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■英語童話暗唱検定


■ももたろう（７級）
【１】Once upon a time, an old childless couple lived in a village near a river. One day, the old woman was washing clothes by the river. Suddenly, a giant peach floated down the river. 【２】The old woman pulled it out and took the peach home to eat it with her husband.
The husband came home from the mountains, and they decided to eat the peach.【３】But when they were about to cut it open, they heard a voice from inside that told them “Be careful !" The peach split open, and a cute boy jumped out.
The couple decided to call the boy Momotaro, or peach boy.
【４】The boy grew quickly, growing as much as the height of one bowl of rice a day,or even two, and became strong and powerful. Momotaro was also very kind, and helped the old couple with various chores. 【５】One day he said to his father “I want to do something for my country! I heard that there were many ogres on an island who do bad things, and I want to stop them and bring back all the thing from others." 【６】The couple was surprised, but gave him some dumplings, which made him even more powerful, clothes, a headband, a flag and a sword. 【７】On the way to the island, Momotaro was joined by a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant, which followed him for a share of the dumplings. All three wanted to help him fight the ogres.
【８】After a long walk, they arrived at the beach and saw Ogre Island and its fortress.Momotaro built a boat, and all four went across to the island. The monkey unlocked the gate, and all the animals helped Momotaro defeat the ogres. 【９】The pheasant pecked at their eyes with his beak, the monkey used his hands to claw the ogres, ( his three friends ) and the dog his teeth to bite them. Momotaro fought the ogres with his sword.The defeated ogres, promised to be good from now on, and gave Momotaro all their treasures.
Momotaro and his three friends made their way back home. Momotaro divided the treasure among the other villagers, and Momotaro and the old couple lived in comfort for the rest of their lives.
※【９】の( his three friends ) の部分は、書籍の誤植です。

▼音声ファイルの見本
　書籍を購入してご利用ください。
　書籍の英文にはふりがながふってあるので、小学生でも読めるようになっています。



■かぐや姫（６級）
【１】Once upon a time, there lived a bamboo cutter and his wife. One day, he found a strange piece of bamboo. He said “I wonder why the bamboo is glowing ?” He had a look, and found a beautiful tiny child inside.
【２】The couple raised the child. They kept on finding gold and treasures in other bamboo, and decided to live in a bigger house.
【３】The little girl became a beautiful woman, and many young men called on her. Five of them did not give up at all. Kaguya said she would marry the one who can complete the task she set him. 【４】As she didn't want to get married to any of them, they were all very difficult tasks ! All of the young men tried to cheat their way out of the task and were rejected by Kaguya.
【５】The emperor fell in love with Kaguya too. He wanted to take her to his palace but Kaguya said “I cannot! I am not from this world”. In the summer, Kaguya looked at the moon and started to cry. 【６】The old couple asked her “What is wrong?” but Kaguya didn't answer.
During a full moon in August, Kaguya finally said to them that she was not born on earth but is from the moon. 【７】She said “I must go back.” The old couple asked for the emperor's help. He gave the old couple many warriors who were then stationed on the roof. 【８】However, when the moon people came, the warriors were so blinded by their light that they were not able to do anything.
Kaguya said to the old couple “I don't want to go, but I must.” 【９】Kaguya also wrote a letter to the emperor, and asked the old couple to remember her. Kaguya joined the moon people, and forgot about her life on earth immediately.

■赤ずきん（５級）
【１】Once upon a time there was a little girl who was loved by everyone, especially her grandmother. One day, she gave the girl a riding hood made from red velvet. The girl loved the hood, and never took it off. That's why people started calling her Little Red Riding Hood.　
【２】One morning, her mother asked her to take some cake and wine to her grandmother. Her mother told her to stay on the path and say “Good morning” to her grandmother when she arrived. The grandmother lived in a wood. On her way, Little Red Riding Hood met a wolf. 【３】The wolf wanted to eat both the grandmother and Little Red Riding Hood, and thought of a plan to get both. Walking alongside Little Red Riding Hood, he suggested she look for some pretty flowers. Ignoring her mother's instructions, the little girl ran from the path to pick the flowers. 【４】The wolf watched her disappear deeper and deeper into the woods, ran to the grandmother's house, and ate her.
　After that, the wolf put on the grandmother's clothes and got into her bed. Little Red Riding Hood arrived at the cottage with the flowers, but she was surprised to see the door open. 【５】She called out “Good morning!”, but there was no reply. She went into the bedroom and saw her grandmother.
　“Grandmother !” she said surprised, “What big ears you have!” “The better to hear you with, my dear.” was the reply. “Grandmother!... What big eyes you have?” “The better to see you with, my child.” 【６】“Grandmother... What large hands you have !” The wolf coughed and said “All the better to hug you with, my dear.”
　Lastly, she looked at her grandmother's mouth and said in a shaking voice“Grandmother, what big teeth you have !” “All the better to eat you with !”
【７】With that last sentence the wolf jumped up and swallowed Little Red Riding Hood in one big gulp. As he was now very full, the wolf went back to the bed, and fell asleep.
His snores could be heard all the way outside. A passing huntsman heard them. As he was a kind man, he decided to ask if the old lady wanted anything. 【８】When he walked in, he saw the wolf, which he had been hunting all day on the bed. The hunter loaded his gun, but then thought that the wolf may have eaten the old lady, and so cut him open instead.
To his surprise, not only the grandmother but also a young girl sprang out. 【９】They filled the wolf’s stomach with stones, and he died soon after. All three were happy. The huntsman took the pelt, the grandmother had the cake and wine, and Little Red Riding Hood swore never to leave the path again, even if she met other wolves in the wood on the way to her grandmother's house. Little Red Riding Hood was never harmed by wolves again.

