「ドリトル先生航海記」から学ぶ大学入試・英検・TOEIC頻出語彙と読解(42)

　著作権の切れた童話「ドリトル先生航海記」から、シンプルで、大学入試にもTOEICにも英検にも有効な練習問題を作成しています。楽しみながら英語力を伸ばしていただければ幸いです。
　いままでにここのブログで連載した「オズの魔法使い」から学ぶ頻出語彙と読解、ドリトル先生アフリカゆきで学ぶ語彙・読解は冒頭から通読できるようにしていますので、ご利用頂ければ幸いです。大学入試でもTOEICでも英検でも童話が出題されることはまずないとはいえ、頻出語彙や文法はかなり重なるためペーパーバックを一冊読み終える効用は非常に大きいです。おおむねの目安としては実用英検準２級一次でコンスタントに九割以上得点できるようであれば、やさしいペーパーバックは読めます。
　ドリトル先生航海記で学ぶ語彙・読解も連載終了後には冒頭から通読できるように並べ替える予定です。コロンで区切られているのが四語選択問題、スラッシュで区切られているのが四語整序問題になっています。

※(41)の解答①(are to promise me)②(warn)③(deserve)④(arrange)④(whispered)⑤(pretended to look into)⑥(trying to think up)⑦(bound to win this)⑧(if he does win)⑨(busy with his boots)⑩(care)⑪(delighted)⑫(load)⑬(were to be seen)⑮(to match himself against)⑯(waistcoat to close in)⑰(us making fun of)⑱(enormous)⑲(them careful instructions for)⑳(exactly)

(42)
Of course the man who took us in there didn't understand ①(doing / what / were / we). He ②*(rapidly : merely : tremendously : generously)thought the fat Englishman was crazy when he saw the Doctor making signs and talking in ox ③(mouth : head : foot : tongue).

From there the Doctor went to the matadors' dressing-rooms while Bumpo and I with Polynesia ④(way / made / into / our ) the bull-ring and took our seats in the great open-air theatre.

It was a very gay ⑤*(thought : sight : faith : deal). Thousands of ladies and gentlemen were there, all dressed in their smartest clothes; and everybody seemed very happy and cheerful.

Right at the beginning Don Enrique got up and explained to the people that the first ⑥*(taste : force : detail : item) on the program was to be a match between the English Doctor and Pepito de Malaga. He told them what he had promised if the Doctor should win. But the people did not seem to think there was much chance of that. A ⑦**(pastime : roar : fame: nerve) of laughter went up at the very mention of such a thing.

When Pepito came into the ring everybody cheered, the ladies blew kisses and the men clapped and waved their hats.

Presently a large door on the other side of the ring was rolled back and in galloped one of the bulls; then the door was closed again. At once the matador became very much on the ⑧*(sober : alert : gigantic : weird). He waved his red cloak and the bull ⑨*(frightened : rushed : exploded : absorbed) at him. Pepito stepped ⑩**(nimbly : rigidly : entirely : intimately) aside and the people cheered again.

This game was repeated several times. But I noticed that whenever Pepito got into a tight place and seemed to be ⑪(from / danger / real / in) the bull, an assistant of his, who always hung around somewhere near, drew the bull's attention ⑫(by / upon / waving / himself) another red cloak. Then the bull would chase the assistant and Pepito was left in safety. Most often, as soon as he had drawn the bull off, this assistant ran for the high fence and vaulted out of the ring to save himself. They evidently had it all arranged, these matadors; and it didn't seem to me that they were in any very great danger from the poor ⑬**(fragile : humble : trivial : clumsy) bull so long as they didn't slip and fall.

After about ten minutes of this kind of thing the small door into the matadors' dressing-room opened and the Doctor ⑭**(healed : ensured : strolled : exceeded) into the ring. As soon as his fat figure, dressed In sky-blue velvet, appeared, the crowd rocked in ⑮(seats / their / laughter / with).

Juan Hagapoco, as they had called him, walked out into the centre of the ring and bowed ceremoniously to the ladies in the boxes. Then he bowed to the bull. Then he bowed to Pepito. While he was bowing to Pepito's assistant the bull started to ⑯(him / rush / from / at) behind.

"Look out! Look out!—The bull! You will be killed!" ⑰*(spoiled : united : attached : yelled) the crowd.

But the Doctor ⑱*(rationally : strictly : uneasily : calmly) finished his bow. Then turning round he folded his arms, fixed the on-rushing bull with his eye and frowned a terrible frown.

Presently a ⑲*(awful : curious : typical : negative) thing happened: the bull's speed got slower and slower. It almost looked as though he were afraid of that frown. Soon he stopped altogether. The Doctor shook his finger at him. He began to tremble. At last, ⑳(his / tucking / between / tail) his legs, the bull turned round and ran away.

解答は次回発表。ご意見、ご要望等はsuzuyasu@wmail.plala.or.jpでも承っております。

「ドリトル先生航海記」から学ぶ大学入試・英検・TOEIC頻出語彙と読解(41)

　著作権の切れた童話「ドリトル先生航海記」から、シンプルで、大学入試にもTOEICにも英検にも有効な練習問題を作成しています。楽しみながら英語力を伸ばしていただければ幸いです。コロンで区切られているのが四語選択問題、スラッシュで区切られているのが四語整序問題になっています。
　わからない単語が四語選択問題の中にあれば辞書で調べて、どの単語が文脈に合うか考えるだけでも英語力がつきます。英英辞典を使えれば効果倍増です。
ネイティブの発想でわかりやすく書かれた英英辞典は英語の万能細胞と言っても過言ではありません。
　英英辞典が使えるかどうかは
英英実力判定テストでお調べください。使いにくければ
english x englishをお試しください。英英辞典を使うのが楽になります。

※(40)の解答①(fun of this traveling)②(cared)③(crowd of admiring ladies)④(Doctor got red in)⑤(hospitable)⑥(went on to explain) ⑦(defend)⑧(bulls killed like that)⑨(quick on your feet)⑩(throwing kisses to them)⑪(where we were from)⑫(firmly)⑬(exploded)⑭(noble)⑮(only when he is)⑯(supplied)⑰(come into his eyes)⑱(offended)⑲(tricks)⑳(beat)

(41)
"Very good," said the Doctor, "now I understand that you are quite a powerful man in these islands. If you wished to stop all bullfighting here after to-morrow, you could do it, couldn't you?"

"Yes," said Don Enrique proudly—"I could."

"Well that is what I ask of you—if I win my wager," said John Dolittle. "If I can do more with angry bulls than can Pepito de Malaga, you ①(to / me / are / promise) that there shall never be another bullfight in the Capa Blancas so long as you are alive to stop it. Is it a bargain?"

The Spaniard held out his hand.

"It is a bargain," he said—"I promise. But I must ②*(govern : fine : lend : warn) you that you are merely throwing your life away, for you will certainly be killed. However, that is no more than you ③*(disregard : alarm : deserve : bully) for saying that bullfighting is an unworthy sport. I will meet you here to-morrow morning if you should wish to ④*(imply : arrange : dedicate : relieve) any particulars. Good day, Sir."

As the Spaniard turned and walked into the shop with the bed-maker, Polynesia, who had been listening as usual, flew up on to my shoulder and ④*(repaired : whispered : concentrated : absorbed) in my ear,

"I, have a plan. Get hold of Bumpo and come some place where the Doctor can't hear us. I want to talk to you."

I nudged Bumpo's elbow and we crossed the street and ⑤(to / pretended / into / look) a jeweler's window; while the Doctor sat down upon his bed to lace up his boots, the only part of his clothing he had taken off for the night.

"Listen," said Polynesia, "I've been breaking my head ⑥(think / trying / up / to) some way we can get money to buy those stores with; and at last I've got it."

"The money?" said Bumpo.

"No, stupid. The idea—to make the money with. Listen: the Doctor is simply ⑦(this / bound / win / to) game to-morrow, sure as you're alive. Now all we have to do is to make a side bet with these Spaniards—they're great on gambling—and the trick's done."

"What's a side bet?" I asked.

"Oh I know what that is," said Bumpo proudly. "We used to have lots of them at Oxford when boat-racing was on. I go to Don Enrique and say, 'I bet you a hundred pounds the Doctor wins.' Then ⑧(he / if / win / does), Don Enrique pays me a hundred pounds; and if he doesn't, I have to pay Don Enrique."

