EigoPro 準2級プラス読解 — A World With Less Plastic

A World With Less Plastic Plastic is everywhere in modern life. It is cheap, light, and strong, which is exactly why it became so popular. Yet these same qualities have created a serious problem: plastic does not break down naturally, so the waste we throw away today may still exist hundreds of years from now. The Scale of the Problem Every year, millions of tons of plastic end up in the ocean. Sea animals sometimes mistake floating plastic for food, which can harm or even kill them. Scientists have also found tiny pieces of plastic, called "microplastics," in fish, in drinking water, and even in the air we breathe. The full effect on human health is still being studied. A Growing Response In response, a worldwide movement to reduce plastic has been gaining strength. Many cities have banned free plastic bags in shops. Some companies now sell shampoo and soap as solid bars, which need no plastic bottle at all. Restaurants are replacing plastic straws with paper ones, and a number of supermarkets allow customers to bring their own containers. The Limits of Individual Action However, experts warn that small personal choices are not enough on their own. While refusing a plastic bag is a good habit, the largest amounts of plastic waste come from industry and packaging. Real change, they argue, also requires new rules and better technology, such as materials that break down safely. Reasons for Hope Despite the challenges, there are reasons to be hopeful. Public awareness has never been higher, and young people in particular are demanding action. As one environmental scientist noted, "We created this problem, which means we also have the power to solve it."

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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級プラス · 読解 · 全5問

問 1

Why did plastic become so popular?

Because it is safe for all sea animals.
Because it is cheap, light, and strong.
Because it is more expensive than other materials.
Because it breaks down quickly and naturally.

Phrase

cheap, light, and strong

安く・軽く・丈夫

準2級プラス読解環境記事プラスチック普及の理由

⚡ひとことで

「Because it is cheap, light, and strong.」を表す読解フレーズ。普及理由の文脈で頻出。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「Because it is cheap, light, and strong.」

正解

本文 "It is cheap, light, and strong, which is exactly why it became so popular" より、普及理由 = 安く・軽く・丈夫だから。which is exactly why ~ = 「まさにそれが〜の理由」(非制限関係代名詞)、形容詞3連が長所を列挙。

「Because it breaks down quickly and naturally.」
= 速く自然分解する ━ 本文 "does not break down naturally" と 正反対。
「Because it is safe for all sea animals.」
= 全海洋動物に安全 ━ 海洋動物を害する ━ 矛盾。
「Because it is more expensive than other materials.」
= 他素材より高価 ━ 本文 "cheap" ━ 安い。

▦Collocation

パターン	意味	例
cheap, light, and strong	安く軽く丈夫	cheap, light, and strong
which is exactly why ~	まさにそれが〜の理由	which is exactly why it became popular
break down naturally	自然分解する	does not break down naturally
become popular	普及する	became so popular
the same qualities	同じ性質	these same qualities

❝例文

Plastic is cheap, light, and strong.
プラは安く軽く丈夫。
That is exactly why it became popular.
まさにそれが普及理由。
But it does not break down naturally.
だが自然分解しない。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

理由設問の鉄則 ―― "X, which is exactly why it became popular" の X が普及理由。which is exactly why ~ は前文を受けて理由を強調する非制限関係代名詞 (準2級プラス頻出)。誤答は『自然分解』など本文と正反対の性質で誘導 ━ 同じ長所が後に問題になる皮肉に注意。

問 2

What problem do "microplastics" represent?

They are a new type of safe, natural material.
Tiny pieces of plastic have been found in fish, water, and the air.
They have completely disappeared from the ocean.
They are large pieces that float on the ocean.

