This document discusses how biomimicry studies nature and uses its solutions to solve human problems. It provides two examples: Velcro was inspired by burdock seeds sticking to fur, and lotus leaves demonstrate self-cleaning properties through microscopic bumps that cause water to bead up and roll off, taking dirt with it. Biomimicry offers improvements people would not otherwise have without observing solutions found in nature.

1. Students should wear a uniform.
“agree” or “disagree”
opinion / idea
I agree/diagree with the opinion.
Do you agree with the opinion?

2. People shouldn’t talk
on the phone in the train.
opinion / idea
I agree with the opinion that
people shouldn’t talk on the phone
in the train.
Do you agree with the opinion?その意見に賛成ですか？
賛成です。

3. Lesson 9 Part 1
Biomimicry
－Inspired by Nature

4. Where will important new ideas
come from?

5. One place will certainly be
biomimicry
(bio, meaning “life,” and mimicry,
meaning “to copy”).
surely

6. This new science copies
things found in nature.
この新しい科学とは？
biomimicry

7. It uses them to develop
new technologies that provide
solutions to human problems.
This new science=biomimicry
things found in nature

8. Let’s take an example.

9. One day when a Swiss engineer
was climbing a mountain,
he found…

10. he found a number of
burdock seeds stuck to his jacket
and his dog.
a lot of ≠the number of
stick-stuck-stuck

12. After he removed them from his
dog, he took a closer look and
discovered how they worked.
burdock seeds

13. The ends of the burr needles were
tightly hooked on the dog’s fur.
終わり・先/先端/端

14. This was when a new idea came
to him.
(the time)

15. Velcro ― a reusable, two-sided
fastener ― known as “magic
tape” in Japanese was born.
four-legged
1 2

17. When one surface with hooks and
an opposing one with loops are
pressed together, they immediately
attach to one another.
上の主語
1
2

20. Also, it is easy to pull
the surfaces apart.

21. Today such hook-and-loop
fasteners are used in all sorts of
products, from shoes to clothes,
even to spacesuits.
～から～まで
kinds/types

22. They are among the most widely
used inventions in modern life.
The fasteners=Velcro
They are one of the most
widely used inventions...

24. Elementary schools should
teach English
opinion / idea
I agree with the opinion that
Elementary schools should teach
English
Do you agree with the opinion?その意見に賛成ですか？
賛成です。

25. Elementary schools should
teach English
opinion / idea
First, / First of all, / Firstly, ...
I have two reasons.二つ理由があります。
第一に、
Second, / Second of all, / Secondly, ...第二に、

26. Elementary schools should
teach English
opinion / idea
English is important for their future.
First, ... 一般論
Students can communicate with many
people in English

27. Elementary schools should
teach English
opinion / idea
English is important for their future.
First, ...
英語は重要 生徒の未来にとって
Students can communicate with many
people in English
生徒はたくさんの人とコミュニケーションを
取れる。

28. Where will important new ideas
come from?

29. One place will certainly be
biomimicry
(bio, meaning “life,” and mimicry,
meaning “to copy”).
surely

30. This new science copies
things found in nature.
この新しい科学とは？
biomimicry

31. It uses them to develop
new technologies that provide
solutions to human problems.
This new science=biomimicry
things found in nature

32. Let’s take an example.

33. One day when a Swiss engineer
was climbing a mountain,
he found…

34. he found a number of
burdock seeds stuck to his jacket
and his dog.
a lot of ≠the number of
stick-stuck-stuck
たくさんの

36. After he removed them from his
dog, he took a closer look and
discovered how they worked.
burdock seeds
How did they work?

37. The ends of the burr needles were
tightly hooked on the dog’s fur.
終わり・先/先端/端

38. This was when a new idea came
to him.
(the time)

39. Velcro ― a reusable, two-sided
fastener ― known as “magic
tape” in Japanese was born.
four-legged
1 2

42. Elementary schools should
teach English
opinion / idea
I agree with the opinion that
Elementary schools should teach
English
Do you agree with the opinion?その意見に賛成ですか？
賛成です。

43. Elementary schools should
teach English
opinion / idea
First, / First of all, / Firstly, ...
I have two reasons.二つ理由があります。
第一に、
Second, / Second of all, / Secondly, ...第二に、

44. Elementary schools should
teach English
opinion / idea
First, English is important
for their future.
Many people use English in the world.
English is the common language in...

45. Elementary schools should
teach English
opinion / idea
First, English is important
for their future.
Many people use English in the world.
English is the common language in...
第一に、英語は彼らの未来にとって大切
多くの人が英語を使う
英語は共通語

46. Elementary schools should
teach English
opinion / idea
Second, students can communicate
with many people in English
They can also learn about their culture.

47. Elementary schools should
teach English
opinion / idea
Second, students can communicate
with many people in English
They can also lean about their culture.
第二に、生徒は多くの人とコミュニケー
ションできる
彼らは文化も学ぶ事ができる

48. When one surface with hooks and
an opposing one with loops are
pressed together, they immediately
attach to one another.
上の主語
1
2

49. Also, it is easy to pull
the surfaces apart.apart / the / pull / surfaces

50. Today such hook-and-loop
fasteners are used in all sorts of
products, from shoes to clothes,
even to spacesuits.
～から～まで
kinds/types

51. They are among the most widely
used inventions in modern life.
The fasteners=Velcro
They are one of the most
widely used inventions...

