🎧 Audio
📖 Script
Boeing, one of the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers, will not face criminal charges related to the two tragic crashes of its 737 Max planes. These crashes resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives. Instead of facing a criminal case, Boeing has reached an agreement to pay or invest an additional $1.1 billion. This amount will be used for several purposes. It includes fines, compensation for the families of the crash victims, and enhancements in Boeing’s internal safety and quality measures. This decision is part of a broader resolution to address the consequences of these unfortunate events.
The 737 Max crashes had a profound impact on the aviation industry. The first crash occurred in October 2018, involving a Lion Air flight in Indonesia. The second tragedy happened in March 2019 with an Ethiopian Airlines flight. Both incidents were linked to issues with the aircraft’s automated flight control system, known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS).
As a result, the 737 Max was grounded worldwide, and Boeing faced intense scrutiny. The company worked to fix the software issues and improve its training programs for pilots. The grounding of the planes lasted for about 20 months, and they were only allowed to fly again after rigorous testing and approval by aviation authorities.
This recent agreement is seen as a step towards Boeing’s recovery and rebuilding of trust with the public and the aviation community. By investing in safety and quality improvements, Boeing aims to prevent such tragedies in the future and reassure passengers about the safety of flying.
The financial settlement includes a variety of components. A significant portion is dedicated to compensating the families of those who lost their lives. Boeing is also committed to investing in better safety protocols and ensuring that their planes meet the highest standards of quality before they are allowed to fly.
📝 Vocabulary
- manufacturer: a company that makes goods
例文: “Toyota is a major car manufacturer known globally.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- car manufacturer
- leading manufacturer
- electronics manufacturer
製造業者 - compensation: something, typically money, awarded to someone in recognition of loss or suffering
例文: “The company offered compensation to the injured workers.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- financial compensation
- seek compensation
- compensation package
補償 - impact: the effect or influence of one thing on another
例文: “The new policy had a significant impact on the economy.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- major impact
- economic impact
- environmental impact
影響 - scrutiny: critical observation or examination
例文: “The proposal is under scrutiny by the board of directors.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- close scrutiny
- public scrutiny
- intense scrutiny
精査 - protocol: a system of rules that explain the correct conduct and procedures to be followed in formal situations
例文: “The lab follows strict safety protocols.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- safety protocol
- standard protocol
- diplomatic protocol
手順
✏️ Grammar Point
Past Simple Tense – “The first crash occurred in October 2018, involving a Lion Air flight in Indonesia.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
過去の出来事や完了した行動を述べる際に使います。例えば、歴史的な出来事や旅行の体験を話す時などです。
📝 使用例文
“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘Last year, we launched our new product line successfully.’”
❓ Listening Questions
- True/False: Boeing will face criminal charges over the 737 Max crashes.
- MCQ: How much money is Boeing agreeing to pay or invest as part of the settlement?
a) $500 million
b) $1.1 billion
c) $2 billion
d) $750 million - MCQ: What was linked to the cause of the 737 Max crashes?
a) Pilot error
b) Poor weather conditions
c) Issues with the flight control system
d) Engine failure
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- False
- b) $1.1 billion
- c) Issues with the flight control system
📚 Reading Questions
- What were the two airlines involved in the 737 Max crashes?
- Why is Boeing investing in safety and quality improvements?
- What is the meaning of “scrutiny” in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines
- To prevent future tragedies and reassure passengers about safety.
- Critical observation or examination
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
ボーイング社は737 Maxの墜落事故に関連して刑事訴追を免れ、代わりに11億ドルの罰金や犠牲者遺族への補償、安全性と品質向上への投資を行うことに合意しました。この事故は航空業界に大きな影響を与え、当該機種は20ヶ月にわたり運航停止となりました。今後、ボーイングは信頼回復に努め、安全性の向上に注力することが期待されています。国内外の航空市場において、ボーイングの対応がどのような影響を及ぼすのか注目されます。
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/11/07/nx-s1-5601593/boeing-737-max-crashes
