英検2級the former・the latter・respectively・whereasの違い｜前者・後者と数字を読む独自4長文40問【全訳】

the former・the latter・respectively・whereasの違い

英語のformer / latterは、どの二つを比較しているのか文脈を特定して読む必要があります。respectivelyがあるときは前後の並び順を縦に対応させ、数字や活動を勝手に交換しないでください。whereasは対比を表しますが、原則として片方がもう片方の原因であることまでは述べません。

長文1｜学校の二つの環境プロジェクト

A secondary school is considering two projects: installing solar panels on the roof and collecting rainwater for its garden. The former could provide electricity during sunny periods, whereas the latter could reduce the use of drinking-quality water for some gardening tasks. Neither project has been approved yet.

Engineers estimated the initial costs at $48,000 and $16,000, respectively. This means the solar panels are expected to cost $48,000 to install, and the rainwater system $16,000. However, the two figures do not include every maintenance cost. Staff must also investigate how long each system would last.

Two student groups were asked to examine the proposals. Group A studied the solar panels, whereas Group B studied rainwater collection. The former group interviewed an electrician, while the latter spoke with a gardening specialist. Both groups agreed that the school should compare costs with realistic benefits rather than simply choosing the cheaper project.

School officials plan to review the two reports next term. They have not claimed that either proposal would automatically save money or solve all environmental problems.

独自内容一致10問

問1：What does the former refer to in the first paragraph?

1. Solar panels
2. Rainwater collection
3. The school garden
4. Maintenance expenses

問2：What is the latter expected to reduce?

1. Electricity consumption from all sources
2. Use of drinking-quality water for some gardening tasks
3. The number of teachers
4. The cost of every school subject

問3：How much is the solar-panel project estimated to cost initially?

1. $16,000
2. $32,000
3. $48,000
4. $64,000

問4：How much is the rainwater project estimated to cost initially?

1. $48,000
2. $24,000
3. $32,000
4. $16,000

問5：What is true of the cost estimates?

1. They do not include every maintenance cost
2. They include all costs for the next century
3. They are confirmed final invoices
4. They are proof of annual savings

問6：Which project did Group A study?

1. Rainwater collection
2. Solar panels
3. A different school building
4. A new school bus

問7：Who did the latter student group interview?

1. An electrician
2. A bus driver
3. A gardening specialist
4. A museum guide

問8：What did both groups recommend?

1. Choosing the cheapest idea immediately
2. Canceling both proposals
3. Ignoring long-term benefits
4. Comparing realistic benefits and costs

問9：What is the approval status of the proposals?

1. Neither has been approved
2. Both have been completed
3. Only rainwater collection is permanent
4. The solar panels were purchased

問10：What will school officials do next term?

1. Publish claims about guaranteed savings
2. Review the student reports
3. Remove the existing garden
4. Build both systems without review

長文2｜図書館の二つの学習支援サービス

A public library is testing two new services for students: portable reading lamps and audio-book players. The former may help readers who need stronger light at home, while the latter allows users to listen to recorded books. Library staff explain that neither service replaces every other way of reading.

The library bought 35 lamps and 20 audio players, respectively. Each device can be borrowed for two weeks. The lamps must be checked for damaged cables, whereas the audio players need regular battery and headphone inspections. Staff will provide written safety instructions for both types.

During the first month, the library recorded 70 lamp loans and 44 audio-player loans, respectively. These figures count loans, not different borrowers: one person could borrow the same type of equipment more than once. Moreover, the number of loans does not show how many hours students actually used the devices.

Some families welcomed the program, but others said the online reservation form was difficult to use. The library will keep accepting reservations at the service desk while it tests changes to the website. Managers plan to compare demand and maintenance expenses after three months before purchasing additional devices.

独自内容一致10問

問11：What is the former service?

1. Audio-book players
2. Reading lamps
3. Printed dictionaries
4. Study rooms

問12：What does the latter allow users to do?

1. Repair electrical cables
2. Buy printed novels
3. Listen to recorded books
4. Use a larger desk

問13：How many reading lamps did the library buy?

1. 20
2. 25
3. 44
4. 35

問14：How many audio players did it buy?

1. 20
2. 35
3. 44
4. 70

問15：Which devices need cable checks?

1. Audio players only
2. Reading lamps
3. All printed books
4. Library desks

問16：Which devices require checks of headphones?

1. Lamps only
2. Printed dictionaries
3. Audio players
4. Reading tables

問17：How many audio-player loans were recorded?

1. 70
2. 35
3. 20
4. 44

問18：Why aren’t loan counts the same as unique borrowers?

1. A person can borrow devices more than once
2. The library bought no devices
3. Every student borrowed exactly one item
4. The library has no records

問19：What will continue while the website is tested?

1. Only paper applications sent by mail
2. Reservations at the service desk
3. A compulsory purchase system
4. The permanent removal of online bookings

問20：When will managers compare demand and costs?

1. Immediately before any loans
2. After one year
3. After three months
4. After five years

長文3｜港町の二つの移動方法

A coastal town is comparing two ways to improve short journeys: a bicycle-sharing service and a small electric shuttle. The former would require users to ride bicycles themselves, whereas the latter could serve people who cannot or prefer not to cycle. Officials have not decided that either service should operate permanently.

The proposed trials would last four months and six months, respectively. This means the bicycle-sharing trial would be shorter than the electric-shuttle trial. Engineers also estimated the initial equipment costs for the two programs at $30,000 and $72,000, respectively. The figures exclude some operating expenses.

