| |
Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.
The month of May is what I call 'duck crossing season'. It happens about the same time every year. Last week I got stopped twice. The first time was on route 333, the Peggy's Cove road.
A mother and ten little fluffy* ones decided to cross from the ditch* on one side of the road to the ditch on the other. I sat in my idling* truck and wondered, as I watched these cartoon characters waddling* across, what could there be in the other ditch that there wasn't in the ditch they had just left? Could there be more food, more water? I didn't think so, both ditches looked the same to me. But I'm not a duck. Then again I don't think they do it for a reason. I think they do it because it's there. The road, that is. I think they cross the road because it presents a challenge.
It reminds me of when I cross a river. All fishermen believe the fishing's better on the other side. And all fishermen know that's not true. The fishing's most probably the same on both sides. I cross a river for the challenge, especially a river I'm not familiar with. It's sort of like man against nature. Beating the river. Testing my ability. And when I've crossed there is a feeling of satisfaction, a feeling that I am a better person. Or at least a feeling that at my age I can still do it.
What reinforced my thoughts on the duck crossing matter was the second time it happened. I was on route 103, cruising at a hundred klicks*, on my way to take part in a fish survey in Kejimkuji, when out came the ducks. It was a fairly straight stretch, with similar countryside on either side of the road. I saw them well ahead of time and stopped without a problem. A semi* coming the other way also stopped. Our four ways flashers* came on, and we sat there, elbows on the steering whell, chins cupped in the palms of our hands, and smiles on our faces. Another mother with twelve little ones this time. I couldn't help but think she was tempting fate. Crossing a major highway is to take your life in your hands, as many a porcupine* angel will tell you. I could imagine the mother duck's heart pounding as she reached the broken yellow line. But when she reached the verge* on the other side I swear she lifeted her head, as if to say, "There, I did it."
I think I know taht feeling.
*を付した語については下記の説明を参考にしなさい。（アルファベット順）
ditch :
flashers : lights on a vehicle that flash when tutnin, or in an emergency
fluggy : soft and light
idling : the slow running of an engine when the vehicle is not moving
klicks : kilometers per hour
porcupine : ヤマアラシ
semi : a large truck or lorry
verge : the grass at the edge of a road
waddle : to walk with short steps, swinging from side to side
QUESTION :
The writer finished by saying, "I think I know that feeling." Write a short essay in English (50-60 words) about a time when you experienced the feeling the writer describes.
――横浜国立大学 後期日程/ （３月12日実施）――2005年
|
|
- 06/7/3(月) -
