英検1級2次対策 スピーチ原稿30題 (1)

2019年の第1回の英検で、晴れて英検1級に合格しました。

面接対策に苦戦しました。戦略は次のように立てました。

過去問より頻出テーマや自分の型にしたいものをピックアップし、自力で英作文して、それをスラスラ暗唱できるまで繰り返す。オンライン英会話を利用し、アウトプットを行いました。

英作文では英検過去問集 (旺文社) や英作文問題完全制覇 (The Japan Times) を参考にしました。より覚えやすい表現になるように、かつ自分の意見を入れつつ書きました。

また、英検のスピーチは2分間ですが、読むと2分以上になるものもあります。練習や本番での引き出しが多くなるようにと、負荷を課したためです。

<注意> ChatGPT先生に添削してもらったものを掲載しているので、完全なオリジナル文ではないです

ちなみに、Tell me if this essay is grammatically correct or not? And give me the revised one, too. とお願いすると、文法チェックだけではなく、より良い表現も教えてくれます。

すごい時代だ

1. 対策に用いた30題

2014年から2018年までの面接で出題されたものを分析し、30題に絞りました。

1) Which is more threatening, global warming or terrorism?
2) Is society taking the issue of fake news seriously enough?
3) Agree or disagree: The poorest in society benefit the least from economic development?
4) Can history education be free from bias?
5) Is globalization reducing cultural diversity?

6) Is economic inequality in society inevitable?
7) Does the mass media shape public opinion or reflect it?
8) Are the values of young people today different from those of previous generations?
9) Does there need to be stricter government regulation of the Internet?
10) Is religion losing its relevance in the 21st century?

11) Are enough public funds invested in the arts?
12) Are family values today as important as they were in the past?
13) Which should school curriculums emphasize more, competition or cooperation?
14) Can the human race live in harmony with the natural world?
15) Is it possible for developed countries to sustain present standards of living?

16) Are the potential dangers of artificial intelligence exaggerated?
17) Should the sale of tobacco products be made illegal?
18) Agree or disagree: Technology is undermining the role of teachers in the classroom
19) Agree or disagree: China should now be considered a global superpower
20) Does the government interfere too much in citizens’ private lives?

21) Do humans pay enough attention to the rights of animals?
22) Agree or disagree: The arm industry is immoral
23) Is transferring technology to developing nations the key to economic development?
24) Should domestic issues take priority over international issues?
25) Is climate change the biggest threat facing humankind?

26) Should the government make scientific research a greater priority?
27) Should more be done to protect the cultures of the world’s indigenous peoples?
28) Should more be done to increase awareness of mental-health issues in Japan?
29) Is free trade beneficial to developing countries?
30) Agree or disagree: Japanese companies would benefit from having more women in leadership roles

2. 30題の英作文

以下、順に載せていきます。ご自由にお使い下さい。

1) Which is more threatening, global warming or terrorism?

I think terrorism is more threatening than global warming. Due to the development of technology, global warming can be alleviated, but the threat of terrorism is increasing. Also, the main causes of terrorism are inequality and misunderstanding, which are difficult to eliminate from human society.

First, technology like the internet and smartphones makes it possible to spread the fear of terrorism, which is the goal of terrorists. People all over the world can share news and information in seconds, meaning that a small terrorist attack can be shared instantly with millions of people. As globalization continues, it will become even easier for terrorists to get media coverage.

Second, many issues related to global warming have been addressed by advanced technology. For example, many people and organizations have started using renewable energy sources, which are now cost-effective due to improved technology. The amount of CO2 emissions is decreasing. In addition, people in various countries have already been cooperating with each other to curb global warming.

In conclusion, technology is helping to address global warming while worsening the prevention of terrorism. As history shows, we cannot control all the actions of terrorists, and the problem of terrorism has not been solved yet.

2) Is society taking the issue of fake news seriously enough?

I do not believe that society is taking the issue of fake news seriously enough. Let me explain three reasons.

First, fake news spreads rapidly these days thanks to the internet and mass media. False stories, rumors, and conspiracy theories spread rapidly and reach huge audiences, sometimes faster than real news. Since people are often too busy to check the accuracy of such stories, they often believe them. Online platforms need to be more responsible about posting stories that are nothing more than lies and rumors.

