1. Introduction to the text
This reading lesson discusses the issue of elderly individuals in Japan dying from heat stroke due to not using air conditioning, even when it is available in their homes. It highlights the tragic cases of heat-related deaths that have occurred in Japan during the recent heatwaves.
2. Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning | Contextual Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 실내 | silnae | indoors, inside | The elderly woman was found collapsed inside the house, even though the air conditioning was there but not turned on. |
| 열사병 | yeolsabyeong | heat stroke | Heat stroke is suspected to be the cause of death for the elderly woman. |
| 않고 | anhgo | not, didn’t | The air conditioning was there but not turned on. |
| 에어컨을 | eeokkeuneul | air conditioning | The elderly woman died of heat stroke even though there was air conditioning in the house. |
| 있습니다 | isseumnida | is, exists | There was air conditioning in the house, but it was not turned on. |
3. The main text in both Korean and English
지난 5일 일본 가나가와현에서 80대 여성이 열사병으로 인해 사망했습니다. 집 안에 에어컨이 있었지만 가동되지 않고 있었습니다.
On May 5th, an 80-year-old woman in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, died of heat stroke. There was air conditioning in the house, but it was not turned on.
이와 같은 고령층의 실내 열사병 사망 사고가 일본에서 올해도 계속해서 발생하고 있습니다. 도쿄 23구의 통계에 따르면, 지난 두 달 동안 열사병으로 56명이 사망했는데 두 명을 제외하고는 모두 실내에서 발생했습니다.
Similar incidents of elderly people dying from indoor heat stroke have continued to occur in Japan this year as well. According to statistics from Tokyo’s 23 wards, 56 people died of heat stroke in the past two months, and except for two, all of them occurred indoors.
폭염이 지속되는 가운데 에어컨을 아끼려다 열사병으로 사망하는 안타까운 사례가 계속해서 발생하고 있습니다. 특히 고령층의 경우 실내에서도 열사병에 취약한 것으로 나타났습니다.
As the heatwave continues, tragic cases of people dying from heat stroke while trying to conserve air conditioning have continued to occur. Particularly for the elderly, they are vulnerable to heat stroke even indoors.
이번 사례는 에어컨 사용이 필수적인 폭염 시기에 에어컨 사용을 자제하다가 발생한 것으로 보입니다. 에너지 절감을 위해 에어컨 사용을 줄이는 것도 중요하지만, 건강과 안전을 최우선으로 고려해야 할 것 같습니다.
This case appears to have occurred when the person was trying to conserve air conditioning during the heatwave when it is essential. While conserving energy by reducing air conditioning use is important, health and safety should be the top priority.
이번 사건을 계기로 고령층의 실내 열사병 예방을 위한 대책 마련이 필요할 것으로 보입니다. 에어컨 사용에 대한 편견을 없애고, 고령층이 안전하게 더위를 피할 수 있는 방안을 마련해야 할 것 같습니다.
This incident highlights the need to develop measures to prevent indoor heat stroke among the elderly. Prejudices against using air conditioning should be eliminated, and ways should be found to allow the elderly to safely escape the heat.
이처럼 기후변화로 인한 극심한 폭염 속에서 에너지 절감과 건강 보호의 균형을 찾는 것이 중요한 과제로 떠오르고 있습니다.
Thus, finding a balance between energy conservation and health protection has emerged as an important challenge amid the extreme heatwaves caused by climate change.
4. Reading comprehension questions
- What was the cause of death for the 80-year-old woman in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan?
- How many people died of heat stroke in Tokyo’s 23 wards in the past two months, and where did most of these deaths occur?
- Why did the elderly woman die of heat stroke even though there was air conditioning in the house?
- What is the main challenge that has emerged in dealing with the extreme heatwaves caused by climate change?
- What measures do the article suggest should be taken to prevent indoor heat stroke among the elderly?
5. Cultural and historical notes
Japan has experienced record-breaking heatwaves in recent years, with temperatures reaching over 41 degrees Celsius (over 105 degrees Fahrenheit). This has led to a concerning number of heat-related deaths, particularly among the elderly population. The article highlights the need to find a balance between energy conservation and protecting vulnerable individuals from the dangerous effects of extreme heat.