"That's the idea," said Polynesia. "Only don't say a hundred pounds: say two-thousand five-hundred pesetas. Now come and find old Don Ricky-ticky and try to look rich."

So we crossed the street again and slipped into the bed-maker's shop while the Doctor was still ⑨(with / boots / busy / his).

"Don Enrique," said Bumpo, "allow me to introduce myself. I am the Crown Prince of Jolliginki. Would you ⑩*(persuade : care : maintain : substitute) to have a small bet with me on to-morrow's bullfight?"

Don Enrique bowed.

"Why certainly," he said, "I shall be ⑪(corrected : wounded : associated : delighted). But I must warn you that you are bound to lose. How much?"

"Oh a mere truffle," said Bumpo—"just for the fun of the thing, you know. What do you say to three-thousand pesetas?"

"I agree," said the Spaniard bowing once more. "I will meet you after the bullfight to-morrow."

"So that's all right," said Polynesia as we came out to join the Doctor. "I feel as though quite a ⑫*(liberty : vote : load : refuge)had been taken off my mind."

THE EIGHTH CHAPTER. THE GREAT BULLFIGHT
THE next day was a great day in Monteverde. All the streets were hung with flags; and everywhere gaily dressed crowds ⑬(be / were / seen / to )flocking towards the bull-ring, as the big circus was called where the fights took place.

The news of the Doctor's challenge had gone round the town and, it seemed, had caused much ⑭*(amusement : instruction : environment : article) to the islanders. The very idea of a mere foreigner daring ⑮(against / to / himself / match) the great Pepito de Malaga!—Serve him right if he got killed!

The Doctor had borrowed a bullfighter's suit from Don Enrique; and very gay and wonderful he looked in it, though Bumpo and I had hard work getting the ⑯(in / close / waistcoat / to) front and even then the buttons kept bursting off it in all directions.

When we set out from the harbor to walk to the bull-ring, crowds of small boys ran after ⑰(making / us / of / fun) the Doctor's fatness, calling out, "Juan Hagapoco, el grueso matador!" which is the Spanish for, "John Dolittle, the fat bullfighter." As soon as we arrived the Doctor said he would like to take a look at the bulls before the fight began; and we were at once led to the bull pen where, behind a high railing, six ⑱*(concrete : enormous : lazy : random) black bulls were tramping around wildly.

In a few hurried words and signs the Doctor told the bulls what he was going to do and gave ⑲(for / them / instructions / careful) their part of the show. The poor creatures were tremendously glad when they heard that there was a chance of bullfighting being stopped; and they promised to do ⑳*(mutually : merely : exactly : immensely) as they were told.

解答は次回発表。ご意見、ご要望等はsuzuyasu@wmail.plala.or.jpでも承っております。

「ドリトル先生航海記」から学ぶ大学入試・英検・TOEIC頻出語彙と読解(40)

　著作権の切れた童話「ドリトル先生航海記」から、シンプルで、大学入試にもTOEICにも英検にも有効な練習問題を作成しています。楽しみながら英語力を伸ばしていただければ幸いです。本日登場するスペインの闘牛は今も議論の種になります。
　コロンで区切られているのが四語選択問題、スラッシュで区切られているのが四語整序問題です。四語選択問題の単語は大学入試、英検、TOEICに共通する重要単語で＊印は難易度の目安です。＊印が多いほど難しい単語になっています。無印は語法・文法等の問題です。

※(39)の解答①(make himself captain of)②(ship their own way)③(got it all worked)④(come down expecting more)⑤(last)⑥(inclined)⑦(we could watch what)⑧(coming out from her)⑨(caused)⑩(puzzled how to buy)⑪(suggested)⑫(had got rid of)⑬(narrow)⑭(lean)⑮(his door whistling to) ⑯(on talking far into)⑰(hear of our going)⑱(invited us to spend)⑲(spare)⑳(mingled)

(40)
Somehow it made me think of my mother and father far away in Puddleby, with their regular habits, the evening practise on the flute and the rest—doing the same thing every day. I felt sort of sorry for them in a way, because they missed the ①(of / fun / traveling / this) life, where we were doing something new all the time—even sleeping differently. But I suppose if they had been invited to go to bed on a pavement in front of a shop they wouldn't have ②*(cared : occupied : argued : attained) for the idea at all. It is funny how some people are.

THE SEVENTH CHAPTER. THE DOCTOR'S WAGER
NEXT morning we were awakened by a great racket. There was a procession coming down the street, a number of men in very gay clothes followed by a large ③(of / crowd / ladies / admiring) and cheering children. I asked the Doctor who they were.

"They are the bullfighters," he said. "There is to be a bullfight to-morrow."

"What is a bullfight?" I asked.

To my great surprise the ④(got / in / Doctor / red) the face with anger. It reminded me of the time when he had spoken of the lions and tigers in his private zoo.

"A bullfight is a stupid, cruel, disgusting business," said he. "These Spanish people are most lovable and ⑤**(gloomy : hospitable : mean : racial) folk. How they can enjoy these wretched bullfights is a thing I could never understand."

Then the Doctor ⑥(explain / to / on / went) to me how a bull was first made very angry by teasing and then allowed to run into a circus where men came out with red cloaks, waved them at him, and ran away. Next the bull was allowed to tire himself out by tossing and killing a lot of poor, old, broken-down horses who couldn't ⑦*(award : offer : defend : observe) themselves. Then, when the bull was thoroughly out of breath and wearied by this, a man came out with a sword and killed the bull.

"Every Sunday," said the Doctor, "in almost every big town in Spain there are six ⑧(killed / bulls / that / like) and as many horses."

"But aren't the men ever killed by the bull?" I asked.

"Unfortunately very seldom," said he. "A bull is not nearly as dangerous as he looks, even when he's angry, if you are only ⑨(your / quick / feet / on) and don't lose your head. These bullfighters are very clever and nimble. And the people, especially the Spanish ladies, think no end of them. A famous bullfighter (or matador, as they call them) is a more important man in Spain than a king—Here comes another crowd of them round the corner, look. See the girls ⑩(to / throwing / them / kisses). Ridiculous business!"

At that moment our friend the bed-maker came out to see the procession go past. And while he was wishing us good morning and enquiring how we had slept, a friend of his walked up and joined us. The bed-maker introduced this friend to us as Don Enrique Cardenas.

Don Enrique when he heard ⑪(from / where / were / we), spoke to us in English. He appeared to be a well-educated, gentlemanly sort of person.

"And you go to see the bullfight to-morrow, yes?" he asked the Doctor pleasantly.

"Certainly not," said John Dolittle ⑫*(curiously : patiently : firmly : slightly). "I don't like bullfights—cruel, cowardly shows."

Don Enrique nearly ⑬*(imitated : endeavored : exploded : neglected). I never saw a man get so excited. He told the Doctor that he didn't know what he was talking about. He said bullfighting was a ⑭*(naked : remote : sufficient : noble) sport and that the matadors were the bravest men in the world.

"Oh, rubbish!" said the Doctor. "You never give the poor bull a chance. It is ⑮(when / is / only / he) all tired and dazed that your precious matadors dare to try and kill him."

I thought the Spaniard was going to strike the Doctor he got so angry. While he was still spluttering to find words, the bed-maker came between them and took the Doctor aside. He explained to John Dolittle in a whisper that this Don Enrique Cardenas was a very important person; that he it was who ⑯*(guessed : fulfilled : founded : supplied) the bulls—a special, strong black kind—from his own farm for all the bullfights in the Capa Blancas. He was a very rich man, the bed-maker said, a most important personage. He mustn't be allowed to take offense on any account.

I watched the Doctor's face as the bed-maker finished, and I saw a flash of boyish mischief ⑰(into / come / eyes / his) as though an idea had struck him. He turned to the angry Spaniard.

"Don Enrique," he said, "you tell me your bullfighters are very brave men and skilful. It seems I have ⑱**(offended : cherished : suspended : seized) you by saying that bullfighting is a poor sport. What is the name of the best matador you have for to-morrow's show?"

"Pepito de Malaga," said Don Enrique, "one of the greatest names, one of the bravest men, in all Spain."

