🎧 Audio
📖 Script
In the United States, food waste is a significant issue, even with the rising cost of groceries and growing awareness of environmental concerns. Every year, a large amount of food that could still be eaten is thrown away, which has serious economic and environmental impacts. One place is trying to solve this problem by finding ways to reduce food waste and make better use of resources.
Many Americans buy more food than they need. This leads to excess food being left unused and eventually thrown out. This not only wastes money but also contributes to environmental problems. When food is wasted, it often ends up in landfills, where it decomposes and produces methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
To combat this, some organizations are working to educate people about the importance of reducing food waste. They provide tips on how to shop smarter, plan meals, and store food properly. For example, buying only what you need and using leftovers creatively can help reduce waste. Another strategy is to understand food labels better, so people don’t throw away food that is still safe to eat.
In addition to individual efforts, there are larger initiatives aimed at reducing food waste on a community level. Some cities have started programs to collect food that would otherwise go to waste and redistribute it to those in need. These programs not only help reduce waste but also support people who struggle to afford enough food.
Reducing food waste requires cooperation across different sectors, including households, businesses, and governments. By working together, it is possible to make a significant impact. Not only does this help the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but it also saves money and resources.
Overall, while food waste is a challenging problem, efforts to address it can lead to positive changes. Through education, community programs, and cooperation, Americans can learn to use their resources more wisely and reduce the negative effects of food waste on the economy and the environment.
📝 Vocabulary
- waste: to use something carelessly, causing it to be lost or thrown away（浪費する）
例文: “We should try to waste less food by planning our meals better.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- waste time
- waste energy
- waste resources
- landfill: a place where waste is buried under the ground（埋立地）
例文: “Most of our trash ends up in a landfill.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- landfill site
- landfill waste
- landfill gas
- methane: a colorless, odorless flammable gas that is a major component of natural gas（メタン）
例文: “Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that affects climate change.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- methane emissions
- methane gas
- methane production
- initiative: a plan or action to solve a problem or improve a situation（取り組み）
例文: “The new recycling initiative has been very successful.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- new initiative
- government initiative
- private initiative
- greenhouse gas: a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation（温室効果ガス）
例文: “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial for combating climate change.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- greenhouse gas emissions
- greenhouse gas reduction
- greenhouse gas effect
✏️ Grammar Point
Present Simple Tense – “Every year, a large amount of food that could still be eaten is thrown away.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
(一般的な事実や習慣を述べるときに使います。)
📝 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
- True/False: Food waste contributes to environmental problems by producing methane, a greenhouse gas.
- Which is one strategy mentioned to reduce food waste?
a) Buying more food than needed
b) Throwing away food past its expiration date
c) Planning meals and using leftovers creatively
d) Ignoring food labels - What is one benefit of community programs that collect food waste?
a) They increase food prices
b) They support people who struggle to afford enough food
c) They generate more landfill waste
d) They reduce the need for shopping
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- True
- c) Planning meals and using leftovers creatively
- b) They support people who struggle to afford enough food
📚 Reading Questions
- What environmental impact does food waste have?
- Why is cooperation across different sectors important in reducing food waste?
- What does the word “initiative” mean in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- It produces methane, a greenhouse gas contributing to climate change.
- Cooperation ensures a collective effort to reduce food waste effectively.
- A plan or action to solve a problem or improve a situation.
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
アメリカでは食品廃棄が大きな問題となっています。これは経済的にも環境的にも影響を及ぼします。食品が廃棄されると、メタンという温室効果ガスを発生させ、気候変動に寄与します。個人の努力だけでなく、地域レベルでの取り組みも求められています。例えば、食品廃棄物を集めてそれを必要とする人々に再分配するプログラムは、廃棄を減らし、食料不足に苦しむ人々を支援します。日本でも食品廃棄の問題は存在し、特に外食産業や小売業での取り組みが期待されています。
