慶英会 塾長｜慶應義塾大学卒・英検1級
中高一貫校の学校英語・NEW TREASURE・英検対策を専門とするオンライン個別指導塾です。塾長紹介
英検準1級のtrend・tendency・pattern・variation・fluctuationは、いずれも「傾向・変化」と訳されることがあります。しかしtrendは時間に沿った全体的な方向性、tendencyは人や物がそうなりやすい性質・傾向、patternは繰り返し見られる並び・構造、variationは集団や時間・場所による差、fluctuationは数値の上下変動を示します。慶英会オリジナルの40課題で、語法と長文の情報判断を練習します。
本記事の英文・数値・施設名は練習用の創作です。英検協会の公式過去問を転載していません。準1級Readingでは短文の語句空所18問、長文の空所6問、内容一致7問が出題されます。本記事は語の意味と、数値から言える範囲を考える追加教材です。
最初に覚える5語の役割
trend in / trend toward：長期的な上昇・下降などの方向性。tendency to do：ある行動をとりやすいこと。pattern of / recurring pattern：周期や構造の反復。variation between / among / in：比較対象の違い。fluctuation in：短期的な上下。長期的な上昇傾向と短期的な上下変動は同時に成立し、違いが観測されても原因が証明されたとは限りません。
Part A｜語義と観察の分類20問
Q1. The number of cyclists rose steadily over ten years. Which description is most accurate?
A. a long-term upward trend
B. a one-day fluctuation
C. a difference between cities
D. a person’s tendency
Q2. Attendance rose on Monday, fell on Tuesday, and rose again on Wednesday. What do these short changes represent?
A. a guaranteed trend
B. short-term fluctuations
C. a permanent tendency
D. a comparison of regions
Q3. Students usually choose the earlier workshop when both times are available. What does this behavior show?
A. a fixed timetable
B. a one-time accident
C. a tendency to choose earlier sessions
D. a difference in room size
Q4. The same increase in library visits occurs every December. How is the repeated annual arrangement best described?
A. a single anomaly
B. an individual’s tendency
C. an unrelated comparison
D. a recurring seasonal pattern
Q5. The north and south schools had different average results in the same month. What is described?
A. variation between schools
B. a decade-long upward trend
C. daily fluctuations in one school
D. a tendency to study
Q6. The bus arrived at slightly different times each day, with no consistent upward or downward direction. What should researchers examine?
A. only a long-term decline
B. day-to-day fluctuations
C. guaranteed improvement
D. the price of a ticket
Q7. More residents switched to reusable bottles in successive years. Which statement best captures the direction over time?
A. a regional variation
B. a personal habit
C. a growing trend toward reuse
D. a one-hour fluctuation
Q8. A particular error repeatedly appeared after the same instruction. Which description is most precise?
A. an average percentage
B. a variation between nations
C. a random single case
D. a repeated pattern of errors
Q9. The same online form was completed at different speeds by different age groups. What do the differences show?
A. variation across age groups
B. a single person’s tendency
C. an upward trend over decades
D. a fluctuation in one hour
Q10. A volunteer often checks labels twice before submitting them. Which word best refers to this individual habit?
A. trend
B. tendency
C. fluctuation
D. variation
Q11. During a storm, electricity demand rose and fell several times within an hour. What is the clearest description?
A. a long-term upward trend
B. a geographical comparison
C. rapid fluctuations in demand
D. a permanent increase
Q12. The data show a similar arrangement of busy and quiet periods every week. What is the best description?
A. a one-person habit
B. a one-time rise
C. a lack of evidence
D. a weekly pattern
Q13. Researchers noted that average rainfall increased over a 25-year series of observations. What is described?
A. an upward trend
B. one daily fluctuation
C. a fixed preference
D. one comparison between two towns
Q14. Two groups took the same test, but scores differed considerably across participants. Which phrase focuses on those differences?
A. a stable upward trend
B. variation in scores
C. a personal preference
D. one-day demand fluctuation
Q15. Participants were generally likely to select the prechecked box. Which expression fits their behavioral inclination?
A. the fluctuation of prices
B. the variation between rooms
C. the tendency to accept the default
D. the long-term trend in rainfall
Q16. The crowd was larger every second weekend, creating a repeating two-week arrangement. What did staff identify?
A. a proven causal effect
B. a decade-long trend
C. an unrelated difference
D. a fortnightly pattern
Q17. The price went up one day and down the next, but the yearly average remained similar. What changed?
A. daily prices fluctuated
B. the long-term average rose steadily
C. residents changed their behavior
D. different regions were compared
Q18. Researchers observed different water-use rates among four districts. Which label fits the between-district difference?
