English Essay by Brian Southwick

40 A Recent Cycling Trip: Part2
READING (slow) (fast) 

 Today’s essay is the second essay about my recent cycling trip to the Shibata area.  When I arrived at the cycling and walking path that was built on the old JR Akatani Line, it was lunchtime.  I found a bench to sit on and ate the rice balls that I made for lunch.  While I was eating, I thought about the old railway line that ran from Shibata City to Akatani Village.  The Akatani Line was opened in 1922, and it ran for over 60 years before it stopped running in 1984.  A long time ago there were coal mines near Akatani, and the train was used to take coal out of the mountains.  The train was also the best way for people nearby to travel.  I am glad that Shibata City decided to make the old line a place for people to enjoy cycling and walking.
    After I finished eating, I rode towards Uchinokura Lake.  There are photos of the lake on the Internet, and the view looks beautiful.  However, when I reached the entrance to the lake, the gate was closed!  I was disappointed, but I was also a little glad.  The road to the lake looked steep, and I was already quite tired.  I stayed for a few minutes to enjoy the view of the nearby mountains.  Then, I rode my bike to Shibata.
   
I was hungry again, and I decided to go to one of my favorite coffee shops for something to eat.  I also wanted to talk to the owner because he speaks English quite well.  He was surprised but happy to see me, and he told me about studying English phonics.  Phonics is about the sounds used to speak a language.  My friend said that learning the rules of English pronunciation was a good way for him to improve his speaking and reading ability.  We talked for a while about old friends, and after I finished my pizza toast, I left Shibata to return to Niigata City.


<注>
essay
(エッセイ,随筆),recent(最近の),cycling(サイクリング),arrive at〜(〜に着く),path(小道),
bench(ベンチ),rice ball(おにぎり),railway(鉄道),coal mine(炭坑),coal(石炭),nearby(近くの),
travel(旅行する),towards(〜の方へ),photo(写真),however(けれども),reach〜(〜に着く),
entrance(入り口),was disappointed(がっかりした),steep(急勾配の),quite(かなり),coffee(コーヒー),
owner(所有者),phonics(フォニックス,単語の綴りと発音のきまりを基に読み方や書き方を教える方法),
pronunciation(発音),improve(向上させる),ability(能力),pizza toast(ピザトースト)




Question and Answers:  Please answer the following questions
in English in a complete sentence, with a subject and a verb.

Q1. What did Brian think about while eating lunch?

A1.


Q2. When was the Akatani Line opened?

A2.  


Q3. Why did Brian want to go to Uchinokura Lake?

A3.


Q4. Could Brian go all the way to the lake?

A4.


Q5. Who has recently learned about English phonics?

A5.





<解答例>

A1. He thought about the old railway line that ran from Shibata City to Akatani Village.

A2. It was opened in 1922.

A3. Because he saw photos of the lake on the Internet, and the view looked beautiful.

    Because he wanted to see a beautiful view of the lake (, he wanted to go there).

  等,英文として意味が通っていれば可。

A4. No, he couldn’t.

A5. Brian's friend (who is the owner of a coffee shop in Shibata) has.

   等,英文として意味が通っていれば可。