英検２級読解

たむかい学習教室
5月15日
読了時間: 17分

更新日：3 日前

英検２級読解

　当ブログでは、授業のポイント解説をしています。

　塾生たちは、５月の第１回英語検定に向けた対策学習を行っています。過去問の長文読解を中心に対策を進めています。２級の問題は、高校３年間の学習内容が出題範囲となります。

2023年度・第１回　２Ａ

※問題省略

Any Change?

　Long ago, humans did not use money. Because they often could not produce everything that needed, they traded some of their goods for goods made by others. Gradually, the goods that they exchanged were replaced by cash. For hundreds of years, metal coins and paper bills that can be exchanged for goods and services have been produced. Cash is convenient for many people because it is easy to carry. At the same time, though, it can be lost or stolen. Another disadvantage is that criminals have been able to produce fake coins and bills.

　In the middle of the 20th century, plastic credit cards were introduced. They had security features to prevent them from being used by anyone except their owners. At first, their use was limited to wealthy people. Over time, however, they became more widely available. In the last few years, apps for smartphones that can be used in the same way as credit cards have also become popular. Because of this, some people are suggesting that we may soon see the end of cash.

　Supporters of a "cashless" society － in which all payments are made electronically － argue that it would have several benefits. For example, people would not have to worry about keeping their wallets safe. However, some people are concerned that they might be unable to pay for the things they need because of a software error or a broken smartphone. Moreover, some people do not have bank accounts or credit cards, so their only option is to use coins and bills. For now, it seems as though societies will continue to use cash.

語句

trade A for B：AをBと交換する

goods：もの

gradually：徐々に

exchange for：～と交換する

replace by：～に置きかえる、～に代わる

metal：金属製の

cash：現金

convenient：便利な

at the same time：同時に

though：けれど

disadvantage：デメリット、不利

criminal：犯罪者

fake：偽の

introduce：導入する

security：安全

feature：特徴

prevent A from B：AがBするのを防ぐ

except：～を除いて、～以外

limit：限る

wealthy：裕福な

over time：時間とともに、時がたつにつれて

available：利用・使用できる

last few years：ここ数年

app：アプリ

suggest：ほのめかす、示唆する

supporter：支持者

make payment：支払いをする

electronically：電子的に

argue：主張する

benefit：利点

concern：心配する

be unable to：～できない

moreover：さらに

account：口座、アカウント

option：選択肢

for now：今のところ

as though：まるで～かのように

文法

助動詞＋受動態

現在完了＋受動態

metal coins and paper bills that can be exchanged for goods and services have been produced.

可能性"can"

「～かもしれない」

it can be lost or stolen

動名詞の受動態

They had security features to prevent them from being used by anyone

前置詞＋関係代名詞

※"in that"は不可

Supporters of a "cashless" society － in which all payments are made electronically

推量"would"

「おそらく～だろう」

it would have several benefits

keep A B

「AをBのままにする」

keeping their wallets safe

it seems ~

「～のように思われる」

it seems as though societies will continue to use cash

2023年度・第１回　２Ｂ

※問題省略

The Tale of Mejk Swenekafew

　Recently, many people have been talking about "fake news" － news reports that are untrue. However, such reports have been around for a long time. They are sometimes used in order to get more people to read newspapers, watch TV programs, or visit online news sites. People also use fake news to spread their political or religious beliefs. However, these are not the only reasons for publishing fake news. In 1903 in the city of Clarksburg, West Virginia, fake news was used to check if a newspaper was really writing its own articles.

　In the city, there were two rival newspapers, the Clarksburg Daily Telegram and the Clarksburg Daily News. The Daily Telegram's staff believed that the Daily News's reporters were stealing its stories. The Daily Telegram decided to check whether this was happening. It published a fake news story about a man who had been shot after an argument about a dog. The man's name was Mejk Swenekafew. Soon afterward, exactly the same news appeared in the Daily News. However, the reporters at the Daily News had not noticed that the name "Swenekafew" was actually "we fake news" written backward. They were forced to admit that they had copied the Daily Telegram's article.

