英検準2級プラスのbiodegradable・compostable・recyclable・reusable｜環境表示の独自40問【全訳】

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

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英検準2級プラスの環境長文では、biodegradable（生分解性）・compostable（堆肥化可能）・recyclable（再資源化可能）・reusable（再使用可能）を区別することが大切です。生分解性と堆肥化可能は同義ではなく、産業用堆肥化施設で処理できる製品が家庭の堆肥箱でも分解するとは限りません。慶英会が作成した独自40問（語句8・環境長文4題32問）で、表示・回収条件・未確定の事実を正確に読みます。全解答・全文和訳付きです。

結論｜4つの表示は異なる

• biodegradable：微生物が一定の環境条件で分解できること。速さ・場所を無条件に保証する語ではない。
• compostable：指定された堆肥化条件に対応すること。家庭向けか産業用施設向けかを確認する。
• recyclable：適切な仕組みで材料に再資源化できること。地域の回収対象かを確認する。
• reusable：同じ製品を繰り返し使えること。洗浄など安全な管理が必要な場合もある。
• local collection rules：地域の回収基準。製品の表示だけで処分先が確定するわけではない。

米国環境保護庁（EPA）は、堆肥化可能なプラスチックと単に生分解性のあるプラスチックを区別し、産業用施設が必要な製品を家庭の堆肥箱に入れるべきではないと説明しています。EPA公式FAQ。実際の廃棄は各地の回収規則に従ってください。

英検準2級プラスの出題形式

英検公式情報では準2級プラスのReadingは短文語句空所補充17問、長文語句空所補充6問、長文内容一致8問です。英検公式試験内容。本教材の設問は慶英会が独自に制作したもので公式過去問ではありません。

Part 1｜環境表示の単語8問

問1

A container that can be used repeatedly is ___.

問2

A container that can be processed into new materials under suitable conditions is ___.

問3

A material that microbes can break down under particular conditions is ___.

問4

A product suitable for an appropriate composting process may be called ___.

問5

Some compostable packages are intended for ___ facilities, not home compost piles.

問6

People should check local collection ___ before throwing away packaging.

問7

A plant-based plastic is not automatically suitable for home ___.

問8

The committee wanted to reduce ___ by using washable cups.

Part 2｜環境表示と回収条件の独自4長文32問

各長文を読み、can / may / must / not guaranteedによる条件の強さの違いにも注意してください。

長文1｜文化祭のカップ｜表示と回収の条件

Reading passage（慶英会オリジナル）

A school committee wanted to reduce waste from a food festival. A supplier offered cups described as industrially compostable. Some students thought they could simply put these cups in the school’s garden compost bin. The teacher explained that industrial composting uses particular processing conditions and that the label did not promise breakdown in a school garden. The committee contacted its local waste service and learned that the normal recycling bins did not accept those cups either. It chose washable reusable cups for stalls with appropriate washing facilities. Other stalls followed the local disposal instructions for their materials. Volunteers recorded the number of cups used and planned to compare the result with the previous festival. They did not claim that choosing a product labeled compostable would automatically eliminate litter. The teacher said that the correct disposal route depends on both the product’s properties and the collection system.

問9. What label did the supplier’s cups have?

A. Always recyclable ／ B. Industrially compostable ／ C. Home composting guaranteed ／ D. Unlimited reuse

問10. Where did some students wrongly want to put the cups?

A. A library shelf ／ B. The school’s recycling printer ／ C. A garden compost bin ／ D. The museum

問11. What did the teacher explain?

A. Industrial processing conditions matter ／ B. Every plastic can go in gardens ／ C. All cups can be reused ／ D. Labels replace recycling rules

問12. Did the normal recycling bins accept these cups?

A. Yes ／ B. Only at night ／ C. Only for staff ／ D. No

問13. What did appropriate stalls choose?

A. More disposable cups ／ B. Washable reusable cups ／ C. New computers ／ D. Paper tickets

問14. What was needed for that choice?

A. A new stage ／ B. An extra bus ／ C. Washing facilities ／ D. A different exam

問15. What did volunteers record?

A. Number of cups used ／ B. Every visitor’s name ／ C. Average school grade ／ D. The weather forecast

問16. What would NOT automatically follow from the label?

A. That there was a supplier ／ B. That the school had stalls ／ C. That cups were purchased ／ D. That litter would disappear

長文2｜町の回収制度｜biodegradableとrecyclable

Reading passage（慶英会オリジナル）

A town introduced a program for separately collecting certain kinds of waste. A truck accepted ordinary recyclable plastic containers listed in the town’s published rules. A different service collected approved food scraps for composting. Some shops began selling packages described as biodegradable, and residents asked whether every such package could go in the compost collection. The town office explained that the term biodegradable did not tell people the exact time or conditions required for decomposition. The compost program also did not accept every type of compostable plastic. Residents were asked to check the local collection list before putting unfamiliar packaging in a bin. A school group created a poster comparing reusable containers, recyclable plastic and material actually accepted for compost collection. The group planned to gather responses from households a month later. It did not claim that its poster had already changed everyone’s behavior.

問17. What did the ordinary recycling truck collect?

A. Every kind of material ／ B. Accepted plastic containers ／ C. All compostable plastic ／ D. Only paper

問18. What was collected separately for composting?

A. Train tickets ／ B. Old textbooks ／ C. Approved food scraps ／ D. School uniforms

問19. What does ‘biodegradable’ alone NOT explain?

A. Exact decomposition conditions and timing ／ B. That packaging is sold ／ C. That microbes exist ／ D. That labels can be printed

問20. Did the program accept every compostable plastic?

A. Yes ／ B. Only in summer ／ C. Only at schools ／ D. No

問21. What did the office tell residents to check?

