【英語長文_Advance_01】難関高校入試レベルに挑戦！「The Power of Curiosity」

2025/09/29 2025/09/26

こんにちは！今日は、難関高校入試レベルの長文問題にチャレンジしてみましょう。

先日、Penguin Mumの子どもも体験した難関高校の入試。京都だと京都市立堀川高校は最難関レベルで、単語数の多い長文問題で有名です。

特に堀川高校では1000語を超える長文問題もあり、堀川高校の入試対策は、実は英検の準1級やTOEFL iBT、共通テスト対策にも直結しています。その証拠に、早くからTOEFL Juniorで鍛えたうちの子は、堀川高校の入試でも英語は問題なし。なので、早いうちから長文対策を行い、慣れることは高校受験だけでなく、大学入試や海外留学対策にも有効なのです。

今日は、難関高校入試レベルに合わせて作成した英語長文練習問題をご紹介します。もちろん、共通テスト対策、英検準1級対策、TOEFL iBT対策にもバッチリ有効です。

この記事の目次

英語長文練習の利点とは？
さあ、実際に問題を解いてみよう！
ER-A-001：The Power of Curiosity「好奇心の力」
まとめ

英語長文練習の利点とは？

英語長文問題に取り組むことには、たくさんのメリットがあります。

語彙力・読解力の向上
長文を読むことで、文脈の中で単語や表現を覚えられます。知らない単語も前後の内容から推測する力がつきます。
論理的思考力が身につく
長文問題は、筆者の主張や理由、具体例などを読み取る必要があります。これにより、英語で論理的に考える力が鍛えられます。
英検準1級やTOEFL Juniorにも役立つ
英検準1級やTOEFL Juniorなどの試験では、長文読解力が非常に重視されます。普段から長文練習をしておくことで、これらの試験にも自信を持って挑めます。
共通テストの長文対策としても有効
大学入学共通テストでも長文問題の比重が高くなっています。長文練習を積むことで、本番の試験でも落ち着いて読解できる力が身につきます。

そして、英語長文攻略のカギは「慣れ」と「音読」です。

「慣れ」と「音読」については、以下のページにて詳しく紹介しています。

さあ、実際に問題を解いてみよう！

今回は「The Power of Curiosity（好奇心の力）」というテーマの英語長文です。（401語）
中学生レベルより少し難しい単語については、重要単語リストや語注もあるので、大丈夫。
まずは一度、音読してみましょう。

ER-A-001：The Power of Curiosity「好奇心の力」

Curiosity has been a driving force behind many of humanity’s greatest achievements. From the invention of the steam engine to the exploration of outer space, people have always wanted to understand the world around them. But what exactly is curiosity, and why is it so important?

Curiosity is the desire to learn or know about anything; it is a strong wish to discover new things. Unlike simple interest, curiosity pushes people to ask questions and seek answers, even when the process is difficult or time-consuming. For example, in the eighteenth century, inventors in Europe wondered if steam could be used to move machines. Their curiosity led to the creation of the steam engine, which changed society by making transportation and manufacturing much faster and easier.

Curiosity is not only important for inventors and scientists. It is also essential in everyday life. When children ask, “Why is the sky blue?” or “How do birds fly?”, they are showing curiosity. These questions may seem simple, but they are the first steps toward a deeper understanding of science and nature. Teachers and parents can encourage curiosity by helping children find answers and by showing that it is good to ask questions.

However, curiosity is not always easy to maintain. As people grow older, they sometimes become less curious. This may be because they are afraid of making mistakes or because they think they already know enough. But history shows that many great discoveries have come from people who were not afraid to ask questions, even if others thought their ideas were strange.

One famous example is the story of Marie Curie. She was curious about a mysterious energy called radioactivity. Although many people doubted her, she continued her research and eventually won two Nobel Prizes. Her curiosity not only helped her make important scientific discoveries but also inspired many others to follow their own questions.

In today’s world, curiosity is more important than ever. Technology is changing rapidly, and new problems appear every day. To solve these problems, we need people who are willing to explore new ideas and learn new things. Whether you want to be a scientist, an artist, or a teacher, curiosity will help you find creative solutions and make a difference in the world.

In conclusion, curiosity is a powerful force that leads to learning, discovery, and progress. By staying curious and asking questions, anyone can help shape the future.

重要単語　Vocabulary

語注　Note

steam engine: 蒸気機関
radioactivity: 放射能
Nobel Prize: ノーベル賞

チャレンジ！Comprehension Quiz

読めたら、本文の内容が理解できているか、Comprehension Quiz！に挑戦してみましょう。

According to the passage, what is the main difference between curiosity and simple interest?
How did curiosity contribute to the invention of the steam engine?
Why do some people become less curious as they grow older?
What did Marie Curie achieve because of her curiosity?
Why is curiosity especially important in today’s world?