世界経済ニュース

英語ニュース教材：River Seine reopens to Paris swimmers, after Olympics, century-long ban（B1–C1対応）

 
Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

The River Seine in Paris is set to reopen for swimming after the 2024 Olympics, ending a century-long ban. This decision marks a significant moment for the city, which has been working hard to improve the water quality of the Seine. The ban on swimming in the river was originally put in place in 1923 due to pollution concerns. However, with modern technology and investments in infrastructure, the city has managed to clean up the water, making it safe for public use once again.

The reopening of the Seine is expected to offer new recreational opportunities for both residents and tourists. Bathing sites will be strategically located near iconic landmarks such as the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, and areas in eastern Paris. These sites will not only provide a place to swim but also promote a healthier lifestyle among city dwellers who will have easier access to outdoor activities.

The Parisian authorities have invested approximately 1 billion euros into improving the water quality of the Seine. This investment includes upgrading sewage treatment facilities and building new underground storage tanks to handle rainwater overflow. The aim is to ensure that the water remains clean and safe for swimming under various weather conditions.

The reopening has garnered positive reactions from the public and environmentalists alike. Many see it as a step forward in environmental sustainability and urban living. The move is also expected to boost tourism, as visitors will likely be attracted to the novel experience of swimming in a river that runs through one of the world’s most famous cities.

In summary, the River Seine’s reopening for swimming signifies a major achievement in urban environmental management. It highlights Paris’s commitment to sustainability and offers a new, healthy form of leisure for its residents and visitors.

📝 Vocabulary

  • century-long: lasting for one hundred years
  • infrastructure: the basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society
  • recreational: related to activities done for enjoyment
  • sustainability: the ability to maintain ecological and resource balance over time
  • novel: new and unusual

✏️ Grammar Point

Present Perfect – “The River Seine in Paris is set to reopen for swimming after the 2024 Olympics, ending a century-long ban.”

❓ Listening Questions

  1. True/False: The River Seine’s reopening for swimming will occur before the 2024 Olympics.
  2. MCQ: Where will the new bathing sites be located?
    a) Near the Louvre Museum
    b) Near the Notre-Dame Cathedral
    c) Near the Champs-Élysées
    d) Near the Arc de Triomphe
  3. MCQ: How much money has been invested in improving the water quality of the Seine?
    a) 500 million euros
    b) 750 million euros
    c) 1 billion euros
    d) 1.5 billion euros
  1. True
    False
  2. a)
    b)
    c)
    d)
  3. a)
    b)
    c)
    d)

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What was the reason for the original ban on swimming in the River Seine?
  2. Why do you think the reopening of the Seine has been positively received by the public?
  3. What does the word “novel” mean in the context of the script?

  1. 🗝️ 模範解答を表示

    4. Pollution concerns

  2. 🗝️ 模範解答を表示

    5. Because it represents progress in environmental sustainability and offers new leisure opportunities.

  3. 🗝️ 模範解答を表示

    6. New and unusual

🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/5/river-seine-reopens-to-paris-swimmers-after-olympics-century-long-ban?traffic_source=rss

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