高2向け｜英語長文問題109（幾何学）140語＋和訳・解答解説

Many patterns in nature look complex, but they often follow a simple rule. A “fractal” is a shape in which a similar pattern appears again and again at different sizes. If you look at a fern, each small leaflet has a form like the whole leaf. You can see the same idea in tree branches, river networks, and coastlines on a map. When you zoom in on a coastline, smaller bays and curves appear in a familiar way. Some vegetables, like Romanesco broccoli, show repeating spirals too. Fractals do not mean that nature is perfectly regular; wind, soil, and chance change the details. Still, repeating structure can often be efficient. Branching spreads leaves toward sunlight, and river branches collect water from a wide area. Scientists use fractal ideas to describe patterns and to compare shapes in a clear, simple way.

Which TWO statements are NOT supported by the passage?

1. A fractal shows related shapes repeating at many different sizes.
2. Zooming in on coastlines can reveal familiar smaller curves.
3. Scientists use fractal concepts to compare complex shapes clearly.
4. Fractals show nature is perfectly orderly, without random changes.
5. River branches mainly exist to slow water and prevent floods.
6. Romanesco and ferns display repeated patterns similar to the whole.