第1回と第2回の英検1級パッセージリスニング問題難易度比較

次は話が最初と最後が一貫してないので、情報が錯綜しそうな問題です。

(H16 第1回)

（B）　Sports News

　This is Jay Jennings for WCVR sports News. First, an amazing story from London, where today the women’s marathon world record was shattered by Margola Abera of Ethiopia. Abera finished the race in just two hours, fifteen minites,and 26 seconds, breaking the previous record by a minute and three seconds. Although a fan favorite, Abera wasn’t expected to finish in the top 10. She gave birth just eight months ago and had knee surgery last year. Abera used a strict training program to get back in shape. She trained in the hills near her home with her husband, who accompanied her on motorcycle. Asked what motivated her,　Abera said she wanted to win for her baby daughter.
　Speaking of records, Kenny Oliver leads after the first round of the Bank One Golf Invitational with a course-record 62. Oliver also held the previous record of 63. The tournament got off to a wet start, with morning showers forcing a two-hour delay. Looks like the weather should cooperate for the rest of the week, though. Round two kicks off tomorrow morning at eight o’clock.

 
  Q：What did Margola Abera say motivated her?
1. Her daughter
2. Her training program
3. support from fans
4. Successful knee surgery
   
  Q: What do we learn about the golf tournament?
1. It is being delayed because of rain
2. It was completed in record time.
3. Kenny Oliver is the winner
4. Kenny Oliver is now in the lead


この問題は前半と後半で話が少し変わります。最初はMargola Aberaというマラソンの選手の話で、後半はゴルフの話になってしまっています。選択肢から話が2つされることは設問を予想することはほぼできませんので、前半に聞いた話と後半に聞いた話の内容が混乱してしまいます。

Q1はあまり選択肢がパラフレーズされていなく、下線部の部分がしっかりと聞ければ答えられる問題です。しかしQ2に関しては気をつけなくてはないのは、混乱して後半に出てくるKenny Oliverと前半のマラソン選手が大会レコードを樹立して優勝したということをごちゃごちゃにしてしまって3番のようにKenny Oliverが優勝者と勘違いしてしまったり、1番のように2時間遅れでスタートしたといったのに対して、1番は今遅れている最中とあらわしてみたりして大変難しくなっています。またrecordという音につられて２番を選ぶことも考えられるので、この後半の問題は大変トリッキーな問題です。

正解はKenny Oliver leads after the first round of the Bank One Golf Invitational with a course-record 62.というアナウンスから最も妥当と考えられる4になります。

 次は題名を聞いてもわかりにくい問題の英検第2回目の問題を取り上げてみます。

(D) Shark Advertisement has Restaurant Owners in a Stew

　Shark fin soup is a popular delicacy in Thailand, but according to some environmental activists the strong demand for sharks’ fins is having an adverse effects on ecosystems.
　In order to try and lessen this demand, the environmental foundation WildAId began a huge ad campaign, The ad feature graphic photos of fishermen slicing off shark’s fins and throwing the animals back into the ocean to die, The ad also claim that eating fins and throwing the animals back into the ocean to die. The ads also claim that eating fins might be dangerous as they harbor high level of mercury.
　The ads have been unexpectedly successful, says the foundation’s Steven Galster, Shark , he says, don’t usually elicit much sympathy、recent survey in Thailand indicates that 32 percent of respondents have since given up the delicacy.
　Nevertheless, it seems that the battle for the hearts and stomachs of Thais is only just beginning . Bangkok’s Association of Shark Fin restaurants is now hitting back at Wild Aid. In a multimillion dollar lawsuit, the association claims that WildAid’s charges are groundless and have caused a 50percent drop in sales of shark fin soup.The association says the footage used in the ads was staged, and that Galster denies the charges.

 

  Q：What did the recent survey in Thailand reveal?
1. Many Thais have stopped eating shark fin soup
2. WildAid has increased its Thai membership by a third.
3. Few Thai feel any real sympathy for sharks.
4. Shark fin soup is becoming more popular.
   
  Q: How has the Association of Shark Fin Restaurants reacted to the ad campaign?
1. It has accused Steve Galster of faking his results.
2. It has sued the government for compensation for lost sales.
3. It has voluntarily reduced the amount of soup sold.
4. It has launched its own multimillion dollar ad campaign.

この問題では、題名を聞いてもよくわかりませんから、話の流れを大まかにつかむ必要があります。まず前半では、Shark fin soupはよくないと活動家達が宣伝活動してうまくいった。そして統計でも３２%しかデリカシーをなくしてない＝６８％はいまだにデリカシーがあり、Shark fin soupは食べないほうがいいと思っているので、３２％の逆の６８％をパラフレーズした1のMany Thais have stopped eating shark fin soupが正解となります。

次に、宣伝活動に対して反発があります。宣伝活動で根拠のないことを活動家達が言ったので、そのことによって売り上げが半減したことに怒って活動家達（WildAid）に対して訴訟を起こしたということがわかると、正解の1.It has accused Steve Galster of faking his results.を選択できます。

　このように話の大筋を整理して聞くことがパッセージ問題では重要となります。

皆さん、新傾向の英検1級の対話式、Passage式の問題は、いかがでしたか。次回リアルライフとインタビューをご紹介いたします
。
それでは皆さん、Let’s enjoy the process!（陽は必ず昇る！）