2012年2月号-　エイゴパス英会話レッスン　月刊ニュースレター

| 月間ニュースレター |
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)
American Idioms & Slang＜アメリカのイディオム＆スラング表現＞
Grammar Study＜今月の文法学習＞
TOEICクイズ TOEIC Study Quiz＜ＴＯＥＩＣテスト＞
Monthly Column – A Foreigner’s Life＜今月のコラム：外国人の生活＞
 
   
—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！
Japan News:

"Governors oppose TEPCO’s planned hike in electricity charges "

Governors of Tokyo and nine other nearby prefectures said Wednesday they regard Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s planned hike in electricity charges as "extremely regrettable" and urged the utility to accelerate efforts to rationalize its operations first.

Tokyo Electric is planning to raise electricity charges for companies by 17 percent on average from April and hopes

to raise rates for household users as well to cope with surging fuel costs in boosting thermal power generation in the wake of the crisis at its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
 
oppose 案・計画・申し出などに〕反対｛はんたい｝する
   
英語ポイント regard 〈文〉注視｛ちゅうし｝、凝視｛ぎょうし｝
   
英語ポイント hike 引き上げる
   
英語ポイント rationalize 合理的｛ごうりてき｝に考える、合理的｛ごうりてき｝に説明｛せつめい｝する
   
英語ポイント to cope with 〔困難｛こんなん｝・問題｛もんだい｝など〕に立ち向かう
 

＜ディスカッションポイント！＞

Is TEPCO within their rights to increase electricity rates for companies? Individuals?

＜日本語訳＞

知事たち、TEPCOの電気料金値上げ計画に反対

東京（共同通信社）－東京及びその他９つの近くの県は、水曜日、東電の電気料金値上げ計画を「非常に残念である」とし、先に運営の効率化を加速することを要求した。

東電は企業において4月から平均17パーセントの電気料金値上げを計画しており、福島第一原発の事故による火力発電の後押しにより発生する燃料価格の増加に対処するため、家庭の電気料金も値上げを期待している。

東電、中央政府、及びこの公営事業に経済的援助を提供する政府のファンドである原子力損害賠償支援機構に対する申し立てにおいて、10の知事はこの値上げはTEPCOの失敗及び政府の原子力機構のための費用を人々に負担させると言った。

 
Japan News Stories:

"Olympus Scandal calls for law revision for Corporations"

Former senior executives at Olympus Corp. were arrested by prosecutors Feb. 17 on suspicion of violating the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law by covering up massive investment losses in the company’s financial reports.

Among those arrested were people not employed by Olympus Corp. who nonetheless served as advisors to those inside the company.

We hope that in addition to pursuing the criminal responsibility of such figures, authorities will initiate a full-scale investigation to uncover the complex and sophisticated manner in which the cover-ups were apparently carried out for so many years, and help restore confidence in the Japanese market.

Former Olympus Corp. Chairman and President Tsuyoshi Kikukawa and two other former Olympus executives are suspected of joining hands with four outside collaborators to overstate the company’s assets by approximately 110 billion yen each in financial reports for the fiscal years ending in March 2007 and March 2008.

 
former 前の、先の
   
英語ポイント on suspicion of ～の疑い［嫌疑｛けんぎ｝・容疑｛ようぎ｝］で、～の疑いを掛けられて
   
英語ポイント nonetheless それにもかかわらず、それでもなお、とはいえ
   
英語ポイント pursue 追跡｛ついせき｝する、追いかける
   
英語ポイント cover up 上に羽織｛はお｝る衣服｛いふく｝、上っ張り
 

＜ディスカッションポイント！＞

How long should executives be sentenced to jail for white collar crimes? Is concealing corporate losses equivalent to directly robbing people (shareholders)?

＜日本語訳＞

日本人の大半は増税反対

オリンパスの損失隠し事件をめぐり、当時の経営トップらが、金融商品取引法違反の疑いで、東京地検特捜部などに逮捕された。

　逮捕者には不正の「指南役」とされる外部協力者も含まれる。その刑事責任を厳しく問うとともに、長年にわたる複雑巧妙な損失隠しの全容を解明し、日本市場の信頼回復につなげてもらいたい。

　オリンパスの前会長・菊川剛容疑者ら前役員３人は外部協力者４人と共謀し、０７年３月期と０８年３月期に会社の資産額をそれぞれ約１１００億円水増しし、有価証券報告書に虚偽記載した疑いがもたれている。

　同社は事件に関与したり、不正を防げなかったりした現旧の取締役や監査役に対し、損害賠償請求訴訟を提起している。こうした事件が繰り返されることのないよう、刑事、民事の両面から、関係者の責任追及が徹底されることを期待する。

　今回の事件が深刻なのは、上場企業の巨額な不正経理が、長年にわたって見逃されてきたことだ。日本企業の会計報告に対する投資家の信頼が、大きく損なわれかねない。
 
 
US News:

" The American Dream – Linderella !"