　These days, there is more pressure than ever on newspapers, news programs, and news websites to get more readers, viewers, and visitors. In order to do so, they need to report big news stories as quickly as possible. As a result, they are constantly watching each other to make sure they have the latest stories. However, they need to be careful not to do the same thing that the Clarksburg Daily News did.

語句

recently：最近

untrue：真実ではない

in order to：～するために

spread：広める、拡散する

political：政治的な

religious：宗教的な

belief：信念

publish：公表する、出版する

article：記事

rival：ライバル

steal：盗む

whether：～かどうか

argument：口論

afterward：その後で

exactly：まさに

appear：登場する、現れる

actually：実際には

backward：逆から、後ろから

force to：～せざるを得ない、～することを余儀なくされる

admit：認める

these days：最近

pressure：圧力、プレッシャー

than ever：これまで以上に

viewer：視聴者

visitor：訪問者（サイトの閲覧者）

as a result：結果として

constantly：常に、絶えず

make sure：確認する

latest：最新の

文法

使役動詞"get" A to ~

強制の意味はない（～してもらう）

They are sometimes used in order to get more people to read newspapers

過去完了

It published a fake news story about a man who had been shot

published（単純過去）→新しい過去

had been shot（過去完了）→古い過去

as 原級 as possible

「できるだけ～」

they need to report big news stories as quickly as possible

最上級"latest"

they have the latest stories

latest：時間が最も遅い（最新）

late - later - latest

last：順序が最も遅い（最後）

late - latter - last

be careful to ~

「～するように気を付ける」

they need to be careful not to do the same thing

not to →「～しないように」

2023年度・第１回　３Ａ

※問題省略（Ｅメール形式の問題）

From：Karen Taylor

To：Tracy Mitchell

Date：June 4

Subject：Speak-EZ Language School

Dear Ms. Mitchell,

Thank you very much for inquiring about Spanish lessons at Speak-EZ Language School. Speak-EZ Language School has been giving high-guality lessons for over 30 years, and our teachers have helped thousands of students achieve their goals. Whether you want to learn Spanish for business situations, to chat with friends, to pass exams, or just for the fun of learning, we can offer a suitable program for you.

You mentioned that because you studied Spanish in high school but had not used it for several years, you were not sure which lesson to take. Don't worry － we offer a free language skills test. You can take the test once you have decided to join Speak-EZ Language School. One of our instructors will use the results to help you pick the right program for your ability and your goals. You can also take a free 20-minute private lesson to get an idea of the methods that we use at Speak-EZ Language School.

We offer both private and group lessons. Group lessons can be a great way to make new friends. However, no more than eight people can join each group lesson, so spaces are limited. You can also try our Speak-EZ Chat Sessions. These are hosted by one of our instructors and give students of all levels a chance to chat freely. Speak-EZ Chat Sessions are available every weekday evening.

I hope to hear from you soon!

Karen Taylor

Speak-EZ Language School

語句

inquire：問い合わせる

achieve：達成する

goal：目標

situation：局面、状況

chat：おしゃべりする

pass exam：試験に合格する

offer：提供する

suitable：適切な

mention：言及する

skill：技能

instructor：講師

pick：選び出す

ability：能力

private：個人の

method：方法、方式

no more than：～だけ

space：空き、定員

host：主催する

weekday：平日

文法

help A 原形

「Aが～するのを助ける、～するのに役立つ」

our teachers have helped thousands of students achieve their goals

One of our instructors will use the results to help you pick the right program

接続詞"whether"

「～であろうと、～かどうかで」

Whether you want to learn Spanish for business situations

条件節（whether以下）は現在形

間接疑問

疑問詞＋主語・動詞

you were not sure which lesson to take

どの講座を受講したらよいか

接続詞"once"

「いったん～すると」

You can take the test once you have decided to join

条件節（once以下）は現在形

2023年度・第１回　３Ｂ

※問題省略

An extraordinary Machine

　Most of the machines that people in developed nations use were invented during the last 200 years. They make tasks easier for people and give them more time for other tasks and for leisure. However, which of these machines has changed society the most? Even though people spend more time with their TVs, computers, and smartphones, some historians argue that the impact of these inventions has been small compared with that of washing machines.

