EigoPro 2級 読解 — Learning a Second Language

Learning a Second Language In a connected world, more people than ever are studying a second language. Some learn for work or travel, others simply for the pleasure of it. While the most obvious benefit is being able to communicate with more people, scientists have discovered that the advantages reach far beyond conversation. Learning another language appears to be excellent exercise for the brain. To speak two languages, a person must constantly choose the right words and switch between different systems of grammar. Researchers believe this mental "workout" strengthens the brain in ways that help with other tasks too, such as paying attention and solving problems. Some studies even suggest that people who speak more than one language may keep their minds sharp for longer as they grow older. A common worry, especially among parents, is that learning two languages at once will confuse a child or slow them down. However, research has largely put this fear to rest. Children raised with two languages may mix them occasionally when very young, but they soon learn to keep them separate, and they usually reach the same level as other children in the end. Far from being a disadvantage, growing up with two languages is now seen as a gift. Of course, learning a language as an adult takes patience and regular practice. Experts advise learners not to be afraid of making mistakes, since errors are a natural and necessary part of the process. They also recommend using the language in real situations rather than only studying rules in a book. The journey may be long, but the rewards — for the mind, for work, and for friendship — make it well worth the effort.

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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

2級 · 読解 · 全5問

問 1

What is the main idea of the passage?

  • Learning a second language is useful only for travel.
  • Speaking two languages has no effect on the brain.
  • Learning a second language helps communication and also brings wider benefits to the brain.
  • Only children are able to learn a new language well.
Phrase

the advantages reach far beyond conversation

利点は会話をはるかに超える

2級読解教育記事主旨
⚡ひとことで

記事の主旨は「第二言語の学習は会話できること以上に、脳を鍛え長期的な利点をもたらす」。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「Learning a second language helps communication and also brings wider benefits to the brain.」

正解

第1段落 "the most obvious benefit is being able to communicate ... the advantages reach far beyond conversation" が主旨。記事は脳への効果・誤解の解消・大人の学習法と展開。reach beyond ~ = 「〜を超える」、the pleasure of it = 「それ自体の楽しみ」。

  • 「Learning a second language is useful only for travel and for holidays abroad.」

    = 旅行にだけ有用 ━ 本文 "reach far beyond conversation" と矛盾、脳の利点も。

  • 「Only young children are able to learn a new language really well, never adults.」

    = 子供だけがうまく学べる ━ 本文は大人の学習も扱う、矛盾。

  • 「Speaking two languages has no effect at all on the brain or on the memory.」

    = 二言語は脳に無影響 ━ 本文 "excellent exercise for the brain" と逆。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
reach beyond ~〜を超えるreach far beyond conversation
the most obvious benefit最も明白な利点the most obvious benefit
be able to V〜できるbeing able to communicate
for the pleasure of itそれ自体の楽しみでfor the pleasure of it
more ... than everかつてないほど多くmore people than ever
❝例文

  • More people study a second language now.

    今や多くの人が第二言語を学ぶ。

  • The benefits reach beyond conversation.

    利点は会話を超える。

  • It is good exercise for the brain.

    それは脳に良い運動だ。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

主旨設問の鉄則 ―― "the advantages reach far beyond X" が主旨の核 (会話を超える利点)。誤答は本文と矛盾 (旅行だけ / 子供だけ / 脳に無影響) で誘導。会話 + 脳への利点を含む選択肢が正解。

問 2

How does learning another language affect the brain?

