Going to the shore
海岸に向かう途中
on the first morning of the vacation,
休暇の最初の朝
Jerry stopped
ジェリーは足を止めた
and looked at a wild and rocky bay,
そして荒々しい岩だらけの湾を眺め
and then over to the crowded beach
それから混雑した浜辺の方に目をやった
{he knew so well
彼がよく知っている
from other years}.
以前の年々から
休暇初日の朝、海岸に向かう途中でジェリーは足を止め、荒々しい岩だらけの湾を眺めてから、長年よく知っている混雑した浜辺の方に目をやった。
shore 海岸
rocky 岩の
bay 湾
crowded 混んだ
Going to the shore on the first morning of the vacation, Jerry stopped and looked at a wild and rocky bay, and then over to the crowded beach he knew so well from other years.
His mother looked back
彼の母は振り返った
at him.
彼の方を
彼の母は彼の方を振り返った。
His mother looked back at him.
“Are you tired of the usual beach,
「いつもの浜辺には飽きたの、
Jerry?”
ジェリー?」
「いつもの浜辺には飽きたの、ジェリー?」
“Are you tired of the usual beach, Jerry?”
“Oh, no!”
「いや、そんなことないよ!」
he said quickly,
彼は急いで言った
but then said,
しかしそれから言った
“I’d like to look at those rocks
「あの岩場を見てみたいんだ
down there.”
向こうにある」
「いや、そんなことないよ!」と彼は急いで言ったが、それから「あそこにある岩場を見てみたいんだ」と言った。
“Oh, no!” he said quickly, but then said, “I’d like to look at those rocks down there.”
“Of course,
「もちろんいいよ、
if you like.”
したいなら」
「もちろん、行きたいなら行っていいよ」
“Of course, if you like.”
Jerry watched his mother go,
ジェリーは母が去っていくのを見送り
then ran straight into the water
それから真っ直ぐ水の中に走り込み
and began swimming.
そして泳ぎ始めた
ジェリーは母が去っていくのを見送ると、真っ直ぐ水の中に走り込んで泳ぎ始めた。
Jerry watched his mother go, then ran straight into the water and began swimming.
watch his mother go
⇒整理17 感覚動詞(知覚動詞)
He was a good swimmer.
彼は泳ぎが上手だった。
He swam out
彼は沖へ泳ぎ出た
over the gleaming sand
ギラギラ光る砂の上を
and then he was in the real sea.
そしてやがて本物の海に出た
彼はギラギラ光る砂の上を沖へ泳ぎ出て、やがて本物の海に出た。
gleaming ギラギラ光っている
He swam out over the gleaming sand and then he was in the real sea.
He saw some older,
彼は年上の
local boys
地元の少年たちを見た
― men, to him ―
彼にとっては大人のような存在だった
sitting on the rocks.
岩の上に座っている
彼は岩の上に座っている年上の地元の少年たち――彼にとっては大人のような存在――を見た。
He saw some older, local boys ― men, to him ― sitting on the rocks.
One smiled and waved.
一人が微笑んで手を振った。
一人が微笑んで手を振った。
One smiled and waved.
It was enough
それだけで十分だった
to make him feel welcome.
彼に歓迎されていると感じさせるのに
それだけで彼は歓迎されていると感じるのに十分だった。
It was enough to make him feel welcome.
In a minute,
すぐに
he had swum over
彼は泳いで渡り
and was on the rocks
岩の上にいた
beside them.
彼らのそばの
すぐに彼は泳いで渡り、彼らのそばの岩の上にいた。
In a minute, he had swum over and was on the rocks beside them.
Then, as he watched,
それから、彼が見ていると
the biggest of the boys
少年たちの中で一番大きい子が
dived into the water,
水に飛び込んだ
and did not come up.
そして浮かんでこなかった
それから彼が見ていると、少年たちの中で一番大きい子が水に飛び込み、浮かんでこなかった。
dive 飛び込む
Then, as he watched, the biggest of the boys dived into the water, and did not come up.
Jerry gave a cry of alarm,
ジェリーは驚いて声を上げた
but after a long time
しかし長い時間の後
the boy came up
その少年は浮かび上がった
on the other side
反対側で
of a big dark rock,
大きな暗い岩の
letting out a shout of victory.
