長文読解（説明文）

Passage 1: City Bees（約150語）

Many cities now keep honeybees on rooftops and school gardens. Bees visit city flowers and help plants make fruit and seeds, so parks and vegetable beds become healthier. In return, flowers give bees nectar and pollen. However, bees also need clean water and far less pesticide. When chemicals cover leaves and soil, bees lose their sense of direction and may die before they return to the hive. Some schools teach students how to watch bees safely from a distance and how to plant native flowers that bloom in different seasons. City planners hope that these small spaces will support wild bees as well as honeybees. Critics worry about stings and about crowded roofs, but careful training and clear signs have reduced accidents. The main lesson is simple: bees can help cities, but cities must protect bees with safer habits and better habitats.

Passage 3: Night Trains（約170語）

Night trains are returning on several medium-distance routes in Europe and Asia. Travelers sleep while the train moves, so they often save the cost of a hotel night and avoid short morning flights. On many routes of a few hundred kilometers, trains use less fuel per person than planes, especially when cars are full. Still, night trains succeed only when cars are quiet and schedules are reliable. Late arrivals destroy the main advantage: waking up near the destination on time. Engineers are testing better beds, thicker curtains, and stronger noise control so passengers can rest. Some cities link stations to early buses so workers can reach offices without a second long trip. Supporters say night trains cut carbon and give people useful travel time. Opponents note that tickets can be expensive and that older tracks cause shaking. The debate shows that comfort and trust matter as much as the idea of greener travel.

Passage 4: Community Cooling Centers（約250語）

Heat waves are becoming longer in many Japanese cities, and not every home has strong air conditioning. To protect older residents and outdoor workers, some local governments open “cooling centers” in libraries, community halls, and school gyms during the hottest weeks. These places offer shade, drinking water, and chairs, and staff check on people who look exhausted. The centers are free, and visitors do not need to book ahead. Posters explain the early signs of heat illness, such as dizziness and dry skin, so families can act before an emergency.

The idea sounds simple, yet success depends on details. Centers must open during daytime hours when temperatures peak, and they need clear maps at stations so people can find them quickly. Volunteers help by guiding visitors and keeping water supplies full. In one coastal city, officials also added portable fans and ice packs after nurses reported that sitting still was not always enough for people who had walked long distances. Critics say cooling centers treat only the symptoms of a hotter climate, and that cities should plant more street trees and paint roofs with light colors to reduce heat in neighborhoods. Supporters answer that both approaches are needed: long-term design changes take years, while cooling centers can save lives this summer. Students sometimes join as guides, learning how public health and urban planning connect. The passage suggests that a kind city is one that prepares for heat with both quick help and slower, lasting improvements.