Second, some politicians use fake news as a means of media manipulation. Politics in some countries have become more contentious in recent years, and politicians with bad intentions use fake news to attack their opposition. These bad public servants never try to stop using fake news as a means of winning an election, for example. Moreover, some politicians label any news critical of them as “fake news”. This confuses the public and spreads false ideas.

Finally, some countries use fake news to harm other countries. They post false articles online to create anger and confusion. This can even influence the outcome of elections in democratic nations. It’s difficult to check the source of these news articles, so some malicious countries create false news without receiving any criticism or punishment.

For these reasons, I believe societies need to take the issue of fake news more seriously.

3) Agree or disagree: The poorest in society benefit the least from economic development?
 

I agree with the idea that the poorest in society benefit the least from economic development.

First, the number of jobs will decrease due to technological development. In Japan, during the rapid economic growth, many companies made advanced inventions like personal computers. However, such an improvement also made simple tasks automated. Some workers were forced to lose their jobs. In modern cases, development of artificial intelligence is threatening for the poorest. It is estimated robots with AI are likely to replace nearly half of workers over the next few decades. This means unemployment rate will increase gradually.
 
Second, if a society succeeds economically, those who receive the benefits are rich people, not the poor people. One of the reasons for this is educational backgrounds. Most of the cases, well-educated children grow up in rich families. They know how to access sophisticated way and work effectively. Then they contribute to economic development and earn large profits. On the other hand, the poorest come from poor families, they have limited educational opportunities. It’s difficult for them to find high-paying jobs. In this sense, economic development is worsening economic disparity.
 
In conclusion, it is quite difficult for the poorest to receive profits from economic development.

4) Can history education be free from bias?

Learning history is undoubtedly beneficial, but it is difficult to teach or learn history without bias. There are two main reasons for this.

Firstly, the subject of history is inherently challenging to approach fairly. Unlike math or science, history cannot be proven without prejudice. Historical records used to create history textbooks are often written from the perspective of the author, making it difficult to avoid bias. For example, different countries may have varying perspectives on significant events such as World War II, leading to diverse interpretations of historical events. This means that what is taught as history can differ significantly based on which book is used or where one studies.

Secondly, the sheer volume of historical information available makes it impossible to learn all of it. Teachers must choose which eras to focus on within the allotted class time, potentially leading to biases in what is taught. Additionally, students often study history to pass exams or receive credits, which may cause them to focus only on memorizing historical facts without understanding the broader historical context.

Despite these challenges, studying history can provide us with valuable insights into our country and the world. However, we must be aware of the potential for bias and strive to approach history with an open mind.

5) Is globalization reducing cultural diversity?

I believe that globalization is certainly reducing cultural diversity. Let me explain.

First, the advent of the internet has accelerated mono-culture. People with smartphones today can easily access worldwide information, becoming interested in other cultures, especially western cultures. Traditional foods, clothing, and music are being largely replaced by American ones. For instance, when traveling abroad, it is common to see people eating at McDonald’s and drinking Coca Cola. Even the latest Hollywood movies can be watched in many countries. These are examples of a loss of cultural diversity.

Second, changes in people’s awareness are decreasing cultural diversity. These days, people are curious about the world's trends in every field, such as policy, economy, and trade. History shows that an economic slowdown in the U.S. negatively affected many countries' economic conditions. Additionally, using English is common in international businesses, leading people to study English and disregard minor languages.

Finally, multinational companies are too powerful. They can control production costs and get the upper hand in prices. Some of them are about to monopolize the market. Consumers have no choice but to buy their products. This means that the number of traditional commodities is decreasing. People all over the world are purchasing the same things made by multinational companies.

In conclusion, globalization is making the world a single place. Unless we make efforts to preserve traditional culture and launch a plan to compete with multinational companies, valuable cultures will disappear completely.

6) Is economic inequality in society inevitable?
 

I believe economic inequality in society is inevitable. This will continue to exist in human society far into the future.
 
First, the human population will continue to expand and a competition among us is getting hotter. This means economic disparity will increase greatly. The difference in educational opportunities is worsening the problem. For example, people living in developed countries have limited accesses to education. It is difficult for them to learn practical things to succeed in business world. They must compete with people from developed countries who acquired high skills and have powerful human relationships. This is far from a fair competition. Well-educated people will win that competition and earn more money.
 
