2015年9月号–エイゴパス 月刊ニュースレター

| 月間ニュースレター |





Untitled Document

英語ニュース Current Internet NEWS!!　＜新着ネットニュース＞
英語のビデオ Video News (Domestic and World Events／国内＆世界の動画ニュース)
Business English ＜ビジネス英語フレーズ＞
Grammar Study＜今月の文法学習＞
TOEICクイズ TOEIC Study Quiz＜ＴＯＥＩＣテスト＞
Monthly Column – ＜今月のコラム＞
 
   
—You can read the article below and use it in your lessons to discuss with your teacher. — この記事を読んで先生とレッスンで話し合おう！
World News

British admit Big Ben‘s bongs not quite on time

LONDON (AP) – Don’t set your watch by Big Ben.

Officials say the famous clock at Britain’s Parliament — used by Londoners for decades to check the time — has recently been slow by as much as six seconds.

The 156-year-old clock chimes every 15 minutes and emits deep bongs to mark the hour. Its inaccuracy was noticed by staff at BBC radio, which broadcasts the bongs live at 6 p.m.

Ian Westworth, one of Parliament’s three clocksmiths, said the clock had become "a little temperamental" with age.

Parliamentary officials said Aug. 25 that mechanics had corrected the clock to within 2 seconds of the right time. They will continue to adjust it by placing pennies on the pendulum — or removing them.
Big Ben

ビッグ・ベン。英国会議事堂に併設されている時計塔、もしくはその大時計のこと。時計塔の正式名称は「エリザベス・タワー」
bong(s) (大きな鐘の）ゴーンという音
Parliament 国会議事堂
emit(s) ～を発する、出す
inaccuracy 誤差、不正確さ
clocksmith(s) 時計の製造・修理を職業とする人
temperamental 神経質な、気むずかしい
pendulum (時計などの）振り子
 

英国の「ビッグ・ベン」最大で6秒の遅れ

腕時計をビッグ・ベンに合わせるべからず。

当局によると、英国会議事堂の有名な時計（ビッグ・ベン）に近ごろ、最大で6秒の遅れが出ているという。この時計は何十年にもわたり、ロンドン市民が時間を確かめるのに使われてきた。

156年の歴史がある時計は、15分おきに鐘を鳴らし、正時（しょうじ）ごとに低い鐘の音を響かせる。BBC（英国放送協会）ラジオは、午後6時に生中継で鐘の音を放送しており、ラジオ局の職員が時計が不正確なことに気づいた。

「ビッグ・ベンは歳のせいもあって、『やや気むずかしく』なっている」と、国会議事堂の3人の時計技師のうちの1人、イアン・ウエストワースさんは語った。

議会の職員は8月25日、「修理工たちが、正確な時間との誤差を2秒以内に修正した」と話した。振り子の上にペニー硬貨を載せたり下ろしたりして、今後も調整を続けるという。

 
 
Japan News:

Over 60,000 Japanese centenarians mark senior citizens day

A record 60,000 citizens aged 100 or older celebrated "Rojin no Hi" (senior citizens day) on Sept. 15, underscoring Japan’s rapidly aging society.

According to the health ministry, the nation has an estimated 61,568 centenarians, with women accounting for 87.3 percent.

It is the first time the number of those aged 100 or older has exceeded 60,000, ministry officials said Sept. 11.

The 61,568 figure is 2,748 higher than last year and marks a record high for 45 consecutive years since 1971, when there were only 339 centenarians.

The oldest Japanese is a 115-year-old woman who resides in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward.
centenarian(s) 100歳（以上）の人
record 記録的な、これまでで最も多い
underscore(-ing) ～を強調する、浮き彫りにする
the health ministry 厚生労働省
estimated 推計で、およそ
account(ing) for ～の割合を占める
figure 数字、数量、合計数
consecutive 連続した
reside(s) in ～に暮らす、住む
 

100歳以上が6万人超えに　最多更新

過去最多の6万を超える100歳以上の人々が、9月15日の「老人の日」（高齢者の日。注：「敬老の日」の移動に伴い、指定された）を祝った。急速に高齢化する日本社会が、浮き彫りとなった。

厚生労働省によると、100歳以上の高齢者は全国におよそ6万1568人。女性が全体の87.3パーセントを占めるという。

100歳以上の高齢者の人口が、初めて6万人を超えたと、同省関係者が9月11日に発表した。

6万1568人という数字は、昨年より2748人多く、100歳以上が339人に過ぎなかった1971年から、45年連続で過去最多を更新している。

最高齢の日本人は、東京都渋谷区に住む115歳の女性。
 
 
 
   
  New! Learning through News Videos
 
 
 
 
Business English Expression and Phrases　＜ビジネス英会話フレーズ＞
-Learn expressions such as idioms and slang that is unique to culture, age, and business!
新しい英語表現：　文化・時代・ビジネスで使う特有なイディオム表現や俗語を覚えよう！
 
ちょうど言おうと思っていた
I was just about to say that myself.
 