A. A concert schedule ／ B. Local collection rules ／ C. The school calendar ／ D. Bus prices

問22. What did school posters compare?

A. Music and art ／ B. Different lunch plans ／ C. Reuse, recycling and accepted compost materials ／ D. Train and buses

問23. When was feedback planned?

A. One month later ／ B. The next morning ／ C. Two years later ／ D. The previous week

問24. Did the poster already change everyone?

A. Yes ／ B. Only visitors ／ C. Only teachers ／ D. That was not claimed

長文3｜図書館の環境講座｜海と生分解性

Reading passage（慶英会オリジナル）

A public library hosted a talk about plastics and environmental labels. The speaker explained that biodegradable materials can be broken down by microorganisms, but only under conditions suitable for that material. Some compostable plastics need special facilities with controlled heat and moisture. A label alone does not guarantee that a cup will quickly break down in the sea or a forest. One student asked whether it would be harmless to leave a biodegradable cup beside a river. The speaker said that leaving litter in nature was not an acceptable disposal method. Another visitor asked whether plant-based plastics were always suitable for home compost piles. The answer was no. The librarian gave visitors links to public information about composting and recycling and encouraged them to read local collection rules. The talk’s message was that materials and collection systems must be considered together instead of assuming every green-sounding label means the same thing.

問25. What breaks down biodegradable materials under suitable conditions?

A. Sunlight alone ／ B. Microorganisms ／ C. Train engines ／ D. School printers

問26. What do some compostable plastics require?

A. A museum ticket ／ B. A new printer ／ C. Controlled facilities ／ D. A railway platform

問27. What does a label NOT guarantee?

A. Quick breakdown in sea or forest ／ B. A product name ／ C. An owner ／ D. A printed word

問28. Was leaving a cup beside a river acceptable?

A. Yes ／ B. Only if it is green ／ C. Only for plant-based products ／ D. No

問29. Are all plant-based plastics home compostable?

A. Yes ／ B. No ／ C. Only in winter ／ D. Only in cities

問30. What did the librarian offer?

A. A new shopping list ／ B. Private transport ／ C. Links to public guidance ／ D. A test certificate

問31. What local information should people read?

A. Collection rules ／ B. Movie schedules ／ C. School grades ／ D. Airline tickets

問32. What was the main takeaway?

A. Labels always mean the same ／ B. Every material can be recycled ／ C. Nature disposes of all litter ／ D. Materials and collection systems both matter

長文4｜地域の飲食イベント｜堆肥用回収の対象

Reading passage（慶英会オリジナル）

Organizers of a community food event wanted to collect organic waste. A local service agreed to take fruit peels and other approved food scraps for composting. One seller offered cups labeled compostable, but the local service said its current program did not accept those particular cups. Organizers therefore kept them out of the food-scrap bins. They offered reusable cups where safe washing facilities were available and followed the local waste rules for other items. After the event, staff measured the amount of accepted food scraps and counted how many reusable cups had been returned. Some packaging still needed ordinary disposal. The group did not claim that every item had been recycled or composted. Organizers planned to ask the local service next month whether it could accept more materials in a future program, but no expansion had been approved. The group explained that good environmental intentions should be matched with practical collection conditions.

問33. What waste would the local service collect?

A. All plastic packaging ／ B. Approved food scraps ／ C. All broken equipment ／ D. Every cup

問34. What cups were not accepted by the service?

A. All washable cups ／ B. Glass jars ／ C. Particular compostable-labeled cups ／ D. All drinking containers

問35. Where were these cups kept out of?

A. Food-scrap bins ／ B. School buses ／ C. Book shelves ／ D. Classrooms

問36. What was used when washing facilities allowed it?

A. Disposable batteries ／ B. Single-use plates ／ C. New textbooks ／ D. Reusable cups

問37. What did staff count after the event?

A. School pupils ／ B. Returned reusable cups ／ C. Bus tickets ／ D. New posters

問38. Was every piece of packaging composted?

A. Yes ／ B. Only if the label was green ／ C. No ／ D. Only on Saturday

問39. When was a possible expansion to be discussed?

A. Next month ／ B. After ten years ／ C. Last year ／ D. Before the event

問40. Had expanded collection already been approved?

A. Yes ／ B. Only for fruit peels ／ C. Only for school events ／ D. No

復習｜環境表示を読む5段階

• 生分解と堆肥化の違いを英文で1文ずつ説明する。
• 産業用の堆肥化と家庭の堆肥化を混同しない。
• recyclableと書かれていても自治体の収集に対応するかを確認する。
• reusableを使う際の洗浄条件などが文中にないか探す。
• 翌日と一週間後に32問を再演習し、誤答がどの条件を無視したか説明する。

よくある質問

biodegradableなら自然の中に捨ててもよいですか？

いいえ。分解に必要な条件や時間は製品ごとに異なり、自然への投棄は適切な処分方法ではありません。

compostableなら家庭で堆肥化できますか？

必ずしもできません。産業用施設の条件が必要な製品があります。対象となる施設や地域の収集規則を確認してください。

recyclableとreusableは同じですか？

違います。recyclableは材料として再資源化すること、reusableは製品をそのまま繰り返し使えることです。

関連する無料教材

• reduce・reuse・recycle・repair｜環境と3Rの独自40問
• best before・use by｜食品ロスと期限表示の独自40問

英検準2級プラスの環境・社会の長文とNEW TREASUREの学校英語を一緒に強化したい場合は、慶英会の最大1か月無料体験・学習相談をご確認ください。本教材は無料・申込不要です。

公式参考情報：日本英語検定協会「準2級プラスの試験内容」、US EPA「Plastic Recycling and Composting FAQ」。本記事の例文・長文・解答・和訳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