勝利の叫び声を上げながら
ジェリーは驚いて声を上げたが、長い時間の後、その少年は大きな暗い岩の反対側に浮かび上がり、勝利の叫び声を上げた。
alarm 警告
let out 発する
Jerry gave a cry of alarm, but after a long time the boy came up on the other side of a big dark rock, letting out a shout of victory.
Immediately
すぐに
the rest of them dived
残りの子たちも飛び込んだ
and Jerry was alone.
そしてジェリーは一人になった
すぐに残りの子たちも飛び込み、ジェリーは一人になった。
Immediately the rest of them dived and Jerry was alone.
He counted the seconds
彼は秒数を数えた
{they were under water}: one, two, three… fifty one hundred.
彼らが水中にいる間の:1、2、3……50、100
彼は少年たちが水中にいる秒数を、1、2、3……50、100と数えた。
He counted the seconds {they were under water}: one, two, three… fifty one hundred.
At one hundred and sixty,
160のところで
one, then another, of the boys
まず一人、それからもう一人の少年が
came up on the far side of the rock
岩の向こう側に浮かび上がった
and Jerry understood
そしてジェリーは理解した
that they had swum
彼らが泳いだのだと
through some gap or hole
何らかの隙間か穴を通って
in it.
その岩の中の
160のところで少年たちが一人、また一人と岩の向こう側に浮かび上がり、ジェリーは彼らが岩の中の隙間か穴を通って泳いだのだと理解した。
gap 隙間
At one hundred and sixty, one, then another, of the boys came up on the far side of the rock and Jerry understood that they had swum through some gap or hole in it.
He knew then
彼はそのとき悟った
that he wanted to be like them.
自分も彼らのようになりたいのだと
彼はそのとき、自分も彼らのようになりたいのだと悟った。
He knew then that he wanted to be like them.
He watched
彼は見つめた
as they swam away
彼らが泳ぎ去っていくのを
and then swam to shore himself.
それから自分も岸へ泳いで戻った
彼は少年たちが泳ぎ去っていくのを見つめ、それから自分も岸へ泳いで戻った。
He watched as they swam away and then swam to shore himself.
Next day
翌日
he swam back to the rocks.
彼はまた岩場へ泳いで戻った
翌日、彼はまた岩場へ泳いで戻った。
Next day he swam back to the rocks.
There was nobody else there.
そこには他に誰もいなかった。
He looked at the great rock
彼はその大きな岩を見た
{the boys had swum through}.
少年たちが泳いで通り抜けた
彼は少年たちが泳いで通り抜けたあの大きな岩を見た。
He looked at the great rock the boys had swum through.
He could see no gap
彼には隙間が見えなかった
in it.
その岩の中に
彼にはその岩の中に隙間は見えなかった。
gap 隙間
He could see no gap in it.
He dived down to its base,
彼はその土台まで潜り
again and again.
何度も何度も
彼は何度も何度も、その土台まで潜った。
base 土台
He dived down to its base, again and again.
It took a long time,
長い時間がかかった
but finally,
しかしついに
while he was holding on
つかまっている間に
to the base of the rock,
岩の土台に
he shot his feet out forward
彼は足を前方に突き出した
and they met no obstacle.
すると何の障害物にも当たらなかった
長い時間がかかったが、ついに岩の土台につかまりながら足を前方に突き出すと、何の障害物にも当たらなかった。
base 土台
obstacle 障害物
It took a long time, but finally, while he was holding on to the base of the rock, he shot his feet out forward and they met no obstacle.
He had found the hole.
彼は穴を見つけたのだった。
In the days {that followed},
それに続く日々の中で
Jerry hurried to the rocks
ジェリーは岩場へ急いで向かった
every morning
毎朝
and exercised his lungs
そして肺を鍛えた
as if everything, the whole of his life,
まるで全て、人生の全てが
depended on it.
それにかかっているかのように
それに続く日々、ジェリーは毎朝岩場へ急いで向かい、まるで人生の全てがそれにかかっているかのように肺を鍛えた。
lung 肺
as if あたかも~のように
depend on ~次第である
In the days {that followed}, Jerry hurried to the rocks every morning and exercised his lungs as if everything, the whole of his life, depended on it.
He counted
彼は数えた
how long
どれくらいの時間
he could hold his breath.
息を止めていられるか
彼はどれくらいの時間息を止めていられるかを数えた。
He counted how long he could hold his breath.