A. a tendency to conserve
B. regional variation
C. daily fluctuation at one site
D. a guaranteed declining trend
Q19. Some people have a habit of taking longer routes when signs are unclear. Which phrase expresses that inclination?
A. a declining pattern
B. a random change
C. a tendency to take longer routes
D. a weekly attendance total
Q20. A repeating sequence of high, low, and medium readings appeared on several similar days. What was identified?
A. an exact cause
B. an increase every year
C. a difference between populations
D. a recurring pattern in readings
Part A｜全解答・判断理由
A1. A。10年間にわたる一方向の変化は長期的なtrend。
A2. B。短期間に上昇と下降を繰り返す変動はfluctuations。
A3. C。人々が通常ある行動をとる傾向はtendency to do。
A4. D。毎年繰り返される構造はpattern。
A5. A。同時期に集団間で違うことはvariation between groups。
A6. B。一定の方向性のない日々の上下はfluctuations。
A7. C。年単位の方向性はtrend toward。
A8. D。共通条件で反復する誤りはpattern of errors。
A9. A。異なる集団間の差はvariation across。
A10. B。個人の行動上の傾向はtendency。
A11. C。短時間の頻繁な上下動はfluctuations。
A12. D。週ごとに繰り返す構造はweekly pattern。
A13. A。長期データの方向性はtrend。
A14. B。参加者間のスコアの散らばりはvariation。
A15. C。初期設定を受け入れる選択傾向はtendency to。
A16. D。隔週の反復性はpattern。
A17. A。短期変動と長期平均は両立する。
A18. B。地域間の違いはregional variation。
A19. C。人の行動を傾向として捉える。
A20. D。反復する並びはpatternであり原因の確定ではない。
Part B｜和文英訳・言い換え8問
Q21. 10年間の来訪者増加の傾向をtrendで英語にする。
Q22. 一週間の数値の上下変動をfluctuationで表す。
Q23. 人々が早い時間帯を選びがちなことをtendencyで。
Q24. 毎年同じ時期に現れる混雑のパターンをpatternで。
Q25. 複数校の成績の違いをvariationで表す。
Q26. 傾向が上向きでも一部の年に下落があり得ると書く。
Q27. 集団間の差から原因を証明できないことを英語で。
Q28. 『繰り返すパターン』と『一度だけの例外』を英語で比較する。
Part B｜模範英文と詳解
A21. The data show an upward trend in visitor numbers over ten years. 解説：trendには長期的方向性がある。
A22. There were fluctuations in the readings throughout the week. 解説：上下することを示し、方向性の結論は加えない。
A23. People have a tendency to choose earlier sessions. 解説：a tendency to doの形。
A24. The center observed a recurring pattern of crowding each year. 解説：反復する並びを示す。
A25. The study found variation in scores across schools. 解説：同時期に異なる集団間の差。
A26. There can be temporary declines even when the long-term trend is upward. 解説：短期変動と長期傾向を区別。
A27. Variation between groups does not by itself establish what caused the differences. 解説：相関・差異から原因を断定しない。
A28. A recurring pattern is different from a single exception. 解説：再現性と例外を区別。
Part C｜独自長文3題・全訳・12課題
独自長文1｜図書館の利用状況と試験期間
A library recorded visitor counts for twelve consecutive months. The figures showed a modest upward trend across the year, but there were also short-term fluctuations. In particular, attendance increased sharply during examination weeks and returned closer to normal afterward. A manager initially described the higher counts as proof that new signs had attracted more visitors. A researcher disagreed, explaining that the seasonal pattern of examination preparation could have contributed. The library had not compared similar examination periods before and after installing the signs. The researcher recommended recording the timing of school examinations and gathering feedback from visitors before claiming a causal effect.
【全文和訳】図書館は12か月間の来訪者数を記録し、全体に緩やかな増加傾向があったが短期的な上下も見られた。特に試験期間に増え、その後通常に近づくというパターンがあった。管理者は新しい案内表示の効果と考えたが、研究者は試験勉強の影響もあるため因果の断定を避けるべきだと指摘し、試験時期と来館理由の追加調査を求めた。
Q29. What was observed over the full year?
Q30. What occurred during examination weeks?
Q31. Was the new signage proved to cause the increase?
Q32. What did the researcher recommend?
