🎧 Audio
📖 Script
In Australia, there’s an interesting problem with housing. A lot of homes are built for big families, but many people live alone or with just one other person. This is a finding from Cotality, a property research company. They discovered that more than 60% of households in Australia are made up of just one or two people. Yet, most homes are designed for larger families. This mismatch is causing some issues.
One problem is that many people end up paying for space they don’t need. Big houses cost more, not just to buy, but also to maintain. Heating, cooling, and general upkeep can be expensive in larger homes. This can be a financial burden, especially for single people or couples who might prefer to save money for other things.
Another issue is the impact on the environment. Bigger homes usually mean more energy consumption. They require more electricity and water, which can lead to a larger carbon footprint. For a country like Australia, which is focused on sustainability, this is a concern.
The housing market itself is also affected. With so many homes built for big families, it might be harder for single people or couples to find a place that suits their needs. This can lead to a high demand for smaller homes, driving up prices in that segment of the market.
The Australian government and housing developers are starting to notice this trend. Some developers are considering building more apartments or smaller homes to meet the needs of these smaller households. This change could help balance the property market and make it more affordable for everyone.
It’s important for both the government and developers to consider these demographic changes. As the population grows and changes, so too should the housing market. By building homes that match the needs of the people, Australia can ensure that everyone has a suitable place to live.
📝 Vocabulary
- property: a building or land owned by someone
例文: “The property was too expensive for the young couple.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- property market
- property value
- property owner
不動産 - mismatch: a lack of compatibility or fit
例文: “There was a mismatch between the job requirements and the candidate’s skills.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- major mismatch
- slight mismatch
- obvious mismatch
不一致 - household: a group of people living together in a home
例文: “The household consists of two adults and three children.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- household income
- household chores
- household size
世帯 - burden: a heavy load or responsibility
例文: “The debt was a huge burden on the family.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- financial burden
- heavy burden
- emotional burden
負担 - sustainability: the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level
例文: “Sustainability is a key focus in modern construction.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- environmental sustainability
- economic sustainability
- sustainability practices
持続可能性
✏️ Grammar Point
Present Simple Tense for General Facts – “A lot of homes are built for big families, but many people live alone or with just one other person.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
一般的な事実や習慣を述べる際に使われます。ビジネスのプレゼンテーションで会社の方針や市場の状況を説明する時などに有効です。
📝 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
- True/False: More than 60% of Australian households consist of just one or two people.
- MCQ: What problem does the mismatch in property size cause financially?
a) It increases the cost of public transportation.
b) People pay for unnecessary space.
c) It makes large families more common.
d) It reduces the cost of electricity. - MCQ: What is one possible solution mentioned for the housing mismatch?
a) Building more parks.
b) Increasing the size of homes.
c) Constructing more small homes or apartments.
d) Reducing the population.
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- True
- b) People pay for unnecessary space.
- c) Constructing more small homes or apartments.
📚 Reading Questions
- What percentage of Australian households are made up of one or two people?
- Why might the housing market need to change according to the script?
- What is the meaning of “burden” in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- More than 60%.
- To match the demographic changes and provide suitable homes for smaller households.
- A heavy load or responsibility.
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
オーストラリアでは、大きな家が主に建てられているにもかかわらず、60%以上の世帯が一人または二人で構成されています。この不一致は経済的にも環境的にも問題を引き起こしています。まず、広い家は購入や維持に多くの費用を必要とし、少人数世帯には過剰な負担です。さらに、大きな家はエネルギー消費が多く、環境への影響も懸念されます。これを背景に、一部の開発業者はアパートや小さな家の建設を検討し始めています。日本でも少子高齢化が進む中、住居ニーズの変化に敏感に対応することが求められています。