Each day
毎日
he improved his time.
彼は記録を伸ばした
彼は毎日記録を伸ばしていった。
improve 改善する
Each day he improved his time.
Even back at home
家に戻ってからも
he timed himself
彼は自分の時間を計った
by the clock,
時計で
and was proud to find
そして誇らしく思った
he could hold his breath
息を止めていられることを
for two minutes.
2分間
家に戻ってからも彼は時計で時間を計り、2分間息を止めていられることを知って誇らしく思った。
proud 誇りに思って
Even back at home he timed himself by the clock, and was proud to find he could hold his breath for two minutes.
The authority of the clock
時計という権威が
brought close the adventure
その冒険を身近なものにした
{that was so important to him}.
彼にとってとても重要な
時計という権威あるものが、彼にとってとても重要なその冒険を身近なものに感じさせた。
authority 権威
close 近くに
The authority of the clock brought close the adventure that was so important to him.
The day after tomorrow,
明後日には
his mother reminded him casually
彼の母はさりげなく彼に念を押した
one morning,
ある朝
they must go home.
家に帰らなければならないと
ある朝、母はさりげなく、明後日には家に帰らなければならないと彼に念を押した。
The day after tomorrow, his mother reminded him casually one morning, they must go home.
He swam straight out to the rock
彼はまっすぐ岩まで泳いでいき
and looked down into the water.
水の中をのぞき込んだ
彼はまっすぐ岩まで泳いでいき、水の中をのぞき込んだ。
He swam straight out to the rock and looked down into the water.
This was the moment
これがその瞬間だった
when he would try.
彼が挑戦する
これが、彼が挑戦する瞬間だった。
This was the moment when he would try.
If he did not do it now,
もし今やらなければ
he never would.
彼は二度とやらないだろう
もし今やらなければ、彼は二度とやらないだろう。
If he did not do it now, he never would.
He filled his lungs,
彼は肺いっぱいに息を吸い込み
started to count,
数え始め
and dived to the bottom.
そして底へ向かって潜った
彼は肺いっぱいに息を吸い込み、数を数え始めながら底へ向かって潜った。
lung 肺
He filled his lungs, started to count, and dived to the bottom.
He was soon inside the dark, narrow hole.
彼はすぐに暗く狭い穴の中にいた。
彼はすぐに暗く狭い穴の中に入っていた。
narrow 狭い
He was soon inside the dark, narrow hole.
The water pushed him up
水は彼を押し上げた
against the roof.
天井に向かって
水は彼を天井に向かって押し上げた。
roof 屋根
against ~に対して
The water pushed him up against the roof.
The roof was sharp
天井は鋭く尖っていて
and hurt his back.
彼の背中を傷つけた
天井は鋭く尖っていて、彼の背中を傷つけた。
roof 屋根
The roof was sharp and hurt his back.
He pulled himself along with his hands
彼は両手で自分の体を引っ張るように進んだ
fast, fast.
速く、速く
彼は速く速くと、両手で自分の体を引っ張るように進んだ。
He pulled himself along with his hands fast, fast.
His head knocked against something;
彼の頭が何かにぶつかった
a sharp pain dizzied him.
鋭い痛みが彼をくらくらさせた
彼の頭が何かにぶつかり、鋭い痛みで彼はくらくらした。
against ~に対して
dizzy くらくらさせる
His head knocked against something; a sharp pain dizzied him.
He counted one hundred…
彼は100と数えた……
one hundred and fifteen.
115
彼は100……115と数えた。
He counted one hundred… one hundred and fifteen.
The hole had widened!
穴が広がっていた!
He gave himself a kick forward
彼は前方に向かって蹴った
and swam
そして泳いだ
as fast as he could.
できる限り速く
彼は前方に向かって蹴り、できる限り速く泳いだ。
He gave himself a kick forward and swam as fast as he could.
He lost track of time
彼は時間の感覚を失った
and said one hundred and fifteen
そして115と言った
to himself again.
再び心の中で
彼は時間の感覚を失い、心の中で再び115と言った。
track 跡
He lost track of time and said one hundred and fifteen to himself again.
Then he saw light.
それから彼は光を見た。
Victory filled him.
勝利感が彼を満たした。
His hands, reaching forward,
前方に伸ばした彼の両手は
met nothing;
何にも触れなかった
and his feet propelled him
そして彼の両足が彼を推し進めた
out into the open sea.
