【解説】2017年センター試験英語第5問「物語文読解」

問1
問2
問3
問4
問5

問1

問題次の物語を読み、下の問いの (　　) に入れるのに最も適当なものを、下の1～4のうちから一つ選べ。

問1
When Yuji realized that he had turned into a cat, he first felt (　　).

1. astonished
2. embarrassed
3. excited
4. satisfied

【解説】

When Yuji realized that he had turned into a cat, he first felt (　　).
「ネコに変わったことに気づいたユウジは、最初に (　　) と感じた」

1. astonished
「びっくりしている」
2. embarrassed
「恥ずかしい」
3. excited
「興奮している」
4. satisfied
「満足している」

第一段落にこうあります。

I stretched out my arm in front of myself and raised my back; it felt so good.
「私は自分の前で腕を伸ばし、背中を上げた。とてもいい気分でした」

ここから、4. の「満足している」を選んだ人がいたかもしれませんが、これはネコに変わったことに気づく前です。問題はネコに変わったことに気づいた後の感情をたずねていますので、4. は違います。

ネコに変わったことに気づいたのは、第二段落です。第二段落にこうあります。

I was so surprised that I couldn’t move.
「私は驚いて、動けなかった」

ということで、正解は 1. です。

【正解】1

問2

問題次の物語を読み、下の問いの (　　) に入れるのに最も適当なものを、下の1～4のうちから一つ選べ。

As I went down the stairs, the smell of coffee grew stronger and I could tell what was for breakfast. Maybe the senses of a cat are sharper than those of a human. When I got to the dining room, what I saw almost stopped my heart. It was me! The human I was sitting at the dining table! I couldn’t take my eyes off myself.
The human I was absorbed in a smartphone, maybe writing responses to friends’ messages or playing an online game. Bending my head down toward the phone, I was sitting with rounded shoulders and a curved back. I looked very uncomfortable.
I sometimes took a little bite of toast, but it appeared that I was not noticing any taste in my mouth. Actually, the taste of toast in my memory was vague. I couldn’t remember what else had been served for breakfast recently, either. The human I was just mindlessly putting in my mouth anything that was on the plate while handling the phone. I was so focused on the text messages or games that I took little interest in what was happening around me. In fact, my face had no expression on it at all.
“Yuji, you never study these days. Are you ready for your final exams? You’re making me a little a bit worried,” said Mom.
“Mmm,” said I. A sign of frustration briefly appeared on my face, but it disappeared in an instant. My face was again as expressionless as it has been before.

問2
When Yuji’s mother spoke to him, he was annoyed because (　　).

1. he wanted to please her
2. her words disturbed him
3. his mouth was full of food
4. she interrupted his studies

【解説】

When Yuji’s mother spoke to him, he was annoyed because (　　).
「ユウジの母親が彼に話しかけたとき、彼はイライラした。なぜなら (　　)」

1. he wanted to please her
「彼は彼女を喜ばせたかった」

問題文自体につながらないので、この選択肢は違います。問題文の annoy の意味が分かれば、この選択肢が違うことは分かりますね。

2. her words disturbed him
「彼女の言葉が彼を不安にさせた」

母親の発言はこうなっています。

Yuji, you never study these days. Are you ready for your final exams? You’re making me a little a bit worried
「ユウジ、このごろ全然勉強していないね。最後の試験の準備はしているの。少し心配だわ」

それに対してこうあります。

“Mmm,” said I. A sign of frustration briefly appeared on my face
「「うーん」と私は言った。フラストレーションの兆候が一時的に私の顔に現れた」

物語文は登場人物になり切って、気持ちを考えるといいのですが、このユウジの気持ちは特別な努力なしでもわかりますね。

「勉強やらないといけないんじゃないの」「言われなくても分かってるわ！」このやり取りは誰もが通る道です。

その時の気持ちとしては、この選択肢はありそうです。

3. his mouth was full of food
「彼の口は食べ物でいっぱいだった」

ユウジが具体的な返答をせずに、Mmm と言ったのは、口に物が入っていたからでしょうか。そうじゃないですよね。おそらく反抗期的な何かで返事するのを面倒がったのでしょう。

