英語学習

英語ニュース教材：Budget sees largest ever personal allowance rise（Intermediate レベル）

 

Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

Recently, Treasury Minister Chris Thomas announced a significant change in the budget that affects personal tax allowances. The tax-free allowance, which is the amount of money you can earn without paying income tax, will increase by £2,250. This means it will rise to a total of £17,000. This change is important because it allows people to keep more of their earnings, which can help with living costs. The decision was made to support people financially, especially during times of economic uncertainty.

The increase in the tax-free allowance is the largest ever in the country’s history. Many people are expected to benefit from this change, as it provides more financial freedom. For example, if your salary is below £17,000, you will not have to pay any income tax, which can lead to significant savings over time.

This policy change comes as part of a broader strategy by the government to boost the economy. By allowing people to have more disposable income, the government hopes to encourage spending, which can help businesses grow. This can also lead to more job opportunities, as companies may need to hire more staff to keep up with increased demand.

However, there are also some concerns about the impact on government revenue. Since taxes are a major source of income for the government, reducing the amount collected could mean less money for public services. Despite these concerns, the government believes that the benefits of increased consumer spending will outweigh the potential drawbacks.

Overall, the rise in the tax-free allowance is seen as a positive step for individuals and families, as it can help them manage their finances better. It also reflects the government’s commitment to supporting citizens during challenging economic times.

📝 Vocabulary

  • allowance: a set amount of money given regularly
    例文: “The new tax allowance means people can save more money.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • personal allowance
    • tax allowance
    • allowance increase
    手当、控除額
  • increase: to make something larger in size or amount
    例文: “The company plans to increase its workforce next year.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • increase in
    • increase by
    • increase to
    増加
  • disposable: available for use as you wish, extra
    例文: “Having more disposable income allows people to buy more goods.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • disposable income
    • disposable product
    • disposable time
    自由に使える、可処分の
  • revenue: income that a government or company receives regularly
    例文: “The city used the revenue from taxes to improve public services.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • government revenue
    • revenue growth
    • revenue stream
    収入、収益
  • strategy: a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term goal
    例文: “The company developed a new marketing strategy to increase sales.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • business strategy
    • marketing strategy
    • strategic plan
    戦略

✏️ Grammar Point

Comparative structure – “The increase in the tax-free allowance is the largest ever in the country’s history.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
比較級を使って、歴史上最大であることを示しています。

💡 使用場面

比較級は、何かを比較して強調したいときに使われます。ビジネスでは製品の特徴を比較するときによく使います。

📝 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: The tax-free allowance increase is the largest ever in the country’s history.
  2. MCQ: How much will the tax-free allowance increase?
    a) £1,000
    b) £2,000
    c) £2,250
    d) £3,000
  3. MCQ: What is one potential concern mentioned about this tax policy?
    a) It could lead to higher unemployment.
    b) It may decrease government revenue.
    c) It might increase inflation.
    d) It could lower the standard of living.
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. True
  2. c) £2,250
  3. b) It may decrease government revenue.

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What is the new total amount of the tax-free allowance?
  2. Why does the government believe increasing the tax-free allowance will help the economy?
  3. What does the word “disposable” mean in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
  1. £17,000
  2. It hopes to encourage spending and boost economic growth.
  3. Available for use as you wish, extra

🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

最近、クリス・トーマス財務大臣が個人の税控除額の大幅な引き上げを発表しました。これにより、税金がかからない収入額が17,000ポンドに増加します。これは経済的不安定な時期において、人々の生活費を支援するための措置です。税控除額の引き上げは国の歴史上最大で、多くの人々が恩恵を受けると期待されています。しかし、税収が減少する可能性があり、公共サービスの予算に影響を与える懸念もあります。それでも、消費者の支出が増えることで経済が活性化し、長期的にはプラスになると政府は考えています。

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c23z47zpj2do?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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