🎧 Audio
📖 Script
The Malaysian government has declared a state of emergency in Serian, a district in Sarawak, due to dangerously high levels of air pollution. On Friday, the air pollutant index (API) in Serian reached 515, which is considered “very hazardous.” This situation resulted from worsening haze conditions overnight. Typically, an API reading above 400 indicates a very dangerous level of air quality that can have severe health effects on the population, especially for people with respiratory issues.
The haze in this part of Malaysia is primarily caused by forest fires in the region. These fires often occur during the dry season when farmers use the slash-and-burn method to clear land for agriculture. While this practice is common, it can lead to uncontrolled fires that contribute to severe air pollution, affecting not only Malaysia but also neighboring countries.
In response to the emergency, the government is advising residents to stay indoors as much as possible and to wear masks if they need to go outside. Schools in the area have been closed, and outdoor activities have been cancelled to protect people’s health. The authorities are also working to control the fires and monitor air quality closely. There is a possibility of the situation worsening if the fires continue to spread, which could lead to more areas being affected by the haze.
This incident highlights the broader issue of environmental management and the need for sustainable farming practices to prevent such occurrences in the future. International cooperation is also crucial, as air pollution from forest fires can cross borders, affecting multiple countries in the region. Addressing these environmental challenges requires coordinated efforts both domestically and internationally to ensure the safety and health of people living in affected areas.
📝 Vocabulary
- pollutant: a substance that pollutes something, especially air or water（汚染物質）
例文: “Factories must reduce the amount of pollutants they release into the air.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- air pollutant
- water pollutant
- pollutant level
- hazardous: risky or dangerous（危険な）
例文: “Working with chemicals can be hazardous if proper precautions are not taken.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- hazardous materials
- hazardous waste
- hazardous conditions
- respiratory: relating to breathing or the organs of respiration（呼吸の）
例文: “Air pollution can cause serious respiratory problems.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- respiratory system
- respiratory disease
- respiratory issues
- slash-and-burn: a method of agriculture where forests are cut and burned to clear land（焼畑）
例文: “Slash-and-burn agriculture can lead to deforestation and air pollution.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- slash-and-burn agriculture
- slash-and-burn farming
- slash-and-burn method
- sustainable: able to be maintained at a certain rate or level, especially without causing harm to the environment（持続可能な）
例文: “The company is committed to sustainable practices to protect the environment.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- sustainable development
- sustainable energy
- sustainable practices
✏️ Grammar Point
Modals for advice – “The government is advising residents to stay indoors as much as possible and to wear masks if they need to go outside.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
（助言を与える際に使う助動詞は、日常会話やビジネスで人に何かを勧めるときに使います。）
📝 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: A state of emergency was declared in Serian because the air pollutant index was above 500.
- MCQ: What is the main cause of the haze in Sarawak?
a) Industrial pollution
b) Forest fires
c) Vehicle emissions
d) Construction dust - MCQ: What measures did the government take in response to the high pollution levels?
a) Built new schools
b) Encouraged outdoor activities
c) Closed schools and cancelled outdoor activities
d) Increased public transportation
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- True
- b) Forest fires
- c) Closed schools and cancelled outdoor activities
📚 Reading Questions
- What was the air pollutant index reading in Serian on Friday?
- Why might international cooperation be important in addressing the haze issue?
- What does the word “sustainable” mean in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- 515
- Because air pollution from forest fires can affect multiple countries.
- Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level, especially without causing harm to the environment.
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
マレーシアのサラワク州セリアン地区で、空気汚染指数が危険な水準を超えたため、政府は非常事態を宣言しました。原因は、主に農地を開墾するための焼畑農法から発生する森林火災です。このような火災は、乾季に頻繁に発生し、地域の空気汚染を深刻化させます。特に健康に悪影響を及ぼす可能性が高く、隣国にも影響を与えるため、国際的な協力が求められます。将来的には、持続可能な農業方法の導入が必要とされるでしょう。