　Before washing machines, clothes and sheets were washed by hand. For most of history, this has involved carrying the laundry to a river or a lake, wetting it, and rubbing it with rocks, sand, or soap to remove the dirt. Then, the laundry had to be put in water again, and the extra water was usually removed to make drying easier. Even if people had water in their homes, the laundry would have to be rubbed against a special board or hit with pieces of wood to make it clean. It was hard work that took a long time.

　The first washing machines were operated by hand, and they still required a lot of hard work. Discovering how to use electricity to power these machines was a challenge because the combination of water and electricity is very dangerous. However, during the first half of the 20th century, inventors created electric machines that were able to automatically do most of the steps involved in washing. Before long, these machines became common in homes in wealthier parts of the world.

　Automatic washing machines gave people more time and energy for other activities than any other new technology did. They used some of this extra time and energy to study and teach their children. This, in turn, led to improvements in the quality of everyone's lives in the places where washing machines became common. Even today, many people in the world still wash their clothes by hand. This means that, over the next few decades, washing machines will probably continue to make a big difference to the lives of billions of humans.

語句

extraordinary：類まれな、並外れた

developed nations：先進国

invent：発明する

the last 200 years：過去200年

task：仕事

leisure：娯楽

even though：～であるけれども

historian：歴史学者

argue：主張する、論じる

impact：影響

invention：発明

compared with：～と比べて

involve：含む、関与する

laundry：洗濯物

wet：濡らす

rub：こする、擦る

remove：取り除く

dirt：汚れ

extra：余分な

even if：たとえ～だとしても

against：～に対して

board：板

operate：動かす、操作する

require：必要とする

electricity：電気

power：動力を与える

combination：組み合わせ

dangerous：危険な

the first half：前半

inventor：発明家

electric：電動の

automatically：自動で

common：普通の

wealthier：wealthyの比較級

automatic：自動の

any other：ほかのどの～よりも

in turn：その結果、順番に

lead to：～につながる

led：leadの過去・過去分詞

improvement：向上、改善

quality：質

decade：十年

probably：おそらく、たぶん

make a difference：変化を生む

billion：十億

文法

分詞構文

compared→ 過去分詞

compared with that of washing machines

動名詞の主語

Discovering how to use electricity to power these machines was a challenge

every ＋単数名詞

everyone's lives

みんなの生活

関係副詞"where"

the places where washing machines became common

2023年度・第１回　３Ｃ

※問題省略

Living the Dream

　On average, people spend about one-third of their lives sleeping, and for about one-quarter of the time that they are asleep, they dream. Although scientists have learned a lot about the parts of people's brains that are involved in dreaming, they are still uncertain about the purpose of dreams. One reason for this is the variety of dreams that people have － they can be pleasant, scary, unusual, or very ordinary. On top of this, they often do not make sense and and are mostly forgotten soon after waking up.

　People have been trying to explain why we dream for thousands of years. Ancient people believed that dreams were messages from gods. More recently, it was suggested that dreams could tell us about hidden parts of our personalities. These days, most psychologists believe that one of the principal functions of dreaming is to review memories and strengthen them. This is important because to learn well, we must not only find new ideas and skills but also regularly recall them.

　For a recent study, Erin Wamsley of Furman University in the United States invited 48 participants to spend the night at a special laboratory at the university. The participants were woken up several times during the night and asked to report what they had been dreaming about. The following morning, the participants tried to connect the content of their dreams with events in their lives. Wamsley found that over half the dreams could be connected to memories of experiences. This supports the idea that dreams play a role in learning.

