ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」
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ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 G7 首脳宣言を採択
7月1日(月)
In today's lesson, let's learn about some similarities between the G7 and mountain chlimbing.
G7 LEADERS WRAP UP SUMMIT
The leaders of the Group of Seven nations have wrapped up their two-day meeting. Their final day of sessions was on economic security and issues in the Indo-Pacific region.
The leaders have long raised concerns around China's overproduction of electric vehicles and solar panels. In the communique, they called on the country to refrain from adopting export control measures on critical minerals.
The leaders expressed “serious concerns” about Beijing's maritime advances in the South and East China Seas. They strongly oppose its attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion.
The first day of the summit saw the leaders promise Ukraine about 50 billion dollars in loans backed by interest from frozen Russian assets. And they say they'll continue taking measures against what they call actors in China and third parties that materially support Russia's war machine. They say they're ready to impose restrictive measures against them.
- economic securityは「経済安全保障」
- overproductionは「過剰生産」
接頭辞over-＋production「生産」
overpopulation「人口過密、人口過剰」
overtourism「オーバーツーリズム、観光公害」 - electric vehicleは「電気自動車」で、EV
- communique「コミュニケ」公式の「報告、声明」
the communique「そのコミュニケ」は、今回のＧ７首脳宣言を指しています。 - export control(s)「輸出管理、輸出規制」
<>「輸入管理、輸入規制」import control(s) - critical mineralは「重要鉱物」
- maritime advanceは「海洋進出」
- the South and East China Seas
-> the South China Sea and the East China Sea「南シナ海と東シナ海」 - unilaterallyは「一方的に」<> bilaterallyなら「相互に、双方で」
- status quo「そのままの状態、現状（維持）、現在の体制」
-> maintain the status quo「現状を維持する」
challenge the status quo「現状を打破しようとする」 - by force or coercion <- by force or (by) coercion
by forceは「力ずくで」 / by force of armsなら「武力で」
coercionは「強制（力）、無理強い」/ by coercionは「強制的に、強制力によって」
coercion
[koʊˈɜrʃən]
- summitは「頂上、山頂」-> はsummit meeting「首脳会議」
the summit「そのサミット」は今回のＧ７サミット
- about 50 billion dollars in loans backed by interest from …
-> about 50 billion dollars in loans (that are) backed by interest from frozen Russian assets.
Ｇ７が（制裁で）凍結したロシアの資産から得られる利子を活用し、およそ５００億ドルをウクライナの支援にあてることで合意しました - billionは「１０億」なので、50 billionは「５００億」です。
- loanは「貸付金、融資、ローン」で、in loansは「融資として」
- materiallyは「物質面で、物理的に、大いに、実質的に」
- war machineは「（戦争を遂行するために複雑な機械のように動く）軍事組織（団体）」
●summit「頂上会談」
Group of Seven（G7）
-> the Group of Seven industrialized democracies「先進工業国である民主主義国家７か国によるグループ」
-> rotating presidency（順番に各国が議長国を務める仕組み）で運営されています。
The G7 summit members include the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy.
●sherpa（シェルパ）と呼ばれる個人代表
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FLIPPING TABLES COMPETITION IN JAPAN
A common scene in Japanese comics and TV shows is a character so angry they flip over a table. People in northern Japan have vented their frustrations by turning the practice into a competition.
(Participant)
“I gotta lose weight!”
(Participant)
“No more homework!”
Young members of a local commerce group in Iwate Prefecture organized the annual event in the hopes of revitalizing the region. This year's event drew about 30 competitors, aged 2 to 74. They were judged based on costumes, what they yelled when they flipped the table, and how far a toy on the table flew.
The winner was a father who came with his young child.
(Winner)
“I don't wanna go to work 'cause my two-year-old is just too cute!!”
The winner says it was his first time taking part in the competition and the event is a good opportunity for people to get together and enjoy themselves.
