2007年(平成19年)センター試験英語第6問「長文読解」問6

問題

次の文章を読み、下の問いに答えよ。

 The white-haired old man was sitting in his favorite chair, holding a thick book and rubbing his tired eyes. When his nineteen-year-old granddaughter, Valerie, came into the room, he looked up and smiled. His eyes instantly brightened with happiness to see her.
 "Hi, Grandpa. What are you reading?" she asked, pulling up a chair beside him.
 "Oh, it's a book on the architecture of Spain. But I'm not really reading. Mostly I am just falling asleep over the pictures," he said, laughing. "Are you finished packing your bags yet?" he asked. The following morning Valerie and two of her friends were flying to Europe for a two-week holiday.
 "Almost. I need to travel light, you see, so I can buy lots of new dresses and shoes in Paris and Barcelona." They both laughed because Valerie was not actually interested in fashion at all. She loved foreign languages, music, art, good food, and many other things―but not shopping for clothes.
 "Have the three of you finally decided what you want to do on your trip?"
 Valerie thought for a moment and then replied, "Well, Naomi really wants to see the Eiffel Tower and we all want to visit the Louvre Museum. Mika and I want to see the wonderful buildings in Barcelona, too. But, basically, we still don't have much of a plan. Do you have any suggestions? You've been to Europe so many times."
 Valerie's grandfather paused, and then replied slowly, "You know, sometimes it may be best not to have a detailed plan. I remember when your grandmother and I first went to Barcelona. We went to museums or concerts every day. We saw bullfights and soccer matches. We ate wonderful food and met many interesting people. But one of my greatest memories from that trip was completely unexpected." Grandpa paused again, and then said, "We had come especially to see the famous works of art, but one day just for a change we went to the zoo. And there I met someone who had a great effect on me."
 "His name was Snowflake," he continued, "and he was a gorilla, a very special albino gorilla, with white fur and pink skin. When only three years old, Snowflake was captured in the forests of Africa and then brought to the zoo. Because of his rare color he had become quite famous. Many people lined up to see him behind a glass wall in the exhibit hall."
 "In fact," Grandpa said, "I did not think he was real when I first saw him. When I moved closer, though, he turned slowly toward me and calmly looked directly into my eyes. For the first time ever, I felt intelligence and awareness in the eyes of another species. It made an impression on me that I will never forget."
 "So, what did you do?" Valerie asked.
 "Actually, Snowflake was the one who did something. As we gazed into each other's eyes, the 140-kilogram gorilla suddenly slapped his hand flat against the glass wall, making a loud, forceful sound that made all the people in the room cry out in surprise. Snowflake seemed rather pleased with our reaction, turning away casually and snacking on some leaves."
 "So, he surprised you. He had a sense of humor, it seems," Valerie said. "But isn't it sad for such a wonderful animal to live in a cage?"
 "Yes, maybe," Grandpa replied. "But in the wild so many gorillas are killed by hunters or disease that it is difficult to say which way of life is better. And Snowflake did live a ling life for a gorilla, about forty years, which is equivalent to eighty years for a human."
 "So, he's dead now?" Valerie asked.
 "Yes, he died of skin cancer in 2003. He had very pale skin, of course, so sunlight was very dangerous for him. It was a painful end, but I believe he had some happy memories, too. You know, he had three mates, several 'children,' and 22 'grandchildren,' so that must have been nice."
 Grandpa smiled at Valerie and said, "Anyway, maybe it's best not to plan everything. All kinds of wonderful, unexpected encounters may be waiting for you on your trip."
 A week or so later, Grandpa heard from Valerie and her friends. They were having a wonderful time, enjoying many new activities. They even made an unscheduled trip to the Barcelona Zoo, where they saw one of Snowflake's grandchildren. This baby gorilla didn't have white fur, but he did have bright, intelligent eyes which Valerie said would never forget.

B
本文の内容と合っているものを、次の1〜8のうちから3つ選べ。ただし解答の順序は問わない。

1. Grandpa said he wanted to go to Europe with Valerie, but he was too busy.
2. The trip Valerie had been planning would keep her very busy.
3. Grandpa went to the zoo especially to see Snowflake.
4. Grandma did not have a chance to visit the Barcelona Zoo.
5. Snowflake lived in the zoo, but was born in Africa.
6. Snowflake died when he was eighty years old.
7. Snowflake had a very big family.
8. One of the gorillas at the zoo greatly impressed Valerie.

【解説】
選択肢を見てみましょう。
1. おじいちゃんはヴァレリーとともにヨーロッパに行きたがっていると言いましたが、彼は忙しすぎました。
そんなことおじいちゃんは言っていませんね。

2. ヴァレリーは計画していた旅行のせいで、非常に忙しかった。
第3段落から第4段落にかけて、ヴァレリーの旅行の準備の様子が書かれていますが、特に忙しいなんて話は出てきていませんね。

3. おじいちゃんは特にスノーフレークを見に行くために動物園に行きました。
第7段落から第8段落にかけて、おじいちゃんたちが動物園に行く流れが書いてありますが、スノーフレークを見に行くために動物園に行ったのではなく、動物園に行ったらスノーフレークがいたという感じですね。

4. おばあちゃんにはバルセロナ動物園を訪問する機会がありませんでした。
第7段落より、おじいちゃんの旅行はおばあちゃんと一緒でしたね。ということは当然一緒に動物園に行きましたね。

5. スノーフレークは動物園に住んでいましたが、生まれたのはアフリカでした。
第8段落に、「When only three years old, Snowflake was captured in the forests of Africa and then brought to the zoo. / 3歳のときスノーフレークはアフリカの森で捕まえられ、動物園につれてこられた」とあります。

6. 80歳になったときスノーフレークは死にました。
第13段落に書かれてあるのは、「スノーフレークは人間で言うところの80歳である、40歳という長い人生を送った」であり、実際に死んだのは40歳。ここで引っかかった人もいたのかな?

7. スノーフレークには非常にたくさんの家族がいました。
第15段落に、「he had three mates, several 'children,' and 22 'grandchildren / 彼は3人の妻と何匹かの子供、22匹の孫がいた」とある。これは非常にたくさんの家族でしょう。

8. 動物園のゴリラの1匹はヴァレリーを大いに感動させました。
第17段落に、「they saw one of Snowflake's grandchildren / 彼らはスノーフレークの孫の1匹を見た」とあり、さらに、「Valerie said would never forget / ヴァレリーは (その輝かしい知的な目を) 決して忘れない」とあります。

【正解】5. 7. 8.

第6問「長文読解」A問5へ戻る
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  • ウサギ

    先生

    センター試験の英語は特に「目指すべき英語力」の指標ともなり得るので、他大学の入試問題にも影響を及ぼします。何が問われているのかをしっかり把握し、1つ1つ丁寧に確認し、真の実力(英語力)を身につけましょう。

  • ネコ

    生徒

    センター試験の過去問見ていて思ったんだけど、なんか解説が雑じゃない?解説を読んで理解できる? おいらはできないよ。ちゃんとわかるように解説してよ。今まで英語の勉強をサボっていたのはあやまるからさぁ