英字新聞を読み解く！！！Vol.４３４難易度★★★★☆

英字新聞を読むには各単語の形式を知ることが大事！

英語を勉強し始めたばかりの段階だと、教材と違って英字新聞を読むのはかなり難しいと思います。それぞれの新聞が独自の書き方をもっていたりもするので。なので、僕が補足をつけながら、英字新聞を読むのお手伝いしようと思います。教材の文法には慣れたけど英字新聞はまだ苦手という、初級ー中級あたりの人用の解説です。

何回も言いますが、新聞を読むためには各々の単語が名詞（noun）なのか、形容詞（adjective）なのか、副詞（adverb）なのかがめちゃくちゃ大事になってきます！文法はほんっっっっっっとうに大事です！！！一緒に一つずつやっていきましょう！僕の勉強がわりにもなっているので、僕が知っていることは飛ばしていたりします。なので、何かわからないことがあれば気軽にコメントください。できるだけ答えます！よろしくお願いします 😉

全文はこちらをクリック！

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/08/health/japan-sexual-inexperience-intl/index.html?utm_term=link&utm_medium=social&utm_content=2019-04-08T10%3A43%3A07&utm_source=fbCNN&fbclid=IwAR0XlzN7FXb-k5ktdY4QPgQZXO4wM__HEio9XSEAeApMr3vMGlI80-Qn9r8

まずはざっと読んでみてください。

難易度は★★★★☆です！

読み終わったら、下の単語の解説と照らし合わせながら読んでいってみてください！よろしくです 😉

それでは英字新聞読解スタートです！

About 1 in 4 Japanese adults in their 20s and 30s is a virgin, study says

Hong Kong (CNN)Japanese adults have their first heterosexual sexual experiences later than their counterparts in the United States and the UK, according to a new study.

Public health experts at the University of Tokyo found that sexual inexperience was on the rise in the country, with the percentage of women aged 18 to 39 who’d never had sex rising to 24.6% in 2015 from 21.7% in 1992.

The change was greater for men of the same age, with 25.8% virgins in 2015, up from 20% in 1992.

“Sexual inexperience has become a national concern in Japan, but previous reports did not examine the trend across different age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds,” said Peter Ueda, a public health researcher at the University of Tokyo and an author of the study, published Monday.

By comparison, surveys from the UK, the United States, and Australia suggest that rates of heterosexual inexperience are between 1% to 5% of adults in or around their 30s, said the paper, which was published in the journal BMC Public Health.

The authors said that while it had been suggested that an increasing number of Japanese adults were sexually inexperienced, their study was the first to address this issue using nationally representative data.

The paper defined heterosexual sexual experience as vaginal intercourse between men and women. It did not include responses from those identifying as LGBTQ or asexual, and it assumed that all married couples had had sex.

最近では、「ace」はセックスに興味がない人という意味にもなるようです。英語では、「asexual」と言います。

こちらのサイトが参考になるかと思います。

The researchers based their nationwide estimate on data from seven national fertility surveys conducted over three decades. Each drew on the responses of between 11,553 and 17,859 adults 18 to 39 years old.

counterpart (noun)

Macmillan Dictionary によると ” someone or something that has the same job or purpose as another person or thing, but in a different country, time, situation, or organization “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

The prime minister is meeting his German counterpart.

The president will meet with his Brazilian counterpart tomorrow.

inexperience (noun)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” lack of experience “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

As a leader, he’s been criticized for his inexperience in foreign affairs.

She’s relatively inexperienced with computers.

socioeconomic (adjective)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” involving a combination of social and economic matters “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

socioeconomic backgrounds/factors/resources

intercourse (noun)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” the act of having sex: “という風に記載されていますね。フォーマルな表現です。

例文：

vaginal/anal intercourse

Our survey reveals that most couples have intercourse once a week.

To assuem (verb)

Cambridge Dictionary によると ” to accept something to be true without question or proof: “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

I assumed (that) you knew each other because you went to the same school.

I’m assuming everyone here has an email address.

draw on (phrasal verb)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” to use information or your knowledge of something to help you do something: “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

His novels draw heavily on his childhood.

She had a wealth of experience to draw on.

