英検1級英作文・面接：科学関係
2021年第1回の英検1級受験時に、英作文・面接対策として自分が書き溜めた原稿を公開しています。
Grammarlyに頼りつつ書いたもので、完全に独学で勉強していたため、不自然な表現や文法的に間違った英文が含まれている可能性もありますので、ご注意ご了承ください。
実績としては、本番は英作文・面接どちらもこのブログで公開している原稿から、使える部分を流用したような格好で解答を行いました。
得点もそれぞれ英作文が745/850で9割近い点数が獲れ, 面接は615/850と合格ギリギリの水準ですが、2分スピーチセクションであまりの緊張から10秒近く言葉が出てこなかった所から原稿の内容を駆使した決死の、華麗なる逆転劇があってのものですので、内容としてはまあ悪くない水準にあると思います。
そう信じています。
英検1級合格を目指す皆様に、こちらの原稿が少しでもお役に立てば幸いです。
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Q. Should nuclear power be promoted?
A. It has been one of the most contentious issues whether nuclear power should be encouraged in the world. For example, some people argue that nuclear power generation is indispensable for increasing energy demands all over the world, I personally believe that the drawbacks of nuclear power outweigh its benefits for the following two reasons.
Firstly, radioactive waste generated from nuclear power generation is a considerable threat to the global environment. It takes more than 50 years to detoxicate high-level radioactive waste. Encouraging nuclear power might lead to the depletion of storage and disposal sites, which will lead to inappropriate processes and radiation leakage.
In addition, nuclear power is not sustainable in terms of energy sources as well as fossil fuels. Uranium, the fuel of nuclear power generation, is a finite resource that is impossible to avoid depletion in the future.
In conclusion, for these reasons, the risks of environmental damage, and the depletion of energy sources, I think that the disadvantages of nuclear power outweigh its benefits.
※Secondly, nuclear power plants and weapons carry the unavoidable risk of causing catastrophic accidents. It is clear that nuclear power might get intractable and uncontrollable in unpredictable natural disasters through the case of the accident in the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The radiation accidents cause irreparable damage to the life of people living on the site.
Q. Should couples have the right to choose the sex of their children?
A.
Many people argue that choosing the sex of their children is ethically problematic and such a system or right should not be permitted. However, if genetic engineering makes it possible in a completely safe way, I think that it should be allowed.
Firstly, the development of technologies about it will lead to further innovation of genetic engineering. For example, it may be possible to completely eliminate the risk of inherited diseases before the child is born, as technology further advances. In a more ideal case, for example, it may be possible to create people who are impervious to diseases such as cancer. Genetic engineering technology has the potential to lead to the further evolution of human beings, and the approval of options based on this technology could be a driving force for further technological advancement.
In addition, it might also be able to be a factor in alleviating the declining birthrate. The advent of new technologies about childbirth can attract a certain rate of people and perhaps make them be positive to get a baby even out of their curiosity.
In conclusion, for these reasons, expectations of further technological developments of genetic engineering, and the potential to be one of the breakthroughs for declining birthrate, the right to choose the sex of their children is worth proactively considering.
Q. Can you describe the disadvantages of using the Internet in classrooms?
A.
I guess that basically, the benefits of it outweigh the disadvantages because the effectiveness provided by the Internet is massively attractive. However, if anything, easy access to a wealth of information and answer to their question on the Internet might undermine students’ voluntary thinking abilities. It might cause students to get into the habit of trying to find answers before thinking about it themselves.
In addition, there will doubtless be more students who are distracted by chat apps or surfing the Internet and do not concentrate in class. Generally, human beings easily slack off when there are temptations.
Q. Will the use of solar energy become widespread in the future?
A. With the growing demand for “green energy” and increasing awareness towards environmental problems, solar energy generation is considered an attractive alternative as a power source. Although further technological development is necessary to meet increasing energy demands, I think the use of solar energy will become widespread in the future.
First of all, in terms of energy resources of power generations, solar energy is sustainable and there’s no possibility of depletion. At present, human beings are heavily reliant on thermal and nuclear power generation. (which their fuels are finite resources that are impossible to avoid the depletion in the future. ) Solar power generation is safer and far sustainable compared to these conventional popular ways of power generation.
In addition, solar power generation is superior to conventional power generation in terms of eco-friendliness. In the process of energy generation, solar power generation does not emit a huge amount of CO2 like thermal power generation and does not have the risk of devastating accidents like nuclear power generation.
In conclusion, for these reasons, the sustainability of resources and the eco-friendliness, I think the use of solar energy will become widespread in the future.
Q. What is setting back the development of “green energy” power?
A. I guess the critical points are these two.
The first thing is Japan is so small that the sites for green power generation are so limited. For example, the construction of a power plant requires a large area of land, but we cannot physically prepare a large enough area as other countries can.
Furthermore, the government in Japan is not actively investing in the promotion of renewable energy. The Japanese government has kept taking a poor attitude towards the spread of renewable energy and thrown its responses to private companies without sufficient subsidies.
Therefore, the limitation of the land size and poor attitude of the government is the core of the problems.