この選択肢は違います。

4. she interrupted his studies
「彼女は彼の勉強の邪魔をした」

「勉強しなさい」「今からやろうと思っていたのに、それでやる気がなくなった」という流れなら、勉強の邪魔をしたといえないこともないかもしれません。

ですが母親は普通に考えて、勉強の邪魔はしていませんね。この選択肢は違います。

この問題は消去法で他の選択肢を消して、残った 2. が正解とわかるという問題だと思います。

【正解】2

問3

問題次の物語を読み、下の問いの (　　) に入れるのに最も適当なものを、下の1～4のうちから一つ選べ。

The human I was absorbed in a smartphone, maybe writing responses to friends’ messages or playing an online game. Bending my head down toward the phone, I was sitting with rounded shoulders and a curved back. I looked very uncomfortable.
I sometimes took a little bite of toast, but it appeared that I was not noticing any taste in my mouth. Actually, the taste of toast in my memory was vague. I couldn’t remember what else had been served for breakfast recently, either. The human I was just mindlessly putting in my mouth anything that was on the plate while handling the phone. I was so focused on the text messages or games that I took little interest in what was happening around me. In fact, my face had no expression on it at all.
“Yuji, you never study these days. Are you ready for your final exams? You’re making me a little a bit worried,” said Mom.
“Mmm,” said I. A sign of frustration briefly appeared on my face, but it disappeared in an instant. My face was again as expressionless as it has been before.
“I don’t like this guy,” I thought. But this guy was me. I couldn’t deny it. For the first time, I realized how I really looked to other people.
問3
The cat thought, “I don’t like this guy,” because Yuji (　　).

1. could not recall the taste of food he had eaten at breakfast
2. tried to hide his efforts to study for the final exams
3. was making fun of his mother’s concern for his future
4. was not showing respect for people or things around him

【解説】

The cat thought, “I don’t like this guy,” because Yuji (　　).
ネコは「こいつ嫌い」と考えた。なぜならユウジは (　　)。

1. could not recall the taste of food he had eaten at breakfast
「彼が朝食に食べた食べ物の味を思い出せなかった」

本文にこうあります。

Actually, the taste of toast in my memory was vague. I couldn’t remember what else had been served for breakfast recently, either.
「実際、私の記憶の中のトーストの味は漠然としていた。最近、朝食に他に何が出されたのかも思い出せませんでした」

確かにそういう記述はありますが、だからといって「こいつ嫌い」となるでしょうか。

2. tried to hide his efforts to study for the final exams
「期末試験のために勉強する努力を隠そうとした」

Mmm というユウジの返事は、自分の努力を隠そうとしていたのでしょうか。仮にそうだとしても、それと「こいつ嫌い」とはつながりません。この選択肢は違います。

3. was making fun of his mother’s concern for his future
「彼の将来に対する、母親の心配をからかっていた」

make fun of ～で「～をからかう」の意味になります。

問2で確認した通り、母親はユウジの次のテストを心配しています。選択肢に future とありますが、普通 future と言えば、もっと先の話ですね。

またユウジの態度は「からかう」ではありません。この選択肢は違います。

4. was not showing respect for people or things around him
「彼の周りの人や物に対する敬意を示さなかった」

これに関する描写は色々ありますが、一番代表的なものはこれでしょうか。

The human I was just mindlessly putting in my mouth anything that was on the plate while handling the phone.
「人間の私は携帯電話を触りながら、心なくお皿にあるものはなんでも口に入れていました」

そしてそれに対する感想がこうあります。

For the first time, I realized how I really looked to other people.
「私は初めて、自分が他の人に本当にどう見えるかを実感しました」