Phrase

microplastics found in fish, water, air

魚・水・空気に微細プラ

準2級プラス読解環境記事問題の規模

⚡ひとことで

「Tiny pieces of plastic have been found in fish, water, and the air.」を表す読解フレーズ。マイクロプラスチック問題の文脈で頻出。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「Tiny pieces of plastic have been found in fish, water, and the air.」

正解

The Scale "tiny pieces of plastic, called 'microplastics,' in fish, in drinking water, and even in the air we breathe" より、問題 = 微細プラが魚・飲料水・空気から発見。have been found (現在完了受動) = 「発見されてきた」、3つの場所の列挙が深刻さを示す。

「They are large pieces of plastic that float on the ocean.」
= 海に浮かぶ大きな破片 ━ "tiny pieces" ━ 微細片。
「They are a new type of completely safe, natural material.」
= 安全な新天然素材 ━ 有害な汚染物 ━ 安全ではない。
「They have completely disappeared from the world's oceans now.」
= 海から完全消失 ━ むしろ広範に存在 ━ 矛盾。

▦Collocation

パターン	意味	例
tiny pieces of ~	〜の微細片	tiny pieces of plastic
have been found in ~	〜から発見されている	have been found in fish
the air we breathe	我々が吸う空気	the air we breathe
mistake A for B	AをBと間違える	mistake floating plastic for food
the full effect	全容/全影響	the full effect on human health

❝例文

Microplastics have been found in fish and water.
マイクロプラが魚や水から発見された。
They are even in the air we breathe.
我々が吸う空気にさえある。
Sea animals mistake plastic for food.
海洋動物はプラを餌と間違える。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

問題規模設問の鉄則 ―― "found in A, B, and even C" の even が深刻さを強調 (空気にまで)。have been found (現在完了受動)、mistake A for B = 「AをBと取り違える」は準2級プラス必須。誤答は『大きい』『安全』『消失』など本文と逆で誘導。

問 3

What is one way companies are reducing plastic?

Selling only liquid soap in large bottles.
Banning customers from their shops.
Selling shampoo and soap as solid bars that need no bottle.
Adding more plastic to every product.

Phrase

solid bars need no bottle

固形バーは容器不要

準2級プラス読解環境記事企業の対応

⚡ひとことで

「Selling shampoo and soap as solid bars that need no bottle.」を表す読解フレーズ。削減策の文脈で頻出。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「Selling shampoo and soap as solid bars that need no bottle.」

正解

A Growing Response "Some companies now sell shampoo and soap as solid bars, which need no plastic bottle at all" より、企業の対応 = 容器不要の固形バーで販売。as solid bars = 「固形バーとして」、which need no ~ at all = 「全く〜を必要としない」(強調)。

「Adding even more plastic to every one of their products.」
= 全製品にプラを追加 ━ 削減策 ━ 追加とは逆。
「Banning all of their customers from entering the shops.」
= 客を店から締め出す ━ 締め出しの記述無し。
「Selling only liquid soap in very large plastic bottles.」
= 大瓶の液体石鹸のみ販売 ━ 固形バーで容器削減 ━ 逆。

▦Collocation

パターン	意味	例
as solid bars	固形バーとして	as solid bars
need no ~ at all	全く〜不要	need no plastic bottle at all
replace A with B	AをBに置き換える	replacing plastic straws with paper ones
bring one's own ~	自分の〜を持参	bring their own containers
gain strength	勢いを増す	has been gaining strength

❝例文

Soap is sold as solid bars with no bottle.
石鹸は容器なしの固形バーで販売。
Restaurants replace plastic straws with paper.
店はプラストローを紙に替える。
Customers can bring their own containers.
客は容器を持参できる。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

対応策設問の鉄則 ―― "sell X as solid bars, which need no bottle" の 具体策。replace A with B = 「AをBに置換」、bring one's own ~ = 「自分の〜を持参」は準2級プラス必須。誤答は『プラ追加』『客締め出し』など削減趣旨と逆で誘導。

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EigoPro 準2級プラス 読解 — A World With Less Plastic

この単元の問題を3問、解説つきで公開しています

cheap, light, and strong

microplastics found in fish, water, air

solid bars need no bottle

EigoPro 準2級プラス読解 — A World With Less Plastic