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46 (<旧課程>英語リーディング(第6問) 問8)
問題文
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.
Choose two options for Slide4.(The order does not matter.)( 46 )・( 47 )
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問題
大学入学共通テスト(英語)試験 令和6年度(2024年度)本試験 問46(<旧課程>英語リーディング(第6問) 問8) (訂正依頼・報告はこちら)
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.
Choose two options for Slide4.(The order does not matter.)( 46 )・( 47 )
- you might activate harmful bacteria.
- you might experience stomach pain.
- you might lose feeling in your hands.
- your fingers might feel like they are on fire.
- your nose might start hurting.
正解!素晴らしいです
残念...
この過去問の解説 (2件)
01
(46)(47)ではスライド4 Negative Effects(悪い影響)についてです。
本文の「悪い影響」の部分を確認しましょう。
下記本文参照
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.
つまり、短時間で世界一辛い唐辛子を大量に食べると、
・胃の不調(upset stomach)
・下痢(diarrhea)
・手のしびれ(numb hands)
・心臓発作のような症状(symptoms similar to a heart attack)
が起こると書かれています。
訳)有害な細菌を活性化させる可能性がある
→間違い
唐辛子には抗菌作用があります。
訳)胃の痛みを感じるかもしれない
→正しい
・胃の不調(upset stomach)に対応しています。
訳)手の感覚がなくなる可能性があります。
→正しい
・手のしびれ(numb hands)に対応しています。
訳)指が燃えているように感じるかもしれません。
→間違い
本文に書かれていません。
訳)鼻が痛くなり始めるかもしれません。
→間違い
これはワサビの説明であり、悪影響ではありません。
参考になった数0
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02
この問題では、唐辛子を短期間にたくさん食べた時の悪影響について把握するとともに、2つの選択肢を選ぶ必要があります。
第7段落3文目に、唐辛子を短期間にたくさん食べた際の影響を示す文章があります。
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.
(訳:短時間で世界一辛い唐辛子を複数食べた人々は、腹部の不快感、下痢、手の感覚の麻痺、心臓発作に似た症状を経験したと報告している。100万SHUを含むゴーストペッパーは、触れただけで皮膚を焼くこともある。)
この文章を踏まえて、選択肢を確認しましょう。
訳:有害な細菌を活性化させる可能性があります。
文章中に記載がないため、この回答は誤りです。
訳:腹痛を感じる可能性があります。
文章中にupset stomachs(腹部の不快感)の記載があるため、この回答は正解です。
訳:手の感覚がなくなる可能性があります。
文章中にnumb hands(手の無感覚)の記載があるため、この回答は正解です。
訳:指が火傷したように熱く感じる可能性があります。
burn a person’s skin if they are touched.(触れただけで皮膚を焼く)と記載があるため、この回答は誤りです。
訳:鼻が痛くなり始めるかもしれません。
文章中に記載がないため、この回答は誤りです。
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