Option 4 is correct. The passage states: 'わたしは、その桜の木が大好きで、よく木のそばで、友達とおしゃべりをしたり、本を読んだりした' (I loved that cherry tree, and often chatted with friends and read books near it). Option 4 captures both the love for the tree and the activities (chatting and reading) spent around it.
1This option says the author played under the blooming flowers, but the passage mentions chatting and reading near the tree, not specifically playing under the flowers. It also omits the key detail that the author loved the tree.
2The passage does not say the tree was small 20 years ago. It says the author hadn't visited the town for over 20 years, but the tree was already large during childhood.
3The passage says many people came for flower viewing in spring, not that people came year-round ('一年中'). This exaggerates the timeframe.
桜の木（さくらのき） — cherry tree
おしゃべり — chatting, conversation
読書 — reading (books)
2.②その理由とあるが、何の理由か。
1花見客が神社に来なくなった理由。
2ロープで桜の木を囲んでいる理由。
3桜の木が枯れそうになった理由。
4神社の庭を掃除している理由。
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Answer: 2. ロープで桜の木を囲んでいる理由。
Option 2 is correct. The sentence before 'その理由を聞くと' states: '桜の木の周りはロープで囲まれ、近くに行くことができなくなっていた' (the area around the cherry tree was surrounded by rope, and people could no longer get close). 'その理由' refers to the reason for roping off the cherry tree. The cleaner explains it was because the roots were trampled too much, causing the tree to nearly die.
1The passage does mention fewer flower-viewing visitors, but 'その理由' is asked in the context of the rope barrier, not the decrease in visitors.
3This is the content of the explanation given (why the tree nearly died), not what 'その理由' refers to. The reason being asked about is why the rope was put up, and the tree nearly dying is the cause explained in response.
4The cleaner was sweeping the shrine grounds, but 'その理由' does not refer to the reason for cleaning. It refers to the rope barrier around the tree.
理由 — reason
囲む — to surround, enclose
ロープ — rope
3.この文章を書いた人は、現在の桜の木の様子を見てどう思ったか。
1近くに行けなかったのは残念だったが、掃除のためにはしかたがない。
2ロープで囲むのはかわいそうだが、土を固くするためにはしかたがない。
3花が少しも咲いていないので驚いたが、早くまた元気になってほしい。
4昔と違っていてがっかりしたが、いつかまたすばらしい花を見せてほしい。
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Answer: 4. 昔と違っていてがっかりしたが、いつかまたすばらしい花を見せてほしい。
Option 4 is correct. The author was disappointed ('がっかりした') that the cherry tree was not as beautiful as before, and the final sentence expresses hope: '早く元気になって、また美しい花を咲かせてほしい' (I hope it recovers soon and blooms beautiful flowers again). Option 4 captures both the disappointment at the change and the hope for the tree to show wonderful flowers again.
1While the author does mention it was disappointing not to get close, the passage does not say '掃除のためにはしかたがない' (it can't be helped for the sake of cleaning). The rope was for the tree's protection, not for cleaning purposes.
2The passage does not describe the rope as 'かわいそう' (pitiful), and '土を固くするため' (to make the soil hard) is the opposite of the actual purpose — the rope was to prevent soil from becoming hard from trampling.
3The passage does not say no flowers bloomed at all ('少しも咲いていない'). It says the tree was not as beautiful as before ('昔ほど美しく咲いていなくて'), implying some flowers did bloom, just fewer or less impressive.
がっかりする — to be disappointed
元気 — healthy, energetic
咲かせる — to make (flowers) bloom
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