exam has hit a record high.
a number of
A lot of dictionaries say that a number of basically means any number of, not only many.
- an increase of …「～の増加（分）」
That's an increase of 510,000 students from last year.
an increase of -> up by ...
That's up or that's up by 510,000 students from last year.
=>rise
The ratio of Chinese high school students who advance to universities or other institutions of higher education has been rising.
=>grow
It has grown from 30 percent in 2012 to more than 60 percent last year.
- expand 「拡大する」
- climb 「上がる」
- soar 「急上昇する」
decrease「減少する」
decline「低下する」
fall「下がる」
drop「下落する」
nosedive「急落する」
- give … an edge 「～に優位性を与える」
- give … a competitive edge「～に競争力を与える」
I like to think of an “edge” in this sense as the “sharp edge of a sword.”
If you give someone an edge, it's like you're providing them a sharp, powerful weapon to use in battle, or, in other words, giving them an advantage in competition.
That's why we say things like “sharpen one's competitive edge.”
-> Extensive research and development gave the company an edge in the market.
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Chinese youth face severe competition in the labor market, and even university graduates are struggling to find jobs amid growing economic uncertainties.
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undergraduate「学部課程」
postgraduate「大学院」
education ministryは「教育の省」
「文部科学省」=> Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
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I had a blast but I have to apologize fro changing the subject to peanut butter. I'm really sorry about that.
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フランス議会 解散選挙へ
MACRON BETS BIG ON SNAP ELECTION
French President Emmanuel Macron has seen far-right parties triumph in voting for the European Parliament. He's responded by calling a snap election at home.
(Emmanuel Macron / French President)
“This decision is serious, a hard one. But it is, above all, an act of confidence ― confidence in you, my fellow citizens, in the capacity of the French people to make the fairest choice for themselves and for future generations.”
More and more Europeans have grown opposed to accepting immigrants. They've been unsettled by an economic slump and an energy crisis sparked by the war in Ukraine.
Voters delivered another majority to the three major centrist parties in the European Parliament. But many in France sided with the far-right National Rally. The group captured more than double the votes of Macron's Renaissance party.
Some voters say Macron is taking a chance.
(French Voter)
“The dissolution of the Assembly seems like a very dangerous game to me.”