【解答】英検2級朝活ミニテスト第45回

A

語彙・熟語（大問1形式）

目安 2分30秒

空所に入れるのに最も適切なものを1つ選びなさい。

(1)Invasive species can () the balance of local ecosystems by eating native animals or taking their food.

正解は② disrupt「乱す・混乱させる」。disrupt the balance で「バランスを乱す」。誤答：①applaud「拍手を送る」③rescue「救助する」④nominate「指名する」

訳：外来種は在来の動物を食べたりそのえさを奪ったりして、地域の生態系のバランスを乱すことがある。

(2)Some foreign plants spread so quickly that they take over the () of native species.

正解は① territory「領域・なわばり」。take over the territory で「領域を奪う」。誤答：②pension「年金」③license「免許」④destiny「運命」

訳：外来植物の中には非常に速く広がり、在来種の生育域を奪ってしまうものもある。

(3)The spread of invasive fish has caused a () decline in the number of native fish in the lake.

正解は① significant「かなりの・著しい」。a significant decline で「大幅な減少」。誤答：②delicious「おいしい」③curious「好奇心の強い」④polite「礼儀正しい」

訳：外来魚の拡散によって、その湖の在来魚の数はかなり減少した。

(4)The city is trying to () the number of raccoons, which damage crops and old buildings.

正解は③ keep down「〜を抑える・増やさない」。keep down the number で「数を抑える」。誤答：①turn in「〜を提出する」②take after「〜に似ている」④go without「〜なしで済ませる」

訳：市は、作物や古い建物に被害を与えるアライグマの数を抑えようとしている。

(5)Experts say that the problem () when people began keeping unusual animals from other countries as pets.

正解は③ came about「起こった・生じた」。come about で「（問題などが）生じる」。誤答：①took after「〜に似ていた」②looked up「見上げた・好転した」④set aside「取っておいた」

訳：専門家によると、その問題は人々が外国の珍しい動物をペットとして飼い始めたときに生じたという。

B

長文読解（大問3形式）

目安 4分

Unwanted Visitors

Invasive species are plants or animals that are brought by humans to places where they did not originally live. Some arrive by accident, for example on ships, while others are brought on purpose as pets or for farming. In their new environment, they often have no natural enemies, so their numbers can grow quickly. They may eat native species or compete with them for food, which can seriously harm local ecosystems.

In Japan, one well-known example is the raccoon. In the late 1970s, a popular TV cartoon made raccoons fashionable pets, and many were imported from North America. However, raccoons become aggressive and difficult to handle as they get older, so some owners released them into the wild, and others escaped. With no natural enemies, their numbers increased rapidly. Today, raccoons have been found in almost every prefecture, where they damage crops and old temples.

To deal with the problem, the government now prohibits people from keeping raccoons as new pets and is working with local communities to capture them. However, catching all of them is extremely difficult and costly. Experts say that preventing new invasive species from entering the country is much easier than removing them later. They also remind pet owners never to release animals into the wild and to take responsibility for their pets until the end of their lives.

(6)Why can the number of invasive species grow quickly?

正解は①。第1段落に they often have no natural enemies, so their numbers can grow quickly とある。natural enemies を「狩る動物がいない」と言い換えている。②は在来種と餌を奪い合うとはあるが、餌が足りないとは書かれていない。③は本文に記述がない。④は偶然持ち込まれるものもあるとあり、誤り。

(7)What is one reason that raccoons began living in the wild in Japan?

正解は①。第2段落に raccoons become aggressive and difficult to handle ... so some owners released them into the wild とある。②はアニメはペットとして人気にしただけ。③はアライグマは農作物や寺を傷つけているとあり、本文と逆。④は輸入はペットとしてであり、政府が輸入したとは書かれていない。

(8)What do experts say?

正解は③。第3段落に preventing new invasive species from entering the country is much easier than removing them later とある。①は決して野に放してはいけないとあり、本文と逆。②はすべて捕獲するのは非常に難しいとあり、誤り。④はextremely difficult and costly とあり、本文と逆。

C

リスニング（Part2 文章形式）

目安 2分

🎧 音声は1回だけ（本番と同じ）。質問も音声で流れます。 ▶ 音声はQRコードからアプリで再生： https://www.haradaeigo.com/scbt/asakatsu/g2-45/

(9)No. 1

正解は①。These animals eat the eggs of native species より。

(10)No. 2

正解は③。contact the park office. Our staff will tell you how to find a new owner の言い換え。

📜 スクリプト

🎙 Attention, park visitors. This pond is home to many native fish and frogs. Recently, some people have been releasing pet fish and turtles into the pond. These animals eat the eggs of native species and are causing serious problems. Please do not release any animals here. If you can no longer take care of your pet, please contact the park office. Our staff will tell you how to find a new owner.

D

スピーキング（面接No.4形式）

35秒

Do you think people should be punished for releasing pets into the wild?

💡 take responsibility for ～（～に責任を持つ）はペット・環境系の質問で使い回せる。

模範解答

Yes. I think people who release pets into the wild should be punished. These animals can destroy the natural environment and harm native species. Strict rules would make owners take responsibility for their pets.

はい。ペットを野外に放す人は罰せられるべきだと思います。そうした動物は自然環境を壊し、在来種に害を与えることがあります。厳しいルールがあれば、飼い主はペットに責任を持つようになるでしょう。