外洋へと
前方に伸ばした彼の両手は何にも触れず、両足が彼を外洋へと押し出した。
propel 推進する
His hands, reaching forward, met nothing; and his feet propelled him out into the open sea.
He floated to the surface,
彼は水面に浮かび上がり
pulled himself up onto the rock
岩の上に自分の体を引き上げ
and lay face down,
うつ伏せに横たわった
catching his breath.
息を整えながら
彼は水面に浮かび上がって岩の上に体を引き上げると、息を整えながらうつ伏せに横たわった。
surface 表面
He floated to the surface, pulled himself up onto the rock and lay face down, catching his breath.
After a time
しばらくすると
he felt better
彼は気分がよくなり
and sat up.
体を起こした
しばらくすると彼は気分がよくなり、体を起こした。
After a time he felt better and sat up.
Then he swam
それから彼は泳いだ
to shore
岸へ
and climbed slowly
そしてゆっくりと登った
up the path to the house.
家までの道を
それから彼は岸へ泳ぎ、家までの道をゆっくりと登った。
shore 海岸
Then he swam to shore and climbed slowly up the path to the house.
His mother came to meet him,
彼の母が彼を迎えに来た
smiling.
微笑みながら
彼の母は微笑みながら彼を迎えに来た。
His mother came to meet him, smiling.
“Have a nice time?”
「楽しかった?」
she asked.
彼女は尋ねた
「楽しかった?」と彼女は尋ねた。
“Have a nice time?” she asked.
“Oh, yes, thank you,”
「うん、楽しかったよ、ありがとう」
he said.
彼は言った
「うん、楽しかったよ、ありがとう」と彼は言った。
“Oh, yes, thank you,” he said.
“How did you cut your head?”
「頭、どうして切ったの?」
“Oh, I just cut it.”
「ああ、ちょっと切っただけだよ」
They sat down to lunch together.
彼らは一緒に座って昼食をとった。
“Mom,” he said,
「ママ」と彼は言った
“I can hold my breath
「僕は息を止めていられるんだ
for two minutes three minutes.”
2分間、いや3分間」
「ママ」と彼は言った。「僕、2分――いや3分も息を止めていられるんだよ」
“Mom,” he said, “I can hold my breath for two minutes three minutes.”
“Can you, darling?” she said.
「そうなの、あなた?」と彼女は言った。
“Well, you shouldn’t overdo it.
「まあ、あまり無理をしちゃだめよ。
You look a bit pale.
少し顔色が悪いわ。
I don’t think
私は思わないの
you ought to swim
あなたが泳ぐべきだとは
any more today.”
今日はこれ以上」
「まあ、あまり無理をしちゃだめよ。少し顔色が悪いわ。今日はもう泳がない方がいいと思うわ」
overdo やりすぎる
pale 青ざめた
ought to do ~した方がいい = should
“Well, you shouldn’t overdo it. You look a bit pale. I don’t think you ought to swim any more today.”
She was ready
彼女は身構えていた
for a battle of wills,
意地の張り合いに
but he gave in
しかし彼はあっさり引き下がった
at once.
すぐに
彼女は意地の張り合いになる覚悟をしていたが、彼はすぐにあっさり引き下がった。
will 意思
give in 降参する
at once すぐに
She was ready for a battle of wills, but he gave in at once.
It was no longer
もはやなかった
of the least importance
少しの重要性も
to go to the bay.
あの湾へ行くことには
あの湾へ行くことなど、彼にとってもはやどうでもいいことだった。
no longer もう~ない
importance 重要性 of importance = important
It was no longer of the least importance to go to the bay.
Q1
Why did Jerry want to go to the rocky bay?
なぜジェリーは岩だらけの湾に行きたかったのか。
①
He wanted to make friends
彼は友達を作りたかった
with the local boys.
地元の少年たちと
彼は地元の少年たちと友達になりたかった。
He wanted to make friends with the local boys.
②
He was tired
彼は疲れていた
and wanted to rest
そして休みたかった
on the rock.
岩の上で
彼は疲れていて、岩の上で休みたかった。
He was tired and wanted to rest on the rock.
③
His mother suggested
彼の母が提案した
that it would be fun
楽しいだろうと
to go there.
そこへ行けば
彼の母が、そこへ行けば楽しいだろうと提案した。
suggest 提案する
His mother suggested that it would be fun to go there.