　However, Wamsley also found that about 25 percent of dreams were connected to specific future events in participants' lives, such as upcoming tests or trips. This, she believes, is evidence that another important function of dreaming is to give people a chance to prepare for these events. Moreover, Wamsley observed that these dreams were more common later in the night. One explanation that she offers is that our brains are aware of time even while we are sleeping. As we get closer to the start of a new day, our attention switches from reviewing past events to thinking about future ones.

語句

live：生きる

on average：平均して

one-third：３分の１

spend A B：AをBに費やす

one-quarter：４分の１

asleep：眠っている

dream：夢を見る

brain：脳

be involved in：～に関係する

uncertain：不確かな、確信が持てない

purpose：目的

variety：多様性

pleasant：楽しい

scary：怖い

unusual：普通ではない

ordinary：普通の、平凡な

on top of：～に加えて

make sense：意味を成す、意味が通じる

forgotten：forget（忘れる）の過去分詞

explain：説明する

ancient：古代の

hidden：隠れた（hideの過去分詞）

personality：個性

psychologist：心理学者

principal：主要な、最も重要な

function：機能

review：見直す

strengthen：強化する

regularly：定期的に

recall：思い起こす、思い返す

recent：最近の

study：研究

participant：参加者

laboratory：実験室

following：次の

content：内容

support：支持する

play a role：役割を果たす・演じる

specific：特定の

such as：～のような

upcoming：間近に迫っている、きたる

evidence：証拠

prepare：準備する

observe：気づく

common：ありふれた

explanation：説明

offer：提示する

be aware of：～に気づいている、認識している

closer：close（近い）の比較級

attention：注意

switch：切り替わる

文法

spend A B

「AをBに費やす」

people spend about one-third of their lives sleeping

人生のおよそ３分の１を睡眠に費やす（寝て過ごす）

間接疑問

疑問詞＋主語・動詞

People have been trying to explain why we dream

私たちはなぜ夢を見るのか

and asked to report what they had been dreaming about

どんな夢を見ていたのか

可能性"could"

「～かもしれない」

dreams could tell us about hidden parts of our personalities

過去完了

The participants were woken up several times during the night and asked to report what they had been dreaming about.

were woken up / asked →新しい過去

had been dreaming →古い過去

not only A but also B

「AだけでなくBも」

we must not only find new ideas and skills but also regularly recall them

複数名詞の所有格

participants' lives

参加者たちの生活

単数　a participant's life

※children → children's

as 比較級

「～につれて」

As we get closer to the start of a new day

代名詞"one"

代わりをする対象が複数→ ones

our attention switches from reviewing past events to thinking about future ones

スラッシュリーディング

接続詞や節が、どの内容に係るか判断が難しい場合は、それらをいったん抜いて読み進めます。

接続詞"because"

This is important because to learn well, we must not only find new ideas and skills but also regularly recall them.

このことは重要 / よく学ぶために / 私たちは新しい考えと技能を探し出すだけでなく、定期的にそれらを思い起こすこともしなければならない

→"because"は、"we must ~"の節にかかる

カンマで区切られた節

This, she believes, is evidence that another important function of dreaming is to give people a chance to prepare for these events.

このことは証拠である / 夢見の別の重要な機能が人々に機会を与えている / これらのこと（specific future events）に備えるための

→文全体の内容を"believe"