確かに、携帯を触りながら食事をしている様子を客観的に見ると、なんか嫌な感じがしますよね。ということで、この選択肢が正解です。

【正解】4

問4

問題次の物語を読み、下の問いの (　　) に入れるのに最も適当なものを、下の1～4のうちから一つ選べ。

Then, as I started to leave the table, our eyes met. “Wow! Mom, look! There’s a cat in the dining room!”
I didn’t know why, but I was running. I felt I had to escape. Running up the stairs, I found the window in my room was open. I jumped! I had a strange feeling. The world suddenly seemed to have shifted. I felt my body falling sown and….
Bump!
I was awake, lying on the floor of my room. I slowly sat up and looked around. Everything looked like it usually did. I looked at my hands. I was relieved to see they were no longer covered with fur. I stood up and, with a yawn, extended my arms above my head to stretch my back. Without thinking, as was my usual habit in the morning, I started to my desk where my smartphone had completed charging and … I stopped.
After pausing for a moment, I turned around and went downstairs for breakfast.

問4
At the end of the story, Yuji did not pick up his smartphone because he (　　).

1. decided it was time to improve his attitude
2. realized that it was not yet fully charged
3. wanted to stick to his old priorities
4. was afraid of being scolded by his mother

【解説】

At the end of the story, Yuji did not pick up his smartphone because he (　　).
「物語の最後にユウジはスマートフォンを手に取りませんでした。なぜなら彼は (　　)」

1. decided it was time to improve his attitude
「彼の態度を改善する時が来たと決心した」

問3で確認した通り、食事中にスマートフォンを触るのは良くないと感じたのでしょうね。この選択肢が正解のようですが、若干決め手に欠ける感じです。他の選択肢も確認しましょう。

2. realized that it was not yet fully charged
「まだ完全に充電されていないことに気づいた」

本文にこうあります。

Without thinking, as was my usual habit in the morning, I started to my desk where my smartphone had completed charging
「いつもの朝の習慣のように、何も考えずにスマートフォンの充電が完了した机に向かいました」

コンセントが抜けていたのでしょうか。そんなことは書かれていませんね。この選択肢は違います。

3. wanted to stick to his old priorities
「彼の古い優先事項に固執したかった」

彼の古い優先事項とは何なのでしょうか。話の流れから考えると、「食事よりもスマートフォン優先」ということだと考えられます。

それなら、スマートフォンを手に取らないのはおかしいですね。この選択肢は違います。

4. was afraid of being scolded by his mother
「母親に叱られるのが怖かった」

問2で確認した通り、食事の時の母親の小言は「食事中のマナー」ではなく、「最近の勉強の様子」についてです。なので、仮に母親に母親に叱られるのが嫌だと思ったとしても、それとスマートフォンとは関係ありません。

