英語学習

英語ニュース教材：Amazon fined $3.8bn by US government for misleading Prime subscribers（Intermediate レベル）

 

Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

Amazon, one of the largest online retailers in the world, has been fined $3.8 billion by the US government. This penalty comes after it was discovered that the company misled its Prime subscribers. Amazon Prime is a popular subscription service that offers benefits like free shipping and access to movies and music. However, it appears that many users were not aware of how their subscriptions worked. Around 35 million Prime customers, which is about one in every 10 American citizens, will be eligible for a payout as a result of this issue.

The government found that Amazon used unclear language and confusing processes that made it difficult for users to understand their subscriptions. Many customers were not informed properly about automatic renewals and the steps needed to cancel their membership. This led to a significant number of customers being charged without their full understanding or consent.

The fine is part of a larger effort by regulatory authorities to ensure that companies are transparent with their customers. The US government wants to make sure that businesses are honest about the terms and conditions of their services. This fine against Amazon is a warning to other companies to improve their practices and be more straightforward with consumers.

Amazon has stated that it disagrees with the decision and plans to appeal the fine. The company argues that it has always provided clear information to its customers and that it values transparency. Despite this, the case has raised important issues about consumer rights and the responsibilities of large corporations.

This situation highlights the importance of reading the fine print and being aware of the terms of any subscription service. It also demonstrates how governments can take action to protect consumers from misleading business practices.

📝 Vocabulary

  • fine: a sum of money imposed as a penalty
    例文: “The company received a large fine for its misleading advertising.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • pay a fine
    • receive a fine
    • impose a fine
    罰金
  • subscription: a payment for continuous access to a service
    例文: “I have a subscription to an online streaming service.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • cancel a subscription
    • renew a subscription
    • subscription fee
    購読
  • eligible: having the right to receive something
    例文: “Only members are eligible for the discount.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • become eligible
    • eligible for
    • eligible to receive
    資格がある
  • transparent: easy to understand or see through
    例文: “The company promised to be more transparent with its policies.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • be transparent
    • transparent process
    • transparent information
    透明な
  • misleading: giving the wrong idea or impression
    例文: “The advertisement was misleading and resulted in complaints.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • misleading information
    • misleading advertisement
    • misleading statement
    誤解を招く

✏️ Grammar Point

Relative Clauses – “Amazon, one of the largest online retailers in the world, has been fined $3.8 billion by the US government.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
関係代名詞を使って、文の中でさらに情報を付加している

💡 使用場面

関係代名詞は、特定の名詞についての追加情報を提供したいときに使われます。これは会話やビジネスのプレゼンテーションで役立ちます。

📝 使用例文

“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”

❓ Listening Questions

  1. True/False: Amazon has been fined $3.8 billion by the US government for misleading Prime subscribers.
  2. MCQ: How many Prime customers are eligible for a payout?
    a) 10 million
    b) 20 million
    c) 35 million
    d) 50 million
  3. MCQ: What does the government want companies to be with their customers?
    a) Friendly
    b) Transparent
    c) Competitive
    d) Loyal
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. True
  2. c) 35 million
  3. b) Transparent

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What percentage of American citizens are eligible for a payout from Amazon?
  2. Why does Amazon plan to appeal the fine?
  3. What does the word “transparent” mean in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
  1. 10%
  2. Amazon plans to appeal because it believes it has provided clear information to customers.
  3. Easy to understand or see through

🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

アマゾンのプライム会員に関する罰金は、消費者保護を重視する政府の取り組みの一環です。日本では、オンラインサービスの契約に対する消費者の理解を深めることが課題です。このような事例は、日本の企業にも透明性の向上が求められる可能性を示しています。将来的には、国際的な規制強化の影響を受け、国内企業が消費者への情報提供をより明確にすることが期待されます。

Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-26/amazon-fined-over-prime-subscriptions/105819274

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