🎧 Audio
📖 Script
Denmark has made a significant decision by becoming the first country in the world to completely stop delivering letters. This change marks the end of a 401-year tradition of postal service in Denmark. The decision comes as Denmark continues to move towards a more digital society, where emails and other forms of electronic communication are taking over traditional mail.
The Danish postal service has been facing challenges for quite some time. With the rise of the internet and digital communication, fewer people are sending and receiving physical letters. This decline has made it difficult for the postal service to maintain its traditional operations. The costs of running a national postal service are high, and without enough demand for letter delivery, it is hard to justify these expenses.
By ending letter deliveries, Denmark is fully embracing the digital age. This change is part of a broader trend where digital communication is becoming the norm not only in Denmark but around the world. People are increasingly using emails, social media, and other online platforms to communicate quickly and efficiently. This shift has significant economic implications as well. It reduces the need for physical resources like paper and transportation, which can help lower environmental impact and reduce costs.
The end of letter delivery in Denmark also reflects wider social changes. As technology advances, people’s habits and lifestyles are evolving. Younger generations, in particular, are more comfortable using digital communication tools. This trend is likely to continue as technology becomes more integrated into daily life.
Overall, Denmark’s decision to stop letter delivery is a clear indication of how society is changing in response to technological advancements. It highlights the importance of adapting to new ways of communication and the benefits that digital solutions can offer in terms of efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
📝 Vocabulary
- embrace: to accept something willingly
例文: “The company decided to embrace new technology to improve efficiency.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- embrace change
- embrace opportunity
- embrace technology
受け入れる - decline: a decrease in something
例文: “There has been a decline in the number of people using postal services.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- sharp decline
- gradual decline
- economic decline
減少 - digital: involving or relating to the use of computer technology
例文: “Digital communication is becoming more popular than traditional mail.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- digital age
- digital communication
- digital technology
デジタルの - impact: the effect or influence of one thing on another
例文: “The new policy will have a significant impact on local businesses.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- significant impact
- positive impact
- environmental impact
影響 - efficient: achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense
例文: “Digital tools can make communication more efficient.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- highly efficient
- energy efficient
- efficient system
効率的な
✏️ Grammar Point
Present Perfect – “Denmark has made a significant decision by becoming the first country in the world to completely stop delivering letters.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
現在完了形は、過去の出来事が現在に影響を与えている状況を話すときに使われます。
📝 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
- True/False: Denmark has become the first country to end letter deliveries.
- MCQ: Why did Denmark decide to stop letter deliveries?
a) To save money on postal services
b) Because of environmental concerns
c) Due to a decline in letter demand
d) To focus on parcel deliveries - MCQ: What is one benefit mentioned about moving to digital communication?
a) It increases the use of paper
b) It is more efficient and cost-effective
c) It requires physical resources
d) It slows down communication
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- True
- c) Due to a decline in letter demand
- b) It is more efficient and cost-effective
📚 Reading Questions
- What significant change has Denmark made in its postal service?
- Why do you think Denmark decided to end letter deliveries now?
- What does the word “embrace” mean in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- Denmark has stopped delivering letters.
- Because of the rise of digital communication and decreased demand for letters.
- To accept something willingly
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
デンマークが郵便配達を終了するという決定は、デジタル化が進む現代社会における大きな節目を示しています。これは、郵便物の需要が減少し続ける中で、デジタルコミュニケーションが主流となる時代の到来を象徴しています。この動きは、郵便サービスの運営コストを削減し、環境への影響を低減する可能性があります。デジタル化は国際的にも進んでおり、今後さらに社会の多くの側面で変革をもたらすでしょう。
Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-31/denmark-postal-service-ends-letter-delivery/106188988
