● Task 5
解答：こちら
今度は、会話・トークを１度だけ音読して概要をキャッチするトレーニングを行う。
まず Conversation 1 を音読し、こちらの会話の概要を示した文の空所を補充する。この際、Task 5 の英文は見ないこと。冒頭に特に注意して、人物、趣旨、話題、状況、場所などを把握しながらチャンクで読もう。キーワードから内容をつかむようにする。
続いて、Conversation 2、Talk 1、Talk 2 についても音読⇒空所補充を行おう。
Conversation 1
M: Kate, have you decided who you’re going to choose / for this year’s best employee award? // I’m still wondering who to vote for. // I always have trouble making up my mind about it. //
W: I totally understand what you mean, Tony. // Frankly, it’s not an easy decision, /especially because we can’t possibly know the details / of everyone’s job performance. // And the only available data sources for reference / are the employee performance records / on the company’s official nomination list. //
M: I know. // And the point is that some contributions toward the company / can’t be evaluated purely by sales performance, right? // I mean what about someone who comes up with the idea to implement precautionary measures / against damage to our firm, / or someone who proposes a novel idea / that facilitates the success of a new product? // I think they should be assessed properly as well. //
Conversation 2
M: Susan, have you completed your article / about the Water Festival in June? // The due date for it is the 15th, isn’t it? // That’s in two days ─ / the same day as my concert. //
W: I know, I know. // There’s no need to add to the pressure, John. // I’ve been working as hard as I can / to keep up with the deadline. // But the thing is, / the marketing division hasn’t provided us / with the details of their plan for this issue yet. // I’m still waiting for their draft. //
M: Is there anything I can do to help? //
W: Thanks. // If I need any technical assistance, / I’ll let you know. //
M: Well, should we put off the editorial meeting then? // I know the editor is looking forward to hearing from you / about the content and layout of your piece though. //
W: Yes. // Would you mind informing him / about the postponement of the meeting? // I think he’ll understand the situation. //But either way, / I’ll contact the marketing division again / to get an update on what’s going on there. // I hope the delay in my work doesn’t interfere with you / going to the concert on Friday, though. //
Talk 1: A news broadcast
Share prices remained steady overall / on the Central Stock Market Tuesday. //
An announcement of official government unemployment figures /
indicated that unemployment increased last month. //
And that news combined with general fears of an overall economic decline /
caused share prices to fall. // But, according to a separate report later in the day, /
most large banks and other financial firms /
are preparing to announce strong business results / for the past half-year. //
That encouraged buying of shares in the financial sector, /
and analysts say the positive mood spread throughout the market /
during afternoon trading. //
The result was a recovery in the average share price / from morning declines. //
Talk 2: An announcement
I can sum up your midday traffic report today by saying, /
“No news is good news.” //
An accident that occurred early this morning on McArthur Drive /
south of Creek Street /
was cleared up about an hour ago, /
and traffic has begun flowing smoothly there again. //
This morning’s usual bumper-to-bumper traffic on Highway 9 /
has also cleared up, /
and there are no major problems on the main highways. //
Routine road construction is blocking traffic /
on westbound 45th Avenue at Rollins Street. //
But a detour is in place, / and no congestion is occurring in the area. //
So the upshot of it is, / if you’re planning to go out on the road today, /
now would be a good time, / before the afternoon rush begins. //