EigoPro 準2級 読解 — The Race to Explore Mars

The Race to Explore Mars For thousands of years, humans have looked up at the red dot in the night sky and wondered about Mars. Today, that wonder has turned into action. Several countries and companies are now in a race to explore the planet, and some even dream of living there one day. Why Mars? Of all the planets, Mars is the most similar to Earth. A day on Mars is almost the same length as a day on Earth, and it has seasons too. Scientists believe that long ago, Mars may have had rivers and oceans. If that is true, it might once have had simple forms of life. Finding even a tiny fossil there would be one of the greatest discoveries in history. The Challenges Traveling to Mars is extremely difficult. The journey takes about seven months one way. The planet is freezing cold, the air cannot be breathed, and dangerous dust storms can cover the whole planet for weeks. Astronauts would also need to grow their own food, because carrying enough for years would be impossible. Robots First Before sending humans, scientists send robots called "rovers." These machines drive across the surface, take photos, and study the soil and rocks. One rover even carried a tiny helicopter that became the first machine to fly on another planet. The information these robots send back helps scientists prepare for human visits. A Step for Everyone Some people ask why we spend so much money on space when there are problems on Earth. Scientists answer that exploring Mars often leads to useful inventions for daily life, and it inspires young people to study science. As one scientist said, "Reaching for Mars is really about reaching for our best selves."

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この単元の問題を3問、解説つきで公開しています

準2級 · 読解 · 全5問

問 1

Why is Mars considered the most similar planet to Earth?

  • It is exactly the same size as Earth.
  • It has the same number of people as Earth.
  • Its day length is almost the same and it has seasons too.
  • It is covered with oceans like Earth today.
Phrase

same day length, has seasons

1日の長さが同じ、季節もある

準2級読解宇宙記事火星が地球に似ている理由
⚡ひとことで

「Its day length is almost the same and it has seasons too.」を表す読解フレーズ。火星と地球の類似の文脈で頻出。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「Its day length is almost the same and it has seasons too.」

正解

Why Mars "Mars is the most similar to Earth. A day on Mars is almost the same length as a day on Earth, and it has seasons too" より、類似点 = 1日の長さがほぼ同じ + 季節もある。the most similar to ~ = 「〜に最も似ている」、the same length as ~ = 「〜と同じ長さ」。

  • 「It is exactly the same size as the Earth is.」

    = 地球と全く同じ大きさ ━ 大きさの記述無し ━ 1日の長さと季節が類似点。

  • 「It has the same number of people living on it as Earth.」

    = 地球と同じ人口 ━ 火星に人は住んでいない。

  • 「It is covered with oceans, just like the Earth is today.」

    = 現在も海に覆われる ━ 本文 "long ago, may have had oceans" ━ 過去の話。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
the most similar to ~〜に最も似ているthe most similar to Earth
the same length as ~〜と同じ長さthe same length as a day on Earth
have seasons季節があるit has seasons too
look up at ~〜を見上げるlooked up at the red dot
wonder about ~〜について思いを巡らすwondered about Mars
❝例文

  • A day on Mars is almost the same as on Earth.

    火星の1日は地球とほぼ同じ。

  • Mars has seasons too.

    火星にも季節がある。

  • It is the most similar planet to Earth.

    地球に最も似た惑星。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

類似点設問の鉄則 ―― "the most similar ... day is the same length ... has seasons" の 具体的な類似点 を拾う。the same length as ~ = 「〜と同じ長さ」は準2級必須。誤答は『同じ大きさ』『同じ人口』『現在も海』など本文にない/時制違いで誘導。

問 2

What would be one of the greatest discoveries in history?

  • Finding even a tiny fossil of past life on Mars.
  • Finding a city built by humans on Mars.
  • Finding gold and diamonds on Mars.
  • Finding that Mars is made of ice cream.
Phrase

finding a tiny fossil of past life

過去の生命の小さな化石発見

準2級読解宇宙記事歴史的大発見
⚡ひとことで

「Finding even a tiny fossil of past life on Mars.」を表す読解フレーズ。重大な発見の可能性の文脈で頻出。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「Finding even a tiny fossil of past life on Mars.」

正解

Why Mars "it might once have had simple forms of life. Finding even a tiny fossil there would be one of the greatest discoveries in history" より、大発見 = 過去の生命の小さな化石を見つけること。might have had ~ = 「〜があったかもしれない」(過去推量)、even a tiny ~ = 「ほんの小さな〜でも」。

  • 「Finding gold and diamonds buried on Mars.」

    = 金やダイヤ発見 ━ 鉱物の記述無し ━ 生命の痕跡が主題。

  • 「Finding a whole city built by humans on Mars.」

    = 人類が建てた都市 ━ 火星に人類都市はない。

  • 「Finding that Mars is entirely made of ice cream.」

    = 火星がアイス製と判明 ━ 非現実的・ナンセンス選択肢。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
might have had ~〜があったかもmay have had rivers and oceans
simple forms of life単純な生命体simple forms of life
even a tiny ~ほんの小さな〜でもeven a tiny fossil
one of the greatest ~最も偉大な〜の一つone of the greatest discoveries
in history歴史上in history
❝例文

  • Mars may once have had life.

    火星にはかつて生命があったかも。

  • Finding a fossil would be a great discovery.

    化石発見は大発見になる。

  • Even a tiny fossil would matter.

    小さな化石でも重要。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

大発見設問の鉄則 ―― "Finding even a tiny fossil ... would be one of the greatest discoveries" の 生命の痕跡 が核。might/may have had ~ = 「〜があったかも」(過去推量) は準2級必須。誤答は『金・ダイヤ』『都市』『アイス』など本文の科学的文脈と無関係で誘導。

問 3

Why would astronauts need to grow their own food on Mars?

  • Food is not allowed on spaceships.
  • Carrying enough food for years would be impossible.
  • Martian food tastes better than Earth food.
  • Robots eat all the food they bring.
Phrase

carrying enough for years impossible

数年分の運搬は不可能

準2級読解宇宙記事食料自給の理由
⚡ひとことで

「Carrying enough food for years would be impossible.」を表す読解フレーズ。火星での食料問題の文脈で頻出。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「Carrying enough food for years would be impossible.」

正解

The Challenges "Astronauts would also need to grow their own food, because carrying enough for years would be impossible" より、食料自給の理由 = 数年分を運ぶのが不可能だから。grow one's own food = 「自分の食料を育てる」、carry enough for ~ = 「〜分の十分な量を運ぶ」。

  • 「Food is not allowed on spaceships.」

    = 宇宙船に食料持込禁止 ━ 持込禁止の記述無し ━ 量の問題。

  • 「Martian food tastes better than Earth food.」

    = 火星の食べ物が美味 ━ 火星に食べ物はない。

  • 「Robots eat all the food they bring.」

    = ロボットが食べ尽くす ━ ロボットは食べない、ナンセンス。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
grow one's own food自分の食料を育てるgrow their own food
carry enough for ~〜分を運ぶcarrying enough for years
would be impossible不可能だろうwould be impossible
one way片道seven months one way
cannot be breathed呼吸できないthe air cannot be breathed
❝例文

  • Astronauts would grow their own food.

    宇宙飛行士は食料を自給する。

  • Carrying years of food is impossible.

    数年分の運搬は不可能。

  • The journey takes seven months one way.

    片道7ヶ月かかる。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

理由設問の鉄則 ―― "need to grow food, because carrying enough ... would be impossible" の because 以降が理由。grow one's own ~ / would be impossible は準2級必須。誤答は『持込禁止』『火星食』『ロボットが食べる』など本文と無関係/ナンセンスで誘導。

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