I was just about to say that myself. The price we’re paying for packaging is far too high.
  ちょうど私もそう言おうと思っていたところです。梱包のコストが高すぎるのです。
 
You took the words right out of my mouth.
  You took the words right out of my mouth. Our packaging costs are too high.
  まさに言おうとしていたところでした。会社の梱包費用は高すぎます。
   

右に同じ
Dittos to that.
  Dittos to that. How do you suggest we cut our packaging costs?
  右に同じです。どうやって梱包にかかるコストを削減したらよいのでしょうか。
 
そのとおり

Yes, it is true that…
  Yes, it is true that our packaging costs are far too high.
  そのとおり、確かに、会社が梱包に費やしているコストは高すぎます。
 
I think you have it right.
  I think you have it right. Packaging costs could be reduced significantly.
  正しいと思います。梱包費用は、大幅に削減することが可能です。
   
You’re right about that.
  You’re right about that. We do need to cut packaging costs.
  そのとおりです。梱包費用をカットする必要があるのです。
   
 
 

 
–This section will cover a broad range of different grammar rules and explanations to help you understand sentence structure and improve awareness of English grammar.
このコーナーでは文法の規則や英文の構成についてわかりやすく学べます。
Special! TOEIC REVIEW AND STUDY
Check your understanding by selecting the correct answer below:　
Read each of the following of sentences and select the best answer. Print out this lesson plan and ask your teacher to assist you in understanding the grammar rules if you do not understand your mistakes..
Part V – Multiple Choice
1. One key to successful risk ____ lies in having access to the right information to make decisions.
   
A. compartment
B. treatment
C. recruitment
D. management
   
6. Mrs. Spelman took the Supervisor-Training Program, ____ did a couple of managers from the local shops.
   
A. so
B. as
C. thus
D. too
   
2. This is to remind you that in the interest of maintaining building security, all employess must wear their identity badges ____ all times.
   
A. in
B. at
C. by
D. on
   
7. Hundreds of people volunteered to help in the fundraising ____ for the oil-spill area.
   
 
 
A. coordination
B. drive
C. motivation
D. exercise
   
3. Mr. Otaka claimed that the housekeeper never _____ to clean his room the entire time he stayed at the hotel.
   
A. came
B. comes
C. coming
D. to come
   
8. _____ it takes less than ten hours to get to Toronto by train totally amazes me.
   
 
A. What
B. That
C. Whom
D. Whenever
   
4. Because our charity event had such high attendance, we have reached our donation _____.
   
A. destinations
B. opinions
C. treatments
D. goals
   
9. _____ 12 percent of the new employees can speak more than two languages.
   
 
A. Mostly
B. Fluently
C. Nearly
D. Justly
   
5.

It is difficult to determine _____ she is qualified for the job without reviewing her resume.
   
A. both
B. whether
C. than
D. after
   
10. Of the products on display, the latest model is the ______ appropriate for our business.
   
 
A. more
B. very
C. most
D. well
   
Check your answers!
 
 
 
TOEIC対策（読解＆リスニング問題編）Eメールとﾕｰｻﾞﾈｰﾑの入力でテストの結果がメールで受け取れます。
 
[kml_flashembed publishmethod=”static” fversion=”8.0.0″ movie=”https://www.members.eigopass.com/flashquiz/toeicsentence/Quiz 23/quiz.swf” width=”636″ height=”480″ targetclass=”flashmovie”] [/kml_flashembed]
[kml_flashembed publishmethod=”static” fversion=”8.0.0″ movie=”https://www.members.eigopass.com/flashquiz/TOEIC850/quiz28audio/quiz.swf” width=”636″ height=”480″ targetclass=”flashmovie”] [/kml_flashembed]
 
 
NEW! – Advice Column from a Foreigner’s Point of View (Relationship, Life, Work, and Everything Under the Sun)

(Mariko : mid 40’s Japanese): English Version translated from Japanese

I am a mother of a 15-year-old boy and for the past few years, I have felt a little uneasy during this time of the year as I watched my son participate in his school’s sports festival. I understand that I’m paranoid and overprotective of my son, but he is on the smaller side and I worry about his safety when he participates in some of the traditional events. Due to his size, he usually ends up on the top of the pyramid and kibasen, both of which can be potentially dangerous if an accident happens. So, I was wondering if there was such a thing as a sports festival in the U.S. And if so, are there frantic parents like myself?

(Alan: early 30’s Japanese-American):

I totally understand your concern regarding your son’s well being as I am a mother of a teenage boy myself. I’ve heard from my Japanese friend about these events and that there are cases in which students have gotten hurt participating in them. For the pyramid, students can suffer various broken bones as they get crushed by other students when the formation collapses. Regarding the kibasen, I’ve heard that students can fall off their classmates’ shoulders and also have their eyes gouged in the scrimmage.

Going back to your question, there really isn’t something like a sports festival in the U.S., but I think the closest thing would be a track meet where students take part in certain track and field events like short and long distance running races as well as high and long jumps. Personally, I don’t think that any of the events are dangerous as the incidences of injuries are low and their severity is rather minor like a pulled muscle.

Of course, there are activities that may be far more dangerous than the pyramid and kibasen that students in the U.S. can take part in like American football and competitive cheerleading but not all students are expected to participate in them. As a matter of fact, participation is only granted to students who want to participate and they must sign waivers, which stipulate that they understand the risks of undertaking such activities and that third parties are not liable for any injuries sustained by the students.

What makes me uncomfortable with the sports festival activities that you mentioned is not necessarily that it could be potentially dangerous, but because participation seems somewhat mandatory from what I’ve heard. I sense that there is a culture where students are “expected” to participate, and parents wouldn’t raise any concerns fearing a possible backlash from the school.

Of course it’s easier said than done, but if you’re really concerned about your son being exposed to danger by participating in these events, I think that you should bring it to the attention of other parents and school officials. Also, if your son feels timid about participating in these events, it may be a good idea to request a dismissal for your son. I hope that you can achieve the best solution to the situation for both you and your son.
 


Here are other posts you may like! :)

  1. 2015年1月号–エイゴパス 月刊ニュースレター
  2. 2015年6月号–エイゴパス 月刊ニュースレター
  3. 2015年7月号–エイゴパス 月刊ニュースレター
  4. 2015年2月号–エイゴパス 月刊ニュースレター
  5. 2015年8月号–エイゴパス 月刊ニュースレター
«
»