"Very well," said the Doctor, "I have a proposal to make to you. I have never fought a bull in my life. Now supposing I were to go into the ring to-morrow with Pepito de Malaga and any other matadors you choose; and if I can do more ⑲**(spectacles : legends : tricks : cheers) with a bull than they can, would you promise to do something for me?"

Don Enrique threw back his head and laughed.

"Man," he said, "you must be mad! You would be killed at once. One has to be trained for years to become a proper bullfighter."

"Supposing I were willing to take the risk of that—You are not afraid, I take it, to accept my offer?"

The Spaniard frowned.

"Afraid!" he cried, "Sir, if you can ⑳*(envy : beat : employ : improve)Pepito de Malaga in the bull-ring I'll promise you anything it is possible for me to grant."

解答は次回発表。ご意見、ご要望等はsuzuyasu@wmail.plala.or.jpでも承っております。

「ドリトル先生航海記」から学ぶ大学入試・英検・TOEIC頻出語彙と読解(39)

　大方の英語試験において、長文のレベルを超えた難度の語彙・語法・文法等が問われることはそうそうありません。比較的難問が多いとされる英検１級一次語彙も、三分の二程度は英検１級レベルの長文でよく見かけます。語彙・語法・文法等を長文の中で学べば英語力を自然に伸ばせて効率的な試験対策にもなります。ただ日本人英語学習者の場合、三面記事が読めない段階で社説を読まされたり、童話が読めない段階で小説を読まされたりして伸び悩むケースが多々ありました。しかし、やさしいものをマスターしてから徐々にレベルを上げていけば英語は誰でも上達します。
　そんなわけで、著作権の切れた童話「ドリトル先生航海記」から、シンプルで、大学入試にもTOEICにも英検にも有効な練習問題を作成しています。楽しみながら英語力を伸ばしていただければ幸いです。
　コロンで区切られているのが四語選択問題、スラッシュで区切られているのが四語整序問題です。四語選択問題の単語は大学入試、英検、TOEICに共通する重要単語で＊印は難易度の目安です。＊印が多いほど難しい単語になっています。無印は語法・文法等の問題です。

※(38)の解答①(fast)②(head with some heavy)③(conscience)④(bear)⑤(pardon my saying so)⑥(stern look coming into)⑦(bother) ⑧(nuisance)⑨(calculation)⑩(all the way to)⑪(decency)⑫(deck pointing out all)⑬(refused)⑭(no knowing what he)⑮(joined)⑯(interrupted)⑰(upset)⑱(if we ran into)⑲(take any notice of)⑳(extraordinary)

(39)
"But what are we going to do about Ben Butcher?" Jip put in. "You had some plan Polynesia, hadn't you?"

"Yes. What I'm afraid of is that he may hit the Doctor on the head when he's not looking and ①(captain / make / of / himself) the Curlew. Bad sailors do that sometimes. Then they run the ②(way / own / their / ship) and take it where they want. That's what you call a mutiny."

"Yes," said Jip, "and we ought to do something pretty quick. We can't reach the Capa Blancas before the day after to-morrow at best. I don't like to leave the Doctor alone with him for a minute. He smells like a very bad man to me."

"Well, I've ③(worked / it /got / all)out," said Polynesia. "Listen: is there a key in that door?"

We looked outside the dining-room and found that there was.

"All right," said Polynesia. "Now Bumpo lays the table for lunch and we all go and hide. Then at twelve o'clock Bumpo rings the dinner-bell down here. As soon as Ben hears it he'll ④(down / come / more / expecting) salt beef. Bumpo must hide behind the door outside. The moment that Ben is seated at the dining-table Bumpo slams the door and locks it. Then we've got him. See?"

"How stratagenious!" Bumpo chuckled. "As Cicero said, parrots cum parishioners facilime congregation. I'll lay the table at once."

"Yes and take that Worcestershire sauce off the dresser with you when you go out," said Polynesia. "Don't leave any loose eatables around. That fellow has had enough to ⑤**(melt : last : surpass : terrify) any man for three days. Besides, he won't be so ⑥*(concerned : annoyed : struggled : inclined) to start a fight when we put him ashore at the Capa Blancas if we thin him down a bit before we let him out."

So we all went and hid ourselves in the passage where ⑦(what / we / watch / could) happened. And presently Bumpo came to the foot of the stairs and rang the dinner-bell like mad. Then he hopped behind the dining-room door and we all kept still and listened.

Almost immediately, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, down the stairs tramped Ben Butcher, the able seaman. He walked into the dining-saloon, sat himself down at the head of the table in the Doctor's place, tucked a napkin under his fat chin and heaved a sigh of expectation.

Then, BANG! Bumpo slammed the door and locked it.

"That settles HIM for a while," said Polynesia ⑧(out / her / coming / from) hiding-place. "Now let him teach navigation to the side-board. Gosh, the cheek of the man! I've forgotten more about the sea than that lumbering lout will ever know. Let's go upstairs and tell the Doctor. Bumpo, you will have to serve the meals in the cabin for the next couple of days."

And bursting into a rollicking Norwegian sea-song, she climbed up to my shoulder and we went on deck.

THE SIXTH CHAPTER. THE BED-MAKER OF MONTEVERDE
WE remained three days in the Capa Blanca Islands.
There were two reasons why we stayed there so long when we were really in such a hurry to get away. One was the shortage in our provisions ⑨*(consumed : possessed : caused : preserved) by the able seaman's enormous appetite. When we came to go over the stores and make a list, we found that he had eaten a whole lot of other things besides the beef. And having no money, we were sorely ⑩(to / puzzled / buy / how) more. The Doctor went through his trunk to see if there was anything he could sell. But the only thing he could find was an old watch with the hands broken and the back dented in; and we decided this would not bring us in enough money to buy much more than a pound of tea. Bumpo ⑪*(predicted : suggested : pretended : reflected) that he sing comic songs in the streets which he had learned in Jolliginki. But the Doctor said he did not think that the islanders would care for African music.

The other thing that kept us was the bullfight. In these islands, which belonged to Spain, they had bullfights every Sunday. It was on a Friday that we arrived there; and after we ⑫(rid / had / of / got)the able seaman we took a walk through the town.

It was a very funny little town, quite different from any that I had ever seen. The streets were all twisty and winding and so ⑬*(distant : narrow : general : frequent) that a wagon could only just pass along them. The houses overhung at the top and came so close together that people in the attics could ⑭*(gain : accompany : chase : lean) out of the windows and shake hands with their neighbors on the opposite side of the street. The Doctor told us the town was very, very old. It was called Monteverde.

As we had no money of course we did not go to a hotel or anything like that. But on the second evening when we were passing by a bed-maker's shop we noticed several beds, which the man had made, standing on the pavement outside. The Doctor started chatting in Spanish to the bed-maker who was sitting at ⑮(to / his / whistling / door) a parrot in a cage. The Doctor and the bed-maker got very friendly talking about birds and things. And as it grew near to supper-time the man asked us to stop and sup with him.

This of course we were very glad to do. And after the meal was over (very nice dishes they were, mostly cooked in olive-oil—I particularly liked the fried bananas) we sat outside on the pavement again and went ⑯(talking / on / into / far) the night.

At last when we got up, to go back to our ship, this very nice shopkeeper wouldn't ⑰(of / hear / going / our) away on any account. He said the streets down by the harbor were very badly lighted and there was no moon. We would surely get lost. He ⑱(us / invited / spend / to) the night with him and go back to our ship in the morning.

Well, we finally agreed; and as our good friend had no ⑲*(dense : spare : medium : slight) bedrooms, the three of us, the Doctor, Bumpo and I, slept on the beds set out for sale on the pavement before the shop. The night was so hot we needed no coverings. It was great fun to fall asleep out of doors like this, watching the people walking to and fro and the gay life of the streets. It seemed to me that Spanish people never went to bed at all. Late as it was, all the little restaurants and cafes around us were wide open, with customers drinking coffee and chatting merrily at the small tables outside. The sound of a guitar strumming softly in the distance ⑳**(ached : blasted : mingled : piled) with the clatter of chinaware and the babble of voices.

