EigoPro 準2級プラス 読解 — A Holiday in Space?

A Holiday in Space? For most of history, traveling to space was something only highly trained astronauts could do. Today, that is starting to change. A few private companies now offer trips to space for ordinary people — as long as they can pay the enormous price. This new industry, known as "space tourism," has excited some people and worried others. What the Trips Are Like Most space tourism flights are short. Passengers rise high above the Earth, experience a few minutes of weightlessness, and see our planet as a blue ball against the darkness of space. Many who have made the trip describe it as a life-changing experience. "Seeing Earth from above," one passenger said, "made me realize how small and precious our world really is." The Cost Problem There is, however, one obvious problem: the cost. At present, a single ticket can cost as much as a house. For this reason, critics argue that space tourism is just a toy for the very rich, with little benefit for ordinary people. Supporters reply that almost all new technology starts out expensive — cars and airplanes were once luxuries too — and that prices will fall over time. Environmental Worries A more serious concern is the environment. Rockets burn huge amounts of fuel and release gases high in the atmosphere. Some scientists worry that if space tourism grows quickly, it could add to the problem of climate change, all so that a small number of people can enjoy a few minutes of fun. Looking Up Whether space tourism turns out to be a passing fashion or the beginning of a new age, it raises deep questions. As one writer put it, "Before we rush to explore the stars, perhaps we should take better care of the planet we already have."

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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

How is space travel starting to change?

  • Space travel has become completely free.
  • Private companies now offer trips to ordinary people who can pay.
  • Only astronauts are now allowed to fly.
  • Governments have banned all space trips.
Phrase

private companies offer trips to ordinary people

準2級プラス読解技術社会記事宇宙旅行の変化
⚡ひとことで

「Private companies now offer trips to ordinary people who can pay.」を表す読解フレーズ。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「Private companies now offer trips to ordinary people who can pay.」

正解

本文 "A few private companies now offer trips to space for ordinary people — as long as they can pay the enormous price" より、変化は民間企業が代金を払える一般人に宇宙旅行を提供すること。as long as = 「〜する限り」。

  • 「Only fully trained astronauts are now allowed to fly in space.」

    = 宇宙飛行士のみ飛べる ━ 過去の話であり今は一般人も可能。

  • 「Space travel has now become completely free for everyone.」

    = 完全無料に ━ enormous price とあり高額。

  • 「Governments everywhere have banned all private space trips.」

    = 政府が全旅行禁止 ━ 禁止の記述なし。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
offer A to BBにAを提供するoffer trips for ordinary people
as long as ~〜する限りas long as they can pay
an enormous price莫大な代金the enormous price
known as ~〜として知られるknown as space tourism
highly trained高度に訓練されたhighly trained astronauts
❝例文

  • Private companies now offer space trips.

    民間企業が宇宙旅行を提供する。

  • This is possible as long as you can pay.

    支払える限り可能だ。

  • This industry is known as space tourism.

    この産業は宇宙観光と呼ばれる。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

変化設問では過去と現在の対比に注目。as long as = 「〜する限り」(条件) は準2級プラス必須。誤答は過去の話と時制を取り違えて誘導。

問 2

What do many passengers say about the experience?

  • They said it was exactly like a normal flight.
  • They regretted spending the money.
  • They describe it as a life-changing experience.
  • They found it boring and disappointing.
Phrase

a life-changing experience

準2級プラス読解技術社会記事乗客の感想
⚡ひとことで

「They describe it as a life-changing experience.」を表す読解フレーズ。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「They describe it as a life-changing experience.」

正解

本文 "Many who have made the trip describe it as a life-changing experience" より、感想は人生を変える体験と表現する。describe A as B = 「AをBと表現する」。

  • 「They found it boring and disappointing.」

    = 退屈で失望 ━ life-changing と矛盾。

  • 「They said it was exactly like a normal flight.」

    = 普通の飛行と同じ ━ 特別な体験であり矛盾。

  • 「They regretted spending the money.」

    = 出費を後悔 ━ 後悔の記述なし。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
describe A as BAをBと表現するdescribe it as a life-changing experience
life-changing人生を変えるa life-changing experience
make me realize ~私に〜を悟らせるmade me realize how precious our world is
a few minutes of ~数分間の〜a few minutes of weightlessness
precious貴重なhow small and precious our world is
❝例文

  • They describe it as a life

    changing experience. — 人生を変える体験と表現する。

  • Seeing Earth from above is unforgettable.

    上から地球を見るのは忘れがたい。

  • It made them realize how precious Earth is.

    地球の貴重さを悟らせた。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

感想設問では describe A as B が評価表現。make + 人 + 動詞原形 (使役) も頻出。誤答は本文の称賛と逆で誘導。

問 3

What do critics argue about space tourism?

  • It will never interest any wealthy people.
  • It is too cheap and available to everyone.
  • It is just a toy for the very rich, with little benefit for ordinary people.
  • It has already replaced ordinary holidays.
Phrase

a toy for the very rich

準2級プラス読解技術社会記事批判者の主張
⚡ひとことで

「It is just a toy for the very rich, with little benefit for ordinary people.」を表す読解フレーズ。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「It is just a toy for the very rich, with little benefit for ordinary people.」

正解

本文 "critics argue that space tourism is just a toy for the very rich, with little benefit for ordinary people" より、批判は金持ちの玩具で一般人に利益が少ないこと。a toy for ~ は軽視の比喩。

  • 「It is far too cheap and is already available to absolutely everyone.」

    = 安すぎて誰でも利用可 ━ 高額であり逆。

  • 「It will never once interest any of the world's very wealthy people.」

    = 富裕層も関心なし ━ 金持ちが利用しており矛盾。

  • 「It has already replaced ordinary holidays for most ordinary families.」

    = 通常の休暇を置換済み ━ 置換の記述なし。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
a toy for ~〜のための玩具a toy for the very rich
with little benefitほとんど利益なくwith little benefit for ordinary people
critics argue that ~批判者は〜と主張critics argue that
cost as much as ~〜と同じくらいかかるcost as much as a house
for this reasonこの理由でFor this reason
❝例文

  • Critics call it a toy for the very rich.

    批判者は金持ちの玩具と呼ぶ。

  • It has little benefit for ordinary people.

    一般人にはほとんど利益がない。

  • A ticket can cost as much as a house.

    切符は家1軒分の値段。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

批判設問では critics argue that の that 節が核。a toy for ~ = 軽視の比喩、with little benefit は準2級プラス必須。誤答は本文の高額記述と逆で誘導。

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