【大問2 – 空所補充問題のポイント3選】
大問2では、約250語の長文に対し、空欄に適切な語句を選ぶ問題が各文3問、計2題（6問）出題されます。文章の構成や論理の流れを把握する力が求められます。以下の3タイプの出題傾向に分けて、それぞれの対策を紹介します。
🧩 項目①：「接続語」問題を確実に取る！
特徴：
各長文につき1問は、文頭または文中の空所に**接続表現（論理のつなぎ）**を入れる問題がほぼ必ず出題されます。例：「Therefore」「However」「Furthermore」など。
対策ポイント：
- 空欄の前後の論理関係（因果・対比・追加など）を明確に読み取る。
- 文の意味がつながるかどうかを頭の中で読んでみる（音読すると判断しやすい）。
- 普段からディスコースマーカー（接続表現）の使い方に注意しながら英文を読む習慣をつけましょう。
おすすめ練習：
「接続詞リスト」や英検準1級レベルの英文記事で逆接・因果・追加表現を探してみる。
📚 項目②：「内容に合った述語・名詞句」を選ぶ問題
特徴：
空欄に主語の述語（動詞）や目的語（名詞句）として自然に入る語を選ぶ形式が多数。意味の正確な理解と文の流れを読む力が必要です。
対策ポイント：
- 空欄のある文だけでなく、その前後2文を必ず読む。文脈の中で意味をとらえること。
- **コロケーション（語の結びつき）**を知っていると、違和感のある選択肢を除外しやすい。
- 動詞・名詞の選択肢は文法的にはすべて正しいことが多いため、内容との整合性で勝負。
おすすめ練習：
英検準1級単語帳の見出し語＋例文を使い、語の「使われ方」に注目して覚える。
🧠 項目③：「構文補完・修飾句挿入」問題に慣れる
特徴：
関係代名詞節など、**名詞を修飾する文の一部（関係節や形容詞句）**が空欄になっていることがあります。
対策ポイント：
- 空欄前の名詞を修飾する内容を前後の文から推測。
- who/which/that や現在分詞・過去分詞の使い方を正しく理解しておく。
- 文法的な一致（単複・時制・語順）を意識する。
おすすめ練習：
・英文読解の中で、関係代名詞・修飾表現を意識的に確認する。
・選択肢に「節」や「句」が並んでいる場合は、文構造として成立するかをチェック。
🏁 まとめ
| 項目 | 問われる力 | 主な対策法 |
|---|---|---|
| 接続語の選択 | 論理的思考・流れの把握 | 論理マーカーの練習／前後文の意味関係を確認 |
| 述語・名詞句補完 | 内容理解・コロケーション力 | 文脈を読む力／語彙の使い方に慣れる |
| 構文補完・修飾節 | 文法知識・構文読解力 | 関係節の文法確認／英文構造の意識づけ |
空欄だけでなく文全体の意味と構造を読む力を身につけることが、大問2で高得点を狙う最大のコツです。
短い時間でも、1日1題を丁寧に解いて復習するだけで、大きな差がつきます。
過去問 2019 (2)
大問 2
Read each passage and choose the best word or phrase from
among the four choices for each blank. Then, on your answer
find the number of the question and mark your answer.
“Drink Responsibly” Messages
Alcohol producers frequently include messages encouraging people to “drink responsibly” in their advertisements. On the surface, these campaigns appear to reflect companies’ sincere efforts to reduce excessive drinking and other negative behaviors associated with alcohol consumption. Some experts, however, are critical of the ads, pointing out that the messages are frequently written in small letters whose colors blend in with the background. ( 26 ), the messages are often contradicted by the images in the ads. One vodka adve11isement in the United States, for example, was accompanied by a responsibility message, but the advertisement itself featured a character who appeared to have been enjoying vodka all night.
Another criticism is that the messages are ( 27 ). Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in the United States, analyzed dozens of alcohol advertisements from major magazines and found that 87 percent of the ads contained advice to drink responsibly. None, however, defined what this meant or provided health warnings supported by scientific evidence. In fact, critics say that the messages are simply another way to improve the reputation of the alcohol companies.
Some people also complain that alcohol producers use the ads as a way to ( 28 ). Whenever there are proposals to increase alcohol taxes or place limitations on where alcohol can be sold or advertised, alcohol manufacturers argue that such measures are not necessary because they already provide responsibility messages in their advertising. No research, however, has indicated that the responsible-drinking messages have any effect whatsoever.
(26)
1 In exchange
2 Therefore
3 On the other hand
4 Fu1thermore
(27)
1 only effective for a short time
2 directed at the wrong people
3 too vague to be practical
4 often quite frightening
(28)
1 criticize other brands
2 identify loyal customers
3 put blame on the government
4 avoid regulation
Dog Colors
A recent study of Labrador retrievers has revealed that chocolate-colored Labradors are more likely than Labradors of other colors to suffer from ear infections and skin diseases. It also found their average life expectancy is about 10 percent shorter. According to the research team, ( 29 ). Ear infections and skin diseases both cause inflammation -a condition where the body tries to repair cellular damage, and which is characterized by swelling, increased temperature, and pain. Inflammation is harmful in the long term, and studies in humans have shown that people with inflammation tend to die younger than others.
The researchers believe color-related health problems in Labradors result from breeding by humans. Both parents must have the gene for the chocolate color in order to produce a chocolate Labrador, so there are fewer dogs available for breeding, and this limited population of dogs likely has more genes that are associated with ear infections and skin problems. ( 30 ), a gene found in dogs with blue eyes and a white coat can increase rates of deafness, while another gene, which gives dogs a pale, spotted coat, has been linked with high rates of blindness and deafness.
Other studies have found that a dog’s color ( 31 ). In a study of English cocker spaniels at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, researchers discovered a relationship between melanin- a substance that affects a dog’s coloring- and other chemicals that affect the dog’s brain. The study found that, among English cocker spaniels, which are known to be an aggressive breed to begin with, golden-colored ones are even more aggressive than others.
(29)
1 the problem can be easily solved
2 these facts are likely connected
3 health is not the only concern
4 this trend is spreading
(30)
1 Instead
2 Similarly
3 Even so
4 In short
(31)
1 can be related to its behavior
2 is not as important as its breed
3 can be difficult to assess
4 has less significance in other breeds