As an actor, you often draw on your own life experiences.

Your body draws on its reserves of fat during the times when you are fasting.

‘Money talks’

The report found that a higher percentage of men on lower incomes remained sexually inexperienced compared to women.

“Although the discussion around cause and effect becomes very complex when considering who becomes sexually experienced and who remains a virgin, we show that heterosexual inexperience is at least partly a socioeconomic issue for men. Simply put, money talks,” said Cyrus Ghaznavi, the lead author of the study.

The issue of birth rate is important in Japan because its population is aging rapidly.

Japan is considered a “super-aged” nation, meaning more than 20% of its population is over 65 years old. Just 946,060 babies were born in 2017, a record low since official records began in 1899.

The decline means a shrinking cohort of workers is left supporting an increasingly elderly population in need of health care and pensions, explained Kukhee Choo, a media studies professor at Sophia University in Tokyo, who wasn’t involved in the research. Choo added that putting a spotlight on the rise of sexlessness is part of a domestic agenda to rectify the population decline.

In recent years, local governments have boosted their efforts to pair off heterosexual singles in a bid to reverse the country’s declining fertility rate.

“There seems to be a national push to get people to really think about this issue and feel a sense of urgency,” Choo said.

Furthermore, despite Japan’s multibillion-dollar porn industry, Choo said discussions around porn and sex remain taboo. “Sex is seen as dirty and corrupting in Japan,” Choo said.

“My students can’t use the word ‘penis’ or ‘vagina,’ and if a woman expresses any knowledge or interest in sex, you’re seen as a fallen women. Men don’t talk about it, either.”

cohort (noun)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” a group of people who share a characteristic, usually age: “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

About 42% of women in this age cohort have a college degree.

agenda (noun)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” a list of matters to be discussed at a meeting: “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

Let’s move to the last item on the agenda.

There were several important items on the agenda.

The question of security is high on the agenda for this afternoon’s meeting.

Finding a job is at the top of my agenda. 

To rectify (verb)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” to correct a problem or mistake, or to make a bad situation better “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

I am anxious to rectify this situation.

pair off (phrasal verb)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” to start a romantic relationship with someone, or to bring two people together because you want them to have a relationship with each other “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

All our friends seem to be pairing off.

They paired me off with a gorgeous man.

All my friends seem to be pairing off and getting married.

corrupt (adjective)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” morally bad: “という風に記載されていますね。

fallen woman (noun)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” a woman who has lost her good reputation by having sex with someone before she is married “という風に記載されていますね。

Economy link

Conservative attitudes around sex haven’t always been the norm in Japan, according to Choo. Many Japanese embraced Western notions of free love and sexual liberation after Japan’s defeat in World War II in 1945 and the introduction of US values, said Choo.

As Japan underwent an “economic miracle” from the late 1940s to the late ’80s, during which it became the world’s second-largest economy after the United States, Japan’s male white-collar workers increased.

Though they were expected to work long hours, corporations rewarded them with stable middle-class lifestyles and lifetime employment. Such men became the dominant idea of masculinity.

lifetime employment は、終身雇用です。

During those decades, companies in cities and densely populated towns became the breeding ground for new romances as they looked favorably upon marriages between staff.

“They‘d actively hire people who they thought would be a good match for one another and organize sports days and company holidays to facilitate matches between people,” said Shigeru Kashima, a Japanese studies professor at Meiji University.

But by the ’90s, Japan’s economic boom went bust, resulting in a long period of financial insecurity and economic stagnation that came to be known as the “lost decade.”

Kashima argues that men’s loss of economic clout following the country’s period of financial stagnation affected their confidence when it came to pursuing women.

“Over the past two decades, some Japanese men have found it hard to face external hardships and fear rejection,” Kashima said. “There’s also an attitude of men devoting themselves more to their hobbies compared to women dedicating themselves to work.”

To embrace (verb)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” to completely accept something such as a new belief, idea, or way of life “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

Most countries have enthusiastically embraced the concept of high-speed railways.

We are always eager to embrace the latest technology.

notion (noun)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” a belief or idea: “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

The show’s director rejects the notion that seeing violence on television has a harmful effect on children.