  • Switching between languages exercises the brain and may help attention and problem-solving.
  • It makes the brain lazy and weakens concentration.
  • It only helps with speaking and nothing else.
  • It has been proven to harm older people's minds.
Phrase

must constantly choose words and switch between grammars; strengthens attention and problem-solving

常に語を選び文法を切替え、注意力や問題解決を強化

2級読解教育記事詳細 (脳への効果)
⚡ひとことで

二言語を話すには常に正しい語を選び文法体系を切り替える必要があり、この脳の運動が注意力や問題解決など他の課題にも役立ち、加齢後も頭脳を保つ可能性がある。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「Switching between languages exercises the brain and may help attention and problem-solving.」

正解

第2段落 "must constantly choose the right words and switch between different systems of grammar ... this mental 'workout' strengthens the brain ... such as paying attention and solving problems" より、効果 = 言語の切替が脳を鍛え、注意力・問題解決に役立つ。switch between ~ = 「〜を切り替える」、keep ... sharp = 「(頭脳を) 鋭く保つ」。

  • 「Switching between languages makes the brain lazy and weakens the concentration.」

    = 脳を怠惰にし集中力を弱める ━ 本文 "strengthens the brain" "paying attention" と逆。

  • 「It only helps with speaking the second language itself and with nothing else.」

    = 話すことだけに役立つ ━ 本文 "help with other tasks too" と矛盾。

  • 「It has been proven to harm older people's minds and to speed up memory loss.」

    = 高齢者の頭脳を害すると証明 ━ 本文 "keep their minds sharp for longer" と逆。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
switch between ~〜を切り替えるswitch between ... grammar
a mental workout頭の運動this mental 'workout'
strengthen the brain脳を鍛えるstrengthens the brain
pay attention注意を払うpaying attention
keep ... sharp鋭く保つkeep their minds sharp
❝例文

  • Speaking two languages exercises the brain.

    二言語を話すと脳が鍛えられる。

  • It helps attention and problem

    solving. — 注意力と問題解決に役立つ。

  • It may keep the mind sharp longer.

    頭脳を長く鋭く保つかもしれない。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

効果設問の鉄則 ―― "excellent exercise for the brain" 以下の因果 (switch → workout → strengthen → attention/problem-solving) を追う。誤答は本文の逆 (怠惰に / 話すだけ / 害する) で誘導。

問 3

What does research say about children learning two languages?

  • Two languages permanently confuse children and slow them down.
  • Research shows two languages do not harm children, who reach the same level in the end.
  • Children with two languages never mix them at all.
  • Bilingual children always fall far behind other children.
Phrase

research has largely put this fear to rest; they reach the same level in the end

研究はこの不安を概ね払拭、最終的に同水準に達する

2級読解教育記事詳細 (誤解の解消)
⚡ひとことで

「二言語同時学習は子供を混乱させる」という不安は研究で概ね否定された。幼児期に時々混ぜても、すぐ区別を覚え、最終的に他児と同水準に達する。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「Research shows two languages do not harm children, who reach the same level in the end.」

正解

第3段落 "A common worry ... that learning two languages ... will confuse a child ... However, research has largely put this fear to rest ... they usually reach the same level as other children in the end" より、誤解の解消 = 二言語は子供を害さず、最終的に同水準に達する。put ... to rest = 「(不安を) 払拭する」、far from ~ = 「〜どころか」。

  • 「Two languages permanently confuse young children and slow their learning down.」

    = 二言語は子供を永続的に混乱させ遅らせる ━ 本文 "put this fear to rest" と矛盾。

  • 「Children who grow up with two languages never mix the two of them at all.」

    = 二言語の子は決して混ぜない ━ 本文 "may mix them occasionally when very young" と矛盾。

  • 「Bilingual children always fall far behind the other children in their class.」

    = 二言語児は常に大きく遅れる ━ 本文 "reach the same level" と逆。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
put ... to rest(不安を) 払拭するput this fear to rest
a common worryよくある不安A common worry
reach the same level同水準に達するreach the same level
far from ~〜どころかFar from being a disadvantage
in the end最終的にin the end
❝例文

  • Research put the fear to rest.

    研究はその不安を払拭した。

  • Young children may mix languages briefly.

    幼児は一時的に言語を混ぜうる。

  • They reach the same level in the end.

    最終的に同水準に達する。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

誤解の解消設問の鉄則 ―― "A common worry ... However, research has put this fear to rest" の However が転換点。正解は『害さず同水準』。誤答は払拭された誤解 (永続的に混乱 / 大きく遅れる) や極端 (決して混ぜない) で誘導。

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