・「リスニングパート（Part 1～4まで）」の説明ナレーション
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Listening TEST
（リスニングテスト）
In the Listening test, you will be asked to demonstrate how well you understand spoken English.
（リスニングテストでは、話されている英語をどのくらいよく理解しているかが問われます）
The entire Listening test will last approximately 45 minutes.
（リスニングテストは全体で約45分間です）
There are four parts, and directions are given for each part.
（4つのパートがあり、各パートにおいて指示が与えられます）
You must mark your answer on the separate answer sheet.
（答えは、別紙の解答用紙にマークしてください）
Do not write your answers in your test book.
（問題用紙に答えを書き込んではいけません）
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↓ ・Part 1の説明ナレーション
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Part 1
（パートワン）
Directions: For each question in this part, you will hear four statements about a picture in your test book.
（指示：このパートの各設問では、問題用紙にある写真について、4つの説明文を聞きます）
When you hear the statements, you must select the one statement that best describes what you see in the picture.
（説明文を聞いて、写真の内容を最も適切に描写しているものを選んでください）
Then find the number of the question on your answer sheet and mark your answer.
（そして解答用紙の該当する問題番号にあなたの答えをマークしてください）
The statements will not be printed in your test book and will be spoken only one time.
（説明文は問題用紙に印刷されておらず、1度だけ放送されます）
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↓ ・Part 1の例題ナレーション
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Look at the example item below
（下の例題を見てください）
Now listen to the four statements.
（では4つの説明文を聞きましょう）
(A) They’re moving some furniture.
（彼らは家具を動かしている）
(B) They’re entering a meeting room.
（彼らは会議室に入ろうとしている）
(C) They’re sitting at a table.
（彼らはテーブルのところに座っている）
(D) They’re cleaning the carpet.
（彼らはカーペットを掃除している）
Statement (C), “They’re sitting at a table,” is the best description of the picture, so you should select answer (C) and mark it on your answer sheet.
（(C) の文、“They’re sitting at a table”（彼らはテーブルのところに座っている）がこの写真を最も適切に描写しているので、(C) を選び、解答用紙にマークします）
Now Part 1 will begin.
（ではパート1が始まります）
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ここまで聞いて、やっと問題が始まります。
上記のナレーション中、もしくは問題と問題の間のポーズ時（長さは約5秒）、 さらには、2問と3問の間に「Go on to the next page」のポーズが入るので、 それらの時に写真を前もって確認しておくことがポイントです。
Japan is now under a state of emergency. It is a little worrying / alarming to see major cities like Ginza and Shibuya being empty. I think it’s a good opportunity to focus on yourself and improve our English skill!
ー初めにー
Today’s Riddle:
Before anything else, the answer to last week’s riddle is “Seven”!!
Why?
Seven is an odd number (1. 3. 5., 7, 9) and when you spell it and take away the letter “S”, then it becomes “even”! Were you able to answer the question correctly?
For this week, here’s the riddle:
“An astronaut went to planet Mars and found a lot of aliens! There, he found 390 male aliens, 349 female aliens and 295 baby aliens. How many aliens are on planet Mars?
*Hint
This is a riddle, not a mathematical problem, so don’t add the numbers written there!
The answer will be revealed next Thursday. Until then, good luck!
ー続いてー
Today’s Conversational Point:
More than saying “I see” and “Mm-hmm”, I think it’s more natural in Western culture to ask follow-up questions when the one talking takes a long pause. A good suggestion here is to simply make “WH-questions” about what the speaker is talking about. Just to refresh your memory, the questions are “what, where, when, why, who, how”.
To make longer questions and still be grammatically correct, my second tip is to place the verb (動詞) right after the question.
For example, instead of saying “Who you go to the park with?”, change it to “Who did you go to the park with?”
So, the next time you are in a casual conversation, try asking a lot of questions! Not only will it practice your speaking, but also your listening!
Something that goes hand-in-hand with the current situation, namely the Corona virus, would be telecommuting for those who are working. It is not an entirely new concept to workplaces outside Japan, however here, it is something people know, but are not familiar with. So as the government heavily advised companies to implement this, most companies had no choice but to do so. Here’s an article about a survey asking people in Japan what they think of telecommuting:
And to end this week’s blog post, here’s a video of how to make pasta in 13 different, easy ways!
Are you keeping social distance? Are you putting on a mask? Are you trying to stay home except when it’s necessary? Keep going like that to overcome the coronavirus! 一人一人の協力で、早くコロナが収束するよう、頑張りましょう！