Students from two schools examined the proposals. School East studied cycling routes, while School West looked at the shuttle’s possible stops. The former school focused on bike-parking areas, whereas the latter discussed whether the vehicle could reach a local medical clinic. Both schools asked the council to consider access for people with different mobility needs.

Officials expect to publish the trial plans after consulting residents. They do not yet know how many people would use either service, and they will not treat survey interest as proof of actual future travel.

独自内容一致10問

問21：What is the former proposed service?

1. An electric shuttle
2. A railway service
3. Bicycle-sharing
4. A new ferry

問22：Which service might help people who do not cycle?

1. The bicycle-sharing service
2. An ordinary bicycle sale
3. Both plans only for cyclists
4. The electric shuttle

問23：How long is the bicycle-sharing trial planned to last?

1. Four months
2. Six months
3. One month
4. Twelve months

問24：How long is the shuttle trial planned to last?

1. Four months
2. Six months
3. Eight months
4. Ten months

問25：What is the estimated initial cost for the bicycle service?

1. $72,000
2. $42,000
3. $30,000
4. $102,000

問26：Which school’s work focused on possible shuttle stops?

1. School East
2. A local university
3. Both schools without differences
4. School West

問27：What did the former school focus on?

1. Bike-parking areas
2. The medical clinic’s medicine
3. Ferry departure times
4. Electricity prices

問28：What did both schools request?

1. Free bicycles for every student
2. Accessibility for different mobility needs
3. A promise of immediate permanent service
4. Removal of all existing roads

問29：Which cost information is missing from the estimates?

1. The initial equipment prices
2. The trial durations
3. Some operating expenses
4. The proposed services’ names

問30：What does the town not yet know?

1. Whether two programs are being compared
2. Which schools contributed
3. Whether the town is coastal
4. How many people will actually use the services

長文4｜地域芸術祭の二つの講座

A cultural center is preparing two weekend classes: a traditional woodworking session and a digital photography session. The former will teach teenagers to use basic hand tools under supervision, whereas the latter will focus on composition and the responsible use of digital images. Both classes are intended to support creative learning rather than promise professional qualifications.

The classes can accept 16 and 24 participants, respectively. Students must register in advance because the center has only enough workstations for these numbers. Safety glasses will be provided for the woodworking class, while cameras can be borrowed for the photography class. Students in the former need closed-toe shoes; those in the latter must check permission before posting identifiable people’s photographs.

The center initially proposed Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon, respectively, for the two sessions. However, the photography instructor later became unavailable on Sunday. Its new proposed date is Saturday afternoon, but this remains tentative until the center confirms an available room.

Staff recommend bringing a notebook to either class, but it is not a requirement. The center will announce final schedules before accepting payment. Families are asked not to treat a tentative date as a confirmed booking.

独自内容一致10問

問31：What is the former class?

1. The digital photography class
2. A music class
3. A science workshop
4. The traditional woodworking class

問32：What will the latter class mainly cover?

1. Photography and responsible image use
2. How to repair electrical wiring
3. Cooking for children
4. The history of buses

問33：How many students can attend woodworking?

1. 24
2. 16
3. 40
4. 12

問34：How many students can attend photography?

1. 16
2. 12
3. 24
4. 40

問35：Which class provides safety glasses?

1. Both classes as a requirement
2. Photography only
3. Neither class
4. Woodworking

問36：What is required of woodworking students?

1. Closed-toe shoes
2. A personal camera
3. A long written essay
4. A paid professional certificate

問37：What was photography’s original proposed time?

1. Saturday morning
2. Sunday afternoon
3. Sunday morning
4. Friday evening

問38：Why may photography be moved to Saturday afternoon?

1. The woodworking class was canceled
2. Students disliked taking photos
3. The instructor is unavailable Sunday
4. The center stopped accepting students

問39：What is the status of the new photography time?

1. It is confirmed and paid
2. It has been canceled permanently
3. It replaces the whole festival
4. It remains tentative pending room confirmation

問40：What is true about notebooks?

1. They are recommended but not required
2. They must be purchased by every student
3. They replace safety glasses
4. They may not be brought

全40問の正答一覧

長文1：1A／2B／3C／4D／5A／6B／7C／8D／9A／10B

長文2：11B／12C／13D／14A／15B／16C／17D／18A／19B／20C

長文3：21C／22D／23A／24B／25C／26D／27A／28B／29C／30D

長文4：31D／32A／33B／34C／35D／36A／37B／38C／39D／40A

7日間の復習

初日に4長文40問を解きます。2日目はformerとlatterの照応先、3日目はrespectivelyの順番、4日目はwhereasの対比、5日目は数量と活動の対応を復習。6日目に2つの例を自分の英文で比較し、7日目に誤答をもう一度解いてください。

FAQ

the formerは直前の名詞を指しますか？

通常は文脈で示された二者の先の方を指します。直前の一語だけを機械的に選ばず、二つの候補を確認します。

respectivelyは左右どちらから対応させますか？

通常、前から同じ順番で対応させます。A and B / 10 and 20ならAが10、Bが20です。

whereasは「〜なので」という因果関係ですか？

基本的には対比を表す語であり、因果関係は文脈に書かれていなければ推測で付け加えません。

英検協会の公式過去問ですか？

いいえ。慶英会のオリジナル4長文40問です。

次の教材

• 英検2級無料模試第183セット｜Reading31問＋Writing2題
• nearly・approximately・exactlyの数量40問
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参考公式情報

日本英語検定協会「2級の試験内容」。本文・設問・解答・和訳は慶英会独自制作です。