長文の全解答・根拠
A29. A modest upward trend in visits. 解説：12か月の長期方向性。
A30. A short-term increase followed by a return toward normal levels. 解説：短期変動と反復パターン。
A31. No. Examination preparation was another possible influence. 解説：複数要因があり因果未証明。
A32. Compare similar periods and gather visitor feedback. 解説：同様の条件で比較する。
独自長文2｜地域の雨水利用と区画ごとの差
A community garden measured water use in four planting areas. There was considerable variation between the areas because their sizes, plants, and exposure to sunlight differed. During a dry week, water use fluctuated from day to day as volunteers changed their watering schedules. Later, staff noticed a tendency among new volunteers to follow the previous day’s schedule even when the weather changed. The coordinator warned that these observations did not prove that the volunteers were wasting water. The group decided to compare rainfall, soil conditions, and actual plant needs before changing its instructions.
【全文和訳】地域庭園では4区画の水使用量を測定し、面積・植物・日当たりの違いにより区画間で差があった。乾燥期には水やり予定の変更で日ごとの使用量が上下し、新しいボランティアには天候が変わっても前日の予定を踏襲する傾向が見られた。ただし無駄遣いが証明されたわけではないため、降雨量・土壌・植物の必要量を比較して指示を変更する。
Q33. What does variation refer to in this passage?
Q34. What fluctuated during the dry week?
Q35. What tendency did staff observe?
Q36. Was water waste established?
長文の全解答・根拠
A33. Differences in use between planting areas. 解説：区画間の差。
A34. Daily water use. 解説：日ごとの増減。
A35. New volunteers often followed the previous day’s schedule. 解説：行動上の傾向。
A36. No. Actual plant needs had not yet been fully assessed. 解説：無駄遣いの断定はできない。
独自長文3｜音楽会の来場者と繰り返す曜日の変化
A local orchestra compared attendance at weekend and weekday performances. Over three seasons, it recorded a general trend toward greater attendance at afternoon concerts. However, week-to-week figures fluctuated because particular events and weather conditions affected travel. The organizers also identified a pattern: performances held immediately after major school events tended to attract more families. Attendance varied considerably between venues, so the director avoided concluding that afternoon timing alone explained the differences. The orchestra plans to compare similar programs held at the same venue before making permanent schedule changes.
【全文和訳】地域オーケストラは平日と週末の来場数を比較した。3シーズンでは午後公演の来場が増える全体傾向があり、週ごとの数値は行事や天候で変動した。また学校の大きな行事の直後は家族連れが増える反復パターンが見られた。会場間の人数差も大きいため午後の時間帯だけを原因と断定せず、同じ会場で似た演目を比較してから恒久的な日程を決める。
Q37. What long-term direction appeared?
Q38. What fluctuated from week to week?
Q39. What recurring pattern was identified?
Q40. Why was timing alone not accepted as the cause?
長文の全解答・根拠
A37. Attendance at afternoon concerts generally increased. 解説：3シーズンの傾向。
A38. Audience numbers. 解説：短期の変動。
A39. More families came after major school events. 解説：反復する条件と結果。
A40. Venues, programs, events, and weather could also differ. 解説：比較条件がそろっていない。
5語で一番間違いやすいこと
A long-term trend can coexist with short-term fluctuations.＝長期の全体的な傾向と短期の上下は両立します。Variation between schools describes differences, not necessarily a change over time.＝学校間の違いは時系列変化ではありません。A repeated pattern does not establish its cause.＝繰り返しのパターンがあっても原因は特定されていません。
7日間の復習
1日目：5語の連語・時間軸を整理。2日目：Q1〜10を根拠付きで説明。3日目：Q11〜20を再回答。4日目：Q21〜24の英訳。5日目：Q25〜28の英訳。6日目：3長文で数値・集団・時間を色分け。7日目：英検公式過去問の長文でも何が観測されているか分類してください。
FAQ｜trendとtendencyは同じですか？
意味が重なることもありますが、trendは時間を通じた方向性、tendencyは行動や状態が生じやすい傾向という区別が有用です。どの主語・期間・目的語と一緒に使われるかに注意してください。
FAQ｜patternがあれば原因が分かったことになりますか？
なりません。繰り返しの特徴を見つけることと、その現象がなぜ起きるのかを証明することは別です。
関連する慶英会無料教材
調査の分母・測定条件を比較するReading30課題 ／ 反例・例外・平均の違いを学ぶ30課題 ／ 推論と示唆の語法40問
公式情報と教材について
日本英語検定協会「準1級の試験内容」 ／ 準1級公式過去問・音声。本記事は慶英会の独自制作です。
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慶英会 塾長｜慶應義塾大学卒・英検1級。中高一貫校の学校英語・NEW TREASURE・英検対策を専門としています。塾長の経歴・指導方針を確認する