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筑波大学大学院 システム情報工学研究科博士前期課程 社会システム工学専攻平成２２年度入学試験 学力検査問題平成２１年８月２０日実施外国語（英語）
各答案用紙の上部に、必ず、受験番号を記入しなさい。
University of TsukubaGraduate School of Systems and Information EngineeringMaster's Program in Social Systems EngineeringENTRANCE EXAMINATION
August 20, 2009
Foreign Language
：
English
Write your application number on the top of each answer sheet.
以下の2008年8月23日付のジャパンタイムズウィークリーの記事の抜粋を読み、すべての質問に英語か日本語のどちらかのみを用いて答えなさい。解答する際には完全な文章の形で解答しなさい。
Read the following extract from an article in the August 23, 2008 issue of the Japan Times Weekly,and answer the questions entirely in English or in Japanese. For each of the following question,give your answers in complete sentence.
問題（各問題の比重は同じである。）
Question
（
Each question carries the same weight.
）
1. テキストの文脈において下線部1 Gordian knot と何か。説明せよ。
Explain what “Gordian knot” means in the context of this article.Note: “Gordian knot” is described as follows in “Wikipedia”:The Gordian Knot is a legend associated with Alexander the Great
(
アレキサンドル大王
).
It isoften used as a metaphor for an intractable problem, solved by a bold stroke ("cutting the Gordianknot").
2. エネルギー問題を解決する技術革新とは具体的に何を指すのか。またその技術をどのように使えば問題は解決できるのか説明せよ。
What is the technological advance that can solve the energy problem? Explain its detail. Alsodescribe how the innovation can be applied in practice.
3. 代表的再生可能なエネルギー源としてあげられているものを３つあげ、それらの長所と短所をテキストの記述に即して説明せよ。
List the three representative renewable energy sources according to the article, and describe theirmerits and demerits.
4. EUのエネルギー問題に対し日本の経験はどのように、またどの程度役に立つのか説明せよ。
How and to what extent could Japanese experience contribute to solve EU’s energy problem?Explain.
5. 新技術が実用化できるとしても実際にEUのエネルギー問題を解決するためにどのような課題があるのか説明せよ。
Even if the technological innovation is technically feasible and implementable, what are otherobstacles that must be overcome to solve EU’s energy problem? Explain.
RENEWABLE ENERGYEU's energy needs require complex geopolitical solutionBy ALEXANDER JACOBY
In a world of complex connections, the problems, and their possible solutions, are more intricatethan ever. This applies particularly to the enduring issue of the environment. Our continuingdependence on fossil fuels contributes to climate change, with the long-term consequence of environmental degradation and political instability in those countries adversely affected by thatchange. We are all familiar with the problem. But the sheer variety of ways in which technologicallyadvanced societies are dependent on fossil fuels, the fact that we take for granted the ability to travelinternationally, and to commute on a daily basis between our homes and our workplaces, plus thegrowing demand for energy in developing nations such as India and China, make any simple, singlesolution seem remote.Could a technological advance cut this Gordian knot
1
? A recent article in Britain's Guardiannewspaper suggested that it might. The solution is a network of high-voltage direct-current cables,potentially a practical means of long-distance transmission of electricity. Hitherto, we have relied onalternating-current cables, which lose too much energy to be used over long distances. But scientistsworking for the European Union claim that modern DC cables could one day allow all of Europe'senergy needs to be supplied by renewable energy. These cables will carry solar energy from NorthAfrica, geothermal energy from Icelandic volcanoes, and wind power from Britain and Denmark.When one form of energy is lacking (for instance, when there is no wind in Northern Europe),another will supply the shortfall (there will still be sunlight in the Sahara).Anything that could enable a shift to renewable energy on a grand scale merits urgent consideration.But this proposed solution to an environmental problem overlooks the related geopolitical one.The current dependence of the West and other developed countries on fossil fuels is a problem notonly because of its environmental dangers but also because the largest deposits of our most vitalfossil fuel, oil, are located in countries that are politically unstable and in many ways ideologicallyinimical to the nations that are the biggest consumers. This latter problem will not be resolved by theEU plan to shift toward renewable energy.Saharan solar power is vital to the plan. But sunshine-rich North Africa, no less than the oil-richMiddle East, is a politically unstable region. The government of Algeria has said that it "aims toexport 6,000 megawatts of solar-generated power to Europe by 2020." But it is doubtful that
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