また問2での母親に対する態度からして、「怖い」感情は持たないように感じがします。ということで、この選択肢は違います。

この問題は消去法で他の選択肢を消して、残った 1. が正解とわかるという問題だと思います。

【正解】1

問5

問題次の物語を読み、下の問いの (　　) に入れるのに最も適当なものを、下の1～4のうちから一つ選べ。

Ahhhhhhhhhhh!
With a big yawn I woke up. What a fresh morning! I felt very sharp, much sharper than usual. I was able to hear the singing of birds more clearly than ever before. I noticed the smell of coffee coming up from downstairs. I stretched out my arm in front of myself and raised my back; it felt so good. I sat up straight, licked my hand, and started to clean my face with it…. Huh? … Something was strange. Why was I licking my hand with my tongue? Why was my body covered with fur? I tried to say something, but the sound that came out my mouth was … “Meow.”
It was certainly my bedroom that I was in. It was certainly my bed that I was sitting on. Everything was as usual except that … I seemed to have changed into a different creature. I was so surprised that I couldn’t move. I couldn’t do anything. I wondered ─ would I have to spend the rest of my life as an animal? I began to feel afraid…. But after a few moments those feelings passed. So, with a wave of my tail, I started to explore my surroundings. A cat’s mind is said to be changeable like that.
As I went down the stairs, the smell of coffee grew stronger and I could tell what was for breakfast. Maybe the senses of a cat are sharper than those of a human. When I got to the dining room, what I saw almost stopped my heart. It was me! The human I was sitting at the dining table! I couldn’t take my eyes off myself.
The human I was absorbed in a smartphone, maybe writing responses to friends’ messages or playing an online game. Bending my head down toward the phone, I was sitting with rounded shoulders and a curved back. I looked very uncomfortable.
I sometimes took a little bite of toast, but it appeared that I was not noticing any taste in my mouth. Actually, the taste of toast in my memory was vague. I couldn’t remember what else had been served for breakfast recently, either. The human I was just mindlessly putting in my mouth anything that was on the plate while handling the phone. I was so focused on the text messages or games that I took little interest in what was happening around me. In fact, my face had no expression on it at all.
“Yuji, you never study these days. Are you ready for your final exams? You’re making me a little a bit worried,” said Mom.
“Mmm,” said I. A sign of frustration briefly appeared on my face, but it disappeared in an instant. My face was again as expressionless as it has been before.
“I don’t like this guy,” I thought. But this guy was me. I couldn’t deny it. For the first time, I realized how I really looked to other people.
Then, as I started to leave the table, our eyes met. “Wow! Mom, look! There’s a cat in the dining room!”
I didn’t know why, but I was running. I felt I had to escape. Running up the stairs, I found the window in my room was open. I jumped! I had a strange feeling. The world suddenly seemed to have shifted. I felt my body falling sown and….
Bump!
I was awake, lying on the floor of my room. I slowly sat up and looked around. Everything looked like it usually did. I looked at my hands. I was relieved to see they were no longer covered with fur. I stood up and, with a yawn, extended my arms above my head to stretch my back. Without thinking, as was my usual habit in the morning, I started to my desk where my smartphone had completed charging and … I stopped.
After pausing for a moment, I turned around and went downstairs for breakfast.

問5
What is the theme of this story?

1. Cats have much better senses than humans.
2. Observing yourself can lead to self-change.
3. People using smartphones look strange.
4. Unbelievable things can happen in dreams.

【解説】

What is the theme of this story?
「この物語のテーマは何ですか」

1. Cats have much better senses than humans.
「ネコは人間よりもはるかに感覚が良い」

本文にこうあります。

Maybe the senses of a cat are sharper than those of a human.
「ネコの感覚は人間よりも鋭いかもしれません」

しかし、これがこの物語のテーマかと言われると、微妙ですね。この選択肢は違います。

2. Observing yourself can lead to self-change.
「自分を観察することは自己変化につながる可能性がある」

問3でも確認しましたが、本文にこうあります。

For the first time, I realized how I really looked to other people.
「私は初めて、自分が他の人に本当にどう見えるかを実感しました」

これで反省して、最後にスマートフォンを手に取らずに朝食へ向かったのですね。この選択肢が正解です。

3. People using smartphones look strange.
「スマートフォンを使用している人は奇妙に見える」

この選択肢が少し迷うところだと思います。スマートフォンを触りながら食事をしている様子に、「こいつ嫌い」となったのですから、この選択肢でも良いのではないかと、思うかもしれません。

しかし、選択肢をみると単に「スマートフォンをを使用している人」となっています。「食事中に」といった条件がありません。

スマートフォンをを使用すること自体は、別に奇妙ではありません。そんなスマートフォンメーカーや通信事業者を敵に回すようなものがテーマになるわけはありません。

ということで、この選択肢は違います。

4. Unbelievable things can happen in dreams.
「夢の中では信じられないことが起こります」

人間がネコになるのですから、信じられないことでしょう。しかし、これがテーマかと言われると微妙ですね。この選択肢は違います。

【正解】2