Imagine.. Imagine for a minute that everybody tells you that you "can’t do it" or "it is impossible". Do you push forward and pursue your passion and prove the world wrong or do you accept the reality that you are just ordinary?

Welcome to the "Linderella" story! From being a "nobody" with all odds against you to becoming a worldwide star and inspiration in a short stretch of 2 weeks, one person is showing the world that there really are no barriers when you believe in yourself.

In the competitive world of professional sports namely NBA basketball, Jeremy Lin is a motivating force for all individuals young and old. Not only does he transcend sports, he is becoming the ultimate role model for the "little guy". He is singlehandedly transforming "faith" in hard work and bringing to light "racial" bigotry in the United States.
 
push forward 〔押しのけて〕前へ進む、突き進む
   
英語ポイント inspiration 〔創造的思考｛そうぞう てき しこう｝に対する〕刺激｛しげき｝、鼓舞｛こぶ｝
   
英語ポイント transcend 〔限界｛げんかい｝などを〕超える、超越｛ちょうえつ｝する
   
英語ポイント bigotry 偏狭｛へんきょう｝な考え、偏見｛へんけん｝、頑固｛がんこ｝
 

＜ディスカッションポイント！＞

What motivates you to pursue your passion? Do you strive more when everyone tells you you can not do something or do you give up?

＜日本語訳＞

 

 
 
 
 
   
  New! CNN Student News　リスニング力を試そう！
 
 
 
 
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！

–Hiroko and Sam meet again to plan their negotiation with the Legal department. They discuss the issues and determine their opening position.–
 
Sam: Hiroko, I’m not sure it’s a good idea to make Shinji and Bruce split a cubicle. There may not be enough space with all of technical manuals.
 
Hiroko: Well, let’s try to nab this cubicle from Legal. It’s full of cabinets.
 
Sam: Why would Legal give it up? What’s their incentive?
 
Hiroko: They have books and files stacked on the floor now. How about trading some of our cabinets in the corridor for cubicle space? We need desk space more than cabinets. Legal needs cabinets more than desk space. It’s win-win.
 
Sam: Hmm. How many cabinets can we afford to lose?
   
Hiroko: Let’s offer them four and see if they go for it.
   
Sam: That’s our opening position, but how many are we really willing to concede?
   
Hiroko: Six is the max, but keep that under your hat.
   
Sam: Got it!

 
上記の会話の日本語訳はこちらをクリック’（印刷可）: JAPANESE VERSION
split share equally 動・・・分ける、共有する
Nab take 動・・・取る
Stacked piled, arranged vertically 形・・・山積した
Opening Position first offer, starting point 名・・・交渉における最初の提案
Concede give up, accept a loss 動・・・交渉する、（権利
などを）与える
Go for it initiate or advance in doing something (take action) 頑張ってやってみる
 
This Month’s "Janglish" : 今回はProcessとStepの違いの使い方を解説します。
 
 

 
–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。
How to use adjectives/adverbs: Quick VS Quickly
Check your understanding of adjectives/adverbs:　
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.
 
1 We were not able to go swimming because it was raining (heavy / heavily)
2 Our team lost the match because we played (bad / badly)
3 We had so much fun during our vacation the time passed by (quick / quickly).
4 Jeremy is a very (careful / carefully) driver.
5 Everybody at the party was (colorful / colorfully) dressed.
6 Don’t climb that ladder! It doesn’t look (safe / safely).
7 Michael stays in great shape by excercising (regular / regularly).
8 We did not swim because the weather was (bad / badly).
9 There was a (sudden / suddenly) change in the weather.
10 Why do you always look so (serious / seriously)?
   
Moderate level exercises: Adverb vs Adjective
Read each of the following of sentences and write the appropriate form of the adjective/adverb as needed. Print out this lesson plan and ask your teacher to assist you in understanding the grammar rules.
 
careful(ly) complete(ly) continuous(ly) quick(ly) special(ly)
poor(ly) nervous(ly) perfect(ly) financial(ly) fluent(ly)
         
1 John’s report was ____________ written. There were many grammatical errors.
2 Jennifer is very ____________ when she drives. She never takes any risks.
3 I’d like to take a vacation, but it’s ____________ impossible for me at the moment.
4 Do you usually feel ____________ on first dates?
5 I am studying English because I would like to become as ____________ as possible.
6 The library is the best place to study if you like ____________ silence.
7 Happy Valentine’s day! I made this ____________ for you!
8 I prefer custom suits rather than buying off the rack. They fit me ____________.
9 Shinichi is a workaholic. He is ____________ busy all the time.
10 The new staff picks up new skills quite easily. She is a ____________ learner.
   
