🎧 Audio
📖 Script
The government has decided to freeze the national construction code and expedite housing approvals. This decision comes shortly after the Economic Reform Roundtable strongly recommended that the government take immediate action to address the housing crisis. The Roundtable highlighted the urgent need for more housing to accommodate a growing population and to stabilize rising housing costs.
To understand the impact of this decision, it’s important to know what the national construction code is. It is a set of rules and regulations that ensure buildings are safe and sustainable. By freezing these codes, the government aims to remove delays in the approval process for new housing projects. This means that new homes can be built faster, which could help ease the housing shortage.
The freeze on the construction code is seen as a temporary measure to boost the supply of housing. It’s expected to last until the end of the year, allowing time for new housing projects to be approved and started. The government believes that by fast-tracking these approvals, it can address the housing demand more effectively and alleviate some of the pressure on the housing market.
However, there are concerns about the potential risks of freezing the construction code. Critics argue that it might compromise building safety standards and environmental regulations. The government insists that safety will not be compromised, and that this measure is necessary to tackle the housing crisis effectively.
The Economic Reform Roundtable’s recommendations have been a significant influence on this decision. The Roundtable is a group of economists and industry experts who provide advice on economic policies. They have been vocal about the need for the government to act swiftly to prevent a housing affordability crisis from worsening.
In conclusion, the government’s decision to freeze the national construction code and fast-track housing approvals is a response to the urgent need for more housing. While it is a temporary measure, it highlights the importance of swift action in addressing economic challenges. The impact of this decision will be closely monitored to ensure that it achieves its intended goals without compromising safety or environmental standards.
📝 Vocabulary
- freeze: to stop or halt temporarily
例文: “The government decided to freeze the construction code.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- freeze assets
- freeze prices
- freeze operations
一時停止する - expedite: to speed up a process
例文: “They plan to expedite housing approvals.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- expedite process
- expedite delivery
- expedite service
迅速化する - housing crisis: a situation where there is not enough affordable housing
例文: “The country is facing a severe housing crisis.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- solve a housing crisis
- address a housing crisis
- worsen a housing crisis
住宅危機 - stabilize: to make something steady or secure
例文: “The goal is to stabilize the housing market.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- stabilize prices
- stabilize economy
- stabilize situation
安定させる - compromise: to weaken or reduce in quality
例文: “There are concerns it might compromise safety standards.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- compromise safety
- compromise quality
- compromise integrity
妥協する／質を落とす
✏️ Grammar Point
Present Perfect Tense – “The government has decided to freeze the national construction code and expedite housing approvals.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
(会話／ビジネスでの使いどころを日本語で記載)
過去の決定や出来事が現在にどう影響しているかを述べるときに使います。
📝 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
- True/False: The government plans to freeze the national construction code permanently.
- MCQ: What is the purpose of freezing the national construction code?
a) To improve building quality
b) To delay housing projects
c) To remove delays in housing approvals
d) To increase construction costs - MCQ: Who advised the government to take immediate action on the housing crisis?
a) The construction industry
b) The Economic Reform Roundtable
c) Housing developers
d) Environmental groups
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- False
- c) To remove delays in housing approvals
- b) The Economic Reform Roundtable
📚 Reading Questions
- What is the government’s plan regarding the national construction code?
- Why do critics have concerns about freezing the construction code?
- What does the word “expedite” mean in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- The government plans to freeze the national construction code and expedite housing approvals.
- Critics are concerned it might compromise building safety standards and environmental regulations.
- To speed up a process
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
政府は全国建築基準を一時停止し、住宅承認を迅速化することを決定しました。これは経済改革ラウンドテーブルが政府に迅速な行動を求めた直後の発表です。人口増加と住宅価格の上昇を抑制するために、住宅供給の拡大が急務とされています。この措置は年末まで続く見込みで、迅速な住宅建設により市場の需要を満たすことが期待されています。一方で、安全基準の低下を懸念する声も上がっており、政府は安全性を犠牲にしないと約束しています。将来的には、住宅市場の安定化が期待されますが、環境基準をどう維持するかが課題となるでしょう。
