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次の文章は 2016 年 10 月 23 日に The JAPAN NEWS by Yomiuri Shimbun に掲載された
“Low body temperatures in children on rise”という見出しの記事である。これを読み, 以
下の設問に答えよ。なお, *のついた語には注がある。
Children experiencing low body temperatures in the 35 C range are on the rise. It
has been indicated that low body temperatures are
(i)link
to negative effects such as
decreased physical fitness and mental concentration. Experts say this condition can in
many cases be corrected through changes in lifestyle habits.
“Low body temperature” means temperatures remaining largely in the 35 C range
throughout the day. Children experiencing this condition have recently become
increasingly common.
According to a 2012 survey of 107 pediatricians* nationwide by a Tokyo-based
beverage sales company, about 80 percent said “cases of children with low body
temperatures have become more common.”
The supervisor* of the survey and pediatrician in Yamato Takada, Nara Prefecture,
explained, “(1)Low body temperatures can be a sign of slowed-down metabolism*, which
can increase susceptibility* to fatigue and cold.”
The average human body temperature typically begins at over 37 C in newborns,
decreases to about 37 C 100 days after birth, and stabilizes in the 36 C range when they
are about 2 years old. They come to live in a regular rhythm -- the body temperature
falling at night while sleeping and rising during the activities of the day.
A low body temperature therefore signifies a disruption* of (2)this rhythm.
Akira Maehashi, a professor of pediatric health and welfare at Waseda University,
said, “When the autonomic nervous system* malfunctions* and impairs* body
temperature regulation, body temperatures lower.”
According to him, a lack ( ア ) regular exercise in the day, which means there are
fewer opportunities for the body temperature rise, may be another cause.
“Kids with low body temperatures would go to school and kindergarten, only to be
found sitting in a daze* near the shoe rack. Or they would have trouble taking ( イ )
anything from lessons in the morning,” Maehashi added.
The key to
(ⅱ)restore
a regular body temperature is to restore the balance of the
autonomic nervous system. To do so, developing healthy routines in everyday life is
most important.
The first step is to stop going to bed late and getting up late. Elementary
school-aged students should be in bed by 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. at the latest. This way, when
the secretion* of a hormone known ( ウ ) melatonin* peaks around 3 a.m. to 4 a.m., the
body settles ( エ ) its lowest temperature. Then, in the early morning, the production of
other hormones, including cortisol*, bring the body temperature up in preparation for
waking. By breakfast, the body will have warmed up to a certain extent.
However, when a child goes to bed at 11 p.m., the period of time when their body
temperature is low shifts to 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. For that reason, by breakfast time, their
body has yet to warm up, resulting in a lack of appetite. By not eating breakfast and
therefore not taking in any calories, their body cannot raise its temperature any further,
creating (3)a vicious cycle of low temperatures.
Exercise is another important factor. It is recommended that children up to the age
of 3 exercise as much as they can in the morning. When they gain physical strength to a
certain extent at around 4 to 6 years old, they should also exercise in the afternoon to
induce sweating. Consequently, they will be inclined to eat a hearty dinner and become
sleepy by around 8 p.m.
Activities such as playing video games in the afternoon, on the other hand, do not
tire out the body, resulting in less of an appetite for dinner. This pushes the children's
active period of time back to past 8 p.m., making them sleepy only after 10 p.m.
It is important for children to move their bodies and get enough physical activity
during the day.
Maehashi recommends parent-child physical exercises for toddlers, moving on to
fun games such as tag* and dodgeball when the child reaches elementary school age.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct 23, 2016)
[注]
pediatrician「小児科医」
supervisor「管理者、監督者」
metabolism「代謝」
susceptibility「(病気などに)かかりやすいこと」
disruption 「崩壊、分裂」
autonomic nervous system「自律神経系」
malfunction「正常に働かなくなる」
impair「～を弱める」
in a daze「ぼうっとして」
secretion 「分泌作用(液)」
melatonin「メラトニン」
cortisol コルチゾール」
tag「鬼ごっこ」
[設問]
1. ( ⅰ ), ( ⅱ )の動詞の語形を適切な形に変化させよ。
2. 下線部(1)を和訳せよ。
3. 下線部(2)の this rhythm が指すものを簡潔に日本語で説明せよ。
4. 空所（ア）～（エ）に入れるのに最も適切な語を次のうちから一つずつ選べ。ただ
し、同じ語を二度以上選んではならない。
to
at
in
of
as
5. 下線部(3)の a vicious cycle の内容を具体的に説明せよ。
6. 子供の低体温を改善するには運動が重要だと言われているが、それに関して本文の内容
と一致するものを次のうちから一つ選べ。
ア. 3 歳以下の子供は午後に身体を動かすと良い。
イ. 4～6 歳の子供は午前中に身体を動かすべきではない。
ウ. 幼児期には鬼ごっこをすると良い。
エ. 小学生になったらドッジボールをすると良い。

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