53. Velcro is just one example
of biomimicry.
≒only

54. Here is another. an+ohter
the other
the others
others
other
（特定）他のもの
（特定）他のものたち
（不特定の）他のものたち
[形]他の～

55. one another
another...

56. one the other

57. one
another
the others

58. some others

59. Lotuses grow
in muddy lakes and ponds.

61. When you look at lotus leaves,
however, you will notice
the surfaces appear dry and clean,
with no dirt on them.
知覚動詞
the surfaces

62. I saw a cat enter the room.
I saw a cat entering
the room.
I heard a cat called
by the owner
部屋に入るのを
部屋に入っていくのを
呼ばれるのを

63. I saw a cat enter the room.
I saw a cat entering
the room.
I heard a cat called
by the owner
部屋に入るのを
部屋に入っていくのを
呼ばれるのを

64. I felt my shoulder touched.
I felt someone touch my shoulder.
I felt someone touching my
shoulder.
肩が触られる
誰か肩を触る
誰か肩を触っている

65. I felt my shoulder touched.
I felt someone touch my shoulder.
I felt someone touching my
shoulder.
肩が触られる
誰か肩を触る
誰か肩を触っている

66. Moreover, you may also see
water droplets rolling off the leaves.
in addition/furthermore/
on top of that/besides
知覚動詞

69. How is this possible?
前文：水滴が葉から落ちる

70. If you look carefully at a lotus
leaf, you will find
a large number of
micro bumps on its surface.
量だったら？

71. Thanks to the bumps,
raindrops rolling there hardly touch
the surface and keep their round
shapes.
程度：ほとんどない
due to/on account of/owing to/ because of
頻度：ほとんどない=seldom/rarely

73. When the leaf swings in the wind,
those raindrops rinse away dirt on
the surface
as they roll off.
とき/つれて/ながら なので

75. This is how lotuses keep their
leaves dry and clean.
This is how
This is why
このようにして
なので

76. This self-cleaning feature
is called the “lotus effect.”
characteristic/trait/quality

77. You might think a smooth surface
would be better than a bumpy one
for keeping dry.
that
surface

78. Lotus leaves, though, show just the
opposite.
だけどね

79. People have applied the lotus effect
to various kinds of products, such
as toilet bowls, walls of houses, and
the outside mirrors on cars.
例

81. Surprisingly, even cars without
window wipers are currently under
development.
under discussion/construction/
investigation

82. In this way, biomimicry offers
improvements in life that people
wouldn’t otherwise have.
さもなくば・もしそうでなければ
=もしバイオミミクリーがなければ

83. wise: 方向・関連性・面
clockwise / likewise / taxwise
other + wise = 他の方向性・面
・関連性
時計回り / 同様に / 税の面

84. I started my work early; otherwise I
could not have had dinner.
I don’t like the color of the curtain,
otherwise the room is perfect.
その他の面では
さもなくば・そうしなければ

86. I agree / I think
First of all,
For example
Second, / Also,
They can…

87. まとめ
That’s [That is why] / So / Therefore
Because of [Due to] above reasons/
I think that …. / Students should…

88. まとめ
That’s [That is why] / So / Therefore
Because of [Due to] above reasons/
I think that …. / Students should…
なので

89. Moreover, you may also see
water droplets rolling off the leaves.
in addition/furthermore/
on top of that/besides
知覚動詞

92. How is this possible?
前文：水滴が葉から落ちる

93. If you look carefully at a lotus
leaf, you will find
a large number of
micro bumps on its surface.
量だったら？非常にたくさんの数の

94. Thanks to the bumps,
raindrops rolling there hardly touch
the surface and keep their round
shapes.
程度：ほとんどない
due to/on account of/owing to/ because of
頻度：ほとんどない=seldom/rarely

96. When the leaf swings in the wind,
those raindrops rinse away dirt on
the surface
as they roll off.
とき/つれて/ながら なので

98. This is how lotuses keep their
leaves dry and clean.
このようにして

99. This self-cleaning feature
is called the “lotus effect.”
characteristic/trait/quality

100. You might think a smooth surface
would be better than a bumpy one
for keeping dry.
that
surface

101. Lotus leaves, though, show just the
opposite.
だけどね

102. People have applied the lotus effect
to various kinds of products, such
as toilet bowls, walls of houses, and
the outside mirrors on cars.
例

104. Surprisingly, even cars without
window wipers are currently under
development.
under discussion/construction/
investigation

105. In this way, biomimicry offers
improvements in life that people
wouldn’t otherwise have.
さもなくば・もしそうでなければ
=もしバイオミミクリーがなければ

106. wise: 方向・関連性・面
clockwise / likewise / taxwise
other + wise = 他の方向性・面
・関連性
時計回り / 同様に / 税の面

107. I don’t know
if she is kind or otherwise.
This car was otherwise
than expected.
期待の反対：期待はずれ
優しいの反対：そうじゃないか

108. I started my work early; otherwise
I could not have finished it.
I don’t like the color of the curtain,
otherwise the room is perfect.
その他の面では
はやく仕事を始めてなければ

110. Biomimicry studies nature and
uses its solutions
to solve our problems.
勉強・研究する
目的：in order to

111. Knowing the pain of ordinary shots,
most people would be happy
if painless needles were invented.
分詞構文：主語が明確＋接続は文脈から
なぜ過去形？
Because most people know the...
⇒仮定法過去：もし（今）

112. Seeing me, the man ran away.
Having nothing to do, I went to bed.
The storm hit the city, causing a big
problem
When the man saw me,..
Because I had nothing to do,...
, and the storm caused a big ...

