1Hello, everyone. Today I want to talk about something I learned this year. When I was in the second year, I was not good at English. I often got low scores, and I did not like studying it.
2One day, my teacher said, "You don’t have to study for many hours. Just study for ten minutes every day." I thought ten minutes was too short, but I decided to try. I listened to English songs and read a short story every night before going to bed.
3After three months, something changed. I could understand more words in class, and I began to enjoy English. My score on the last test was the best I have ever gotten.
4From this experience, I learned that small steps can make a big difference. If you have something difficult, try doing a little every day. Thank you for listening.
be good at 〜が得意だ、score 点数、decide to 〜することに決める、experience 経験、make a difference ちがいを生む、the best I have ever gotten 今までで最高の
問1 What did the teacher tell the speaker to do?
答え 2（根拠：第2段落） 第2段落の先生の言葉 Just study for ten minutes every day. です。"don’t have to"（〜しなくてよい）を「〜してはいけない」と読みまちがえないようにします。
問2 What did the speaker do every night?
答え 3（根拠：第2段落） 第2段落の最後の文です。
問3 What happened after three months?
答え 2（根拠：第3段落） 第3段落の My score on the last test was the best I have ever gotten. です。現在完了（have ever gotten）の「今までで」の意味に注意します。
問4 このスピーチでいちばん伝えたいことは？
答え 3（根拠：第4段落） スピーチは最後の段落にまとめ（From this experience, I learned that 〜）が来ます。主題を聞かれたら、まず最後の段落を見ます。
長文2 説明文（社会）・149語・4段落・問題4問
Food Loss in Japan
1Food loss means food that can still be eaten but is thrown away. In Japan, millions of tons of food are thrown away every year. This is a big problem for our society and the environment.
2Food loss happens in many places. Some food is thrown away at stores because its date is close. At home, people sometimes buy too much food and cannot finish it. In restaurants, customers often leave food on their plates.
3To reduce food loss, some stores sell food at lower prices when its date is close. Some restaurants let customers choose smaller portions. There are also apps that tell people where they can buy food that would be thrown away.
4We can also do something at home. For example, we can check the food in the refrigerator before shopping and buy only what we need. Small actions like these can help reduce food loss.
2Since you left, many things have happened. Our dog, Max, has learned a new trick. My son Ben has started playing the piano, and he has already played at a small concert.
It has been 〜 since ... …してから〜になる、miss さびしく思う、laughter 笑い声、trick 芸、already もう、have never seen 見たことがない
問1 How long has it been since Yui went back to Japan?
答え 2（根拠：第1段落） 第1段落の It has been three months since 〜 です。five は本を読んだ回数です。
問2 What has Ben started?
答え 1（根拠：第2段落） 第2段落の Ben has started playing the piano です。現在完了（has started）は「始めた（今も続いている）」です。
問3 How many times has Sarah read the book?
答え 3（根拠：第3段落） 第3段落の I have read it five times. です。経験の回数は現在完了で表します。
問4 手紙の内容に合うものはどれ？
答え 2（根拠：第4段落） 第4段落の We are planning to visit Japan next spring. です。ベンは桜を見たことがなく、本をあげたのはサラです。
長文5 説明文（受け身）・123語・4段落・問題4問
Kimono Made from Old Clothes
1In Japan, kimono have been worn for hundreds of years. In the past, a kimono was used for a very long time. When it got old, it was made into smaller things.
2For example, an old kimono was cut and made into a jacket for a child. Later, the cloth was used as a bag or a cushion. Finally, small pieces were used to clean the house.
3Today, this old Japanese way of thinking is called "mottainai." It means that things should not be wasted. The word is now known by many people around the world.
4Some young designers in Japan are making new fashion from old kimono. Their clothes are sold online, and they are loved by people in other countries, too.
be worn 着られる（wear の受け身）、be made into 〜に作りかえられる、cloth 布、waste むだにする、be known by 〜に知られている、designer デザイナー
問1 What was an old kimono made into first?
答え 3（根拠：第2段落） 第2段落の For example のあとの最初の例です。Later（のちに）、Finally（最後に）と順番が続きます。
問2 What does "mottainai" mean?
答え 2（根拠：第3段落） 第3段落の It means that 〜 が意味の説明です。
問3 Who are making new fashion from old kimono?
答え 1（根拠：第4段落） 第4段落の最初の文です。
問4 受け身の文 "Their clothes are sold online" の意味は？
答え 2（根拠：第4段落） be動詞＋過去分詞（are sold）は「〜される」です。
長文6 物語（関係代名詞）・139語・4段落・問題4問
The Boy Who Planted Trees
1There was a boy who lived in a village near a dry mountain. The mountain had no trees, and the river that ran through the village often became dry in summer.
2One day, the boy read a book which said that trees can keep water in the ground. He decided to plant trees on the mountain. The people who lived in the village laughed at him. "One boy cannot change a mountain," they said.
3But the boy planted one tree every week. Some trees died, but he did not stop. Ten years later, a small forest that he had made was growing on the mountain.
4Slowly, the river had water even in summer. The people who had laughed at him began to help. Today, the mountain is green, and the village has a festival that celebrates the boy’s trees.
2Many people do not think about how far their food travels. Food that travels a long way needs a lot of fuel for ships, planes, and trucks. This can be bad for the environment.
3Some people try to buy food that is grown near their homes. They can ask the farmers how the food was grown. They also know when it was picked, so it is fresh.
come from 〜から来る、travel 移動する、fuel 燃料、grow / grown 育てる／育てられた、pick とる（収穫する）、produce 生産する
問1 Where do most bananas sold in Japan come from?
答え 2（根拠：第1段落） 第1段落の come from other countries です。
問2 Why can food that travels a long way be bad for the environment?
答え 2（根拠：第2段落） 第2段落の needs a lot of fuel 〜 と This can be bad for the environment. です。This は前の文を指します。
問3 間接疑問 "how the food was grown" の意味は？
答え 1（根拠：第3段落） 疑問詞＋主語＋動詞の順で、文の中に入った疑問文（間接疑問）です。
問4 筆者が読者にすすめていることは？
答え 2（根拠：第4段落） 最後の段落の命令文 check where the food was produced がすすめです。
長文8 表を読む問題（お知らせ）・102語・4段落・問題4問
Library Event Schedule
City Library: Events in August
Event
Day
Time
For
Picture Book Time
Every Saturday
10:00–10:30
Children (3–6)
English Reading Club
August 8, 22
14:00–15:30
Junior high students
How to Make a Book
August 15
13:00–16:00
Junior high students and adults
Movie Day
August 29
18:00–20:00
Everyone
1The City Library has some special events in August. All events are free, but you need to sign up at the front desk for "How to Make a Book" because only twenty people can join.
2The English Reading Club meets twice in August. Students read short English stories together and talk about them in English. A teacher from Canada helps them.