Second, most of the social system is capitalism and this causes economic inequality. People generally work harder to make more money. Although rich citizens pay higher taxes, there remains a lot of property for them. They afford to buy luxury goods and gains economic power. Also, we are not good at caring about strangers living in poor conditions. Most people would choose to use their resources to increase a family comfort rather than donating some of them for the poor.
 
In conclusion, it is unrealistic to expect extreme inequality will ever be eliminated.

7) Does the mass media shape public opinion or reflect it?

The mass media has long been influential in shaping public opinion. However, in today's world, I believe that the media has become excessively powerful in shaping public opinion. Allow me to explain.

Firstly, the media has become ubiquitous in our lives. We now spend more time on our smartphones and computers than ever before, and we are constantly exposed to new information and opinions that influence our thoughts and values.

Secondly, the media often presents extreme viewpoints and sensational stories to capture our attention and compete with other media outlets. While some media sources provide accurate and unbiased information, many offer biased and misleading perspectives that can shape public opinion in dangerous ways. In some cases, extreme media viewpoints can even contribute to radicalization and terrorism.

Lastly, the media has a profound impact on the minds of young people, who are often easily influenced by what they see on television and the internet. Young people may adopt violent or immoral behavior because they see it as fashionable or cool.

In conclusion, I believe that the media has become too powerful in shaping public opinion and can have harmful effects on our social harmony.

8) Are the values of young people today different from those of previous generations?

 I believe the values of young people today are different from those of previous generations.

First, young people today have a different idea about work compared to elderly people. They are sometimes less loyal and often prioritize their family life or social life over their work responsibilities. Older generations tend to think that taking care of children is a woman's job, and they do not easily accept paternity leave for young workers who believe that men also take part in raising children. The way of working is changing among the youth. Some young people decide to quit their current jobs at companies and start working as freelancers. Freelancers make use of their talented skills without feeling pressure from supervisors.

Second, young people have a different attitude towards technology compared to older generations. The youth are familiar with computers and smartphones. They prefer electronic documents to paper ones and they do not fear entering their private information when they buy something from online shops. In contrast, previous generations are not used to the latest technological devices. They prefer paper documents and are afraid to sign electronic bills. Also, due to the development of social networking sites, teenagers like to frequently post what they are doing to these sites, whereas this is less common in previous generations.

In conclusion, the younger generation and previous ones have different thoughts in many ways.

9) Does there need to be stricter government regulation of the Internet?

I believe that stricter government regulation of the internet is necessary. Let me explain.

First, governments should protect personal information. As internet usage increases, personal information posted online is often stolen. More and more people enter their private data when they purchase something at online markets like Amazon. It has been reported that the frequency of identity theft and credit card fraud is increasing. Governments must make efforts to prevent criminals from committing this type of crime. We need strict regulation about how our private information is shared.

Second, children should be protected against viewing certain websites, such as adult-oriented websites. While such protections are already in place for TV, little has been done for the internet. Today's young generation use smartphones and computers a lot, so the government must regulate adult-oriented websites on the internet as soon as possible.

Finally, hate speech by xenophobic groups is prevalent on the internet and must be eliminated. In particular, discrimination against Chinese and Korean residents in Japan is seen as a major problem. Allowing this type of idea makes them and other foreign people feel unwelcome and unsafe. Governments must do more to restrict intolerant viewpoints on the internet.

While I support free expression and am generally against government censorship, I believe that stricter regulation of the internet is necessary for a healthy society.

10) Is religion losing its relevance in the 21st century?

I believe that religion is losing its relevance in the 21st century. Although many people still believe in religion, their social lives are not heavily influenced by it.

First, society is governed by laws, not religious doctrine. Most nations have enacted laws that were decided by members of parliament or congress. In the process of creating these laws, lawmakers strive to make them free from any religious bias. People generally follow the laws of their countries, and most parts of the world have been governed peacefully. Moral values today are based on our justice system, and we can observe the consequences of immoral or illegal acts through this system. Therefore, we can say that people behave morally without relying on religion.

Second, people today are too busy to devote time to learning about religion. It is unnecessary for them to contemplate existential questions like why they were born or what the purpose of life is. In schools, students learn academic subjects like mathematics, science, and foreign languages, while religious subjects are often given less emphasis. Students are required to devote most of their time to getting good grades in these subjects. However, they still hold strong moral values. This is evidence that religion has less influence on modern daily lives.

In conclusion, I believe that religion is no longer necessary for people's lives.

以上、1~10 題目でした。次は11~20題目です。