解答は次回発表。ご意見、ご要望等はsuzuyasu@wmail.plala.or.jpでも承っております。

「ドリトル先生航海記」から学ぶ大学入試・英検・TOEIC頻出語彙と読解(38)

　ある程度のインプットの蓄積があってはじめてスムーズなアウトプットができるのはネイティブもノンネイティブも同じです。ネイティブの場合は周囲の大人が幼児のレベルのあったインプットを根気よく続けてくれるものの、ノンネイティブはそんな環境を望めません。しかし実力相応の英文の読書で効率的なインプット訓練を重ねていけばアウトプット訓練も楽になります。
　そんなわけで、著作権の切れた童話「ドリトル先生航海記」から、シンプルで、大学入試にもTOEICにも英検にも有効な練習問題を作成しています。楽しみながら英語力を伸ばしていただければ幸いです。
　コロンで区切られているのが四語選択問題、スラッシュで区切られているのが四語整序問題です。四語選択問題の単語は大学入試、英検、TOEICに共通する重要単語で＊印は難易度の目安です。＊印が多いほど難しい単語になっています。無印は語法・文法等の問題です。
　大学入試、英検、TOEICに童話は出題されないとはいえ文法は一緒、語彙もかなり共通しています。大多数の受験者が童話も満足に読めない現状では、童話や子どもニュースが楽に読めれば大いに有利になります。

※(37)の解答①(without raising my head)②(on to amuse you)③(expect)③(we are sure of)④(wondering)⑤(convenient　stopping　place　on)⑥(take)⑦(any rate our direction)⑧(sea without bumping into)⑨(leaning) ⑩(got settled down into)⑪(proper manner of keeping )⑫(duty)⑬(except when she took)⑭(nose till you got) ⑮(long before I began)⑯(appeared)⑰(have eaten that in)⑱(starving)⑲(distinct sound of someone)⑳(sounds as though he)

(38)

So Bumpo and I lit a lantern and climbed over the stores. And there, behind the barrel, sure enough, we found an enormous bearded man ①( slow : fast : early : late) asleep with a well-fed look on his face. We woke him up.

"Washamarrer?" he said sleepily.

It was Ben Butcher, the able seaman.

Polynesia spluttered like an angry fire-cracker.

"This is the last straw," said she. "The one man in the world we least wanted. Shiver my timbers, what cheek!"

"Would it not be advisable," suggested Bumpo, "while the varlet is still sleepy, to strike him on the ②(with / heavy / head / some) object and push him through a port-hole into the sea?"

"No. We'd get into trouble," said Polynesia. "We're not in Jolliginki now, you know—worse luck!—Besides, there never was a port-hole big enough to push that man through. Bring him upstairs to the Doctor."

So we led the man to the wheel where he respectfully touched his cap to the Doctor.

"Another stowaway, Sir," said Bumpo smartly. I thought the poor Doctor would have a fit.

"Good morning, Captain," said the man. "Ben Butcher, able seaman, at your service. I knew you'd need me, so I took the liberty of stowing away—much against my ③*(dignity : credit : forecast : conscience). But I just couldn't ④*(speculate : bear : review : assign)to see you poor landsmen set out on this voyage without a single real seaman to help you. You'd never have got home alive if I hadn't come—Why look at your mainsail, Sir—all loose at the throat. First gust of wind come along, and away goes your canvas overboard—Well, it's all right now I'm here. We'll soon get things in shipshape."

"No, it isn't all right," said the Doctor, "it's all wrong. And I'm not at all glad to see you. I told you in Puddleby I didn't want you. You had no right to come."

"But Captain," said the able seaman, "you can't sail this ship without me. You don't understand navigation. Why, look at the compass now: you've let her swing a point and a half off her course. It's madness for you to try to do this trip alone—if you'll ⑤(so / saying / my / pardon), Sir. Why—why, you'll lose the ship!"

"Look here," said the Doctor, a sudden ⑥(coming / stern / into / look) his eyes, "losing a ship is nothing to me. I've lost ships before and it doesn't ⑦**(exploit : classify : bother : excute) me in the least. When I set out to go to a place, I get there. Do you understand? I may know nothing whatever about sailing and navigation, but I get there just the same. Now you may be the best seaman in the world, but on this ship you're just a plain ordinary ⑧***(nightmare : ingredient : facility : nuisance)—very plain and very ordinary. And I am now going to call at the nearest port and put you ashore."

"Yes, and think yourself lucky," Polynesia put in, "that you are not locked up for stowing away and eating all our salt beef."

"I don't know what the mischief we're going to do now," I heard her whisper to Bumpo. "We've no money to buy any more; and that salt beef was the most important part of the stores."

"Would it not be good political economy," Bumpo whispered back, "if we salted the able seaman and ate him instead? I should judge that he would weigh more than a hundred and twenty pounds."

"How often must I tell you that we are not in Jolliginki," snapped Polynesia. "Those things are not done on white men's ships—Still," she murmured after a moment's thought, "it's an awfully bright idea. I don't suppose anybody saw him come on to the ship—Oh, but Heavens! we haven't got enough salt. Besides, he'd be sure to taste of tobacco."


THE FIFTH CHAPTER. POLYNESIA HAS A PLAN
THEN the Doctor told me to take the wheel while he made a little ⑨**(circulation : supplement : calculation : appetite) with his map and worked out what new course we should take.

"I shall have to run for the Capa Blancas after all," he told me when the seaman's back was turned. "Dreadful nuisance! But I'd sooner swim back to Puddleby than have to listen to that fellow's talk ⑩(way / all / to / the )Brazil."

Indeed he was a terrible person, this Ben Butcher. You'd think that any one after being told he wasn't wanted would have had the ⑪**(decency : fuss : scope : reputation)to keep quiet. But not Ben Butcher. He kept going round the ⑫(out / deck / all / pointing) the things we had wrong. According to him there wasn't a thing right on the whole ship. The anchor was hitched up wrong; the hatches weren't fastened down properly; the sails were put on back to front; all our knots were the wrong kind of knots.

At last the Doctor told him to stop talking and go downstairs. He ⑬*(associated : envied : refused : approved)—said he wasn't going to be sunk by landlubbers while he was still able to stay on deck.

This made us feel a little uneasy. He was such an enormous man there was ⑭(what : no : he : knowing) might do if he got really obstreperous.

Bumpo and I were talking about this downstairs in the dining-saloon when Polynesia, Jip and Chee-Chee came and ⑮*(included : reflected : adopyed : joined) us. And, as usual, Polynesia had a plan.

"Listen," she said, "I am certain this Ben Butcher is a smuggler and a bad man. I am a very good judge of seamen, remember, and I don't like the cut of this man's jib. I—"

"Do you really think," I ⑯**(irritated : abused : located : interrupted), "that it is safe for the Doctor to cross the Atlantic without any regular seamen on his ship?"

You see it had ⑰**(enriched : upset : refromed : misled) me quite a good deal to find that all the things we had been doing were wrong; and I was beginning to wonder what might happen ⑱(into / ran / we / if ) a storm—particularly as Miranda had only said the weather would be good for a certain time; and we seemed to be having so many delays. But Polynesia merely tossed her head scornfully.

