2015年2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 |
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
 

Hitachi’s rapid-transit train arrives in Britain for test trials

Southhampton, Britain – Hitachi Ltd.’s high-speed train for Britain’s rapid-transit system arrived in this southern port March 12 for test operations.

The Class 800 series train was assembled at Hitachi’s

Kasado plant in Yamaguchi Prefecture for the British Department forTransport’s Intercity Express Program (IEP). The trial operations are scheduled to begin in April, with the Hitachi-made trains starting commercial operations on the route linking Wales and London in 2017. The trains will be introduced to the line connecting the British capital with Scotland in 2018.

Hitachi has received orders for 122 trains, totaling 866 cars, from the British agency. In July 2012, Hitachi won a contract to provide maintenance for the IEP trains in addition to the train order.
test trial(s) 走行試験
test operation(s) 試運転
plant 工場
commercial 商業の
(be) introduced to 〜に導入される
won (win)…to 〜する契約を結んだ、獲得した
 

日立の高速鉄道車両、英国へ　4月から試験走行へ

英国の高速鉄道向けに、日立製作所が製造した高速車両が3月12日、英国南部の港、サウサンプトンに到着した。走行試験をするためだ。

Class 800シリーズの車両は、英国運輸省の都市間高速鉄道計画（IEP）向けに、山口県にある日立の笠戸事業所で造られた。

走行試験は4月に開始予定。この日立製の車両は、2017年にロンドンとウエールズを結ぶ路線で運行が始まる。18年には、ロンドンとスコットランド間の路線への投入が予定されている。

日立は英国運輸省から122編成、計866両を受注した。12年7月には、IEP向け車両の受注に加え、車両保守事業の契約を締結している。
 
 
Japan News:

Renovated Himeji Castle offers high-tech trip to the past

Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture – After six years and a cost of 2.4 billion yen, Himeji Castle has completed major renovation work and added a modern touch that gives visitors a glimpse of life during Japan’s feudal times.

Municipal officials expect the renovations, the first full-scale face-lift since 1964, to attract many history buffs.

Around 16,000 of the 75,000 roof tiles of the castle’s main keep were replaced. Workers also repainted the trademark white plaster walls.

The castle will offer an augmented reality service that allows visitors to watch computer-graphic reproductions of early 17th-century life through an app in their smartphones or tablet computers.

Himeji Castle’s keep is one of 12 remaining original castle structures in Japan.
(be) renovated 修理された
glimpse 垣間見ること
feudal times 封建時代
municipal officials 市当局
face-lift （建物の）改装
buff(s) ファン、マニア
keep （城の）天守閣
plaster しっくい
augmented reality 拡張現実（AR）。コンピューターを使って、現実の世界に仮想的なものを追加する技術
reproduction(s) 復元、再現
 

姫路城大天守　ハイテクで築城当時の雰囲気を体感

6年の歳月と24億円の費用をかけ、姫路城は大規模な修復作業を終えた。現代的な手法の導入により、見学者は日本の封建時代の生活を垣間見ることもできる。

1964年以来の全面的な改装となった今回の大修理は、多くの歴史ファンをひきつけるだろう、と市当局は期待する。

姫路城の大天守の屋根瓦7万5千枚のうち、約1万6千枚がふきかえられた。トレードマークの白いしっくい塗りの壁も、職人の手によって塗り直された。

姫路城は「拡張現実」という技術を導入する。これにより見学者は、手持ちのスマートフォンやタブレット端末のアプリを使用して、コンピューターグラフィックによる17世紀初頭の再現映像を見ることができる。姫路城の大天守は、日本に現存する12の天守閣の一つ。
 
 
 
   
  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！
理解できない
  I’m afraid that I just don’t understand…
 

I’m afraid that I just don’t understand how changing the logo is going to help the company in the short or the long-term.
  ロゴの変更が、短期的にも長期的にも会社の役に立つという理由が理解できないのですが。
 
  I’m having a hard time understanding…
  I’m having a hard time understanding how changing the logo is going to help.
  ロゴの変更が何の約に立つのか理解に苦しみます。
   
まったく賛成できない
  If you want my honest opinion…
  If you want my honest opinion, I don’t think a new logo will increase sales
  正直に言いますが、新しいロゴで売り上げが伸びるということはありえないと思います。
 

 

 No way!
  No way! How is a new logo going to hlep?
 

