Day 8｜キーワードで必要な情報を素早く見つける
【メイン課題】
以下の英文を 3分〜4分以内 に読みましょう。
やること：
① 英文を通して読む
② 設問を読み、キーワードを本文中から探す（スキャニング）
③ 該当箇所を確認して解答する
④ もう一度通読する（2回目のタイムを計る）
英文：
The history of coffee is surprisingly long and complex. The coffee plant is believed to have originated in Ethiopia, where, according to legend, a goat herder named Kaldi noticed that his goats became unusually energetic after eating berries from a certain tree. By the 15th century, coffee was being cultivated and traded in the Arabian Peninsula. The port city of Mocha in Yemen became a major center for the coffee trade, which is why a popular type of coffee drink bears that name today.
Coffee arrived in Europe in the 17th century and quickly became fashionable among the upper classes. Coffeehouses, sometimes called “penny universities” because of the stimulating conversations that took place there, became important social gathering places in cities like London, Paris, and Vienna. The beverage was initially met with suspicion by some religious authorities, but Pope Clement VIII reportedly tasted it and gave it his approval, helping to spread its popularity across the continent.
Today, coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, with an estimated 2.25 billion cups drunk every day. Brazil is the largest producer, followed by Vietnam and Colombia. The global coffee industry employs over 125 million people and generates annual revenues exceeding 450 billion dollars. In Japan, coffee consumption has been steadily increasing, with the average Japanese person drinking approximately 350 cups per year. The rise of specialty coffee shops and convenience store coffee has transformed Japan into one of the world’s largest coffee markets.
Finland holds the record for the highest per capita coffee consumption in the world, with the average Finn drinking about four to five cups daily. Interestingly, research suggests that moderate coffee consumption of three to four cups per day may be associated with a reduced risk of certain diseases, including type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and liver cancer. However, excessive caffeine intake can cause anxiety, insomnia, and increased heart rate, so moderation remains important.
設問：
（1）コーヒーの発祥地はどこだと考えられているか。
（2）ヨーロッパでコーヒーの普及を後押しした人物は誰か。
（3）現在、世界で1日に消費されるコーヒーは約何杯か。
（4）1人あたりのコーヒー消費量が世界一の国はどこか。
（5）本文の内容と一致しないものを選びなさい。
a. コーヒーは15世紀にはアラビア半島で栽培されていた
b. 日本人は平均して年間約350杯のコーヒーを飲む
c. コーヒーの過度な摂取に健康上のリスクはない
模範解答を見る ▼
【模範解答】
各段落の要点：
– 第1段落：コーヒーの起源（エチオピア）とアラビア半島での取引。
– 第2段落：17世紀ヨーロッパへの伝来と普及。
– 第3段落：現代の世界的なコーヒー消費と日本市場。
– 第4段落：フィンランドの消費量と健康への影響。
設問の解答：
（1）エチオピア。第1段落 “The coffee plant is believed to have originated in Ethiopia” が根拠。
（2）教皇クレメンス8世（Pope Clement VIII）。第2段落 “Pope Clement VIII reportedly tasted it and gave it his approval” が根拠。
（3）約22.5億杯。第3段落 “an estimated 2.25 billion cups” が根拠。
（4）フィンランド。第4段落 “Finland holds the record for the highest per capita coffee consumption” が根拠。
（5）正解：c
– a：本文 “By the 15th century, coffee was being cultivated and traded in the Arabian Peninsula” と一致 → 正しい
– b：本文 “approximately 350 cups per year” と一致 → 正しい
– c：本文 “excessive caffeine intake can cause anxiety, insomnia, and increased heart rate” → リスクがあると述べている → 一致しない
ポイント（速読のコツ⑧）：
– スキャニング とは、本文全体を読まずに特定の情報だけを探すテクニック。設問のキーワード（固有名詞・数字・年代など）を手がかりに本文中を「検索」する。データや事実を問う設問ではスキャニングが最も効率的。
【練習問題】以下の英文を3分〜4分以内に読み、設問に答えなさい。
英文：
Japan’s bullet train, known as the Shinkansen, began service on October 1, 1964, just nine days before the Tokyo Olympics. The first line connected Tokyo and Osaka, covering 515 kilometers in approximately four hours. At the time, this was revolutionary, as the fastest trains in other countries could not match this speed.
Since then, the Shinkansen network has expanded significantly. Today, it connects major cities across Japan, from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south. The fastest Shinkansen, the Nozomi, can reach speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour, completing the Tokyo-to-Osaka journey in just two hours and fifteen minutes. The network carries approximately 420,000 passengers daily and has maintained a remarkable safety record, with zero passenger fatalities due to derailments or collisions since its launch.
The success of the Shinkansen has inspired other countries to develop their own high-speed rail systems. France launched the TGV in 1981, and China opened its first high-speed rail line in 2008. China now has the world’s largest high-speed rail network, with over 40,000 kilometers of track. However, Japan’s Shinkansen remains one of the most reliable and punctual train systems in the world, with an average delay of less than one minute per trip.
設問：
（1）新幹線のサービス開始日を答えなさい。
（2）のぞみの最高速度は時速何キロか。
（3）中国の高速鉄道の総延長は何キロ以上か。
（4）新幹線の1旅行あたりの平均遅延時間はどれくらいか。
練習問題の解答を見る ▼
【練習問題 解答】
設問の解答：
（1）1964年10月1日。第1段落 “October 1, 1964” が根拠。
（2）時速300キロ。第2段落 “speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour” が根拠。
（3）4万キロ以上。第3段落 “over 40,000 kilometers of track” が根拠。
（4）1分未満。第3段落 “an average delay of less than one minute per trip” が根拠。