■ガリバー（４級）
【１】Long, long ago, a young man lived in England. His name is Gulliver. He loves travel very much. One day, he gets on a ship. But a strong storm comes to Gulliver's ship. 【２】The storm turns over the ship. Gulliver falls into the sea.
After a long time, Gulliver wakes up on an island. But he cannot move. Many ropes are around Gulliver's body. He is tied to the ground. 【３】Gulliver looks around and finds many, many little people. Their size is about Gulliver's hand. The little people take Gulliver to the prison.
In the prison, even when Gulliver moves a little, the little people attack Gulliver with arrows. 【４】But the little people can give no damage to Gulliver.
One day, the king of the little people comes and sees Gulliver. Gulliver says, “I never do violence. So, please take the ropes from me.” 【５】The king says, “OK. I set you free. But instead, please help our country from an enemy country.” The enemy country is also a country of little people.
Gulliver goes to the battle area. 【６】Gulliver uses ropes and pulls the ships to the king. The king and his people say “Thank you very much.” to Gulliver. Now, Gulliver is a hero for the little people.
【７】Another day, a fire happens at the palace of the little king. The little people say, “Fire! It's very dangerous! Run away!” The little people cannot put out the fire. 【８】They cannot pour much water over the fire. Gulliver has a good idea of getting much water.
He comes near the fire and pees on it. 【９】Gulliver can put out the fire. But the queen of the little people is very angry with Gulliver.
Gulliver cannot stay in the country and goes back to his home country England.

■ヘンゼル（３級）
【１】Hansel and Gretel were the children of a poor woodcutter, who was living with his new wife near a forest. One day, when they didn't have enough to eat, the wife said to her husband “Let's leave the children in the forest.” 【２】They led the children into the forest the next day. However, Hansel had overheard their plan and dropped white pebbles on the ground to mark the path back home.
The children arrived back home that evening, so the wife's plan failed. The husband and wife tried the same plan for a second time. 【３】This time they succeeded, because Hansel was not able to get any white pebbles. Instead he used bread crumbs, which were eaten by the animals and birds in the forest.
【４】The children were lost until the third day, when a white dove led them to a cottage made of bread, cake, and sugar. Hansel and Gretel started to break off parts of the cottage, and ate the roof and walls. However, an evil witch who ate children lived in this cottage. 【５】She caught the children and put Hansel in a cage to fatten him up, and made Gretel do chores.
The half blind witch felt Hansel's finger every day to see if he was fattening up, but he always tricked her by holding out a little bone instead.
The witch lost her patience and decided to eat him the next day. 【６】In the morning, the witch wanted to make bread and said to Gretel “Put your head in the oven and check if it's ready.” Gretel said “I am too short”, so the witch put her head in the oven to look for herself. 【７】Gretel saw her chance and pushed the witch inside the oven. She then unlocked the cage to let Hansel out, and they went into the cottage and found a treasure of precious stones and pearls. They stuffed their pockets full and set off home.
【８】After a while, they came to a large lake, which seemed impossible to cross. Then they saw a white duck, who took them, one by one, across the lake. Suddenly, they recognized the scenery and ran home.
【９】The father was very happy to see them, as he had been sad since he and his wife had left the children in the forest. In the meantime, his wife had also died. Thanks to the treasure, they were able to live happily ever after, without ever being hungry again.

■ジャック（２級）
【１】Once there was a boy named Jack. He lived with his mother. They were very poor. They only had a cow. “Take the cow to town and sell her,” said his mother. So he did. Going to town Jack met a strange old man. 【２】The man said, “I’ll give you five magical beans for that cow!” Jack agreed. He gave the man the cow and ran back home. Jack told his mother the story. “I traded the cow for magic beans !”“ You fool !” she said. “Now we'll have nothing to eat!” 【３】And she threw the beans out the window.
The next morning Jack was surprised to see a huge beanstalk in the same place where his mother had thrown out the beans. It stretched to the clouds. Jack decided to check it out. After many hours, Jack finally reached the top. There he saw an enormous castle. 【４】Jack knocked, but no one answered. He climbed through an open window and looked around. He saw a bag of gold coins. So much money! He decided to take it.
Suddenly, the front door opened and a giant walked in. “Fe-fi-foe-fum! Look out human, here I come!” The giant chased Jack. 【５】Luckily, Jack was small and escaped through a hole in the wall. That was close! Jack gave the coins to his mother, but the money soon ran out.
So, Jack went back to the castle. This time the giant was in the kitchen with a hen.“Lay !” roared the giant. 【６】And the hen laid a golden egg. Jack knew he must have that magic hen. When the giant left Jack snatched the hen. “Squawk !” cried the hen. “Fe-fi-foe-fum! Look out human, here I come!” But Jack was too quick. He went under the door and down the beanstalk. The magic hen made Jack and his mother rich.
【７】Still, Jack decided to visit the giant once more. The giant was eating this time. After dinner, the giant picked up a golden harp. “Sing!” he shouted to the harp. And the harp sang a most beautiful melody. Soon the giant fell asleep. Jack grabbed the harp. “Help, Master !” yelled the harp. 【８】“Fe-fi-foe-fum! Look out human, here I come!” shouted the giant. Jack ran and escaped through the back door.
However, on this day the giant was particularly angry. He must get his harp. He chased Jack furiously. “Oh no!” thought Jack, Near the bottom he shouted, “Mother! Bring the axe !” 【９】Jack jumped to the ground. With the axe he chopped on the beanstalk. Faster, faster! Finally, it was finished. Down came the beanstalk, down came the giant. Dead. And Jack and his mother lived happily ever after.