■ 問題
第4問 次の問い(A・B)に答えよ。
A 次の文章はある説明文の一部である。この文章とグラフを読み、下の問い
(問1〜4)の[ 35 ]〜[ 38 ]に入れるのに最も適当なものを、それぞれ下の
{1}〜{4}のうちから一つずつ選べ。
US consumers have benefited from an increased volume and variety of
fresh-fruit imports, particularly since the 1990s. The fruit and vegetable
section in today's grocery store often has dozens of different fresh fruits
on display all year around, which come from all corners of the globe as
additions to domestic fresh fruit.
The rapid growth of fresh-fruit imports has affected many aspects of the
US fresh-fruit market. For example, while oranges are the US's leading
domestically grown fruit, the volume of US orange imports has grown
steadily since the 1990s, with occasional sudden increases when the US
crop experienced freezing weather (see Figure 1).
(図はここでは省略します)
The US domestic market receives orange imports from various countries and
regions. Among the major suppliers, Mexico is a longtime source. However,
due to the strong US demand for fresh oranges throughout the year, the
Southern Hemisphere countries have also become major suppliers, especially
during the summer months when domestic navel oranges are not available.
Australia was the first such country, starting in the early 1990s after it
obtained permission from the US government to export its navel oranges
there. Australia was followed by South Africa in the late 1990s, and most
recently by Chile as well.
In the US, two main types of oranges are produced domestically: "navel
oranges" and "Valencia oranges." Navel oranges -- virtually without seeds,
with flesh that separates easily and is firm rather than watery -- are the
most popular oranges for eating fresh. The navel orange share of US
production of fresh market oranges was 76 percent during the years
2010-2012. In comparison, Valencia oranges -- with thin skins, containing
occasional seeds, and with juicy and sweet flesh -- accounted for 24
percent during the same period. As the US's top supplier of fresh-market
oranges, California produced 87 percent of fresh-market navel oranges and
more than 81 percent of fresh-market Valencia oranges.
The main harvest period for domestic fresh-market oranges is from November
through May, a time when California's navel oranges are in season. However,
the amount of oranges produced and shipped domestically falls significantly
from June through October. In earlier years, when fresh-orange imports
still accounted for only a small portion of domestic use, Valencia oranges
were a popular variety when navel oranges were out of season. As seen in
Figure 2, however, navel orange imports from the Southern Hemisphere
countries have come to dominate the US in the summer season.
(図はここでは省略します)
Because of seasonal production patterns, the majority of Mexico's oranges
arrive in the US market from December through June, when US supplies are
relatively high. In contrast, the season for imports from the Southern
Hemisphere countries is mainly from July through October, when US supplies
are relatively low. This trend is similar to that seen with many other
fruits as well.
(Sophia Wu Huang(2013) Imports Contribute to Year-Round Fresh Fruit
Availabilityを参考に作成)
問1 In Figure 1, which of the following do (A), (B), (C), and (D)
refer to? [ 35 ]
{1} (A) Australia (B) Chile (C) Mexico (D) South Africa
{2} (A) Australia (B) Mexico (C) South Africa (D) Chile
{3} (A) South Africa (B) Chile (C) Australia (D) Mexico
{4} (A) South Africa (B) Mexico (C) Australia (D) Chile
問2 According to the passage, which of the following correctly describes
one difference between navel oranges and Valencia oranges? [ 36 ]
{1} Navel oranges contain fewer seeds than Valencia oranges do.
{2} Navel oranges contain more juice than Valencia oranges do.
{3} Valencia oranges are more popular than navel oranges in teh winter.
{4} Valencia oranges are more suitable for eating fresh than navel oranges.
問3 What is the main purpose of this passage? [ 37 ]
{1} To account for the seasonal changes in the US production of oranges
{2} To explain the differences between navel oranges and Valencia oranges
{3} To illustrate the relation between US production and imports of oranges
{4} To improve the quality of the navel oranges produced in the US
問4 What topic is most likely to follow the last paragraph? [ 38 ]
{1} Export rates of other fruits from the US to the Southern Hemisphere
{2} Statistics showing the seasonal changes in imports of other fruits
{3} The shipping methods of navel oranges from the Southern Hemisphere
{4} The variety of fruits commonly grown in the US and Mexico
■ 今回の高校レベルの単語・熟語など
≪第1段落≫
consumer:「consume(消費する)する人」→「消費者」
benefit:名詞にも動詞にもなる。profitなどの類義語。「利益(をもたらす)」
increase:対義語のdecreaseと一緒に覚えよう。「増加する」
volume:音量だけでなく、さまざまな数量に対して使う。「量、体積、音量」
variety:バラエティ番組の「variety」から連想できるかも「多種、多様性、種類」
import:カタカナでも「インポート」と言うことがある。「輸入する」
particularly:part→particular→particularly「特に」
section:英文を読むときもセクションごとに区切ることが多いかも?「部分」
grocery store:日本の店では「スーパーマーケット」に相当する。
dozens of:dozenは「ダース」なので、「数ダースの、数十の」
display:名詞だけでなく、動詞にもなる。「展示する、ディスプレイ」
globe:形容詞のグローバルはよく知られているはず。「地球」
as additions:ここでは「in addition」とだいたい同じ。「加えて」
domestic:DVのDはdomesticの頭文字。「家庭の、国内の」
(以下略)
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