To reward (verb)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” to give someone something as a reward, for example praise, success, or money “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

He always believed that the company would reward him for his efforts.

Everyone who reached the summit was rewarded with a magnificent view.

The company rewarded him for his years of service with a grand farewell party and several presents.

All his hard work was rewarded (= was made worth it) when he saw his book in print.

dominant (adjective)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” more important, powerful, or successful than the other people or things of the same type “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

The issue of climate change was the dominant theme of the conference.

a dominant personality

densely (adverb)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” with a lot of things close together: “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

densely populated regions

England was once a densely wooded country (= a lot of trees grew close together there).

Mexico City is one of the most densely populated cities in the world (= a lot of people live close together there).

His books tend to be densely written (= contain a lot of information and ideas and are difficult to understand).

favourably (adverb)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” in a way that shows someone or something is liked or approved of: “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

American reviewers have compared him favourably with John Irving.

look on/upon (phrasal verb)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” to think of someone or something in a particular way “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

We’re not related but I look on him as a brother.

I look on it as a challenge.

We looked on her as a daughter.

I had begun to look on the house as my own.

I look on them as my own children.

To facilitate (verb)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” to make it possible or easier for something to happen “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

The counsellor may be able to facilitate communication between the couple.

The new ramp will facilitate the entry of wheelchairs.

bust (adjective)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” a company or organization that is bust has lost all its money and can no longer continue to operate “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

The company went bust after only a year in business.

More than 20 companies in the district went bust during the last three months.

stagnation (noun)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” a situation in which a country’s economy is not growing or succeeding “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

Despite more than 10 years of economic stagnation, the unemployment rate remains low.

clout (noun)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” power and influence over other people or events: “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

The government has less political clout than the opposition on this issue.

external (adjective)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” of, on, for, or coming from the outside: “という風に記載されていますね。

hardship (noun)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” a situation in which life is very difficult, usually because you do not have enough money “という風に記載されていますね。

例文：

economic hardship

The 1930s were a time of high unemployment and economic hardship.

Many students are facing financial hardship.

Redefining virginity and sex

Choo said that while some Japanese heterosexuals may be inexperienced sexually, relationships mean different things to different people.

“Some people are in a relationship and they’re sexless. Some people don’t want to be in a relationship because they don’t want to be sexual. This is all going on at the same time among young people in Japan,” Choo said.

Ueda, the co-author of the study, said the heterosexual virgins surveyed in the report expressed an interest in marrying later on in life, suggesting that their sexual inexperience wasn’t by choice.

And while the reasons behind rising heterosexual virginity rates are complex, virtual sex and porn consumption have also been blamed for the decline of heterosexual relations in Japan.

“You could say that there is a demand for alternative sexual or romantic experiences because people are finding it difficult to find partners, or you could hypothesize that the rise in these services are because some people prefer to express their sexuality in these ways,” Ueda said.

Ueda’s team also suggested that Japan could be leading a global trend toward sexual inexperience between heterosexual couples, with sexual inactivity rising among young adults in Germany and the United States, suggesting a global shift in attitudes on sex.

heterosexual (noun/adjective)

Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” someone who is sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex “という風に記載されていますね。

To hypothesize (verb)

Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” to suggest a possible explanation for something based on the information you have, but without knowing whether the explanation is really true “という風に記載されていますね。仮説を立てるです。

最後に、内容が理解でき、新しい単語も知ることができたら、必ずCambridge Dictionaryか、Macmillan Dictionaryで例文を読むようにしてください。そして一番シンプルで、自分が日常使いしときやすそうなもをノートやスマホに書き溜めておいてください。そしてこれを移動中の時などに声に出して覚えることが本当に大事です！（電車では難しいので、僕はよく歩きますw）

これをしないと全然伸びていきません！

それではまた明日も更新していきます！

一緒に英語頑張りましょう！

また、英字新聞を読むメリットを僕なりにまとめましたので、時間がある方はこちらもみてみてくださいね！↓

２８歳から英語の勉強を始めた僕が考える “英字新聞を読むメリット”

英字新聞を読むのって意味あるの！？英字新聞で人気者になろう！