英語学習

英語ニュース教材：OBR head’s resignation leaves potential landmines for Reeves（Intermediate レベル）

 

Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

The recent resignation of the head of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has created a challenging situation for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves. The OBR is an independent body responsible for providing economic forecasts and analysis for the government. The head’s departure means that Reeves now faces the task of finding a new leader who is both respected and credible in the economic community. This is crucial because the OBR plays a significant role in shaping the economic policies of the UK government.

Reeves must balance several factors in her search for a new OBR head. She needs someone who can maintain the organization’s reputation for impartiality and accuracy. The new leader must also have the ability to communicate complex economic issues in a way that is understandable to both policymakers and the public. This is essential for building trust in the OBR’s forecasts and recommendations.

The selection process is further complicated by the current economic climate. With ongoing challenges such as inflation, rising energy prices, and the economic impact of international events, the new OBR head will need to be someone who can navigate these issues effectively. Their analysis will be pivotal in advising the government on how to manage economic growth and stability.

In addition to finding the right person, Reeves must consider the perception of the appointment. The choice of a new OBR head will be seen as a reflection of the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability. This appointment is not just about filling a vacancy; it is about ensuring that the OBR remains a trusted institution that can provide unbiased economic guidance.

Overall, the resignation of the OBR head presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the Chancellor. By selecting a qualified and respected individual, Reeves can reinforce the credibility of the OBR and, by extension, the economic strategy of the UK government.

📝 Vocabulary

  • **Resignation**: the act of leaving a job or position
    例文: “His resignation from the company surprised everyone.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • sudden resignation
    • resignation letter
    • offer resignation
    辞職
  • **Chancellor**: a senior official in some countries, responsible for financial and economic matters
    例文: “The Chancellor announced new tax reforms.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • Chancellor of the Exchequer
    • Chancellor’s decision
    • new Chancellor
    財務大臣
  • **Economist**: a person who studies or has expertise in economics
    例文: “Economists predict a rise in inflation next year.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • leading economist
    • chief economist
    • economist’s report
    経済学者
  • **Forecast**: a prediction or estimate of future events, especially in economics or weather
    例文: “The weather forecast says it will rain tomorrow.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • economic forecast
    • weather forecast
    • market forecast
    予測
  • **Impartiality**: fairness and not being biased
    例文: “The judge showed impartiality during the trial.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • maintain impartiality
    • ensure impartiality
    • impartiality of the decision
    公平性

✏️ Grammar Point

Relative Clauses – “The new leader must also have the ability to communicate complex economic issues in a way that is understandable to both policymakers and the public.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
関係代名詞を使って情報を追加する構文

💡 使用場面

相手に詳細な説明をしたいときに使います。ビジネスや教育の場面で役に立ちます。

📝 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: The resignation of the OBR head has made it easier for the Chancellor to find a new leader.
  2. MCQ: What is one of the main responsibilities of the OBR?
    a) Managing the country’s budget
    b) Providing economic forecasts
    c) Setting tax rates
    d) Regulating financial institutions
  3. MCQ: Which of the following is NOT a challenge mentioned in the script?
    a) Inflation
    b) Rising energy prices
    c) Environmental issues
    d) Economic impact of international events
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. False
  2. b) Providing economic forecasts
  3. c) Environmental issues

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What challenges does the new OBR head need to navigate?
  2. Why is the perception of the new appointment important?
  3. What does the word “impartiality” mean in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る

    🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

    OBRのトップの辞任は、英国の財務政策に影響を与える重要な出来事です。OBRは政府の経済予測を担当する独立機関で、その客観性と信頼性が求められます。現在の経済状況では、インフレやエネルギー価格の上昇、国際的な経済的影響をどう乗り越えるかが問われています。新たなリーダーの選定は、政府の透明性と信頼性を示す重要な機会です。

    Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyvnnz5842o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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