【解説】2008年センター試験英語第4問A「図表読解」

問題次の文章を読み、下の問いに対する答えとして最も適当なものを、下の1～4のうちから1つ選べ。

Satellites are very closely tied to our daily lives. The best example of this is weather observation satellites. During a weather forecast on television, you can see images of cloud patterns over Japan from the Himawari satellite.
In fact, the table blow shows the satellite in use in mid-2007 was the sixth in the Himawari series, which stretches back to 1997. The six Himawari satellites have each had different characteristics.

Data correct as of June, 2007

Most of the satellites in the Himawari series have had (　問1　) of around six years. However, Himawari 2’s operations were taken over by Himawari 3 after less than three years, and the lifetime of Himawari 5 was extended after there was trouble in launching a new rocket. In 2003, HImawari 5 could no longer be used, which meant there was no functional Himawari satellite in space. As a result, information from an American satellite was used for two years. In 2005, Himawari 6 was launched and the supply of weather photos from Japanese satellites resumed.
Although most of the satellites in this series have been a similar size and weight, Himawari 6 is much bigger than the previous ones as it has air-traffic control as well as weather observation functions. It is the first of a new generation of multi-function satellites.

問1
From the information in the passage, and table, which of the following is the most appropriate for the blank? (　問1　)

1. a launch date
2. an operating lifetime
3. an out-of-service period
4. a repair time

問題次の文章を読み、下の問いに対する答えとして最も適当なものを、下の1～4のうちから1つ選べ。

Data
correct as of June, 2007

Most of the satellites in the Himawari series have had (　問1　) of around six years. However, Himawari 2’s operations were taken over by Himawari 3 after less than three years, and the lifetime of Himawari 5 was extended after there was trouble in launching a new rocket. In 2003, HImawari 5 could no longer be used, which meant there was no functional Himawari satellite in space. As a result, information from an American satellite was used for two years. In 2005, Himawari 6 was launched and the supply of weather photos from Japanese satellites resumed.
Although most of the satellites in this series have been a similar size and weight, Himawari 6 is much bigger than the previous ones as it has air-traffic control as well as weather observation functions. It is the first of a new generation of multi-function satellites.

問2
Which of the following is true about Himawari 6?

1. It is bigger than the others because it has additional functions.
2. It is just five times the weight of Himawari 1.
3. It was taken into space by a Delta rocket from a launch site in Florida.
4. It went into service immediately after its launch.

Most of the satellites in the Himawari series have had (　問1　) of around six years. However, Himawari 2’s operations were taken over by Himawari 3 after less than three years, and the lifetime of Himawari 5 was extended after there was trouble in launching a new rocket. In 2003, HImawari 5 could no longer be used, which meant there was no functional Himawari satellite in space. As a result, information from an American satellite was used for two years. In 2005, Himawari 6 was launched and the supply of weather photos from Japanese satellites resumed.
Although most of the satellites in this series have been a similar size and weight, Himawari 6 is much bigger than the previous ones as it has air-traffic control as well as weather observation functions. It is the first of a new generation of multi-function satellites.

問3
How did Japan get satellite weather data after 2003?

1. An American satellite provided Japan with data.
2. Functional Himawari satellites collected data.
3. Himawari 5 was repaired and reused.
4. Himawari 6 was launched immediately.