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(高校生レベル)
Class ____ No. ____ Name ____________________
クマノミが体を縮めて海の熱波を生きのびる!夫婦そろって小さくなる作戦
Shrinking Nemo: A Surprising Survival Trick
1Wild clownfish shrank in body length to survive a marine heat wave, scientists reported in May 2025. The study, published in the journal Science Advances, was led by researchers at Newcastle University in Britain. They said it is the first reported case of a coral reef fish reducing its body length in response to its surroundings.
2The team followed 134 clown anemonefish, living in breeding pairs, in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea. A local research center, Mahonia Na Dari, worked with the team. Between February and August 2023, local water temperatures climbed as much as 4 degrees Celsius above the long-term average. The researchers checked water temperatures every four to six days and measured every fish monthly for five months.
3By the end, 100 of the 134 fish had shrunk at least once. The fish did not simply lose weight but actually became shorter. Fish that shrank were up to 78 percent more likely to survive the heat stress. Pairs that shrank together did even better. The researchers think a smaller body may need less energy when the water is hot and food is limited.
4How the fish actually shrink is still unknown. A scientist who was not involved in the study said lab experiments are needed to find out whether bones become shorter. After temperatures cooled, many of the fish grew back. The team said shrinking could help explain why fish sizes are declining in many species, but more research is needed.
Words 単語
| marineB1 | 形 | 海のof or living in the sea |
| reducingB1 | 動 | 減らす、小さくするmaking something smaller or less |
| in response toA2 | 句 | ~に応じて、~に反応してas a reaction to something that happened |
| breedingB1 | 形 | 繁殖のhaving babies together to make young animals |
| averageA2 | 名 | 平均the normal level found by adding and dividing numbers |
| shrunk外 | 動 | 縮んだ(shrink の過去分詞)became smaller in size |
| stressB1 | 名 | ストレス、負担a strong force or pressure that hurts the body |
| limitedB1 | 形 | 限られたsmall in amount, not as much as needed |
| experimentsB1 | 名 | 実験careful tests that scientists do to learn something |
| decliningB1 | 動 | 減っている、低下しているgetting smaller or fewer over time |
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
What did the researchers say was a first?
A. A coral reef fish reducing its body lengthB. A fish changing colorC. A fish living in an anemoneD. A heat wave in Papua New Guinea
How much did water temperatures rise above the average?
A. As much as 1 degree CelsiusB. As much as 10 degrees CelsiusC. As much as 40 degrees CelsiusD. As much as 4 degrees Celsius
How often did the team measure the fish?
A. Every dayB. Every monthC. Once a yearD. Only once
Which fish had the best chance of surviving?
A. Fish that grew biggerB. Fish that left their partnersC. Pairs that shrank togetherD. Fish that swam to deeper water
What did an outside scientist say is needed?
A. Lab experimentsB. More aquariumsC. Bigger anemonesD. New fish names
2. True or False 正しければ T、違っていれば F
( ) The heat wave happened between February and August 2023.
( ) Scientists already know exactly how the fish shrink.
( ) Many fish grew back after temperatures cooled.
( ) Only 10 of the 134 fish shrank.
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)
shrunkbreedingstressmarinereducingaverage
They said it is the first reported case of a coral reef fish _____ its body length in response to its surroundings.
Wild clownfish shrank in body length to survive a _____ heat wave, scientists reported in May 2025.
Fish that shrank were up to 78 percent more likely to survive the heat _____.
By the end, 100 of the 134 fish had _____ at least once.
The team followed 134 clown anemonefish, living in _____ pairs, in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea.
Between February and August 2023, local water temperatures climbed as much as 4 degrees Celsius above the long-term _____.
4. Word Order 語を並べかえて正しい文にしよう
( is / the / still / fish / shrink / actually / unknown / How ) .
( better / Pairs / together / shrank / that / did / even ) .
( temperatures / After / fish / many / cooled, / of / the / grew / back ) .
5. Think and Write 英語で答えてみよう
Marine heat waves are becoming more common. What problems might this cause for people as well as fish?(海洋熱波は増えています。魚だけでなく人間にとって、どんな問題が起きるでしょうか?)
Do you think animals can adapt fast enough to a warming climate? Explain your opinion.(動物は温暖化に十分な速さで適応できると思いますか?意見を説明しよう。)

Answers 解答
1. (1) A (2) D (3) B (4) C (5) A
2. (1) T (2) F (3) T (4) F
3. (1) reducing (2) marine (3) stress (4) shrunk (5) breeding (6) average
4.
- How the fish actually shrink is still unknown.
- Pairs that shrank together did even better.
- After temperatures cooled, many of the fish grew back.
全文訳
12025年5月、科学者たちが、野生のクマノミが海洋熱波を生きのびるために体の長さを縮めていたと報告しました。学術誌「サイエンス・アドバンシズ」に発表されたこの研究は、イギリスのニューカッスル大学の研究者たちが率いました。研究者たちによると、サンゴ礁の魚がまわりの環境に応じて体長を縮めたことが示されたのは、これが初めてです。
2チームは、パプアニューギニアのキンベ湾で、つがいで暮らすクマノミ134匹を追跡しました。地元の研究センター「マホニア・ナ・ダリ」がチームに協力しました。2023年2月から8月にかけて、現地の水温は長期の平均より最大4度高くなりました。研究者たちは4〜6日ごとに水温を確かめ、5か月間、毎月すべての魚を測定しました。
3調査が終わるまでに、134匹のうち100匹が少なくとも1回は縮んでいました。魚はただ体重が減ったのではなく、実際に体が短くなっていました。縮んだ魚は、熱のストレスを生きのびる確率が最大78パーセント高くなっていました。そろって縮んだつがいは、さらに生き残りやすかったのです。研究者たちは、水が熱く食べ物が少ないときには、小さな体のほうが少ないエネルギーですむのかもしれないと考えています。
4魚が実際にどうやって縮むのかは、まだわかっていません。研究に参加していないある科学者は、骨が短くなるのかどうかを確かめるには実験室での実験が必要だと話しました。水温が下がったあと、多くの魚は元の大きさにもどりました。チームは、多くの種で魚が小さくなっている理由を、体が縮むことで説明できるかもしれないとしながらも、さらに研究が必要だと話しました。
文法ポイント:名詞節の how(How + 主語 + 動詞 が主語になる)
「どのように~するか」というかたまりが文の主語になる。本文の How the fish actually shrink is still unknown. は「魚が実際にどうやって縮むのかは、まだわかっていない」。疑問文の語順(how do the fish shrink)にならない点に注意。
出典:Newcastle University、ScienceDaily、Mongabay 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/2025-05-21-clownfish-shrink-heatwave/