EigoPro 準2級プラス 読解 — Why the Bees Matter

Why the Bees Matter When most people think of bees, they picture a painful sting or a jar of honey. Few realize that these small insects are among the most important creatures on Earth. In recent years, however, bee numbers have been falling in many countries, and scientists are deeply worried about what this could mean for all of us. Nature's Workers Bees do far more than make honey. As they fly from flower to flower collecting food, they carry pollen, which allows plants to produce fruits and seeds. This process, called "pollination," is essential for a huge number of the crops we eat — from apples and strawberries to coffee and almonds. It is often said that about one in every three bites of food we take depends, directly or indirectly, on bees and other pollinators. A Worrying Decline So why are bees disappearing? Scientists point to several causes working together. The chemicals farmers use to kill insects can also harm bees. The loss of wild flowers, as land is used for buildings and roads, leaves bees with less food. Diseases and a changing climate make the situation worse. No single cause is fully to blame, which makes the problem harder to solve. What Can Be Done The good news is that people can help. Planting flowers that bees love, even in a small garden or on a balcony, gives them food. Buying food grown without harmful chemicals supports safer farming. Some cities have even started keeping beehives on the roofs of buildings. A Shared Future Bees and humans have depended on each other for thousands of years. As one scientist warned, "If the bees are in trouble, then sooner or later, so are we."

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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

What do few people realize about bees?

  • They are among the most important creatures on Earth.
  • They are completely harmless and never sting.
  • They are the largest insects in the world.
  • They have no connection to the food we eat.
Phrase

among the most important creatures

準2級プラス読解環境科学記事ミツバチの重要性
⚡ひとことで

「They are among the most important creatures on Earth.」を表す読解フレーズ。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「They are among the most important creatures on Earth.」

正解

本文 "Few realize that these small insects are among the most important creatures on Earth" より、多くの人が気づかない事実はミツバチが地球で最も重要な生物の一つであること。among the most ~ = 「最も〜なものの一つ」。

  • 「They are completely harmless and never sting.」

    = 全く無害で刺さない ━ 刺すこともあり矛盾。

  • 「They are the largest insects in the world.」

    = 世界最大の昆虫 ━ small insects とあり矛盾。

  • 「They have no connection to the food we eat.」

    = 食べ物と無関係 ━ 受粉で食料に関わるため逆。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
among the most ~最も〜なものの一つamong the most important creatures
few realize that ~〜と気づく人は少ないFew realize that
picture ~〜を思い浮かべるthey picture a painful sting
fall in number数が減るbee numbers have been falling
be worried about ~〜を心配するscientists are worried about
❝例文

  • Bees are among the most important creatures.

    ミツバチは最も重要な生物の一つ。

  • Few people realize this.

    これに気づく人は少ない。

  • Their numbers have been falling.

    その数は減り続けている。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

重要性設問では Few realize that の that 節が意外な事実。among the most ~ = 「最も〜なものの一つ」は準2級プラス必須。誤答は本文の small / 食料との関連と矛盾で誘導。

問 2

What is "pollination"?

  • Making honey inside the beehive.
  • Building roads and buildings on farmland.
  • Killing insects that harm crops.
  • Carrying pollen between flowers, allowing plants to produce fruits and seeds.
Phrase

carrying pollen between flowers

準2級プラス読解環境科学記事受粉の定義
⚡ひとことで

「Carrying pollen between flowers, allowing plants to produce fruits and seeds.」を表す読解フレーズ。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「Carrying pollen between flowers, allowing plants to produce fruits and seeds.」

正解

本文 "they carry pollen, which allows plants to produce fruits and seeds. This process, called 'pollination'" より、受粉とは花から花へ花粉を運び植物が果実や種を作れるようにすること。allow + 人/物 + to do = 「〜が…するのを可能にする」。

  • 「Making honey out of flower nectar inside the walls of the beehive.」

    = 巣で蜂蜜を作る ━ 受粉ではなく蜂蜜作り。

  • 「Killing the harmful insects that attack the crops growing on a farm.」

    = 害虫を殺す ━ 受粉とは無関係。

  • 「Building new roads and buildings on the land that was once farmland.」

    = 農地に道路や建物を作る ━ 受粉の定義ではない。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
carry pollen花粉を運ぶthey carry pollen
allow ~ to + 動詞〜が…するのを可能にするallows plants to produce fruits
a process called ~〜と呼ばれる過程This process, called pollination
be essential for ~〜に不可欠essential for a huge number of crops
from A to BAからBまでfrom apples to almonds
❝例文

  • Bees carry pollen between flowers.

    ミツバチは花から花へ花粉を運ぶ。

  • This allows plants to produce fruits.

    これで植物が果実を作れる。

  • The process is called pollination.

    この過程は受粉と呼ばれる。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

定義設問では called 'X' の前の記述が定義。allow ~ to + 動詞 = 「〜が…するのを可能にする」は準2級プラス必須。誤答は蜂蜜作りなど別の活動で誘導。

問 3

According to the passage, how much of our food depends on pollinators?

  • All of our food without exception.
  • Exactly half of all coffee only.
  • Almost none of our food.
  • About one in every three bites.
Phrase

one in every three bites

準2級プラス読解環境科学記事食料との関係
⚡ひとことで

「About one in every three bites.」を表す読解フレーズ。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「About one in every three bites.」

正解

本文 "about one in every three bites of food we take depends, directly or indirectly, on bees and other pollinators" より、食料の約3口に1口が送粉者に依存する。one in every three = 「3つに1つ」、depend on ~ = 「〜に依存する」。

  • 「Almost none of our food.」

    = ほとんど依存しない ━ 3口に1口であり多い。

  • 「Exactly half of all coffee only.」

    = コーヒーの半分だけ ━ コーヒーは例の一つにすぎない。

  • 「All of our food without exception.」

    = 例外なく全食料 ━ 3口に1口であり全部ではない。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
one in every three3つに1つone in every three bites
depend on ~〜に依存するdepends on bees and pollinators
directly or indirectly直接または間接にdirectly or indirectly
a huge number of ~膨大な数の〜a huge number of the crops
it is often said that ~〜とよく言われるIt is often said that
❝例文

  • One in every three bites depends on pollinators.

    3口に1口が送粉者に依存する。

  • This is direct or indirect.

    これは直接または間接にだ。

  • A huge number of crops need bees.

    膨大な作物がミツバチを必要とする。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

数値設問では one in every three (= 3つに1つ) の割合を正確に。depend on ~、directly or indirectly は準2級プラス必須。誤答は almost none / all など極端な量で誘導。

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