原田英語の時事英語ジュニア｜英語ニュース ワークシート（中学生レベル）
Class ____ No. ____ Name ____________________
お米の値段はなぜ2倍に？備蓄米の放出と「令和の米騒動」のしくみ
The Big Rice Price Jump
1Rice prices in Japan have almost doubled in a year. In spring, a 5-kilogram bag cost more than 4,000 yen at supermarkets. That was about twice as much as a year before.
2Experts gave several reasons for the high prices. The summer of 2023 was very hot, so the rice crop was poor. In 2024, many people bought extra rice after an earthquake warning. More tourists were also eating Japanese food.
3The government keeps a large amount of rice for emergencies. In 2025, it decided to sell this stored rice. Some stores sold it for about 2,000 yen a bag. It reached stores in just a few days.
4By mid-June, the average price fell below 4,000 yen. It was the first time since March.
Words 単語
| reasonA1 | 名 | 理由why something happens |
| twice as muchA2 | 熟 | 2倍の量（値段）two times the amount or price |
| cropB1 | 名 | 作物、収穫plants that farmers grow for food |
| extraA2 | 形 | 余分の、いつもより多いmore than the usual amount |
| warningB1 | 名 | 警告、注意の呼びかけa message that tells people about possible danger |
| emergencyA2 | 名 | 緊急事態、非常時a sudden, dangerous time when help is needed |
| storedA1 | 形 | 保管された、たくわえられたkept in a place to use later |
| averageA2 | 形 | 平均のnormal or typical, found by dividing a total |
単語のレベル：CEFR-J（『CEFR-J Wordlist Version 1.6』 東京外国語大学投野由紀夫研究室. （URL: https://www.cefr-j.org/download.html より 2026年8月ダウンロード））
1. Reading Quiz 本文の内容に合うものを選ぼう
How much did a 5-kilogram bag of rice cost at supermarkets?
A. About 500 yenB. About 1,000 yenC. More than 4,000 yenD. More than 10,000 yen
What was one reason for the poor rice crop?
A. A very hot summer in 2023B. Too much snowC. No rain for five yearsD. A cold spring in 2025
Why does the government keep a large amount of rice?
A. To sell it abroadB. For emergenciesC. To feed animalsD. To make sake
How much did some stores sell the stored rice for?
A. About 4,000 yen a bagB. About 500 yen a bagC. For freeD. About 2,000 yen a bag
2. True or False 正しければ T、違っていれば F
( ) Rice prices went down by half in a year.
( ) Many people bought extra rice after an earthquake warning.
( ) The stored rice took many months to reach stores.
( ) By mid-June, the average price fell below 4,000 yen.
3. Fill in the Blanks 下の語から選んで空らんをうめよう（形を変えずに）
averagereasonsstoredcropextraemergencies
The government keeps a large amount of rice for _____.
In 2025, it decided to sell this _____ rice.
In 2024, many people bought _____ rice after an earthquake warning.
By mid-June, the _____ price fell below 4,000 yen.
Experts gave several _____ for the high prices.
The summer of 2023 was very hot, so the rice _____ was poor.
4. Word Order 語を並べかえて正しい文にしよう
( also / Japanese / tourists / were / More / food / eating ) .
( this / sell / stored / In / it / 2025, / decided / rice / to ) .
( reached / stores / days / few / in / It / a / just ) .
5. Think and Write 英語で答えてみよう
What is your favorite rice dish?（あなたのいちばん好きなお米の料理は何ですか？）
What can your family do when food prices go up?（食べ物の値段が上がったとき、家族でどんなことができますか？）
Answers 解答
1. (1) C (2) A (3) B (4) D
2. (1) F (2) T (3) F (4) T
3. (1) emergencies (2) stored (3) extra (4) average (5) reasons (6) crop
4.
- More tourists were also eating Japanese food.
- In 2025, it decided to sell this stored rice.
- It reached stores in just a few days.
全文訳
1日本のお米の値段が、1年でほぼ2倍になりました。春には、スーパーで5キロの袋が4000円以上もしました。これは1年前のおよそ2倍の値段です。
2専門家は、値段が高くなった理由をいくつか挙げました。2023年の夏がとても暑かったため、お米のできが悪くなりました。2024年には、地震の注意情報が出たあと、多くの人がお米を多めに買いました。日本食を食べる観光客も増えていました。
3政府は、いざというときのためにたくさんのお米を保管しています。2025年、政府はこの保管していたお米を売ることにしました。1袋約2000円で売る店もありました。そのお米は、わずか数日で店に届きました。
46月中旬には、平均の値段が4000円を下回りました。これは3月以来初めてのことでした。
文法ポイント：倍数の表現（twice as much as ～）
twice as ～ as … で「…の2倍～」。本文の That was about twice as much as a year before. は「1年前のおよそ2倍の値段だった」という意味。3倍なら three times as ～ as。
出典：Reuters（Interaksyon 転載）、The Japan News / Asia News Network、CNBC（NBC 7 San Diego 転載） ほか（記事は原田英語の時事英語ジュニアのオリジナル）｜https://www.haradaeigo.com/jijieigo-junior/news/2025-06-18-japan-rice-price-surge/