大学入学共通テスト（英語） 過去問
令和6年度（2024年度）本試験
問45 (＜旧課程＞英語リーディング（第6問） 問7)

各問の英文や図表を読み、最も適当な選択肢を選びなさい。

You are preparing a presentation for your science club，using the following passage from a science website.

Chili Peppers： The Spice of Life

Tiny pieces of red spice in chili chicken add a nice touch of color，but biting into even a small piece can make a person’s mouth burn as if it were on fire.While some people love this，others want to avoid the painful sensation.At the same time，though，they can eat sashimi with wasabi.This might lead one to wonder what spiciness actually is and to ask where the difference between chili and wasabi comes from.
Unlike sweetness，saltiness，and sourness，spiciness is not a taste.In fact，we do not actually taste heat，or spiciness，when we eat spicy foods.The bite we feel from eating chili peppers and wasabi is derived from different types of compounds.Chili peppers get their heat from a heavier，oil−like element called capsaicin.Capsaicin leaves a lingering，fire−like sensation in our mouths because it triggers a receptor called TRPV1.TRPV1 induces stress and tells us when something is burning our mouths.Interestingly，there is a wide range of heat across the different varieties of chili peppers，and the level depends on the amount of capsaicin they contain. This is measured using the Scoville Scale，which is also called Scoville Heat Units（SHU）.SHUs range from the sweet and mild shishito pepper at 50−200 SHUs to the Carolina Reaper pepper，which can reach up to 2.2 million.
Wasabi is considered a root，not a pepper，and does not contain capsaicin. Thus，wasabi is not ranked on the Scoville Scale.However，people have compared the level of spice in it to chilis with around 1，000 SHUs，which is on the lower end of the scale.The reason some people cannot tolerate chili spice but can eat foods flavored with wasabi is that the spice compounds in it are low in density.The compounds in wasabi vaporize easily，delivering a blast of spiciness to our nose when we eat it.
Consuming chili peppers can have positive effects on our health，and much research has been conducted into the benefits of capsaicin.When capsaicin activates the TRPV1 receptor in a person’s body，it is similar to what happens when they experience stress or pain from an injury. Strangely，capsaicin can also make pain go away.Scientists found that TRPV1 ceases to be turned on after long−term exposure to chili peppers，temporarily easing painful sensations.Thus，skin creams containing capsaicin might be useful for people who experience muscle aches.
Another benefit of eating chili peppers is that they accelerate the metabolism.A group of researchers analyzed 90 studies on capsaicin and body weight and found that people had a reduced appetite when they ate spicy foods.This is because spicy foods increase the heart rate，send more energy to the muscles，and convert fat into energy.Recently，scientists at the University of Wyoming have created a weight−loss drug with capsaicin as a main ingredient.
It is also believed that chili peppers are connected with food safety，which might lead to a healthier life.When food is left outside of a refrigerated environment，microorganisms multiply on it，which may cause sickness if eaten.Studies have shown that capsaicin and other chemicals found in chili peppers have antibacterial properties that can slow down or even stop microorganism growth.As a result，food lasts longer and there are fewer food−borne illnesses.This may explain why people in hot climates have a tendency to use more chili peppers，and therefore，be more tolerant of spicier foods due to repeated exposure.Also，in the past，before there were refrigerators，they were less likely to have food poisoning than people in cooler climates.
Chili peppers seem to have health benefits，but can they also be bad for our health？ Peppers that are high on the Scoville Scale can cause physical discomfort when eaten in large quantities.People who have eaten several of the world’s hottest chilis in a short time have reported experiencing upset stomachs，diarrhea，numb hands，and symptoms similar to a heart attack.Ghost peppers，which contain one million SHUs，can even burn a person’s skin if they are touched.
Luckily the discomfort some people feel after eating spicy foods tends to go away soon―usually within a few hours.Despite some negative side effects，spicy foods remain popular around the world and add a flavorful touch to the table.Remember，it is safe to consume spicy foods，but you might want to be careful about the amount of peppers you put in your dishes.

Which is an error you found on Slide 3？（　45　）