"Oh, bless you, my boy," said she, "you're always safe with John Dolittle. Remember that. Don't ⑲(any / take / of / notice) that stupid old salt. Of course it is perfectly true the Doctor does do everything wrong. But with him it doesn't matter. Mark my words, if you travel with John Dolittle you always get there, as you heard him say. I've been with him lots of times and I know. Sometimes the ship is upside down when you get there, and sometimes it's right way up. But you get there just the same. And then of course there's another thing about the Doctor," she added thoughtfully: "he always has ⑳**(extraordinary : ridiculous : verbal : ambiguous) good luck. He may have his troubles; but with him things seem to have a habit of turning out all right in the end. I remember once when we were going through the Straits of Magellan the wind was so strong—"

解答は次回発表。ご意見、ご要望等はsuzuyasu@wmail.plala.or.jpでも承っております。

「ドリトル先生航海記」から学ぶ大学入試・英検・TOEIC頻出語彙と読解(37)

　　中国の一人っ子政策について論じた、TIME誌のHow China Has Pruned Its Families' Treesという記事の第一段落に、Then came a bewildering array of words of which I offer a sampling: father's brother's son who's older than you (tangge), father's brother's daughter who's younger than you (tangmei), mother's sister's son who's younger than you (biaodi), mother's sister's daughter who's older than you (biaojie). Even amid a Maine winter, my brain began to overheat.というくだりがありました。決して難しさのあまり頭がオーバーヒートしたのではなく、煩雑さにうんざりしたのだと思います。
　外国語学習の初歩段階では機械的暗記を避けて通れません。そのため、記憶よりも思考が得意な学習者から英語は「暗記物」として嫌われる傾向がかなりありました。しかしいつまでも「暗記物」である必要はなく、一例を挙げますと、「ドリトル先生航海記」から学ぶ大学入試・英検・TOEIC頻出語彙と読解(36)に登場したstowawayという単語が「密航者」であるのは文脈がわかれば推測できると思います。たとえ試験に出ない単語であっても意味を推測する訓練を重ねれば思考力が伸びます。そのためには、未知語だらけで文脈をつかめないような難しい英文を教材に使うのは避けるのが得策です。
　そんなわけで、著作権の切れた童話「ドリトル先生航海記」から、シンプルで、大学入試にもTOEICにも英検にも有効な練習問題を作成しています。楽しみながら英語力を伸ばしていただければ幸いです。コロンで区切られているのが四語選択問題、スラッシュで区切られているのが四語整序問題になっています。

※(36)の解答①(peak)②(proper)③(temperature)④(make sure there were)⑤(swearing)⑥(flour off him with)⑧(temptation)⑨(knowing that you needed)⑩(stretched)⑪(reckon) ⑫(any way suited to)⑬(extra supply of herrings)⑭(astonishment)⑮(settled down to live) ⑯(apologized)⑰(find Luke work to)⑱(run out of food)⑲(night with nothing but)⑳(before setting out again)

(37)
I was glad to get to bed, although I felt that staying up so tremendously late was great fun. As I climbed into the bunk over the Doctor's and pulled the blankets snugly round me, I found I could look out of the port-hole at my elbow, and, ①(raising / without / head / my) from the pillow, could see the lights of Penzance swinging gently up and down with the motion of the ship at anchor. It was like being rocked to sleep with a little show going ②(you / on / amuse / to). I was just deciding that I liked the life of the sea very much when I fell fast asleep.

THE FOURTH CHAPTER. OUR TROUBLES CONTINUE
THE next morning when we were eating a very excellent breakfast of kidneys and bacon, prepared by our good cook Bumpo, the Doctor said to me,

"I was just wondering, Stubbins, whether I should stop at the Capa Blanca Islands or run right across for the coast of Brazil. Miranda said we could ③*(require : exhibit : conclude : expect) a spell of excellent weather now—for four and a half weeks at least."

"Well," I said, spooning out the sugar at the bottom of my cocoa-cup, "I should think it would be best to make straight across while ③(are / we / of / sure) good weather. And besides the Purple Bird-of-Paradise is going to keep a lookout for us, isn't she? She'll be ④*(reacting : wondering : resolving : describing) what's happened to us if we don't get there in about a month."

"True, quite true, Stubbins. On the other hand, the Capa Blancas make a very ⑤(on / place / stopping / convenient) our way across. If we should need supplies or repairs it would be very handy to put in there."

"How long will it ⑥(make : take : get : hold) us from here to the Capa Blancas?" I asked.

"About six days," said the Doctor—"Well, we can decide later. For the next two days at ⑦(our / any / direction / rate) would be the same practically in either case. If you have finished breakfast let's go and get under way."

Upstairs I found our vessel surrounded by white and gray seagulls who flashed and circled about in the sunny morning air, looking for food-scraps thrown out by the ships into the harbor.

By about half past seven we had the anchor up and the sails set to a nice steady breeze; and this time we got out into the open ⑧(without / into / sea / bumping) a single thing. We met the Penzance fishing fleet coming in from the night's fishing, and very trim and neat they looked, in a line like soldiers, with their red-brown sails all ⑨*(gaining : leaning : settling : screaming) over the same way and the white water dancing before their bows.

For the next three or four days everything went smoothly and nothing unusual happened. During this time we all ⑩(settled / got / into / down) our regular jobs; and in spare moments the Doctor showed each of us how to take our turns at the wheel, the ⑪(keeping / proper / of / manner )a ship on her right course, and what to do if the wind changed suddenly. We divided the twenty-four hours of the day into three spells; and we took it in turns to sleep our eight hours and be awake sixteen. So the ship was well looked after, with two of us always on ⑫*(issue : duty : virtue : insight).

Besides that, Polynesia, who was an older sailor than any of us, and really knew a lot about running ships, seemed to be always awake—⑬(she / except / took / when) her couple of winks in the sun, standing on one leg beside the wheel. You may be sure that no one ever got a chance to stay abed more than his eight hours while Polynesia was around. She used to watch the ship's clock; and if you overslept a half-minute, she would come down to the cabin and peck you gently on the ⑭(you / nose / got / till) up.

I very soon grew to be quite fond of our funny black friend Bumpo, with his grand way of speaking and his enormous feet which some one was always stepping on or falling over. Although he was much older than I was and had been to college, he never tried to lord it over me. He seemed to be forever smiling and kept all of us in good humor. It wasn't ⑮(before / began / long / I ) to see the Doctor's good sense in bringing him—in spite of the fact that he knew nothing whatever about sailing or travel.

On the morning of the fifth day out, just as I was taking the wheel over from the Doctor, Bumpo ⑯*(gathered : reflected : scattered : appeared)and said,

"The salt beef is nearly all gone, Sir."

"The salt beef!" cried the Doctor. "Why, we brought a hundred and twenty pounds with us. We couldn't ⑰(in / have / that / eaten) five days. What can have become of it?"

"I don't know, Sir, I'm sure. Every time I go down to the stores I find another hunk missing. If it is rats that are eating it, then they are certainly colossal rodents."

Polynesia who was walking up and down a stay-rope taking her morning exercise, put in,

"We must search the hold. If this is allowed to go on we will all be ⑱*(hurting : dividing : starving : retiring) before a week is out. Come downstairs with me, Tommy, and we will look into this matter."

So we went downstairs into the store-room and Polynesia told us to keep quite still and listen. This we did. And presently we heard from a dark corner of the hold the ⑲(sound / someone / of / distinct) snoring.

"Ah, I thought so," said Polynesia. "It's a man—and a big one. Climb in there, both of you, and haul him out. It ⑳(he / though / as / sounds) were behind that barrel—Gosh! We seem to have brought half of Puddleby with us. Anyone would think we were a penny ferry-boat. Such cheek! Haul him out."

解答は次回発表。ご意見、ご要望等はsuzuyasu@wmail.plala.or.jpでも承っております。
　

「ドリトル先生航海記」から学ぶ大学入試・英検・TOEIC頻出語彙と読解(36)

　著作権の切れた童話「ドリトル先生航海記」から、シンプルで、大学入試にもTOEICにも英検にも有効な練習問題を作成しています。楽しみながら英語力を伸ばしていただければ幸いです。
　いままでにここのブログで連載した「オズの魔法使い」から学ぶ頻出語彙と読解、ドリトル先生アフリカゆきで学ぶ語彙・読解は並べ替えて冒頭から通読できるようにしましたので、ご利用頂ければ幸いです。ペーパーバックを一冊読み終える効用は非常に大きいです。大学入試でもTOEICでも英検でも童話が出題されることはまずないとはいえ、頻出語彙や文法はかなり重なります。おおむねの目安としては実用英検準２級一次でコンスタントに九割以上得点できるようであれば、やさしいペーパーバックは読めます。
　ドリトル先生航海記で学ぶ語彙・読解も連載終了後には冒頭から通読できるように並べ替える予定です。コロンで区切られているのが四語選択問題、スラッシュで区切られているのが四語整序問題になっています。

※(35)の解答①(overcome)②(were about to sail)③(necessary number of men)④(something in what you)⑤(delighted to have you)⑥(departure)⑦(gave)⑧(left in charge of)⑨(asked her to go)⑩(to see us off)⑪(behaved)⑫(surprised not to see)⑬(intended)⑭(while)⑮(we got stuck on)⑯(appear to be disturbed)⑰(you get out into)⑱(found ourselves free of)⑲(steering)⑳(rough)


(36)
Jip was up in the ①*(article : tale : routine : peak) of the boat with ears cocked and nose stuck out—like a statue, so still—his keen old eyes keeping a sharp look-out for floating wrecks, sand-bars, and other dangers. Each one of us had some special job to do, part of the ②*(proper : final : obvious : positive) running of a ship. Even old Polynesia was taking the sea's ③*(continent : sacrifice : contract : temperature) with the Doctor's bath-ther-mometer tied on the end of a string, to ④(there / make / were / sure) no icebergs near us. As I listened to her ⑤**(indulging : interrupting : swearing : weeping) softly to herself because she couldn't read the pesky figures in the fading light, I realized that the voyage had begun in earnest and that very soon it would be night—my first night at sea!