④
The beach appeared less attractive than before.
その浜辺は以前より魅力的に見えなくなっていた。
その浜辺は以前ほど魅力的に見えなくなっていた。
attractive 魅力的な
appear ~に見える
The beach appeared less attractive than before.
Q2
What was in Jerry’s mind
ジェリーの心の中には何があったか
while the local boys were under water?
地元の少年たちが水中にいる間
地元の少年たちが水中にいる間、ジェリーは何を考えていたか。
What was in Jerry’s mind while the local boys were under water?
①
He wanted to give the alarm
彼は警告を発したかった
to the people on the shore.
岸にいる人々に
彼は岸にいる人々に警告を発したかった。
alarm 警告
shore 海岸
He wanted to give the alarm to the people on the shore.
②
He wanted to know
彼は知りたかった
how deep the water was.
水の深さがどれくらいか
彼は水の深さがどれくらいか知りたかった。
He wanted to know how deep the water was.
③
He was impressed
彼は感心した
at <how long they stayed down>.
彼らがどれだけ長く潜っていられたかに
彼は、彼らがどれほど長く水中にいられたかに感心した。
He was impressed at how long they stayed down.
④
He was planning
彼は計画していた
to compete against them.
彼らと競争することを
彼は彼らと競争することを計画していた。
compete 競争する
He was planning to compete against them.
Q3
What made Jerry decide
何がジェリーに決意させたのか
to carry out his plan
彼の計画を実行することを
when he did?
彼が実行したそのときに
ジェリーが計画を実行したまさにそのとき、何が彼にそう決意させたのか。
carry out 実行する
What made Jerry decide to carry out his plan when he did?
①
He could count
彼は数えることができた
to one hundred and fifteen.
115まで
彼は115まで数えることができた。
He could count to one hundred and fifteen.
②
He had permission
彼は許可を得ていた
from the local authority.
地元の当局から
彼は地元の当局から許可を得ていた。
permission 許可
authority 権威
He had permission from the local authority.
③
He thought
彼は思った
he might not try
自分は挑戦しないかもしれないと
if he put it off.
もし先延ばしにしたら
もし先延ばしにしたら、自分は二度と挑戦しないかもしれないと彼は思った。
put off 延期する
He thought he might not try if he put it off.
④
He wanted his mother
彼は母に望んだ
to be proud of him.
自分を誇りに思ってほしいと
彼は母に自分を誇りに思ってほしかった。
proud 誇りに思って
He wanted his mother to be proud of him.
Q4
Why did Jerry lose track of time
なぜジェリーは時間の感覚を失ったのか
for a moment
一瞬の間
at one hundred and fifteen?
115のところで
なぜジェリーは115のところで一瞬時間の感覚を失ったのか。
track 跡
Why did Jerry lose track of time for a moment at one hundred and fifteen?
①
He became confused
彼は混乱した
when he saw light
光を見たとき
at the end of the hole.
穴の終わりに
彼は穴の終わりに光を見たとき、混乱した。
confuse 混乱させる
He became confused when he saw light at the end of the hole.
②
He forgot the time
彼は時間を忘れた
when he hit his head
頭をぶつけたとき
against the rock.
岩に
彼は岩に頭をぶつけたとき、時間を忘れた。
against ~に対して
He forgot the time when he hit his head against the rock.
③
He was excited
彼は興奮していた
because he thought
彼が思ったから
he was near the end of the hole.
自分が穴の終わりに近いと
彼は、自分が穴の終わりに近いと思ったので興奮していた。
He was excited because he thought he was near the end of the hole.
④
He was surprised
彼は驚いた
at counting to one hundred and fifteen,
115まで数えたことに
which he had never done before.
それまで一度もしたことがなかった
彼は、それまで一度もしたことがなかった115まで数えることに驚いた。
He was surprised at counting to one hundred and fifteen, which he had never done before.
Q5
What made Jerry give in so easily
何がジェリーをそれほどあっさり降参させたのか
when his mother told him
母が彼に言ったとき
not to go swimming?
泳ぎに行かないようにと
母が泳ぎに行かないようにと言ったとき、何がジェリーをそれほどあっさり降参させたのか。
give in 降参する
What made Jerry give in so easily when his mother told him not to go swimming?
①
He had achieved his goal already.