とんでもない。ロゴの変更が何の約に立つのですか？
 
無理だということを述べる

 

 Sorry, it’s impossible…
  Sorry, it’s impossible. We can’t afford to redesign the homepage again and throw away 50,000 pamphlets.
  すみませんが、無理です。ホームページのデザインを再変更して、5万枚のパンフレットを捨てる余裕はとてもありません。
   

 

 It doesn’t seem possible…
  It doesn’t seem possible right now. We just redesigned the homepage and printed 50,000 pamphlets.
  今、それを行なうのは不可能に思われます。ホームページのデザインを変えて、5万枚のパンフレットを刷ったばかりなのですから。
   
 

 
–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。
Learning to use: "in case", "unless", and "as long as"

Today we are going to learn how to use "in case", "unless" and "as long as". Each word/phrase can have a similar meaning with one another, so make sure you learn how to use them.
1.　in case = ～の場合に備えて
  ～が起こるといけないから～をしておく、のような形で使われます。
   
  Ex.1: Ann might call tonight, I don’t want to go out in case she calls.（アンが電話してくるといけないから、出かけたくない）
  Ex.2: I’ll draw a map for you in case you can’t find our house.（私たちの家が見つけられないといけないから、地図を描いておいてあげる）
"in case"は「～のために事前に備えて」という意味で使われます。「もし～ならば」の意味をもつ"if"とは意味が違いますので注意しましょう。
2.　unless = もし～でなければ
  "if"つまり「もし～ならば」の正反対として使われます。= if not
   
 

Ex 1: Unless I study grammar, I won’t be able to speak English.(もし文法の勉強をしなければ、英語を話せるようにはならない。）
  Ex 2: I’m playing tennis tomorrow unless it rains (もし雨がふらなければ、明日テニスをする)
  Ex 3: You don’t have to go to school unless you want to （もし行きたくないのであれば、学校に行かなくていいよ）
"unless"は「もし～でなければ」という否定的な意味があります。「もし～ならば」という意味をもつ"if"の反対という形で覚えましょう。また、Ex.3のように、同じ文章内で二回否定がある場合は肯定に戻るので、注意しましょう。
3.　as long as = 「～である限り（これが条件である）」
  "if"より強い意味を持ち、絶対条件を示す時に使われます。
   
  Ex 1: You can use my car as long as you drive carefully.（気をつけて運転するのであれば、私の車を使ってもいいよ）
  Ex 2: As long as she continues to study hard, she will pass her exam.（一生懸命勉強を続けている限り、彼女は試験に合格するだろう）
  Ex 3: It doesn’t matter how expensive your vacation was as long as you enjoyed yourselves.（楽しめたのであれば、旅行がどれだけ高かったとしても関係ないよ）※"If"に近い形で使われているが、それより強い意味が込められている
"as long as"は「～である限り」という意味を持ち、"if"「もし～ならば」よりさらに強く表現をする時に使われます。
 
Check your understanding of the above grammar:
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 I will leave my cell phone on (in case / unless) my mother calls.
2 You should bring an umbrella (in case / unless) it rains.
3 (In case / Unless) you intend on going out tonight, there is no need to dress up.
4 I drew a map for Tomoko (in case / unless) she got lost trying to find where I live.
5 We can take a taxi to the station (in case / unless) you prefer to walk.
6 I can probably meet you at 8pm (in case / unless) my boss asks me to work late.
7 People can use either the express or normal elevators (in case / unless) there is a fire.
8 You should register your iphone with icloud (in case / unless) it gets lost or stolen.
9 Take some chocolate with you (in case / unless) you get hungry.
10 (In case / Unless) it rains tomorrow, the picnic will be held as scheduled from 1pm.
   
Moderate level exercises:
Read each of the following of sentences and write whether : unless, in case, or as long as is needed. Print out this lesson plan and ask your teacher to assist you in understanding the grammar rules.
 
