🎧 Audio
📖 Script
Around a year ago, buying eggs was a costly affair due to their scarcity and high prices. This was mainly because a disease known as avian flu severely affected many chickens that lay eggs. However, this winter, the impact of avian flu on chickens in the United States was much less severe compared to the previous year. As a result, the supply of eggs has increased, leading to a significant drop in prices by 42%.
Avian flu is a disease that primarily affects birds, especially poultry like chickens and turkeys. Last year, it caused many chickens to die or be culled (killed to prevent the disease from spreading), which drastically reduced the number of egg-laying birds. With fewer chickens, there were fewer eggs, leading to higher prices. People and businesses that rely on eggs, such as bakeries and restaurants, felt the pinch as they had to pay more for this essential ingredient.
This year, the situation has improved significantly. Measures taken to control the spread of avian flu have been more effective. Farmers have implemented better biosecurity practices to protect their flocks from the disease. As a result, more chickens have remained healthy and continue to produce eggs, increasing the overall supply in the market.
The drop in egg prices is good news for consumers. Households can now purchase eggs at a much more affordable price, which is beneficial for budgets, especially for those who consume eggs regularly. Additionally, businesses that use eggs as a primary ingredient in their products can reduce their costs, potentially leading to lower prices for consumers and higher profits for the businesses.
However, the situation needs to be monitored continuously. Avian flu can be unpredictable, and its impact can vary from year to year. Farmers and health officials must remain vigilant to prevent future outbreaks that could again affect the supply of eggs and other poultry products.
📝 Vocabulary
- Scarcity: a situation in which something is not easy to find or get
例文: “The scarcity of water in the desert is a serious problem.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- scarcity of resources
- water scarcity
- scarcity problem
不足、希少 - Impact: the strong effect or influence something has on a situation or person
例文: “The storm had a significant impact on the coastal areas.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- significant impact
- economic impact
- impact on
影響 - Implement: to put a plan or system into operation
例文: “The school decided to implement a new curriculum.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- implement a policy
- implement changes
- implement a plan
実施する - Effective: successful in producing the desired result
例文: “The new medicine is very effective against the flu.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- effective solution
- effective method
- effective immediately
効果的な - Monitor: to watch and check a situation carefully for a period of time
例文: “Doctors monitor the patient’s condition closely.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- monitor progress
- monitor the situation
- monitor closely
監視する
✏️ Grammar Point
Comparative Structure – “This winter, the impact of avian flu on chickens in the United States was much less severe compared to the previous year.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
この文法構造は、異なる時期や状況を比較する際に使われます。特に、変化の度合いや影響を比較する際に便利です。
📝 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: The impact of avian flu on egg-laying chickens was more severe this year compared to last year.
- MCQ: What was the main cause of high egg prices last year?
a) A shortage of workers
b) Avian flu affecting chickens
c) Increased demand for eggs
d) New farming regulations - MCQ: What has helped reduce the impact of avian flu this year?
a) Warmer winter temperatures
b) Better biosecurity practices
c) A decrease in chicken population
d) Lower demand for eggs
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- False
- b) Avian flu affecting chickens
- b) Better biosecurity practices
📚 Reading Questions
- What happened to egg prices as a result of the reduced impact of avian flu this year?
- Why do you think it’s important to monitor the situation with avian flu continuously?
- What does the word “tumbled” mean in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- Egg prices dropped by 42% due to an increased supply.
- Monitoring is important to prevent future outbreaks and ensure egg supply remains stable.
- Tumbled means to decrease or drop significantly.
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
米国で卵価が42%下落した背景には、鳥インフルエンザの影響が昨年よりも軽かったことがあります。昨年は感染拡大で多くの産卵鶏が死んだため、卵の供給が減少し価格が高騰しました。しかし、今年は感染拡大防止策が効果をあげ、多くの鶏が健康を保ったことで供給が安定しました。これにより、消費者や卵を使うビジネスにとって価格が下がり、経済的な恩恵がもたらされています。ただし、鳥インフルエンザは予測が難しいため、今後も注意深い監視が必要です。
Source: https://www.npr.org/2026/03/13/nx-s1-5745075/egg-prices-avian-flu