彼はすでに目標を達成していた。
②
He was too tired
彼はあまりに疲れていた
to argue any more.
これ以上言い争うには
彼はあまりに疲れていて、これ以上言い争えなかった。
He was too tired to argue any more.
③
It is too dangerous
あまりに危険である
to swim after lunch.
昼食後に泳ぐのは
昼食後に泳ぐのはあまりに危険である。
It is too dangerous to swim after lunch.
④
It was important
重要だった
to obey his mother.
母に従うことが
母に従うことが重要だった。
It was important to obey his mother.
B
①
Jerry had spent summer vacations
ジェリーは夏休みを過ごしてきた
at different beaches
様々な浜辺で
for the last few years.
ここ数年間
ジェリーはここ数年、様々な浜辺で夏休みを過ごしてきた。
Jerry had spent summer vacations at different beaches for the last few years.
②
Jerry’s mother encouraged him
ジェリーの母は彼を促した
to dive into the deep ocean.
深い海に飛び込むよう
ジェリーの母は彼に深い海へ飛び込むよう促した。
dive 飛び込む
Jerry’s mother encouraged him to dive into the deep ocean.
③
It became very important
とても重要になった
for Jerry to do
ジェリーがすることが
what older local boys could do.
年上の地元の少年たちができることを
年上の地元の少年たちができることをすることが、ジェリーにとってとても重要になった。
It became very important for Jerry to do what older local boys could do.
④
Jerry found a hole
ジェリーは穴を見つけた
near the top of the big rock.
大きな岩の頂上付近で
ジェリーは大きな岩の頂上付近で穴を見つけた。
Jerry found a hole near the top of the big rock.
⑤
The clock gave Jerry the confidence
時計はジェリーに自信を与えた
{to carry out his plan}.
彼の計画を実行するための
時計は、ジェリーが計画を実行するための自信を与えた。
carry out 実行する
The clock gave Jerry the confidence to carry out his plan.
⑥
On the last day of the vacation,
休暇の最終日に
Jerry succeeded in his adventure.
ジェリーは冒険に成功した
休暇の最終日に、ジェリーは冒険に成功した。
On the last day of the vacation, Jerry succeeded in his adventure.
⑦
The pressure in the hole
穴の中の圧力が
made Jerry dizzy for a while.
しばらくジェリーをくらくらさせた
穴の中の圧力が、しばらくの間ジェリーをくらくらさせた。
dizzy くらくらさせる
The pressure in the hole made Jerry dizzy for a while.
⑧
Jerry needed to go to the bay
ジェリーは湾へ行く必要があった
to improve his diving time
潜水の記録を伸ばすために
until the last day of his vacation.
休暇の最終日まで
ジェリーは休暇の最終日まで、潜水の記録を伸ばすために湾へ行く必要があった。
improve 改善する
Jerry needed to go to the bay to improve his diving time until the last day of his vacation.
⑨
Jerry’s mother asked him
ジェリーの母は彼に頼んだ
to give up diving.
潜水をやめるよう
ジェリーの母は彼に潜水をやめるよう頼んだ。
Jerry’s mother asked him to give up diving.
⑩
At the end,
最後には
Jerry’s mother expected him
ジェリーの母は彼が~すると予想していた
to oppose her suggestion.
彼女の提案に反対することを
最後には、ジェリーの母は彼が自分の提案に反対するだろうと予想していた。
suggest 提案する
At the end, Jerry’s mother expected him to oppose her suggestion.
Going to the shore on the first morning of the vacation, Jerry stopped and looked at a wild and rocky bay, and then over to the crowded beach he knew so well from other years. His mother looked back at him.
“Are you tired of the usual beach, Jerry?”
“Oh, no!” he said quickly, but then said, “I’d like to look at those rocks down there.”
“Of course, if you like.”
Jerry watched his mother go, then ran straight into the water and began swimming. He was a good swimmer. He swam out over the gleaming sand and then he was in the real sea.
He saw some older, local boys-men, to him-sitting on the rocks. One smiled and waved. It was enough to make him feel welcome. In a minute, he had swum over and was on the rocks beside them. Then, as he watched, the biggest of the boys dived into the water, and did not come up. Jerry gave a cry of alarm, but after a long time the boy came up on the other side of a big dark rock, letting out a shout of victory. Immediately the rest of them dived and Jerry was alone. He counted the seconds they were under water: one, two, three… fifty one hundred. At one hundred and sixty, one, then another, of the boys came up on the far side of the rock and Jerry understood that they had swum through some gap or hole in it. He knew then that he wanted to be like them. He watched as they swam away and then swam to shore himself.
