●問題群(1)[10:00?12:00] ・日本の活火山について話してください。 Japan has 110 active volcanoes, which are situated along seven volcanic belts that stretch across the country. (日本には約110の活火山があり、そして、それらは日本を貫く七つの火山帯に沿って存在しています。)
・日本の活火山を訪れるのにお勧めはどこですか。 I would recommend Mt. Fuji which is the most beautiful active volcano in Japan. (東京の近くでは、富士山、箱根山、浅間山など。福岡の近くでは、阿蘇山、雲仙岳、霧島山、桜島、開聞岳など。)
・東京から一日旅行に行くとしたら、どこを勧めますか。 I would recommend Hakone which is a popular all-year tourist site because of its many hot-spring resorts, beautiful scenery, and comfortable climate. Its easy access from Tokyo, views of Mt. Fuji, and the plentiful facilities in the district also add to its attraction. (日光、鎌倉、箱根、富士山など。)
・仏教を説明しなさい。 Buddhism was founded in India and introduced through China and Korea to Japan in the 6th century. It teaches a way to enlightenment and has exerted great influence on the spiritual and cultural life of the Japanese. (仏教はインドで起こり、中国と朝鮮を経て、6世紀に日本へ伝わった。仏教は悟りに至る方法を説いており、日本人の精神的・文化的生活に大きな影響を与えてきた。)
●問題群(3)[14:00?15:00] ・日本の地理的特徴は何ですか。 (1)First, the islands of Japan are surrounded by the sea. Second, Japan has a wide variety of topographical features due to several volcanic ranges which run through the country. Third, its rivers are short and fast-flowing, and as a result, they form deep gorges in the mountainous areas. Finally, Japan boasts many places of scenic beauty and hot-spring resorts. (2) Japan is a very mountainous island nation. Although its total land area is a little smaller than California, 67% is covered by mountains. Plains account for only 13%. Japan also has 110 active volcanoes. (日本は非常に山がちな島国である。日本の全陸域面積がカリフォルニアよりも少し小さいのに、67%が山地である。平野はわずか13%である。また、110個の活火山がある。)
●問題群(4)[15:00?16:00] ・日本の気候はどのようなものですか。(2006年、2007年、2008年、2009年にも出題された) The climate of Japan is mostly temperate, but varies greatly from north to south. There are four distinct seasons. With the exception of Hokkaido, most areas have a rainy season from early June to mid-July, followed by a hot, humid summer. Typhoons are common during late summer and early autumn; and except for semitropical Okinawa, many parts of Japan have snow in winter. (日本には春夏秋冬というはっきりした四季があり、春と夏の間には雨季もある。日本の気候は、夏と冬の季節風、海流、地勢に影響を受けている。)
・寺と神社の違いは何ですか。(2007年にも出題された) Shinto shrines, which are always entered through a torii gate, are where Shinto deities are enshrined. A water trough, called a temizuya, is provided for purification, and visitors clap their hands, and tug a thick rope attached to a bell to summon the resident kami. Buddhist temples are where monks and nuns live, practice ascetic exercises, and hold Buddhist ceremonies. Temples house many statues and they are often more ornate than Shinto shrines.