👉準２級/２級・文法

👉準２級/２級・二次試験

当塾ではリーディングの他、リスニングやスピーキング（二次試験）の対策指導も行っております。

体験学習受付中！

【たむかい学習教室】

完全1対1 個別指導

教員経験２０年のプロ講師による完全マンツーマン指導！

追加料金なしの安心の授業料で、手厚いサポート！

全科目対応で、幅広い学習ニーズにお応えいたします！

多くの生徒さんや親御さんのご期待に、本当の意味でお応えできるよう、当塾では「生徒一人に教師一人」の授業で、塾生の学習を本格的にサポートしております。

生徒のホンネ

「数学や英語が苦手。何から始めたらいい？」

「長い問題文が苦手。どうしたらいい？」

「学校の授業で難しいことが増えてきた」

「受験が不安。テスト成績を上げていきたい」

完全１対１授業でホンネを解決！

★苦手の克服に最適★

★受験に強い個別指導★

★経験豊富な講師の一貫指導★

★安心の授業料で全力サポート★

★苦手の克服に最適★

　５教科対応、完全マンツーマンで指導いたします。弱点を着実に克服でき、「わかる・できる」につながります。学校の授業が定着しやくすなり、成績アップも期待できます。

★受験に強い個別指導★

　入試の出題範囲は広く、十分な対策時間と学習量が必要になります。受験に向けて、対策時間と学習量をしっかりと確保できるのは、完全１対１授業の強みです。

★経験豊富な講師の一貫指導★

　教員経験20年の講師が確かなノウハウで、難解な内容もわかりやすく丁寧に指導いたします。初めての受講生からも「分かりやすい」「納得の解説」と好評です。

★安心の授業料で全力サポート★

　入塾費や高額な教材費、授業料以外にいただく追加料金は一切ございません。安心の授業料で全力サポートいたします。

　＜１か月授業料（税込）＞

　90分授業：14,800円（月4回）

120分授業：17,600円（月4回）

　(例)１回・90分授業の場合

　教師１名・生徒３名の複数指導

　→１名につき30分の個別指導

　指導時間3分の1、実質料金は割高に。

　　↕

　教師1名・生徒1名の完全個別指導

　⇒完全90分の個別指導（当塾）

　生徒1名に100％の指導時間

親御さんの声

「できる問題が増え勉強に自信がついたようで、期待感があります」

「苦手だった英語と数学が伸び始めたので、正直ホッとしています」

「成績の伸び幅と年間の費用を考えると、転塾して正解でした」

合格実績

八戸高　八戸東高　八戸北高　八戸西高　国立八戸高専　八戸工業高　八戸商業高　八戸工業大学第一高　八戸工業大学第二高　千葉学園高　八戸聖ウルスラ学院・英語科

八戸聖ウルスラ学院中学　八戸工大二高附属中学

指導実績

八戸市立第一中　第二中　第三中　長者中　根城中　白山台中　白銀中　鮫中　大館中　東中　下長中　北稜中　是川中　南浜中　明治中　中沢中　工大二高附属中　階上中　福地中

八戸東高　八戸北高　八戸西高　仙台育英学園高ＩＬＣ

吹上小　中居林小　柏崎小　長者小　根城小　新井田小　旭ヶ丘小　西園小　南郷小

今年度塾生28名（2025年4月現在）

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通塾をご検討の方に無料体験学習を実施しております。

当日の学習科目は希望制です。小学生から中高生まで、ご要望にお応えできるよう授業を進めさせていただきます。

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塾生の声

苦手意識から「自信」へ

（中学３年）

　今まで分からないことが多く、学校の授業についていけないことがあったり、テストで全く解けない問題もありましたが、先生から考え方や解き方を分かりやすく丁寧に教えてもらい、解ける問題が増えてテストの点数が大きく上がりました。この教室に通って、勉強に自信が持てるようになりました。

３年間の積み重ねで受験合格

（小学６年）

　４年生の時から通い始めました。３年間の授業で、先生は分からない問題を理解しやすく、そしてやさしく教えてくれました。本当にこの塾で良かったと思っています。６年生の冬には、志望校の受験に合格することができました。一貫校に進むので、次は大学受験です。中学に上がっても、目標のためにこの塾で学んでいきます。

苦手の克服が高得点に

（高校１年）

　苦手の英語を克服するために通い始めました。長文対策では、先生と一緒に音読練習や和訳などに繰り返し取り組み、テストでは高得点を取れるようになりました。通う前より、勉強の量だけでなく、勉強の質も上げることができました。他教科の苦手にも向き合って、「得意」に変えていけるよう、この教室で学習を続けていきたいです。

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