Next day he swam back to the rocks. There was nobody else there. He looked at the great rock the boys had swum through. He could see no gap in it. He dived down to its base, again and again. It took a long time, but finally, while he was holding on to the base of the rock, he shot his feet out forward and they met no obstacle. He had found the hole.
In the days that followed, Jerry hurried to the rocks every morning and exercised his lungs as if everything, the whole of his life, depended on it. He counted how long he could hold his breath. Each day he improved his time. Even back at home he timed himself by the clock, and was proud to find he could hold his breath for two minutes. The authority of the clock brought close the adventure that was so important to him.
The day after tomorrow, his mother reminded him casually one morning, they must go home. He swam straight out to the rock and looked down into the water. This was the moment when he would try. If he did not do it now, he never would. He filled his lungs, started to count, and dived to the bottom.
He was soon inside the dark, narrow hole. The water pushed him up against the roof. The roof was sharp and hurt his back. He pulled himself along with his hands fast, fast. His head knocked against something; a sharp pain dizzied him. He counted one hundred… one hundred and fifteen. The hole had widened! He gave himself a kick forward and swam as fast as he could. He lost track of time and said one hundred and fifteen to himself again. Then he saw light. Victory filled him. His hands, reaching forward, met nothing; and his feet propelled him out into the open sea. He floated to the surface, pulled himself up onto the rock and lay face down, catching his breath. After a time he felt better and sat up. Then he swam to shore and climbed slowly up the path to the house.
His mother came to meet him, smiling.
“Have a nice time?” she asked.
“Oh, yes, thank you,” he said.
“How did you cut your head?”
“Oh, I just cut it.”
They sat down to lunch together.
“Mom,” he said, “I can hold my breath for two minutes three minutes.”
“Can you, darling?” she said. “Well, you shouldn’t overdo it. You look
a bit pale. I don’t think you ought to swim any more today.”
She was ready for a battle of wills, but he gave in at once. It was no longer of the least importance to go to the bay.
A 次の問い(問1~5)に対する答えとして最も適当なものを、それぞれ下の①~ ④のうちから一つずつ選べ。
問1 Why did Jerry want to go to the rocky bay?
① He wanted to make friends with the local boys.
② He was tired and wanted to rest on the rock.
③ His mother suggested that it would be fun to go there.
④ The beach appeared less attractive than before.
問2 What was in Jerry’s mind while the local boys were under water?
① He wanted to give the alarm to the people on the shore.
② He wanted to know how deep the water was.
③ He was impressed at how long they stayed down.
④ He was planning to compete against them.
問3 What made Jerry decide to carry out his plan when he did?
① He could count to one hundred and fifteen.
② He had permission from the local authority.
③ He thought he might not try if he put it off.
④ He wanted his mother to be proud of him.
問4 Why did Jerry lose track of time for a moment at one hundred and fifteen?
① He became confused when he saw light at the end of the hole.
② He forgot the time when he hit his head against the rock.
③ He was excited because he thought he was near the end of the hole.
④ He was surprised at counting to one hundred and fifteen, which he had never done before.
問5 What made Jerry give in so easily when his mother told him not to go swimming?
① He had achieved his goal already.
② He was too tired to argue any more.
③ It is too dangerous to swim after lunch.
④ It was important to obey his mother.
B 本文の内容と合っているものを、次の①~⑩のうちから三つ選べ。ただし、 解答の順序は問わない。
① Jerry had spent summer vacations at different beaches for the last few years.
② Jerry’s mother encouraged him to dive into the deep ocean.
③ It became very important for Jerry to do what older local boys could do.
④ Jerry found a hole near the top of the big rock.
⑤ The clock gave Jerry the confidence to carry out his plan.
⑥ On the last day of the vacation, Jerry succeeded in his adventure.
⑦ The pressure in the hole made Jerry dizzy for a while.
⑧ Jerry needed to go to the bay to improve his diving time until the last day of his vacation.
⑨ Jerry’s mother asked him to give up diving.
⑩ At the end, Jerry’s mother expected him to oppose her suggestion.