【大学受験対策】英語長文問題53（料理）252語＋和訳・解答解説

Jacob loved cooking. Ever since he was a child, he had enjoyed spending hours in the kitchen, experimenting with spices and trying out his grandmother’s old recipes. After graduating from culinary school, he opened a small restaurant in a quiet corner of the city. It wasn’t fancy, but people liked the food—simple, flavorful, and made with care.

One evening, a man came in alone and ordered three different dishes. He ate slowly, taking notes after every bite. Jacob, curious, watched from the kitchen. The man left without a word, but the next morning, a review appeared online: “The food is honest, but lacks adventure. A meal you won’t forget—but not for the right reasons.”

Jacob was hurt. He had put his heart into those dishes. He reread the review several times, then decided to do something he had never done before: he made a reservation at another restaurant—the one owned by the reviewer himself.

A week later, Jacob sat at a table, tasting the critic’s food. The dishes were beautiful, almost like paintings. But to Jacob, they felt cold, as if made to impress rather than to comfort. When the waiter brought the final course, Jacob left a note: “A meal is more than technique. It’s a conversation between the chef and the soul of the person eating.”

The next day, another review appeared—this time written by the critic himself. “Sometimes, the simplest meals say the most. Last night, I remembered why I fell in love with food in the first place.”

Q1. What detail best describes Jacob’s restaurant when it began operating?

1. It offered only desserts inspired by his grandmother’s notes.
2. Diners appreciated modest dishes cooked with thoughtful attention.
3. The dining room featured expensive gold furniture and chandeliers.
4. It immediately became the city’s most crowded tourist attraction.

Q2. What central idea did Jacob communicate through the note he left?

1. A meal speaks to feelings, not technique alone.
2. He apologized for earlier comments about the critic’s cuisine.
3. He asked for recipes to improve his own menu.
4. He invited the critic to cook in his kitchen.

Q3. Which statement is NOT supported by information in the narrative?

1. The critic later praised simple food in a review.
2. The critic initially wrote a negative assessment online.
3. Jacob trained the critic during culinary school years ago.
4. Jacob booked dinner at the critic’s own restaurant.