英語学習

英語ニュース教材：Heathrow Airport’s expansion plans to cost £49bn（Intermediate レベル）

 

Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, is planning a major expansion. This expansion is expected to cost £49 billion. According to Heathrow representatives, expanding the airport is “urgent” for the growth of the UK. They believe it will help the country increase its trade and improve connections to international destinations. However, not everyone agrees with these plans. There is significant criticism, primarily due to environmental concerns. Many environmental groups are worried that expanding the airport will lead to more pollution and noise, affecting the quality of life for people living nearby.

The airport’s expansion plan includes building a new runway and upgrading existing terminals. This would allow Heathrow to handle more flights and passengers. Proponents of the expansion argue that it will create thousands of jobs and boost the economy. They also claim it will make the UK more competitive globally by improving connectivity.

On the other hand, critics argue that the expansion will have severe environmental impacts. They are concerned about increased carbon emissions, which contribute to climate change. Noise pollution is another major concern, as more flights will mean more noise for those living near the airport. Environmentalists suggest that instead of expanding airports, the UK should focus on sustainable transport solutions.

The debate over Heathrow’s expansion reflects a broader conflict between economic growth and environmental protection. While growth and development are important, they must be balanced with sustainability. The UK government will need to consider these factors carefully before making a final decision.

📝 Vocabulary

  • expansion: the act of increasing or growing in size
    例文: “The expansion of the company led to more job opportunities.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • rapid expansion
    • economic expansion
    • expansion plan
    拡大
  • urgent: needing immediate attention
    例文: “It is urgent that we address the problem now.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • urgent need
    • urgent message
    • urgent matter
    緊急の
  • criticism: the act of expressing disapproval
    例文: “The project faced criticism from environmental groups.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • receive criticism
    • harsh criticism
    • constructive criticism
    批判
  • pollution: harmful substances introduced into the environment
    例文: “Air pollution is a major problem in many cities.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • air pollution
    • water pollution
    • pollution control
    汚染
  • connectivity: the state of being connected
    例文: “Improved connectivity can lead to better economic opportunities.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • internet connectivity
    • connectivity issue
    • enhance connectivity
    接続性

✏️ Grammar Point

Comparative Structure – “They also claim it will make the UK more competitive globally by improving connectivity.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
比較級を使って2つのものを比べる構文

💡 使用場面

比較級は、2つの物事を比較する際に使われます。ビジネスや日常会話で、どちらがより優れているかを述べる際に便利です。

📝 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

  1. True/False:
    Heathrow’s expansion plans have been universally praised.
  2. MCQ:
    a) The expansion plan includes building a new airport.
    b) The expansion plan includes building a new runway.
    c) The expansion plan is only about upgrading terminals.
    d) The expansion plan is mainly about reducing noise pollution.
  3. MCQ:
    a) Critics are concerned about job creation.
    b) Critics are worried about increased trade.
    c) Critics are worried about environmental impacts.
    d) Critics are concerned about better connectivity.
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. False
  2. b) The expansion plan includes building a new runway.
  3. c) Critics are worried about environmental impacts.

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What are the expected benefits of Heathrow’s expansion according to its proponents?
  2. Why do environmentalists oppose the expansion of Heathrow Airport?
  3. What does the word “sustainability” mean in the context of the article?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
  1. The expansion is expected to create jobs and improve UK’s global competitiveness.
  2. Environmentalists oppose it due to concerns about pollution and carbon emissions.
  3. Sustainability means balancing growth with environmental protection.

🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

ヒースロー空港の拡張計画は、英国経済の成長にとって緊急であるとされていますが、環境への影響が懸念されています。拡張により、貿易の拡大や国際的な接続性の向上が期待されており、数千の雇用を生むとされています。しかし、環境団体は、炭素排出量の増加や騒音公害に対する懸念を示しています。経済成長と環境保護のバランスが求められる中、英国政府は慎重に最終決定を下す必要があります。

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj6yz77nlw4o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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