例えば、”it’s really good”や”everything is good”とは言わずに、”good の類義語(synonym)
を使って、”it’s spectacular”や”everything is tremendous” と言うことで
得点がUPします。
synonym ( 同意語、類義語) の 例
a rage of words (paraphrasing 言い換え)
高得点を目指すには、豊富な語彙力を正確に使っていることを試験官に
アピールする必要があります。
そこで、Paraphrasing (言い換え）を利用してください。
paraphrasingとは試験官の質問を言い換えて回答する技のことです。
┃ Paraphrasing (言い換え）5つの法則
１． synonyms （同意語、類義語）を使う
２． 単語の全部を変えずに一部を変える
３． 間違いを避ける（自信のない単語は使わない）
４． 単語の形を変える（例 動詞→動名詞）
５． 構文を変える
例えば、”do you like to read” と聞かれたら、”yes, I love to read” と答えるのではなく、”yes, I love reading” のように、動詞の形を変えることで語彙力をアピールできます。”yes, I like to read” のように質問と同じ単語を使うと、試験官に語彙力不足と判定されますので注意してください。
▮ 語形の変更
● Many people are unhealthy because they fail to eat well and exercise.
● Many people have poor health because they are failing to eat well and
are not exercising enough.
上の2つの文は単語の多くはそのままですが、語形が変えられています。
1. unhealthy = poor health
2. fail = failing
3. exercise = exercising
● 語形の変更による paraphrasing の例
developing = the development of
increasing = an increase in
pollution = being polluted
explain = explanation
▮ 構文を変える paraphrasing
● Many people are unhealthy because they fail to eat well and exercise.
それでは、上の文で2つの句 ( ” Many people are unhealthy” と ” because they fail to eat well and exercise” ) を入れ替えてみます。
● Many people fail to eat well and exercise and , for that reason, they are unhealthy.
さらに、語形を変えることで構文がもっと変わります。
● Failing to eat well and not exercising are the reasons that many people have poor health.
Well, the word I want to describe it has just slipped my mind. (度忘れする), anyway, the tool to make musical sounds （musical instrument） と表現を変えて説明すればその場を切り抜けることができます。
試験官: Are there any environmental problems in your country?
受験者 A : Yes … we have a serious issue with pollution levels in some of our big cities … exhaust fumes from cars and lorries are definitely one reason for the problem but we also have a lot of heavy industry in some areas and this also results in poor air quality …
試験官 ： Do you take an interest in nature?
受験者 B : Well … I’m a city person through and through and don’t get back to nature very often I’m afraid … but like everyone else I’m fascinated by the natural world and I like watching documentaries showing wild animals in their natural habitat …
air quality: the cleanliness of the air we breathe
to become extinct: to no longer exist
to be under threat: to be in danger of becoming extinct
climate change: the change in worldwide weather patterns
to die out: see ‘to become extinct’
endangered species: categories of animals or plants that are in danger of becoming extinct
energy conservation: the careful management of energy resources to ensure they last as long as possible
environmentally friendly: behaviour and products that do not harm the environment
exhaust fumes: the toxic gases given off by vehicles powered by petrol
flash floods: floods that happen quickly
fossil fuels: energy resources like gas and oil that are produced deep below the ground over millions of years
future generations: the people who live after us
to get back to nature: to live a life that is closer to nature
global warming: the increasing temperature of the world brought about by gases such as carbon dioxide
heavy industry: the manufacture of heavy articles and materials in large numbers
humanitarian aid: the act of showing support to people struggling to survive
impact on: the effect on
loss of habitat: the decline in areas of land where animals and plants would normally exist
man-made disaster: widespread damage or loss of life brought about by the action of humans
natural disaster: an event such as an earthquake, flood or hurricane which causes widespread damage or loss of life
natural environment: the place where animals and plants would normally be found in nature
the natural world: the world of nature
oil spill: waste usually deposited in the seas and oceans after an accident at sea
poaching: to hunt and kill wild animals illegally
pollution levels: the amount of toxic waste
pressure group: a group of people who try to raise awareness of issues and try to affect the views and actions of people and organisations
toxic waste: poisonous, unwanted rubbish often produced by industrial processes
wildlife conservation: to protect animals and plants and their habitats
各コマにつき、「いつ」「誰が」「何をした」で1文、 「誰が」「何と言った」で1文、「誰が」「どのように感じた」 で1文という調子で、3文ずつ話すとよいでしょう。 2～4コマめには A week later などの時間の推移 を表す語句がよく書かれています。 ストーリーの流れが明快になるので、 各コマ第1文の冒頭はこの時間表現で始めるようにしましょう。
―― 問題例 ――
You have one minute to prepare.
This is a story about a married couple who worked in a big city.
You have two minutes to narrate the story.
Your story should begin with the following sentence:
One weekend, a couple was visiting the man’s parents’ farm in the countryside.
出典： 英検準1級二次試験 2017年度第2回
――解答例――
One weekend, a couple was visiting the man’s parents’ farm in the countryside. They looked concerned to hear that the parents thought they were getting too old for farming.
A week later, the couple was back at their apartment in the city. They were talking in the living room, and the man suggested that they quit their jobs and go to the farm to help with the farm work. The man’s wife looked unsure about whether that was a good idea.
The following year, the couple had returned to the farm. They were working outside, and the man was pleased to see that his parents were enjoying the opportunity to spend time with their grandchildren.
A few months later, however, the man’s wife told him that she missed city life as they were sitting at the table.
The politician was waffling on their stance on the issue,
giving vague answers to the reporters’ questions.
政治家は問題に対する立場に関して曖昧な答えを記者の質問に与えていました。
この例文では、政治家は明確な答えを与えるのを回避しており、代わりに曖昧な
発言をしています。これは、動詞「waffle」を使って説明されています。
「waffle（ワッフル）」というスイーツがありますが、この単語を動詞として使うと
「曖昧な事を言う」や「重要なポイントを抜かして遠回しに話す・書く」という
意味になります。
使う際には「waffle on about ～」というパターンでよく使われています。
また、名詞としても使う事が出来ます。名詞として使った場合「あいまいな話」、
「重要なポイントが含まれていない話」という意味になります。
「waffle」を動詞として「曖昧なことを言う」意味に使う用法の語源ははっきり
していませんが、ウォッフルという食べ物が軽くて膨らんでいて実質的なもの
がないというイメージと関連があると考えられています。
「waffle」という表現を使ったときに、人が話すことが決まらず、または回避的
であるというとき、その人はウォッフルのように明確な形状や構造がないと
いうイメージがあります。
日本語においては、「waffle」という単語は英語から導入され、同じ意味を持つよう
になったと思われますが、具体的な語源に関してはわかりません。
「sweet を使った例文」
● The sweet smell of success” – 成功の香り ● Life is just a bowl of sweets” – 人生は美味しいものだらけ ● Too sweet to be true” – 本当にありえないほど素晴らしい ● A sweet tooth” – 甘いものが大好きな人 ● Sweet dreams” – 甘い夢 ● A sweetheart deal” – とても優遇な取引 ● A sweet talker” – 話術がうまい人 ● Sweet nothing” – うそぶき
「 take a stand 態度を示す 」習得・攻略
ネイティブのリアル 英語：
I asked Francine how she feels about abortion, but she always stalls or changes the subject. I hate it when she waffles!
学校で教わる英語：
I asked Francine how she feels about abortion, but she always stalls or changes the subject. I hate it when she evades an issue!
ネイティブのリアル発音:
I ast Francine how she feels aboud abortion, b’t she ahweez stalls ’er changes the subject. I hate it when she waffles!
