英語学習

英語ニュース教材：Isas, cars and pensions: How the Budget affects you（Intermediate レベル）

 

Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

The Budget is an important event that affects the economy and the finances of individuals. Recently, Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced a new Budget that includes several changes that may impact you. One of the key areas addressed in the Budget is Individual Savings Accounts, or ISAs. The government has decided to increase the annual allowance for ISAs, which means you can save more money in these accounts without paying taxes on the interest. This is good news for people who are trying to save for the future, as it allows them to keep more of their money.

Another significant change is related to cars. The Budget proposes changes in car tax rates, especially for electric vehicles. The government is encouraging people to switch to electric cars by reducing taxes on them. This is part of a broader effort to promote environmentally friendly practices and reduce carbon emissions. If you are planning to buy a new car, this could be a great time to consider an electric vehicle.

The Budget also offers changes to pensions. The government is increasing the flexibility of pension savings, allowing people to have more control over their retirement funds. This means that individuals can decide how and when to use their pension savings, providing more options for financial planning in retirement.

Overall, the new Budget aims to provide more financial security and promote sustainable practices. By increasing the ISA allowance, encouraging the use of electric vehicles, and offering greater flexibility in pensions, the government is working to support individuals in managing their finances better.

📝 Vocabulary

  • allowance: a fixed amount of money given regularly
    例文: “The government increased the annual allowance for savings accounts.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • annual allowance
    • tax allowance
    • personal allowance
    手当、割当額
  • propose: to suggest a plan or idea
    例文: “The new budget proposes changes to car tax rates.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • propose a plan
    • propose a change
    • propose a solution
    提案する
  • flexibility: the quality of being adaptable or variable
    例文: “The new pension rules offer more flexibility for savers.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • offer flexibility
    • flexibility in terms
    • increase flexibility
    柔軟性
  • promote: to support or encourage
    例文: “The government is promoting the use of electric vehicles.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • promote a product
    • promote an idea
    • promote growth
    促進する
  • emission: the act of producing something, especially gas or radiation
    例文: “Reducing carbon emissions is a priority for the government.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • reduce emissions
    • carbon emissions
    • emission standards
    排出

✏️ Grammar Point

Future Tense for Plans – “The government is increasing the flexibility of pension savings, allowing people to have more control over their retirement funds.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
未来の計画や予測を示すために使われる

💡 使用場面

(未来の計画や予測を話すときに使用されます。ビジネスや日常会話で、これからの予定や未来の出来事を話す際に便利です。)

📝 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: The Budget will decrease the allowance for ISAs.
  2. MCQ: What is one of the main goals of the Budget regarding cars?
    a) Increase taxes on all vehicles
    b) Encourage the use of electric vehicles
    c) Reduce the number of cars on the road
    d) Increase fuel prices
  3. MCQ: What change is proposed for pensions according to the Budget?
    a) Decrease pension savings flexibility
    b) Increase pension tax
    c) Increase flexibility in pension savings
    d) Abolish pension contributions
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. False
  2. b) Encourage the use of electric vehicles
  3. c) Increase flexibility in pension savings

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What change is being made to ISAs in the new Budget?
  2. Why do you think the government is encouraging the use of electric vehicles?
  3. What does the word “flexibility” mean in the context of the Budget’s changes to pensions?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
  1. The annual allowance for ISAs is being increased.
  2. To promote environmentally friendly practices and reduce carbon emissions.
  3. The quality of being adaptable or variable.

🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

今回の英国予算案は、個人の財政に大きな影響を与えるものでした。個人貯蓄口座（ISA）の年間割当額が引き上げられ、より多くの資金を税金なしで積み立てることが可能になりました。また、自動車税では電気自動車の税率が下がり、環境に優しい選択を政府が奨励しています。年金についても、貯蓄の柔軟性が高まり、個人がより自由に年金を管理できるようになりました。これらの政策は、国内経済の持続可能な成長を目指し、また、国際的な環境問題への対応にもつながると期待されています。

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y2g2qn0eyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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