EigoPro 準2級プラス 読解 — The Rainforests of the Sea

The Rainforests of the Sea Coral reefs are often called "the rainforests of the sea." Although they cover less than one percent of the ocean floor, they are home to around a quarter of all sea creatures. Fish, turtles, and countless other animals depend on these colorful underwater forests for food and shelter. Yet today, reefs around the world are in serious danger. What Are Corals? Many people are surprised to learn that coral is not a plant or a rock, but a tiny animal. Millions of these animals live together, slowly building the hard structures we call reefs. Their bright colors come from even smaller living things inside them. When corals are healthy, they glow with color; when they are sick, they turn ghostly white — a process known as "bleaching." Why Reefs Are Dying The main threat is warmer ocean water, caused by climate change. Even a small rise in temperature can make corals bleach and, if it lasts too long, die. Pollution and overfishing make the problem worse. Scientists warn that if nothing changes, most of the world's reefs could be lost within a few decades. Signs of Hope The situation is serious, but not hopeless. Around the world, scientists are growing baby corals in safe areas and then planting them on damaged reefs. Some communities have created protected zones where fishing is limited, giving reefs a chance to recover. And as more people understand the problem, pressure is growing on governments to act. Why It Matters Saving the reefs is not only about beauty. Millions of people depend on reefs for food and for their jobs in fishing and tourism. As one marine scientist explained, "When we protect coral reefs, we are also protecting ourselves."

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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 are coral reefs called "the rainforests of the sea"?

  • Though they cover little ocean floor, they are home to about a quarter of sea creatures.
  • Because they cover most of the ocean floor.
  • Because they grow only in cold water.
  • Because they are actually made of trees.
Phrase

home to a quarter of sea creatures

海洋生物の4分の1が住む

準2級プラス読解環境科学記事比喩の理由
⚡ひとことで

「Though they cover little ocean floor, they are home to about a quarter of sea creatures.」を表す読解フレーズ。サンゴ礁の重要性の文脈で頻出。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「Though they cover little ocean floor, they are home to about a quarter of sea creatures.」

正解

本文 "Although they cover less than one percent of the ocean floor, they are home to around a quarter of all sea creatures" より、理由 = わずかな面積なのに海洋生物の約4分の1の住処だから。although ~ = 「〜だが」(譲歩)、be home to ~ = 「〜の住処である」。

  • 「Because they are actually made up of the very trees that grow under the sea.」

    = 実は木でできている ━ 比喩 ━ 実際の木ではない。

  • 「Because they cover almost all of the ocean floor right around the whole world.」

    = 海底の大半を覆う ━ "less than one percent" ━ ごくわずか。

  • 「Because they only ever grow in the coldest water found on the deep ocean floor.」

    = 冷水でのみ育つ ━ 温暖化で死ぬ ━ 暖かい海。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
although ~〜だがAlthough they cover little
be home to ~〜の住処であるhome to a quarter of sea creatures
the ocean floor海底the ocean floor
depend on ~ for ...…のため〜に頼るdepend on reefs for food
be in danger危機にあるreefs are in serious danger
❝例文

  • Reefs are home to a quarter of sea creatures.

    サンゴ礁は海洋生物の4分の1の住処。

  • They cover less than one percent of the floor.

    海底の1%未満しか覆わない。

  • Many animals depend on reefs for shelter.

    多くの動物が住処を礁に頼る。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

比喩理由設問の鉄則 ―― "the rainforests of the sea" という比喩の根拠は "Although they cover little ..., they are home to a quarter" の 譲歩構造 (狭いのに豊か)。although ~、be home to ~ = 「〜の住処」は準2級プラス必須。誤答は『木でできている』など比喩を文字通り取って誘導。

問 2

What surprises many people about coral?

  • It is a special type of seaweed.
  • It is a kind of large fish.
  • It is a tiny animal, not a plant or a rock.
  • It is a man-made structure.
Phrase

coral is a tiny animal

サンゴは小さな動物

準2級プラス読解環境科学記事意外な事実
⚡ひとことで

「It is a tiny animal, not a plant or a rock.」を表す読解フレーズ。サンゴの正体の文脈で頻出。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「It is a tiny animal, not a plant or a rock.」

正解

What Are Corals "coral is not a plant or a rock, but a tiny animal. Millions of these animals live together, slowly building the hard structures we call reefs" より、意外な事実 = サンゴは植物でも岩でもなく小さな動物。not A or B, but C = 「AでもBでもなくC」、we call ~ (接触節) = 「我々が〜と呼ぶ」。

  • 「It is a kind of very large sea fish.」

    = 大きな魚の一種 ━ "tiny animal" ━ 小さい。

  • 「It is a special type of green seaweed.」

    = 特別な海藻 ━ 植物ではない ━ 動物。

  • 「It is a structure that was made by people.」

    = 人工構造物 ━ サンゴが作る ━ 人工ではない。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
not A or B, but CAでもBでもなくCnot a plant or a rock, but a tiny animal
live together共生するmillions live together
the structures we call ~〜と呼ぶ構造the structures we call reefs
glow with color色で輝くthey glow with color
come from ~〜に由来するtheir colors come from
❝例文

  • Coral is a tiny animal, not a plant.

    サンゴは植物でなく小さな動物。

  • Millions of them live together.

    何百万も共生している。

  • They build the structures we call reefs.

    我々が礁と呼ぶ構造を作る。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

意外な事実設問の鉄則 ―― "Many people are surprised to learn that ..." の that 節が意外な事実。not A or B, but C = 「AでもBでもなくC」は準2級プラス必須。誤答は『魚』『海藻』など動物以外の分類で誘導。

問 3

What is "bleaching"?

  • When fish clean the coral reefs.
  • When sick corals turn ghostly white.
  • When corals change into rocks.
  • When corals grow brighter and healthier.
Phrase

sick corals turn white

病んだサンゴが白化

準2級プラス読解環境科学記事用語の定義
⚡ひとことで

「When sick corals turn ghostly white.」を表す読解フレーズ。白化現象の定義の文脈で頻出。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「When sick corals turn ghostly white.」

正解

What Are Corals "when they are sick, they turn ghostly white — a process known as 'bleaching'" より、白化 = 病んだサンゴが青白くなる現象。turn + 色 = 「〜色になる」、a process known as ~ = 「〜として知られる現象」。

  • 「When corals grow brighter and healthier.」

    = より鮮やかに健康になる ━ 健康時は色鮮やか ━ 白化は病気。

  • 「When corals change into rocks.」

    = 岩に変わる ━ 岩化の記述無し。

  • 「When fish clean the coral reefs.」

    = 魚が礁を掃除する ━ 魚の掃除とは無関係。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
turn + 色〜色になるturn ghostly white
a process known as ~〜として知られる現象a process known as bleaching
glow with color色で輝くthey glow with color
when they are sick病んでいる時when they are sick
ghostly white青白いghostly white
❝例文

  • Sick corals turn ghostly white.

    病んだサンゴは青白くなる。

  • This process is known as bleaching.

    この現象は白化と呼ばれる。

  • Healthy corals glow with color.

    健康なサンゴは色鮮やか。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

用語定義設問の鉄則 ―― "— a process known as 'bleaching'" のダッシュ前が定義。turn + 色 = 「〜色になる」、a process known as ~ は準2級プラス必須。誤答は『より健康に』など本文の『病気』と逆で誘導。

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