Difficult level exercises: Adjective vs Adverb
Each of the sentences below contain errors either with grammar, word order, or idea. Rewrite the sentences correctly.
1 I thought the restaurant would be expensive, but it was cheap reasonably.
___________________________________________________________
2 Janice’s mother is ill seriously in the hospital.
___________________________________________________________
3 I love your new apartment! It is so decoratedly nice.
___________________________________________________________
4 Tanaka san did very well on his exams because he studied hardly.
___________________________________________________________
5 Adam is generally a talkative person but he is quiet unusually today.
___________________________________________________________
6 The movie was unnecessary long. It could have been much shorter.
___________________________________________________________
7 When I visited my hometown after a period of more than 25 years, I noticed that everything had complete changed.
___________________________________________________________
8 There was a badly accident on the highway. Two people were bad injured.
___________________________________________________________
9 The meeting was an utterly failure. We could have done more to proper prepare for it.
___________________________________________________________
10 It’s a reasonable cheap restaurant with extreme delicious food.
___________________________________________________________
 
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 13/quiz.swf” width=”616″ height=”480″ targetclass=”flashmovie”] [/kml_flashembed]
[kml_flashembed publishmethod=”static” fversion=”8.0.0″ movie=”https://www.members.eigopass.com/flashquiz/TOEIC200/Responses Part 1sound/quiz.swf” width=”616″ height=”480″ targetclass=”flashmovie”] [/kml_flashembed]
 
 
NEW! – Do you think TEPCO is justifiable in raising electricity rates?
新着! – 東京電力が電気代を上げる事は正当だと思いますか？

(Anthony 46y.o. male UK):

I understand the need to raise rates given the current shortage of electrical generating facilities due to the numerous closures of nuclear power reactors. However, I think both TEPCO and the government should improve how they communicate their policy changes to the people in general. Clearly explain via media outlets how the need to increase has arisen as well as if this will be a permanent or temporary increase. Furthermore, what changes will be implemented to bring these costs down if ever.

 

【日本語訳】

多くの電子力発電所の閉鎖で電力生産施設の不足を補うため電気代を上げる必要があるのはわかるが、東京電力（TEPCO）と政府の両方が変更した内容(規定)について一般家庭へより納得いくように説明すべきだと思う。報道機関からの説明では「値上げの必要性」に加え「この値上げが永久のことなのか？または一時的な値上げなのか？」についても取り上げられている。更に、万一これらの価格を下げたら何が生じるのだろうか？

 
 

(Cynthia 22y.o. female Australia):

Is it me or does it seem unfair for a privatized company to control a sector of utilities especially since TEPCO is the only player in this market? In a competetive market, consumers would have the option to select competing suppliers of electricity. I do not think they have any right to increase prices but what choice do we as consumers have? We just have to swallow what they give us.

 

【日本語訳】

僕だけでしょうか？民営化されたTEPCOがこの市場で唯一の会社であり、市場を独占するのは不公平ではないでしょうか？競争市場では消費者が電気供給会社を選択することが出来る。私は（TEPCO）が勝手に値上げをする権利はないと思う。だけど、消費者として他に選択肢はあるのか？（＝選択肢はない）。我々は彼ら（TEPCO）の要求を単に飲まなければならないのだろうか…
 

(Stephen 36y.o. male US)

To be perfectly honest, I feel companies always either increase/decrease prices when there are fluctuations in supply/demand. The nature of any "traditional" business is to maximize profits either by increasing revenues or cutting expenses. TEPCO, however, is not a business in the traditional sense since they face no competition and are in fact a monopilistic organization thereby leaving consumers with no alternative.

I personally think the company should be allowed to go bankrupt paving way for either the government to take control or private investors to break up the company to smaller entities.

In absence of a complete TEPCO bankruptcy, the government will at the very least need to intervene in forcing TEPCO management to provide evidence of how they have reduced costs to become more efficient. Have bonuses been cut or salaries reduced? Have all avenues been examined to decrease overhead? Only after corporate restructuring has been fully utilized can they expect consumers to accept their increase in prices.

 
 

【日本語訳】

正直言って、会社は需要と供給の変動がある時はいつも値上げ／値下げするものだと思う。「従来の」ビジネスでは収益を増やすか経費を削減するかのいずれかで利益を最大に保つのが自然ではあるが、しかしながら東京電力（TEPCO）は競争相手がいないため従来の会社とは違い、独占的な組織形態になっている。それ故に消費者に対して選択肢を与えない（強気な姿勢でいる）。

個人的には東京電力は政府が管理するか、民間の投資家たちに細分化されるかのいずれかに委ねて、自己破産すべきだと思う。

東京電力の破産申告をしないのならば、最低限政府は東京電力の経営を管理し、より効果的にコストを削減する対策を明らかにし干渉する必要があるだろう。（東電社員の）ボーナスはカットされたのか？給料は減らされたのか？
経費は削減のために可能な手段はすべて実行されたのか？

会社再建を十分に実施した後に、値上げについて消費者に頼むということ（選択肢）はできないのだろうか。
 
 

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