【令和8年度報道部入部試験問題】英語

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・東北大学の入学試験とは一切関係ありません。

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 Sitting in the first-class train car, Judge Lawrence Wargrave smoked his cigar and glanced at his watch-the train would reach Devon in two hours. 

 Mr. Wargrave sat back and thought about all the news reports on Soldier Island. First, a rich American had bought the little island and built a large house on it. But his wife ended up hating the place, so they left, putting the island and the house up for sale.

 After that, the papers reported that a man named Mr. Owen had bought the property. Then all the gossip writers started printing other stories: that a Hollywood actress had bought Soldier Island; that the house was to be a vacation home for British royalty; that the Navy was using it to conduct secret experiments. Nobody seemed to know which story was true, but Soldier Island was news, indeed!

 Mr. Wargrave pulled a letter out of his pocket and read it again. The writing was almost impossible to read, but some of the words were written very clearly:

 Dear Lawrence... it’s been years since I’ve heard from you... you must come to Soldier Island... a charming place... so much to talk about... old days... bask in the sun... 12:40 from Paddington station... meet you at Oakbridge...

 It was signed “Constance Culmington.”

（1）The last time Mr. Wargrave had seen Lady Culmington was seven years ago. Back then she was going to Italy to “bask in the sun.”

 Constance Culmington, Mr. Wargrave thought, was exactly the kind of woman who would buy an island and surround herself in mystery! Feeling sure about this, he settled back comfortably and fell asleep. 

＊　＊　＊

 Vera Claythorne leaned her head back and shut her eyes. It was such a hot day to travel by train! It would be nice to get to the sea. It was lucky that she had gotten this summer job. It had come by surprise.

She had received a letter that read:

 I received your name from the Skilled Women’s Agency. I would be glad to pay the salary you ask. Please start work on August 8. Take the 12:40

train from Paddington and you will be met at Oakbridge station.

Yours truly,

Una Nancy Owen

 The address at the top of the letter read Soldier Island, Devon. Vera had read all about Soldier Island in the newspapers. She was glad to have this summer job.

 Suddenly, with a cold feeling around her hear, she thought, “I’m very lucky to have this job.

Employers don’t like Coroner’s Inquests, even if the Coroner did find me innocent!”

 The inquest had gone very well, she had thought.

Even Mrs. Hamilton had been very kind to her. Only Hugo —but she stopped herself. She told herself she mustn’t think of Hugo any more.

 Suddenly, in spite of the hot day, Vera shivered and wished she wasn’t going to the sea. In her mind she saw a clear picture: Cyril’s head in the water as he swam to the rock. She swam behind him, but (2) she knew she wouldn’t be there in time...

＊　＊　＊

 Philip Lombard was thinking about the job he had taken on. Mr. Isaac Morris had been so mysterious about it all.

 Mr. Morris, a rather questionable character, had offered Lombard a hundred guineas to do something odd. Lombard had needed the money badly, and Mr. Morris had known it.

 “My client told me to give you this money,” Morris had said, “and in return you will travel to Devon.You will be met at Oakbridge station and taken to Soldier Island. From there, you will be under the care of my client. You should bring your gun.” “You understand I can’t do anything-illegal? “said Lombard.

 Mr. Morris simply shook his head.

 “Well,” Lombard thought, (3)”I’ve certainly done some questionable things before and I’ve always gotten away with it!”

 Now, as he sat on the train on his way to Soldier Island, he thought he might enjoy himself on this strange job.

（From: Agatha Christie, （4）And Then There Were None）

What is one thing that most of the people traveling to Soldier Island have in common

A. It seems like they don’t know about Soldier Island.

B. They were invited by someone 

C. They are all really want to go Soldier Island.

D. Some of them have been to Soldier Island.

(1) 下線部（1）を和訳せよ。

(2) 下線部（2）から推測される、この後の出来事を説明せよ。

(3) 下線部（3）を和訳せよ。

(4) 下線部（4）”And Then There Wewe None”を訳せ。