≪Yet 75% of UK adults are unable to hold even a basic conversation in a second language. ≫
そのサイトの主は得意の直訳とスラッシュリーディングで 次のように解釈しています。
≪Yet/ 75% of UK adults/ are unable to hold even a basic conversation/ in a second language.
しかし/イギリスの大人の75%は/２ 基本的な会話でさえ持つことができない。/
１ 二番目の言葉（→第二外国語）で。≫
でも 「基本的な会話を持つ」ってどういうこと？
そこで、hold a basic conversationを言い換えると、次のどれに一番近いでしょうか？
① have a fundamental colloquy
② organize an easy lecture
③ carry on a simple talking
④ exchange a minimal greeting
⑤ remember an initial dialogue
それでは ２問目です。
a second languageとは 具体的には 次のどれを指すのでしょうか？
① an official language of a country for most people of which it is not their native language but plays the role of their common language, such as English in India and Philippines
② a second foreign language studied in addition to English mainly in colleges and universities, such as Chinese or French in Japan
③ one of the international languages which are secondly most widely spoken in the world after English, such as French or Spanish
④ a foreign language that is individually the most familiar to British people, which is likely to be French, German, or Spanish,etc
⑤ a language which is conveyed neither by speech nor by writing, such as a sign language
A:
「hold a basic conversation」を言い換えると、次のどれに一番近いでしょうか？
この表現は「基本的な会話を行う」を意味します。選択肢から最も近いものを選ぶとすれば、③の「carry on a simple talking」が一番近いと思います。
次に、「a second language」は具体的には次のどれを指すのでしょうか？
この表現は「第二言語」を意味します。選択肢から最も近いものを選ぶとすれば、④の「a foreign language that is individually the most familiar to British people, which is likely to be French, German, or Spanish,etc」が一番近いと思います。