THE THIRD CHAPTER. OUR TROUBLES BEGIN
JUST before supper-time Bumpo appeared from downstairs and went to the Doctor at the wheel.

"A stowaway in the hold, Sir," said he in a very business-like seafaring voice. "I just discovered him, behind the flour-bags."

"Dear me!" said the Doctor. "What a nuisance! Stubbins, go down with Bumpo and bring the man up. I can't leave the wheel just now."

So Bumpo and I went down into the hold; and there, behind the flour-bags, plastered in flour from head to foot, we found a man. After we had swept most of the ⑥(with / flour / him / off) a broom, we discovered that it was Matthew Mugg. We ⑦***(distracted : hauled : migrated : defied) him upstairs sneezing and took him before the Doctor.

"Why Matthew!" said John Dolittle. "What on earth are you doing here?"

"The ⑧*(proportion : limitation : medicine : temptation) was too much for me, Doctor," said the cat's-meat-man. "You know I've often asked you to take me on voyages with you and you never would. Well, this time, ⑨(needed / you / that / knowing) an extra man, I thought if I stayed hid till the ship was well at sea you would find I came in handy like and keep me. But I had to lie so doubled up, for hours, behind them flour-bags, that my rheumatism came on something awful. I just had to change my position; and of course just as I ⑩*(urged : stretched : struggled : confused) out my legs along comes this here African cook of yours and sees my feet sticking out—Don't this ship roll something awful! How long has this storm been going on? I ⑪***(divert : reckon :render : supress) this damp sea air wouldn't be very good for my rheumatics."

"No, Matthew it really isn't. You ought not to have come. You are not in ⑫(way / to / any / suited) this kind of a life. I'm sure you wouldn't enjoy a long voyage a bit. We'll stop in at Penzance and put you ashore. Bumpo, please go downstairs to my bunk; and listen: in the pocket of my dressing-gown you'll find some maps. Bring me the small one—with blue pencil-marks at the top. I know Penzance is over here on our left somewhere. But I must find out what light-houses there are before I change the ship's course and sail inshore."

"Very good, Sir," said Bumpo, turning round smartly and making for the stairway.

"Now Matthew," said the Doctor, "you can take the coach from Penzance to Bristol. And from there it is not very far to Puddleby, as you know. Don't forget to take the usual provisions to the house every Thursday, and be particularly careful to remember the ⑬(herrings / of / supply / extra) for the baby minks."

While we were waiting for the maps Chee-Chee and I set about lighting the lamps: a green one on the right side of the ship, a red one on the left and a white one on the mast.

At last we heard some one trundling on the stairs again and the Doctor said,

"Ah, here's Bumpo with the maps at last!"

But to our great ⑭*(function : astonishment : fortune : charge) it was not Bumpo alone that appeared but THREE people.

"Good Lord deliver us! Who are these?" cried John Dolittle.

"Two more stowaways, Sir," said Bumpo stepping forward briskly. "I found them in your cabin hiding under the bunk. One woman and one man, Sir. Here are the maps."

"This is too much," said the Doctor feebly. "Who are they? I can't see their faces in this dim light. Strike a match, Bumpo."

You could never guess who it was. It was Luke and his wife. Mrs. Luke appeared to be very miserable and seasick.

They explained to the Doctor that after they had ⑮(down / live / settled / to) together in the little shack out on the fens, so many people came to visit them (having heard about the great trial) that life became impossible; and they had decided to escape from Puddleby in this manner—for they had no money to leave any other way—and try to find some new place to live where they and their story wouldn't be so well known. But as soon as the ship had begun to roll Mrs. Luke had got most dreadfully unwell.

Poor Luke ⑯*(committed : pursued : surrendered : apologized) many times for being such a nuisance and said that the whole thing had been his wife's idea.

The Doctor, after he had sent below for his medicine-bag and had given Mrs. Luke some sal volatile and smelling-salts, said he thought the best thing to do would be for him to lend them some money and put them ashore at Penzance with Matthew. He also wrote a letter for Luke to take with him to a friend the Doctor had in the town of Penzance who, it was hoped, would be able to ⑰(Luke / find / to / work) do there.

As the Doctor opened his purse and took out some gold coins I heard Polynesia, who was sitting on my shoulder watching the whole affair, mutter beneath her breath,

"There he goes—lending his last blessed penny—three pounds ten—all the money we had for the whole trip! Now we haven't the price of a postage-stamp aboard if we should lose an anchor or have to buy a pint of tar—Well, let's, pray we don't ⑱(out / run / food / of )—Why doesn't he give them the ship and walk home?"

Presently with the help of the map the course of the boat was changed and, to Mrs. Luke's great relief, we made for Penzance and dry land.

I was tremendously interested to see how a ship could be steered into a port at ⑲(nothing / night / but / with) light-houses and a compass to guide you. It seemed to me that the Doctor missed all the rocks and sand-bars very cleverly.

We got into that funny little Cornish harbor about eleven o'clock that night. The Doctor took his stowaways on shore in our small row-boat which we kept on the deck of the Curlew and found them rooms at the hotel there. When he got back he told us that Mrs. Luke had gone straight to bed and was feeling much better.

It was now after midnight; so we decided to stay in the harbor and wait till morning ⑳(setting / again / before / out).

解答は次回発表。ご意見、ご要望等はsuzuyasu@wmail.plala.or.jpでも承っております。

「ドリトル先生航海記」から学ぶ大学入試・英検・TOEIC頻出語彙と読解(35)

　著作権の切れた童話「ドリトル先生航海記」から、シンプルで、大学入試にもTOEICにも英検にも有効な練習問題を作成しています。楽しみながら英語力を伸ばしていただければ幸いです。コロンで区切られているのが四語選択問題、スラッシュで区切られているのが四語整序問題になっています。
　わからない単語が四語選択問題の中にあれば辞書で調べて、どの単語が文脈に合うか考えるだけでも英語力がつきます。英英辞典を使えれば効果倍増です。
ネイティブの発想でわかりやすく書かれた英英辞典は英語の万能細胞と言っても過言ではありません。
　英英辞典が使えるかどうかは
英英実力判定テストでお調べください。使いにくければ
english x englishをお試しください。英英辞典を使うのが楽になります。

※(34)の解答①(find it for you)②(contain) ③(what you've done to)⑤(began our preparations for)⑥(surprised to find how)⑦(crowd watching us when)⑧(bound to turn up)⑨(watched me carrying on) ⑩(far)⑪(makes me feel more)⑫(interrupted)⑬(wiped his mouth with )⑭(went up to him)⑮(in need of hands) ⑯(paper which said what)⑰(respect except his feet)⑱(bowing)⑲(good of him to)⑳(greet)

(35)
The strange black man seemed to be ①**(frustrated : overcome : misled : rebelled) with joy when the Doctor appeared and shook him warmly by the hand.

"News reached me," he said, "that you ②(about / sail / were / to) upon a voyage. I hastened to see you before your departure. I am sublimely ecstasied that I did not miss you."

"You very nearly did miss us," said the Doctor. "As it happened, we were delayed somewhat in getting the ③(number / necessary / men / of ) to sail our boat. If it hadn't been for that, we would have been gone three days ago."

"How many men does your ship's company yet require?" asked Bumpo.

"Only one," said the Doctor—"But it is so hard to find the right one."

"Methinks I detect something of the finger of Destination in this," said Bumpo. "How would I do?"

"Splendidly," said the Doctor. "But what about your studies? You can't very well just go off and leave your university career to take care of itself, you know."

