©AP Photo/Hiro Komae
Pre-reading Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。
- Have you ever climbed a mountain?
- Do you know any famous mountains in Japan?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。
- summit /SUHM-it/
[noun] – the highest point of a mountain
The hikers stood on the snowy summit. - remarkable /ri-MAHR-kuh-buhl/
[adjective] – unusual or special and therefore surprising and worth mentioning
The baby showed remarkable strength for her age. - encouragement /en-KUR-ij-muhnt/
[noun] – words or actions that make someone more confident or hopeful
The teacher’s encouragement helped the student try again. - determination /dih-tur-muh-NEY-shuhn/
[noun] – the ability to keep trying even when it is difficult
His determination helped him finish the long race. - difficulty /DIF-i-kuhl-tee/
[noun] – a problem or something that is hard to do
She had difficulty carrying the heavy box.
Article Reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。
Kokichi Akuzawa, aged 102 from Maebashi in Gunma Prefecture, became the oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest mountain at 3,776 meters, on August 5. The remarkable achievement was confirmed by Guinness World Records. He climbed with his 70-year-old daughter, his granddaughter, her husband, and four companions from a local club. The group camped for two nights before making the final ascent. Reports said Akuzawa nearly stopped halfway, but encouragement from the group renewed his strength. His determination allowed him to continue despite the many difficulties of old age.
This was not his first record. At 96, he had already been recognized for summiting Fuji. In later years, he suffered from shingles and heart problems, yet he trained for months by walking long distances and climbing smaller mountains near Nagano. He admitted this year’s climb was the hardest, but reaching the summit brought lasting pride. Beyond climbing, he volunteers at a senior center and paints landscapes, hoping next to capture Fuji’s beauty on canvas.
This was not his first record. At 96, he had already been recognized for summiting Fuji. In later years, he suffered from shingles and heart problems, yet he trained for months by walking long distances and climbing smaller mountains near Nagano. He admitted this year’s climb was the hardest, but reaching the summit brought lasting pride. Beyond climbing, he volunteers at a senior center and paints landscapes, hoping next to capture Fuji’s beauty on canvas.
True or False:
Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.
文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。
- Kokichi Akuzawa was 102 years old when he reached the summit of Mount Fuji.
- Mount Fuji is Japan’s shortest mountain.
- His achievement was confirmed by Guinness World Records.
- He climbed alone without any family members.
- The group camped for two nights before the final ascent.
Fill in the Blanks:
Choose the correct word from the table, then fill in the blanks.
適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。
| summit | remarkable | encouragement | determination | difficulty |
- She found ______ in reading the small letters.
- Snow covered the ______, making it look very white.
- It was ______ how quickly the flowers grew in spring.
- The coach gave ______ before the big game.
- With ______, he learned to play the piano well.