英語学習

英語ニュース教材：Why are food prices still rising by so much?（Intermediate レベル）

 

Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

In recent times, many people have noticed that their grocery bills are getting higher. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the prices of food and drinks have increased by 4.9% over the past year. This rise in prices is part of a larger trend of inflation, which is affecting economies worldwide. Inflation occurs when the cost of goods and services rises, reducing purchasing power. Several factors contribute to this increase in food prices.

One significant factor is the cost of production. Farmers and producers face higher costs for energy, transport, and raw materials. For example, the price of oil has a direct impact on transportation costs, which in turn affects the price of food. Additionally, the cost of fertilizers and feed for livestock has increased, making it more expensive to produce food.

Another factor is climate change. Extreme weather events, such as droughts or floods, can damage crops and reduce supply. When the supply of food decreases, but demand remains the same or increases, prices tend to go up.

Additionally, global supply chain disruptions have played a role. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries experienced lockdowns, which affected the production and distribution of goods. Even after the pandemic, these disruptions continue to affect the availability of food products, contributing to higher prices.

Currency fluctuations also have an impact. If a country’s currency loses value against others, importing goods becomes more expensive, which can lead to increased food prices.

The rise in food prices is a concern for many, especially for those on lower incomes. When basic necessities become more expensive, it can be challenging for people to afford a balanced diet. Governments and organizations are looking for ways to address these issues, such as supporting local food production and investing in sustainable agriculture.

📝 Vocabulary

  • inflation: the general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money（インフレーション）
    例文: “Inflation can make everyday items more expensive.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • high inflation
    • inflation rate
    • combat inflation
  • production: the process of creating goods and services（生産）
    例文: “The production of cars has increased this year.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • production cost
    • production process
    • mass production
  • supply: the amount of something available for use（供給）
    例文: “The supply of fresh water is essential for life.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • supply chain
    • supply and demand
    • limited supply
  • disruption: a disturbance or problem that interrupts an event, activity, or process（混乱）
    例文: “The storm caused a major disruption in services.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • supply disruption
    • service disruption
    • cause disruption
  • currency: a system of money in general use in a particular country（通貨）
    例文: “The currency in Japan is the yen.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • currency exchange
    • currency value
    • foreign currency

✏️ Grammar Point

Present Perfect Tense – “According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the prices of food and drinks have increased by 4.9% over the past year.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
過去から現在までの出来事を表すために使われます

💡 使用場面

(この文法は、過去から現在にかけて続いている状況や行動について話すときに使われます。)

📝 使用例文

“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘Our sales have increased by 10% this year.’”

❓ Listening Questions

  1. True/False: The price of food and drinks has increased by 4.9% over the past two years.
  2. MCQ: What is one reason for the rise in food prices?
    a) Decrease in global population
    b) Higher cost of production
    c) Increase in technology use
    d) Lower energy prices
  3. MCQ: How does climate change affect food prices?
    a) It improves crop yield
    b) It reduces energy costs
    c) It causes extreme weather events
    d) It stabilizes currency value
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. False
  2. b) Higher cost of production
  3. c) It causes extreme weather events

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What percentage have food and drink prices increased by according to the ONS?
  2. Why do you think global supply chain disruptions affect food prices?
  3. What does the word “fluctuations” mean in this context?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
  1. 4.9%
  2. They affect the availability and cost of transporting goods.
  3. Changes in value

🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

最近、食品価格の上昇が多くの人々にとって大きな問題となっています。イギリスの国家統計局（ONS）によると、食品と飲料の価格は過去1年間で4.9%上昇しました。このようなインフレーションは、エネルギー価格の上昇、気候変動、そして供給チェーンの混乱など、さまざまな要因によって引き起こされています。特にコロナ禍における供給チェーンの混乱は、食品の入手を難しくし、価格を押し上げています。将来的には、持続可能な農業への投資や地域の食品生産の支援が重要となるでしょう。

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyvn9z3y78lo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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