"I need a holiday," said Bumpo. "Even had I not gone with you, I intended at the end of this term to take a three-months' absconsion—But besides, I shall not be neglecting my edification if I accompany you. Before I left Jolliginki my august father, the King, told me to be sure and travel plenty. You are a man of great studiosity. To see the world in your company is an opportunity not to be sneezed upon. No, no, indeed."

"How did you like the life at Oxford?" asked the Doctor.

"Oh, passably, passably," said Bumpo. "I liked it all except the algebra and the shoes. The algebra hurt my head and the shoes hurt my feet. I threw the shoes over a wall as soon as I got out of the college quadrilateral this morning; and the algebra I am happily forgetting very fast—I liked Cicero—Yes, I think Cicero's fine—so simultaneous. By the way, they tell me his son is rowing for our college next year—charming fellow."

The Doctor looked down at the black man's huge bare feet thoughtfully a moment.

"Well," he said slowly, "there is ④(you / something / what / in) say, Bumpo, about getting education from the world as well as from the college. And if you are really sure that you want to come, we shall be ⑤(to / delighted / you / have). Because, to tell you the truth, I think you are exactly the man we need."

THE SECOND CHAPTER. GOOD-BYE!
TWO days after that we had all in readiness for our ⑥*(economy : income : prosperity : departure).
On this voyage Jip begged so hard to be taken that the Doctor finally ⑦(took : made : went : gave) in and said he could come. Polynesia and Chee-Chee were the only other animals to go with us. Dab-Dab was ⑧(of / left / charge / in) the house and the animal family we were to leave behind.

Of course, as is always the way, at the last moment we kept remembering things we had forgotten; and when we finally closed the house up and went down the steps to the road, we were all burdened with armfuls of odd packages.

Halfway to the river, the Doctor suddenly remembered that he had left the stock-pot boiling on the kitchen-fire. However, we saw a blackbird flying by who nested in our garden, and the Doctor ⑨(to / asked / go / her) back for us and tell Dab-Dab about it.

Down at the river-wall we found a great crowd waiting ⑩(us / to / off / see).

Standing right near the gang-plank were my mother and father. I hoped that they would not make a scene, or burst into tears or anything like that. But as a matter of fact they ⑪*(suffered : declined : altered : behaved) quite well—for parents. My mother said something about being sure not to get my feet wet; and my father just smiled a crooked sort of smile, patted me on the back and wished me luck. Good-byes are awfully uncomfortable things and I was glad when it was over and we passed on to the ship.

We were a little ⑫(see / to / not / surprised) Matthew Mugg among the crowd. We had felt sure that he would be there; and the Doctor had ⑬*(repaired : intended : adapted : regretted) to give him some extra instructions about the food for the animals we had left at the house.

At last, after much pulling and tugging, we got the anchor up and undid a lot of mooring-ropes. Then the Curlew began to move gently down the river with the out-running tide, ⑭(although : because : while : where) the people on the wall cheered and waved their handkerchiefs.

We bumped into one or two other boats getting out into the stream; and at one sharp bend in the river ⑮(got / on / we / stuck) a mud bank for a few minutes. But though the people on the shore seemed to get very excited at these things, the Doctor did not ⑯(disturbed / appear / be / to) by them in the least.

"These little accidents will happen in the most carefully regulated voyages," he said as he leaned over the side and fished for his boots which had got stuck in the mud while we were pushing off. "Sailing is much easier when ⑰(get / you / into / out) the open sea. There aren't so many silly things to bump into."

For me indeed it was a great and wonderful feeling, that getting out into the open sea, when at length we passed the little lighthouse at the mouth of the river and ⑱(ourselves / of / found / free) the land. It was all so new and different: just the sky above you and sea below. This ship, which was to be our house and our street, our home and our garden, for so many days to come, seemed so tiny in all this wide water—so tiny and yet so snug, sufficient, safe.

I looked around me and took in a deep breath. The Doctor was at the wheel ⑲*(exporting : steering : refusing : exhausting) the boat which was now leaping and plunging gently through the waves. (I had expected to feel seasick at first but was delighted to find that I didn't.) Bumpo had been told off to go downstairs and prepare dinner for us. Chee-Chee was coiling up ropes in the stern and laying them in neat piles. My work was fastening down the things on the deck so that nothing could roll about if the weather should grow ⑳*(firm : rough : dull : rapid) when we got further from the land.

解答は次回発表。ご意見、ご要望等はsuzuyasu@wmail.plala.or.jpでも承っております。

「ドリトル先生航海記」から学ぶ大学入試・英検・TOEIC頻出語彙と読解(34)

　いきなりシェイクスピアを読んで英語ができるようになった人はあまりいません。しかし童話のようなやさしいものを高い精度でたくさん読めば着実に英語力を伸ばせます。
　そこで、著作権の切れた童話「ドリトル先生航海記」から、シンプルで、大学入試にもTOEICにも英検にも有効な練習問題を作成しています。楽しみながら英語力を伸ばしていただければ幸いです。
　コロンで区切られているのが四語選択問題になり*の数は単語の難易度の目安で無印は語法、文法等の問題です。スラッシュで区切られているのが四語整序問題になっています。

※(33)の解答①(promised to keep it)②(great deal of coal) ③(buried)④(spoiled)⑤(world cold enough for)⑥(tense)⑦(that pencil would land)⑧(bumped)⑨(name of it was)⑩(trembling)⑫(say we've got to)⑬(we've got to cross)⑭(make it easily in)⑮(peculiar)⑯(are to be found)⑰(scarce)⑱(difficulty in finding it)⑲(to land upon it)⑳(bet)

(34)
"No. A peculiar tribe of Red Indians lives on it, Miranda tells me."

At this point the poor Bird-of-Paradise stirred and woke up. In our excitement we had forgotten to speak low.

"We are going to Spidermonkey Island, Miranda," said the Doctor. "You know where it is, do you not?"

"I know where it was the last time I saw it," said the bird. "But whether it will be there still, I can't say."

"What do you mean?" asked the Doctor. "It is always in the same place surely?"

"Not by any means," said Miranda. "Why, didn't you know?—Spidermonkey Island is a FLOATING island. It moves around all over the place—usually somewhere near southern South America. But of course I could surely ①(it / you / find / for) if you want to go there."

At this fresh piece of news I could ②*(surround : contain : depart : release) myself no longer. I was bursting to tell some one. I ran dancing and singing from the room to find Chee-Chee.

At the door I tripped over Dab-Dab, who was just coming in with her wings full of plates, and fell headlong on my nose,

"Has the boy gone crazy?" cried the duck. "Where do you think you're going, ninny?"

"To Spidermonkey Island!" I shouted, picking myself up and doing cart-wheels down the hall—"Spidermonkey Island! Hooray!—And it's a FLOATING island!"

"You're going to Bedlam, I should say," snorted the housekeeper. "Look ③(to / what / done / you've) my best china!"

But I was far too happy to ④(to / listen / scolding / her); and I ran on, singing, into the kitchen to find Chee-Chee.

PART THREE

THE FIRST CHAPTER. THE THIRD MAN
THAT same week we ⑤(preparations / began / for / our) the voyage.
Joe, the mussel-man, had the Curlew moved down the river and tied it up along the river-wall, so it would be more handy for loading. And for three whole days we carried provisions down to our beautiful new boat and stowed them away.

I was ⑥(how / find / to / surprised) roomy and big she was inside. There were three little cabins, a saloon (or dining-room) and underneath all this, a big place called the hold where the food and extra sails and other things were kept.

I think Joe must have told everybody in the town about our coming voyage, because there was always a regular ⑦(us / crowd / when / watching) we brought the things down to put aboard. And of course sooner or later old Matthew Mugg was ⑧(to / up / bound / turn).

"My Goodness, Tommy," said he, as he ⑨(on / watched / carrying / me) some sacks of flour, "but that's a pretty boat! Where might the Doctor be going to this voyage?"

"We're going to Spidermonkey Island," I said proudly.

"And be you the only one the Doctor's taking along?"

"Well, he has spoken of wanting to take another man," I said; "but so ⑩(far : by : till : from) he hasn't made up his mind."

Matthew grunted; then squinted up at the graceful masts of the Curlew.

