英語学習

英語ニュース教材：’I had no electricity for six months’: US families struggle with soaring energy prices（Intermediate レベル）

 

Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

Rising electricity costs have become a major issue for many families in the United States. For some, these costs have become so high that they struggle to pay their bills, and in some cases, they even live without electricity for months. This situation is particularly challenging for families with limited income. The increasing energy prices are making it hard for them to manage their daily expenses. Families find themselves having to choose between paying for electricity and other necessities like food, rent, or healthcare. This difficult choice often pushes them further into debt.

The main reason for rising electricity prices is the increase in the cost of natural gas, which is a primary source of energy in the US. The demand for energy has also increased, especially during extreme weather conditions, which further drives up prices. Moreover, some power plants have closed, reducing the supply of energy and causing prices to rise.

Many people are trying to find ways to reduce their energy costs. Some are investing in energy-efficient appliances or solar panels, while others are simply trying to use less energy by turning off lights and unplugging devices when not in use. However, these solutions can be costly or difficult for low-income families to implement.

The government is aware of these challenges and is working on various measures to help. Some states offer financial assistance programs to help families pay their energy bills. There are also initiatives to promote renewable energy sources, which could eventually lead to lower energy costs.

Despite these efforts, many families continue to struggle. The situation highlights the need for long-term solutions to ensure energy is affordable for everyone. As energy prices continue to rise, it is important for both the government and the private sector to work together to find sustainable solutions.

📝 Vocabulary

  • electricity: the power that we use to make machines work and lights to turn on
    例文: “The electricity went out during the storm.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • electricity bill
    • electricity supply
    • electricity usage
    電気
  • debt: money that you owe to someone
    例文: “She is in debt after buying a new car.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • pay off debt
    • fall into debt
    • debt crisis
    借金
  • income: money earned from work or investments
    例文: “His income increased after he got a promotion.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • low income
    • high income
    • income tax
    収入
  • demand: the need or desire for goods or services
    例文: “There is a high demand for skilled workers.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • meet demand
    • increase demand
    • demand for
    需要
  • assistance: help or support
    例文: “She received assistance from her friends during the move.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • financial assistance
    • seek assistance
    • provide assistance
    援助

✏️ Grammar Point

Present Continuous Tense – “Families are finding themselves having to choose between paying for electricity and other necessities.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
進行中の行動や状況を表す現在進行形

💡 使用場面

進行中の行動や状況を説明するときに使用されます。

📝 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

  1. True/False: Rising electricity costs are not a major issue for families in the United States.
  2. MCQ: What is one reason for the increase in electricity prices?
    a) More people are using solar panels
    b) The cost of natural gas has increased
    c) There are more power plants
    d) Electricity is less important now
  3. MCQ: What are some families doing to reduce their energy costs?
    a) Buying more lights
    b) Using more energy
    c) Investing in energy-efficient appliances
    d) Moving to another state
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. False
  2. b) The cost of natural gas has increased
  3. c) Investing in energy-efficient appliances

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What is one of the main reasons electricity costs are rising in the US?
  2. Why might low-income families find it difficult to reduce their energy costs?
  3. What does the word ‘assistance’ mean in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
  1. The increase in the cost of natural gas
  2. Because solutions like energy-efficient appliances or solar panels can be costly
  3. Help or support

🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

アメリカでの電気料金の高騰は、特に低所得者層にとって生活費の大きな懸念となっています。天然ガスの価格上昇やエネルギー需要の増加が主な要因です。政府は援助プログラムを提供し、再生可能エネルギーの促進を進めていますが、根本的な解決には至っていません。エネルギーが手頃な価格で提供されるためには、政府と民間セクターの協力が必要です。

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1dz0dz0zkvo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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