英語・長文読解（福井県公立高校入試問題）
次の英文を読んで，あとの問いに答えよ。
Is our society a nice place to live? Probably most of you say, “Yes,” but some people may say, “No.” Actually, these people are sometimes in trouble. For example， people in wheelchairs may find it is difficult to push the buttons of a public phone in a high place. They may also have trouble when they want to go up stairs.
Some people are trying to improve these kinds of problems. Some public buildings have slopes or elevators for those people. That’s not all. There are special types of cars for people who have problems with their legs. There are special types of computers for people who can’t see well. In some cities, there are fax machines near public phones for people who can’t hear well.
We will have more good ideas in the future, but I think there is another important thing. Last year a group of Japanese people in wheelchairs made a trip to Italy. It was not always convenient for them to move around in Italy, but they had a very good time. Do you know why they enjoyed the trip? The answer is the warm heart of the people there. Many people came to the group and took care of them by pushing the wheelchairs. I hope everybody in Japan will be like them in the future.
Handicapped people are not the only people who have trouble. Look at foreign people who live in Japan. Their life in Japan is hard when they don’t understand Japanese language and culture. Some old people can’t find jobs easily when they want to work again. It is not easy for some young mothers to work after they have children. Probably you see many other kinds of people who have trouble for other reasons.
The 21st century has just started. What will our society be like in this new century? Some people say, “Let’s make our society friendly to everybody.” I think we can do it. When you find some people in trouble, don’t turn your eyes away from them. First, look at them and try to understand why they are in trouble. Next, ask yourself, “What can I do for them?” Then, do it for them. If we do this for each other, our society will be a happy place for everyone in the 21st century.
(注) wheelchair(s) 車いす slope(s) スロープ，坂 fax ファックス Italy イタリア
問(1) 本文の内容と合うものを，次のａ〜ｅの中から２つ選び，記号で答えよ。
a. Everybody can push the buttons of a public phone easily.
b. The group of Japanese people in wheelchairs enjoyed the trip to Italy.
c. Foreign people in Japan have no trouble with Japanese culture.
d. It is difficult for some young mothers to work because of their children.
e. In the 21st century, we have to do our best to make our society more industrial.
(2) 筆者は，車いすを使用している人々のためのスロープやエレベーター以外に，体が不自由な人のために工夫されていることを３つあげている。それらを日本語で書け。
(3) 筆者は，イタリア旅行の例をあげ，何が大切だと述べているか。日本語で書け。
(4) 本文の内容について，次の質問に英語で答えよ。
ａ. Some old people have trouble. Why?
ｂ. Can we make our society friendly to everybody?
(5) 筆者は，21世紀の社会をすべての人々にとって幸せなものにするために，私たちがすべきことは何であると述べているか。日本語で書け。