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WEF SURVEY: JAPAN STILL LAGS MOST OF WORLD IN GENDER EQUALITY
A survey shows Japan's standing in global gender equality rankings still trails behind most of the world. The result highlights the country's slow pace of progress for women in both the political and economic spheres.
The World Economic Forum released its annual Global Gender Gap Report on Wednesday. Japan ranks 118th among 146 nations. Its ranking rose seven places, from 125th last year. Iceland tops the list for the 15th year in a row.
The rankings cover four areas: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. Women in Japan were almost equal to men in education and healthcare. But as in past surveys, they scored poorly in the other categories.
The report also warns it would take 134 years to achieve equality worldwide at the current pace.
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JAPAN FIRMS MAKE ADVANCES IN ROBOTIC SURGERY
Japanese tech firms are making big inroads into the market for robotic surgery. They're working on innovations that could enhance medical care and ease the nationwide doctor shortage.
Sony Group recently unveiled a prototype of a microsurgery assistance robot. The arms can reproduce human hand movements with greater stability and precision. That's essential in delicate procedures, such as when stitching blood vessels under a microscope.
A robot developed by Japanese startup Medicaroid is already in use. The machine has assisted in more than 5,000 laparoscopic keyhole surgeries since being commercialized in 2020. Medicaroid's backers include Kawasaki Heavy Industries, which has invested heavily in robotic surgery.
The Da Vinci robotic surgical system, designed by a U.S. firm, has dominated the market for many years. But since its patents started expiring a few years ago, competition has been intensifying.
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YELLOW SHINKANSEN RAILWAY ICON NEARS END OF THE LINE
Fans of Japan's shinkansen bullet trains are getting ready to bid farewell to a colorful icon of the tracks. Railway operators say they will phase out the so-called “Doctor Yellow” inspection cars.
The eye-catching seven-car vehicle was created based on the shinkansen. It's off-limits to ordinary passengers and operates only once about every 10 days. Seeing it is said to bring happiness, and it has become popular among railway fans.
The cars are used on tracks between Tokyo Station and Hakata Station in Fukuoka Prefecture. Central Japan Railway plans to retire theirs in January. West Japan Railway will do the same in 2027 or later.
Going forward, inspections will be carried out with devices installed on regularly operating shinkansen trains.
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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.
----
- 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.
----
- 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」
---
- 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.
---
Chinese youth face severe competition in the labor market, and even university graduates are struggling to find jobs amid growing economic uncertainties.
---
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
---
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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ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 フランス議会 解散選挙へ
6月28日(金)
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.”
---
- 動詞grow「成長する」 => grow-grew-grown「次第に～になる」
grow accustomed to life in America「次第にアメリカでの生活に慣れる」
I've grown fond of this old house, and I don't want to move out.
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“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.”
serious 「重大な」
fellow 「仲間の、同志の」
---
Well, this is just my personal interpretation but I think it reflected a technique that leaders often use in statements.
Macoron said he has confidence in the capacity of the French people to make the fairest choice for themselves. He believes that they will make the most appropriate decision. To most people listening it sounds grea, you know, the leader believes in us.
Well, in my personal experience, parents and teachers use this technique a lot.
Tom, tehy say, I know that you'll make the right decision. It makes me feel responsible, makes me feel respected, but they're not saying what the right decision is.
So, a lot of times I know that you'll make what I think is the right decision. In other words, I think you'll do what I want you to do.
Right. It can be very effective. Anyway when I here the translation of Macron's statement, it seems to express his expectation that French people will vote in a way that he wants. But his words themselves are netral or even empowering.
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take a chance 「いちかばちかやってみる、賭けに出る」
dangerous game 「危険なゲーム」
game 「駆け引き」
- snap election 「（突然の議会解散によって実施される）解散総選挙」
The word “snap” makes me think of a sudden, quick action, like a branch breaking loudly. That's why a “snap decision” or “snap judgment” can suggest something done quickly, without careful thought.