🎧 Audio
📖 Script
Food waste is a significant issue in the United States, where a large amount of edible food is thrown away each year. Despite rising grocery prices and growing awareness of environmental concerns, Americans continue to dispose of food at alarming rates. This waste not only affects the economy but also has a significant environmental impact. A new initiative is aiming to tackle this problem by encouraging people to be more mindful about the food they consume and discard.
The issue of food waste is complex and involves various factors, including consumer behavior, food industry practices, and government policies. Many people buy more food than they need, leading to excess that often ends up in the trash. Supermarkets also contribute to waste by discarding products that do not meet aesthetic standards, even if they are still safe to eat. Additionally, restaurants and food service providers have a tendency to overproduce or serve large portions, further adding to the problem.
Efforts to reduce food waste are gaining momentum. Some organizations are developing programs to educate consumers about proper food storage and planning meals to minimize waste. There are also apps and online platforms connecting consumers with surplus food from restaurants and stores at reduced prices. These initiatives are helping to raise awareness and provide practical solutions to reduce the amount of food that goes to waste.
Reducing food waste can have significant economic benefits. It can lower costs for both consumers and businesses, reduce the strain on waste management systems, and conserve natural resources. Environmentally, it can decrease greenhouse gas emissions from landfills, where much of the wasted food ends up. Addressing this issue requires a collective effort from individuals, businesses, and governments to create a more sustainable food system.
📝 Vocabulary
- initiative: a plan or program intended to solve a problem
例文: “The new initiative aims to reduce food waste in the city.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- launch an initiative
- take initiative
- community initiative
イニシアチブ、主導権 - consumer: a person who buys goods and services
例文: “Consumers are becoming more aware of environmental issues.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- consumer behavior
- consumer demand
- consumer goods
消費者 - surplus: an amount that is more than needed
例文: “The restaurant sold its surplus food at a discount.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- surplus food
- budget surplus
- trade surplus
余剰 - awareness: knowledge or understanding of a situation
例文: “Awareness of food waste is growing among the public.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- raise awareness
- increase awareness
- public awareness
意識、認識 - sustainable: able to be maintained at a certain rate or level
例文: “Sustainable practices are important for the environment.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- sustainable development
- sustainable practices
- sustainable energy
持続可能な
✏️ Grammar Point
Present Simple Tense – “Food waste is a significant issue in the United States.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
現在形は、事実や普遍的な真理を述べる際に使用されます。
📝 使用例文
“例: In a meeting, you might say: ‘Our company values sustainable practices.’”
❓ Listening Questions
- True/False: The United States produces a lot of food waste, and this is being addressed by a new initiative.
- MCQ: What is one of the main reasons for food waste according to the script?
a) Lack of food storage facilities
b) Consumer behavior and buying habits
c) Poor government policies
d) Insufficient food production - MCQ: How does reducing food waste benefit the environment?
a) By increasing food prices
b) By decreasing greenhouse gas emissions
c) By using more natural resources
d) By creating more landfills
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- True
- b) Consumer behavior and buying habits
- b) By decreasing greenhouse gas emissions
📚 Reading Questions
- What factors contribute to the problem of food waste in the United States?
- Why do you think addressing food waste requires a collective effort?
- What is the meaning of “initiative” in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- Consumer behavior, food industry practices, and government policies contribute to food waste.
- Addressing food waste requires a collective effort because it involves changing behaviors and systems at various levels.
- A plan or program intended to solve a problem.
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
アメリカでは、食料廃棄が大きな問題となっています。特に食料品の価格が上昇し、環境問題への意識が高まっている中で、この問題に取り組む動きが注目されています。食料廃棄は、消費者の行動、食品業界の慣習、政府の政策など、さまざまな要因が絡み合っています。この問題を解決するためには、個人、企業、政府が協力して持続可能な食糧システムを構築する必要があります。今後、日本でも同様の取り組みが求められる可能性があります。
