30日間オーストラリア英語 — 12日目
グレートバリアリーフ
Cairns, a tropical city nestled between the Coral Sea and the Daintree Rainforest in Far North Queensland, serves as the primary gateway to one of the natural world's most extraordinary wonders — the Great Barrier Reef. Extending over two thousand three hundred kilometres along the Queensland coast, the reef is the largest living structure on earth, visible even from space. It is composed of nearly three thousand individual reef systems and supports an astonishing diversity of marine life, including over fifteen hundred species of fish and four hundred types of coral. However, the reef faces significant threats. Were the current rate of ocean warming to continue unchecked, scientists warn that the majority of the reef's coral could perish within the coming decades. Bleaching events, caused when stressed corals expel the algae that give them their vibrant colours, have become alarmingly frequent. Had stronger environmental protections been implemented earlier, much of the damage that has already occurred might have been prevented. Nevertheless, conservation efforts are intensifying, and visitors who participate in responsible tourism are considered vital allies in the fight to preserve this irreplaceable ecosystem.
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Q: サンゴの白化現象はなぜ起こりますか？
Never before had I seen anything so magnificent as the Great Barrier Reef. Our snorkelling tour departed from Cairns Marina at seven in the morning and reached the outer reef after approximately ninety minutes. The marine biologist on board explained that the section we were visiting was classified as a protected zone, where fishing and collecting are strictly prohibited. As soon as I submerged my face in the water, an entirely different universe revealed itself. Schools of brilliantly coloured fish darted in every direction, while enormous sea turtles glided past with an elegance that seemed almost otherworldly. The coral formations, ranging from delicate fan shapes to massive boulder-like structures, created an underwater landscape unlike anything I had ever imagined. Our guide told us that if everyone practised reef-safe behaviour — such as using mineral sunscreen and not touching the coral — the reef's chances of recovery would be significantly improved. I was profoundly moved by the experience. If I were asked what the single most memorable moment of my Australian trip was, I would answer without hesitation: floating above the Great Barrier Reef.
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Q: ガイドが訪問者にリーフの回復のために勧めたことは何ですか？
リーフでのシュノーケリングやダイビングには守るべきルールがあります。サンゴに触らない（Don't touch the coral）、足をつかない（Don't stand on the reef）、リーフセーフの日焼け止めを使う（Use reef-safe sunscreen）。化学物質を含む通常の日焼け止めはサンゴを傷つけます。
'Never before had I seen anything so magnificent.' のように、Never, Rarely, Seldom, Not until などの否定語句が文頭に来ると倒置が起こります。had + 主語 + 過去分詞の語順になります。2級の長文読解でよく見かける構文です。
Conversationの内容チェック
Q: スタッフがリーフシャークは危険ではないと言った根拠は何ですか？
今日のそのまま使える表現3つ
Key Sentencesを並べ替えて作ってみよう
Q1: 「もしより強力な環境保護が早く実施されていたら、損害の多くは防げたかもしれない。」
Q2: 「1500種以上の魚がリーフに生息していると報告されている。」
Q3: 「もし全員がリーフセーフな行動を実践したら、回復の可能性は大幅に向上するだろう。」
今日のことを3行で書いてみよう
💡 今日の会話や文をマネしてOK！わからない英語は日本語のままで大丈夫。