Day 17｜未知語の意味を文脈から推測する
【メイン課題】
以下の英文を 4分〜5分以内 に読みましょう。
英文：
The phenomenon known as “brain drain” has become a significant challenge for many developing countries. Brain drain occurs when highly educated and skilled professionals, such as doctors, engineers, and scientists, leave their home countries to seek better opportunities abroad. This exodus of talent is often driven by factors such as low salaries, limited career prospects, political instability, and inadequate research facilities in the home country.
The consequences of brain drain can be devastating for the countries that lose their best and brightest minds. In the healthcare sector, for example, many African nations face severe shortages of doctors and nurses because a large proportion of their medical graduates emigrate to wealthier countries. Sub-Saharan Africa has only about 3 percent of the world’s health workers despite bearing 24 percent of the global disease burden. This disparity means that patients in these countries often have limited access to medical care, contributing to higher mortality rates and poorer health outcomes.
On the other hand, brain drain can have some positive effects. Emigrants often send remittances back to their families, providing an important source of income for local communities. Some professionals eventually return to their home countries, bringing with them valuable skills, international experience, and professional networks. This reverse migration, sometimes called “brain gain,” can contribute to economic development and innovation in the home country.
To mitigate the negative effects of brain drain, governments in developing countries are implementing various strategies. Some nations offer financial incentives, such as higher salaries and research grants, to encourage skilled professionals to remain at home. Others have created special economic zones with modern infrastructure designed to attract both domestic and foreign talent. International partnerships between universities and research institutions can also help by providing opportunities for collaboration without requiring permanent relocation.
Ultimately, addressing brain drain requires a comprehensive approach that tackles the root causes of emigration. Improving working conditions, investing in education and research infrastructure, and creating stable political environments are essential steps. While completely stopping the flow of talent is neither possible nor desirable in a globalized world, countries can work to create conditions that encourage more of their skilled citizens to build their careers at home.
設問：
（1）以下の語句の意味を文脈から推測しなさい。
a. exodus（第1段落）
b. remittances（第3段落）
c. mitigate（第4段落）
（2）「頭脳流出（brain drain）」と「頭脳獲得（brain gain）」の違いを本文に基づいて説明しなさい。
（3）本文の内容と一致するものを全て選びなさい。
a. サハラ以南のアフリカは世界の医療従事者の約3%しか抱えていない
b. 頭脳流出には肯定的な側面は全くない
c. 一部の国は専門家に経済的インセンティブを提供して国内にとどまるよう促している
d. 頭脳流出の完全な阻止はグローバル化した世界では可能でも望ましくもない
（4）文章全体の主張を日本語1文でまとめなさい。
模範解答を見る ▼
【模範解答】
各段落の要点：
– 第1段落：頭脳流出の定義と原因。
– 第2段落：頭脳流出が途上国に与える深刻な影響（医療分野の例）。
– 第3段落：頭脳流出のポジティブな側面（送金、帰国者の貢献）。
– 第4段落：頭脳流出を緩和するための政策。
– 第5段落：結論（根本原因への包括的アプローチが必要）。
設問の解答：
（1）
– a. exodus：「大量の人材の流出・脱出」。前文で「高度な教育を受けた専門家が母国を離れる」と述べられており、”exodus of talent” はその流出を指す。
– b. remittances：「送金」。”send … back to their families” および “providing an important source of income” という文脈から、海外にいる人が家族に送るお金と推測できる。
– c. mitigate：「緩和する・軽減する」。”the negative effects of brain drain” の前に置かれ、政府が様々な対策を実施しているという文脈から、悪影響を減らすという意味と推測できる。
（2）
– 頭脳流出（brain drain）：高度な技術を持つ専門家が母国を離れ、より良い機会を求めて海外に移住すること。
– 頭脳獲得（brain gain）：海外に出た専門家がスキル・経験・ネットワークを持って母国に帰国し、経済発展や革新に貢献すること。
（3）正解：a、c、d
– a：本文 “about 3 percent of the world’s health workers” → 正解
– b：第3段落で送金や帰国者の貢献というポジティブな側面を述べている → 不正解
– c：本文 “offer financial incentives … to encourage skilled professionals to remain at home” → 正解
– d：本文 “completely stopping the flow of talent is neither possible nor desirable” → 正解
（4）頭脳流出は途上国に深刻な影響を与えるが、労働環境の改善や研究インフラへの投資など根本原因に取り組む包括的なアプローチによって、自国でキャリアを築く魅力を高めることが重要である。
ポイント（速読のコツ⑰）：
– 未知語は 前後の文脈 から推測しよう。推測のコツは3つ：①その語の前後にある説明文を読む、②同じ段落の他の文から意味を類推する、③文の構造から品詞（名詞・動詞・形容詞）を判断する。未知語で立ち止まらず、「だいたいこんな意味だろう」と推測して読み進めるのが速読の鉄則。
【練習問題】以下の英文を4分〜5分以内に読み、設問に答えなさい。
英文：
The gig economy, characterized by short-term contracts and freelance work rather than permanent employment, has expanded rapidly in recent years. Digital platforms such as ride-sharing apps, food delivery services, and freelance marketplaces have made it easier than ever for individuals to find work on a flexible basis. An estimated 36 percent of American workers now participate in the gig economy in some capacity.
For many workers, the gig economy offers unprecedented flexibility and autonomy. Freelancers can choose when, where, and how much they work, allowing them to balance professional responsibilities with personal priorities. This arrangement is particularly attractive to students, parents with young children, and retirees who want to supplement their income without committing to a full-time position.
However, gig workers often lack the protections and benefits that traditional employees enjoy. Most gig workers do not receive health insurance, paid vacation, or retirement contributions from the companies they work for. Their income can be unpredictable and inconsistent, making it difficult to plan for the future. Critics argue that some companies exploit gig workers by classifying them as independent contractors to avoid providing employee benefits.
Governments around the world are grappling with how to regulate the gig economy to protect workers while preserving the flexibility that makes it attractive. Some countries, including Spain and the United Kingdom, have introduced legislation requiring gig economy companies to provide certain benefits to their workers. Others are exploring portable benefits systems that would allow gig workers to accumulate benefits across multiple employers.
設問：
（1）以下の語句の意味を文脈から推測しなさい。
a. unprecedented（第2段落）
b. grappling with（第4段落）
（2）文章全体の主張を日本語1文でまとめなさい。
練習問題の解答を見る ▼
【練習問題 解答】
設問の解答：
（1）
– a. unprecedented：「前例のない・かつてない」。gig economyが提供する柔軟性と自律性を強調する文脈で使われており、これまでにないレベルの柔軟性という意味と推測できる。
– b. grappling with：「取り組んでいる・格闘している」。政府がgig economyをどう規制するか苦心しているという文脈から、困難な課題に取り組むという意味と推測できる。
（2）ギグエコノミーは労働者に柔軟性を提供する一方で保護や福利厚生の面で課題があり、政府は労働者保護と柔軟性のバランスを取る規制を模索している。