"You know, Tommy," said he, "if it wasn't for my rheumatism I've half a mind to come with the Doctor myself. There's something about a boat standing ready to sail that always did make me feel venturesome and travelish-like. What's that stuff in the cans you're taking on?"

"This is treacle," I said—"twenty pounds of treacle."

"My Goodness," he sighed, turning away sadly. "That ⑪(me / more / makes / feel) like going with you than ever—But my rheumatism is that bad I can't hardly—"

I didn't hear any more for Matthew had moved off, still mumbling, into the crowd that stood about the wharf. The clock in Puddleby Church struck noon and I turned back, feeling very busy and important, to the task of loading.

But it wasn't very long before some one else came along and ⑫(embraced : compensated : interrupted : launched) my work. This was a huge, big, burly man with a red beard and tattoo-marks all over his arms. He ⑬(mouth / wiped / with / his) the back of his hand, spat twice on to the river-wall and said,

"Boy, where's the skipper?"

"The SKIPPER!—Who do you mean?" I asked.

"The captain—Where's the captain, of this craft?" he said, pointing to the Curlew.

"Oh, you mean the Doctor," said I. "Well, he isn't here at present."

At that moment the Doctor arrived with his arms full of note-books and butterfly-nets and glass cases and other natural history things. The big man ⑭(to / went / him / up), respectfully touching his cap.

"Good morning, Captain," said he. "I heard you was ⑮(need / hands / in / of) for a voyage. My name's Ben Butcher, able seaman."

"I am very glad to know you," said the Doctor. "But I'm afraid I shan't be able to take on any more crew."

"Why, but Captain," said the able seaman, "you surely ain't going to face deep-sea weather with nothing more than this bit of a lad to help you—and with a cutter that big!"

The Doctor assured him that he was; but the man didn't go away. He hung around and argued. He told us he had known of many ships being sunk through "undermanning." He got out what he called his stiffikit—a ⑯(said / paper / what / which) a good sailor he was—and implored us, if we valued our lives, to take him.

But the Doctor was quite firm-polite but determined—and finally the man walked sorrowfully away, telling us he never expected to see us alive again.

Callers of one sort and another kept us quite busy that morning. The Doctor had no sooner gone below to stow away his note-books than another visitor appeared upon the gang-plank. This was a most extraordinary-looking black man. The only other negroes I had seen had been in circuses, where they wore feathers and bone necklaces and things like that. But this one was dressed in a fashionable frock coat with an enormous bright red cravat. On his head was a straw hat with a gay band; and over this he held a large green umbrella. He was very smart in every ⑰(his / respect / feet / except). He wore no shoes or socks.

"Pardon me," said he, ⑱*(informing : recalling : investigating : bowing)elegantly, "but is this the ship of the physician Dolittle?"

"Yes," I said, "did you wish to see him?"

"I did—if it will not be discommodious," he answered.

"Who shall I say it is?"

"I am Bumpo Kahbooboo, Crown Prince of Jolliginki."

I ran downstairs at once and told the Doctor.

"How fortunate!" cried John Dolittle. "My old friend Bumpo! Well, well!—He's studying at Oxford, you know. How ⑲(to / good / him / of) come all this way to call on me!" And he tumbled up the ladder to ⑳*(prefer : spread : greet : distinguish) his visitor.

解答は次回発表。ご意見、ご要望等はsuzuyasu@wmail.plala.or.jpでも承っております。

「ドリトル先生航海記」から学ぶ大学入試・英検・TOEIC頻出語彙と読解(33)

　著作権の切れた童話「ドリトル先生航海記」から、シンプルで、大学入試にもTOEICにも英検にも有効な練習問題を作成しています。楽しみながら英語力を伸ばしていただければ幸いです。
　コロンで区切られているのが四語選択問題になり*の数は単語の難易度の目安で無印は語法、文法等の問題です。スラッシュで区切られているのが四語整序問題になっています。整序問題はTOEICには出題されないものの、英語を学ぶにあたって語順の習得は最重要事項のひとつです。

※(32)の解答①(shores to find out)②(what you have told)③(rest of us put)④(upset)⑤(thoughts were far away)⑥(watching to see that) ⑦(by)⑧(work)⑨(help me in learning)⑩(he saw how anxious) ⑪(my mind right away)⑫(with my eyes shut)⑬(swear)⑭(yelled)⑮(dragged)⑯(that atlas by heart)⑰(lingered over its old)⑱(page had no map)⑲(say) ⑳(places explorers have reached)

(33)
"I ①(to / it / promised / keep) a secret. And you must promise me never to tell any one. Yes, I discovered the North Pole in April, 1809. But shortly after I got there the polar bears came to me in a body and told me there was a ②(deal / great / coal / of) there, ③*(relieved : buried : owed : operated) beneath the snow. They knew, they said, that human beings would do anything, and go anywhere, to get coal. So would I please keep it a secret. Because once people began coming up there to start coal-mines, their beautiful white country would be ④*(murdered : transported : equipped : spoiled)—and there was nowhere else in the ⑤(for / enough / world / cold) polar bears to be comfortable. So of course I had to promise them I would. Ah, well, it will be discovered again some day, by somebody else. But I want the polar bears to have their play-ground to themselves as long as possible. And I daresay it will be a good while yet—for it certainly is a fiendish place to get to—Well now, are we ready?—Good! Take the pencil and stand here close to the table. When the book falls open, wave the pencil round three times and jab it down. Ready?—All right. Shut your eyes."

It was a ⑥**(incredible : raw : tense : secure) and fearful moment—but very thrilling. We both had our eyes shut tight. I heard the atlas fall open with a bang. I wondered what page it was: England or Asia. If it should be the map of Asia, so much would depend on where ⑦(land / would / pencil / that). I waved three times in a circle. I began to lower my hand. The pencil-point touched the page.

"All right," I called out, "it's done."

THE TWELFTH CHAPTER. DESTINY AND DESTINATION
WE both opened our eyes; then ⑧**(prevailed : bumped : testified : entitled) our heads together with a crack in our eagerness to lean over and see where we were to go.

The atlas lay open at a map called, Chart of the South Atlantic Ocean. My pencil-point was resting right in the center of a tiny island. The ⑨(was / name / it / of) printed so small that the Doctor had to get out his strong spectacles to read it. I was ⑩**(rubbing : coping : fading : trembling) with excitement.

"Spidermonkey Island," he read out slowly. Then he whistled softly beneath his breath. "Of all the extraordinary things! You've hit upon the very island where Long Arrow was last seen on earth—I wonder—Well, well! How very singular!"

"We'll go there, Doctor, won't we?" I asked.

"Of course we will. The rules of the game ⑫(to / say / got / we've)."

"I'm so glad it wasn't Oxenthorpe or Bristol," I said. "It'll be a grand voyage, this. Look at all the sea ⑬(got / we've / cross / to). Will it take us long?"

"Oh, no," said the Doctor—"not very. With a good boat and a good wind we should ⑭(it / in / make / easily) four weeks. But isn't it extraordinary? Of all the places in the world you picked out that one with your eyes shut. Spidermonkey Island after all!—Well, there's one good thing about it: I shall be able to get some Jabizri beetles."

"What are Jabizri beetles?"

"They are a very rare kind of beetles with ⑮**(acute : peculiar : potential : hostile) habits. I want to study them. There are only three countries in the world where they ⑯(be / are / found / to). Spidermonkey Island is one of them. But even there they are very ⑰**(tropical : scarce : conventional : prompt)."

"What is this little question-mark after the name of the island for?" I asked, pointing to the map.

"That means that the island's position in the ocean is not known very exactly—that it is somewhere ABOUT there. Ships have probably seen it in that neighborhood, that is all, most likely. It is quite possible we shall be the first white men to land there. But I daresay we shall have some ⑱(in / it / difficulty / finding) first."

How like a dream it all sounded! The two of us sitting there at the big study-table; the candles lit; the smoke curling towards the dim ceiling from the Doctor's pipe—the two of us sitting there, talking about finding an island in the ocean and being the first white men ⑲(land / to / it / upon)!

"I'll ⑳*(fix : bet : fit : represent) it will be a great voyage," I said. "It looks a lovely island on the map. Will there be black men there?"

解答は次回発表。ご意見、ご要望等はsuzuyasu@wmail.plala.or.jpでも承っております。