(6) Environmental degradation through the lens of satoyama landscapes has also drawn attention to the food and fuel debate in Japan. In 1950, 45.5% of the labor force was involved in agriculture. It has since shrunk to 7%, approximately 60% of whom are over 65 years of age, and the agricultural industry now accounts for a mere 1.3% of the GDP11. In the most food import-dependant country among industrialized nations - Japan’s food self-sufficiency rate having dropped to 39% - land use, resource management and the weak state of food and fuel security are of growing concern.
注 11GDP 国内総生産(1年間に国内で新たに生産された財・サービスの価値の合計)
【設問】
問8 In paragraph (6), the underlined word “It” at the beginning of sentence 3, refers to the [ ].
イ lens of satoyama landscapes
ロ food and fuel debate
ハ most food import-dependant country
ニ labor force involved in agriculture
問9 According to paragraph (6), which of the following is NOT true? [ ].
イ Japan is the most food import-dependant country among industrialized nations
ロ Currently over half the number of farmers are over 65 years of age
ハ Since 1950 the labor force involved in agriculture has increased from 7% to 45.5%
ニ Japan’s food self-sufficiency rate dropped to 39%
問10 According to paragraph (6), [ ] is NOT of growing concern.
イ resource management
ロ food and fuel security
ハ land use
ニ the labor force involved in industry
6.1 Environmental degradation through the lens of satoyama landscapes has also drawn attention to the food and fuel debate in Japan.
[意味把握チェック] 6.1 里山(相)のレンズを通してみた環境の退廢により、日本の食糧や燃料に關する議論への注意も喚起されてきた。
6.2 In 1950, 45.5% of the labor force was involved in agriculture.
[意味把握チェック] 6.2 1950年には、勞働人口の45.5%が農業に關はつてゐた。
6.3 It has since shrunk to 7%, approximately 60% of whom are over 65 years of age, and the agricultural industry now accounts for a mere 1.3% of the GDP.
[意味把握チェック] 6.3 以來それが7%に縮小したが、そのおよそ60%が65歳を超えてゐる。そして今や農業はGDP(/國内總生産)の1.3%を占めてゐるにすぎない。
【讀解のポイント-かたちからのアプロウチ】
・關係代名詞(目的格): whom は who の目的格で、6.3の 7% (of the labor force) を指してゐます。(※2012年6月6日付の關聯記事があります。畫面右の Back Numbers で該當の月・年をクリックし、Calendar で該當日をクリックしてご利用ください)
[語句]
6.3 account for ~ ~の割合を占める/~の(理由を)説明する
6.4 In the most food import-dependant country among industrialized nations - Japan’s food self-sufficiency rate having dropped to 39% - land use, resource management and the weak state of food and fuel security are of growing concern.
[意味把握チェック] 6.4 (先進)工業國中で最も食糧輸入に依存する(この)國-日本の食糧自給率は39%まで下がつてゐる-において、土地利用や資源管理、そして食糧・燃料の安全保障が弱い状態については懸念が深まつて(/關心が高まつて)ゐる。
【讀解のポイント-かたちからのアプロウチ】
・〈of+抽象名詞〉: このかたちは形容詞や副詞のはたらきをします。例としては、of no use (=useless 役に立たない) / of course (もちろん) など。
【設問】
問8 In paragraph (6), the underlined word “It” at the beginning of sentence 3, refers to the [ ]. (第6パラグラフで、第3文の最初の下線部を施した It は~のことを言つてゐる)
イ lens of satoyama landscapes (里山(相)のレンズ)
ロ food and fuel debate (食糧と燃料に關する議論)
ハ most food import-dependant country (食糧を最も輸入に頼る國)
ニ labor force involved in agriculture (農業に關はる勞働人口)
【解答】
ニ
問9 According to paragraph (6), which of the following is NOT true? [ ]. (第6パラグラフによると、次のどれが眞實ではないか)
イ Japan is the most food import-dependant country among industrialized nations (日本は(先進)工業國中で最も食糧輸入に依存する國である)
ロ Currently over half the number of farmers are over 65 years of age (現在は、農業者の半數以上が65歳を超えてゐる)
ハ Since 1950 the labor force involved in agriculture has increased from 7% to 45.5% (1950年以來、農業關聯の勞働人口は7%から45.5%に増加してきてゐる)
ニ Japan’s food self-sufficiency rate dropped to 39% (日本の食糧自給率は39%に落ちた)
【解答】
ハ
問10 According to paragraph (6), [ ] is NOT of growing concern. (第6パラグラフによると、~については懸念が深まつてゐない)
イ resource management (資源管理)
ロ food and fuel security (食糧と燃料についての安全保障)
ハ land use (土地利用)
ニ the labor force involved in industry (産業に關はる勞働人口)
【解答】
ニ