🎧 Audio
📖 Script
The US government shutdown has led to significant disruptions in air travel, with airlines cancelling 1,200 flights. This has been ongoing for five days, affecting many passengers and causing widespread inconvenience. The shutdown started because the government could not agree on a new budget, leading to a halt in non-essential government services. This includes air traffic control and security staff, who are essential for the smooth operation of flights. As a result, airlines have had to cancel or delay flights, frustrating travelers across the nation.
A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass funding legislation for government operations and agencies. Without this funding, many federal employees are furloughed, meaning they are temporarily laid off without pay. This situation affects various sectors, including transportation, as seen with the current flight disruptions.
The economic impact of a government shutdown can be extensive. It not only affects government employees but also has a ripple effect on the economy. For airlines, cancelled flights mean a loss of revenue, and passengers might have to spend extra on accommodation or alternative travel arrangements. Businesses dependent on air travel also suffer, as meetings and deliveries are delayed.
Efforts to resolve the budget impasse are ongoing, but until a solution is reached, disruptions are likely to continue. Passengers are advised to stay updated on their flight status and consider alternative travel plans if necessary. The situation highlights the importance of budget negotiations and the far-reaching effects of government decisions.
📝 Vocabulary
- disruption: a disturbance or problem that interrupts an event, activity, or process
例文: “The construction work caused a major disruption to traffic.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- cause disruption
- experience disruption
- temporary disruption
混乱、中断 - shutdown: the closure or cessation of an activity or service
例文: “The company faced a shutdown due to financial issues.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- government shutdown
- temporary shutdown
- complete shutdown
閉鎖、停止 - furlough: leave of absence, especially granted to a government or institutional employee
例文: “Many workers were put on furlough during the pandemic.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- unpaid furlough
- mandatory furlough
- employee furlough
一時解雇、一時休暇 - impasse: a situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement
例文: “The negotiations reached an impasse over the issue of salaries.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- reach an impasse
- break an impasse
- political impasse
行き詰まり - ripple effect: a situation in which an effect from one event spreads outwards to affect others
例文: “The closure of the factory had a ripple effect on the local economy.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- create a ripple effect
- ripple effect on
- significant ripple effect
波及効果
✏️ Grammar Point
Third Conditional – “If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
仮定の状況や条件に基づく計画や予測を表現する際に使われます。
📝 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
- True/False: The US government shutdown has caused disruptions in air travel for five consecutive days.
- MCQ: What is the main reason for the flight cancellations?
a) Weather conditions
b) Government shutdown
c) Airline strikes
d) Technical issues - MCQ: What are passengers advised to do during the shutdown?
a) Cancel their trips
b) Stay updated on flight status
c) Travel by car
d) Complain to the airlines
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- True
- b) Government shutdown
- b) Stay updated on flight status
📚 Reading Questions
- What caused the US government shutdown to affect flights?
- Why is the ripple effect significant in the case of a government shutdown?
- What does “furloughed” mean in the context of government employees?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- The US government shutdown affected flights because of a halt in non-essential government services.
- The ripple effect is significant because it shows how one event can impact multiple sectors and individuals.
- “Furloughed” means temporarily laid off without pay.
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
アメリカの政府閉鎖は、予算の合意に至らない場合に発生し、政府の非必須サービスが停止される状況を指します。これにより、航空管制やセキュリティスタッフが一時解雇され、航空便の運行に支障をきたしています。この影響で航空会社は多くの便をキャンセルし、経済的損失が生じています。政府閉鎖は国内経済に広範な影響を与え、早期の予算合意が求められています。将来的には、予算交渉の重要性が再認識され、政府の運営においてもより慎重な計画が必要とされるでしょう。