1 ________________ it does not rain, we will probably go ahead with the picnic.
2 This letter is for Mr. Thompson. Can you give it to him ________________ you see him.
3 You can not enter that gym ________________ you are a member.
4 ________________ my company gives me a promotion and more time off each year, I will most likely take the job offer from the competing firm.
5 I don’t think you should tell Rena that her boyfriend is cheating on her ________________ she confronts you about it.
6 ________________ you promise to fill up the tank when you return it, I see no problem in letting you borrow my car.
7 There is no public transportation to the beach. ________________ you have a car or can get access to one, I don’t think you will be able to go.
8 I’m playing tennis tomorrow ________________ it rains.
9 Children under the age of 12 are permitted to use the swimming pool ________________ they are accompanied by an adult.
10 ________________ they are dogs that assist in guiding the vision impaired, this hotel establishment does not allow pets.
   
Difficult level exercises:
Read each of the following sentences and write a sentence using either unless or as long as:
 
1 The club isn’t open to everyone. You are allowed in only if you’re a member.
_________________________________________________________________ .
 
2 She has to sincerely apologize to me, or I will never speak to her again.
_________________________________________________________________ .
 
3 Don’t worry about the dog. It will attack you only if you move suddenly.
_________________________________________________________________ .
 
4 The doctor will see you only if it is an emergency.
_________________________________________________________________ .
 
5 I don’t mind if you come home late. Just make sure you come in quietly.
_________________________________________________________________ .
 
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。
 
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[kml_flashembed publishmethod=”static” fversion=”8.0.0″ movie=”https://www.members.eigopass.com/flashquiz/TOEIC850/quiz20audio/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)

(Chisato : late 40’s Japanese):

"I wanted to get the opinion of a Western person regarding my children. At the moment, I have a 29 year old son and a 25 year old daughter living with my husband and I. When they graduated college, I told them that they needed to start paying a monthly fee/stipend of 40,000yen.

There was never a problem until I changed the amount that my daughter paid compared to what my son paid.

My daughter helps me around the house tremendously while my son thinks that taking out the garbage on Monday and Thursday is doing so much! My daughter helps with the laundry, the preparation of dinner, washing the dishes, cleaning the bathtub, and most importantly, she always seems to try to take care of her parents. My son, comes home late every night and does little to no housework. He spends most of his money on his girlfriend, hobbies, and asks us for money even when we ask him to pick up some things from the grocery store on his way back home from work.

I recently told my daughter that since she is more involved in family life that she could just pay us 20,000yen to give her some sense of responsibility. However, when my son found out that she was paying only 20,000yen, he has started to show some resentment towards us. To be perfectly honest, my daughter still wanted to pay 40,000yen eventhough she was offered a lower amount to pay each month.

Am I wrong for lowering the amount that my daughter had to pay? "

(Satsuki: early 50’s Japanese):

"Hi Chisato, your situation brings back so many memories for me as I share similar experiences in the upbringing of my own kids. Though I may not personally offer insight from a "Western" point of view, my husband is American and we have raised our kids with his way of parenting.

When our son had starting working at a company for 2 years after graduation, we told him that it was time for him to leave home to live on his own so that he could learn the importance of being independent. He complained that we had not asked our daughter to move out when she had been working for a company for the same amount of time.

Needless to say, there were reasons that my husband and I thought that differed our treatment between the two of them. Firstly, our daughter in our opinion, was more involved in family life while our son prioritized his own life over family. A case in point was our daughter always emailed us on her way home from work asking if we needed anything or when we were both working late, she would prepare dinner and do general housework. Our son lived as though he didn’t care or bother to help with anything. Secondly, our daughter rarely asked us to pay for things that she bought for the house. Our son religiously showed every receipt to us so that he could be reimbursed for every dollar he spent for the home. It was disappointing since he liked to pay for dinner out with his friends but nickel and dimed us for the smallest things.

I know we should love every child the same and for my husband and I, we want both our children to learn how to be independent. Honestly speaking, if the situation were reversed and our daughter acted like our son and vice versa, we would ask our daughter to move out. For us, it is not related to gender but instead related to the level of responsibility our children show in living their life. With that said, I see no problem with your decision to require more money from your son.

If your son is unhappy with paying more, he could always move out. Maybe then he will understand how good he has it only paying 40,000 to live at home and have everything done for him. "
 

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