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 ____________________
パンチくんは今どうしてる？ぬいぐるみを抱く子ザルが流行語大賞の候補に
Punch-kun, the Monkey With a Toy Orangutan, Is Up for a Buzzword Award
1A young monkey who clings to a stuffed orangutan has been nominated for Japan's yearly buzzword awards. The name Punch-kun was among 30 words announced on Nov. 5 as candidates for the 2026 Shingo Ryukogo Taisho, Japan's New Words and Buzzwords of the Year awards.
2Punch is a Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo. Born in July 2025, he was not raised by his mother, so zookeepers fed and cared for him by hand. The keepers gave him an orangutan toy made by IKEA to take the place of a mother. He carried it almost everywhere he went.
3In mid-January 2026, Punch was moved into a group of other macaques. Photos and videos shared on the zoo's X account in February spread quickly, and news outlets in other countries reported on him. Visitors lined up outside the zoo, which apologized for delays at the entrance. The 36-centimeter IKEA orangutan was out of stock at IKEA's stores and website in Singapore.
4Shortly after the videos spread, the zoo said Punch was slowly getting closer to the other monkeys. A book of photos and stories about Punch, published by Gakken, is scheduled to go on sale on Nov. 26.
5Other nominees this year include Chiikawa and Bondoro. Bondoro is a type of shiny, raised sticker. The top 10 words and the overall winner will be named on Dec. 1.
Words 単語
| clings外 | 動 | しがみつく（cling に s がついた形）holds on to something very tightly |
| nominated外 | 動 | 候補に選ばれた（nominate の過去分詞）officially named as a possible winner |
| Prefecture外 | 名 | 県（Chiba Prefecture で千葉県）one of the 47 large areas of Japan |
| take the place ofA1 | 熟 | ～の代わりになるto be used instead of someone or something |
| outletsB2 | 名 | （報道の）媒体、機関（news outlets で報道機関）companies that give people news |
| apologizedA2 | 動 | 謝った、おわびした（apologize の過去形）said sorry for something |
| delaysA2 | 名 | 遅れ、待ち時間（delay の複数形）times when something happens later than planned |
| publishedA2 | 動 | 出版された（publish の過去分詞）printed and sold as a book or magazine |
| scheduledB2 | 形 | 予定されている（be scheduled to ～で「～する予定だ」）planned for a certain time |
| overallB2 | 形 | 全体の、総合のincluding everything or everyone |
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 was Punch-kun nominated for?
A. A zoo prizeB. A Japanese word awardC. A photo contestD. An IKEA design award
Why did zookeepers give Punch an orangutan toy?
A. To take the place of a motherB. To sell it in SingaporeC. To help him find foodD. To use it in a photo book
What happened after the zoo shared photos and videos in February?
A. Punch was moved to another zoo.B. The zoo closed for a month.C. News outlets in other countries reported on Punch.D. IKEA stopped selling the toy.
Where did the IKEA orangutan sell out?
A. At the zooB. In ChibaC. In TokyoD. In Singapore
What will happen on Dec. 1?
A. The photo book will go on sale.B. Punch will turn one year old.C. The top 10 words and the overall winner will be named.D. Punch will join a group of monkeys.
2. True or False 正しければ T、違っていれば F
( ) Punch was raised by his mother.
( ) Punch was moved into a group of other macaques in mid-January 2026.
( ) The zoo apologized for delays at the entrance.
( ) The photo book about Punch went on sale in February.
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）
Prefectureoverallpublishedoutletsclingsapologized
A book of photos and stories about Punch, _____ by Gakken, is scheduled to go on sale on Nov. 26.
A young monkey who _____ to a stuffed orangutan has been nominated for Japan's yearly buzzword awards.
The top 10 words and the _____ winner will be named on Dec. 1.
Visitors lined up outside the zoo, which _____ for delays at the entrance.
Photos and videos shared on the zoo's X account in February spread quickly, and news _____ in other countries reported on him.
Punch is a Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba _____, near Tokyo.
4. Word Order 語を並べかえて正しい文にしよう
( he / almost / He / it / carried / went / everywhere ) .
( into / a / of / was / macaques / group / Punch / In / 2026, / moved / mid-January / other ) .
( Chiikawa / Bondoro / nominees / include / year / this / Other / and ) .
5. Think and Write 英語で答えてみよう
Why do you think so many people around the world were moved by Punch's story?（パンチの話に、なぜ世界中のたくさんの人が心を動かされたのだと思いますか？）
Do you think animals in zoos should become famous on social media? Why or why not?（動物園の動物がSNSで有名になるのはよいことだと思いますか？理由も考えよう。）
Answers 解答
1. (1) B (2) A (3) C (4) D (5) C
2. (1) F (2) T (3) T (4) F
3. (1) published (2) clings (3) overall (4) apologized (5) outlets (6) Prefecture
4.
- He carried it almost everywhere he went.
- In mid-January 2026, Punch was moved into a group of other macaques.
- Other nominees this year include Chiikawa and Bondoro.
全文訳
1ぬいぐるみのオランウータンにしがみつく子ザルが、日本の毎年の流行語の賞の候補になりました。「パンチくん」という名前が、11月5日に発表された2026年の新語・流行語大賞の候補30語に入ったのです。
2パンチは、東京に近い千葉県の市川市動植物園にいるニホンザルです。2025年7月に生まれましたが、お母さんに育ててもらえなかったため、飼育員が手で育てました。飼育員は、お母さんの代わりとして、イケアのオランウータンのぬいぐるみをパンチにあげました。パンチは、それをほとんどどこへでも持ち歩きました。
32026年1月の半ば、パンチはほかのニホンザルの群れに移されました。2月に動物園のXのアカウントで公開された写真や動画はあっという間に広まり、海外の報道機関も彼を取り上げました。動物園の外には来園者の行列ができ、動物園は入り口での待ち時間についておわびしました。シンガポールでは、イケアの36センチのオランウータンが、お店でもウェブサイトでも売り切れました。
4動画が広まってまもなく、動物園は、パンチがほかのサルたちと少しずつ仲よくなっていると伝えました。学研から出る、パンチの写真とお話の本は、11月26日に発売される予定です。
5今年のほかの候補には、「ちいかわ」や「ボンドロ」などがあります。ボンドロは、つやのある立体のシールです。トップ10と年間大賞は、12月1日に発表されます。
文法ポイント：非制限用法の関係代名詞（, which）
名詞に「, which ～」をつけて、説明を足す。本文の Visitors lined up outside the zoo, which apologized for delays at the entrance. では、which が the zoo を指し「その動物園は～おわびした」と説明を加えている。
出典：nippon.com、週刊女性PRIME、The Straits Times（Asia News Network）、電撃オンライン、Fox News 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/2026-11-10-punch-monkey-buzzword-nominee/