113. Having the map, he reached the school.
Not having the map, she got lost.
Because he had the map,
he reached the school.
Because she didn’t have the map,
she got lost.

114. If I were you,
I would join the club.
（今）もし私が君だったら
そのクラブに入るなぁ。
（あの時）もし私が君だったなら
そのクラブに入ったなぁ。
動詞⇒過去⇒大過去

115. If I were you,
I would join the club.
（今）もし私が君だったら
そのクラブに入るなぁ。
If I had been you,
I would have joined the club.
（あの時）もし私が君だったなら
そのクラブに入ったなぁ。

116. 現在 過去 大過去
live lived had lived
eat ate had eaten
will live would live
would have
lived
can live could live could have
lived
is/am/are were had been

117. 現在 過去 大過去
live lived had lived
eat ate had eaten
will live would live
would have
lived
can live could live could have
lived
is/am/are were had been

118. If you got up early,
you would not be late.
（今）もし君が早起きすれば、
ちこくしないでしょう。
If you had got up early,
you wouldn’t have been late.
（あの時）もし君が早起きしていれば、
遅刻しなかったでしょう。

119. Researchers have thought
mosquitoes may hold an important
clue because mosquito bites are
painless.
that

120. They have looked into this and
found out why.
researchers
1
2
前文：蚊に刺される
ことが痛くない
mosquito bites are
painless.

121. Take a close look at
how mosquitoes suck blood.

122. They land on us and stab our skin
with sharp, needle-like mouth parts.
道具
1 2
mosquitoes

123. These are extremely thin ― just
one tenth of a millimeter, the width
of a human hair ― and barely
touch the nerves.
mouth parts
かろうじて（ポジ）
ほとんど～ない（ネガ）

124. Even more importantly,
their needles are serrated.
比較の強調 far/still/much/

125. You might think that would cause
more pain, but in fact it doesn’t.
that Serrated needles
cause more pain

126. This is because they touch
the nerves in the skin at fewer
points than the smooth surfaces
on man-made needles.
mouth parts: serrated needles

128. This is why
This is because
なので・だから
これはなぜかというと
This is why
This is because
原因 / 結果
原因
結果
結果
原因

129. I was sick. ( ) I didn’t go to school.
I didn’t go to school. ( ) I was sick.
That[This] is why
That[This] is because

130. I haven’t done laundry yet.
That is ( ) it has been raining.
You never pay people back. That is
( ) no one else lends you
money.
because
why

131. This smaller contact area means less
pain, which is why we don’t realize
they have stabbed our skin
until it gets itchy.
and it
mosquitoes
our skin

132. Because mosquitoes have evolved
over the past thirty million years to
become experts at sucking blood
without our notice, they have
survived well.

133. They might not have been
successful if they had caused the
same pain as shots.
仮定法過去完了
mosquitoes
（あの時）

134. Mimicking mosquito bites,
researchers have tried to create new
types of needles, and some are
already in practical use.
分詞構文： 接続詞＋主語
needles
Researchers mimicked mosquito bites, and...

135. It may not be long before we all can
look forward to painless shots.
前置詞
長くないでしょう ～するより以前が
訳⇒まもなく ～するでしょう。

136. It won’t be long before you feel well.
まもなく体調もどるでしょう。
I look forward to seeing you.
あえること（see）楽しみにしてる

138. Do you think students should
take part in club activities?
opinion / idea
I think[don’t think] (that) students
should take part in club activities.
I agree [don’t agree] with
the idea[opinion] that students …

139. Do you think students should
take part in club activities?
opinion / idea
First,…
悩んだら。。。
健康・環境・時間
利：[便利・金・得られるもの]

141. Biomimicry studies nature and
uses its solutions
to solve our problems.
勉強・研究する
目的：in order to

142. Knowing the pain of ordinary shots,
most people would be happy
if painless needles were invented.
分詞構文：主語が明確＋接続は文脈から
なぜ過去形？
Because most people know the...
⇒仮定法過去：もし（今）

143. Seeing me, the man ran away.
Having nothing to do, I went to bed.
The storm hit the city, causing a big
problem
When the man saw me,..
Because I had nothing to do,...
, and the storm caused a big ...

144. Having the map, he reached the school.
Not having the map, she got lost.
Because he had the map,
he reached the school.
Because she didn’t have the map,
she got lost.

145. If I were you,
I would join the club.
（今）もし私が君だったら
そのクラブに入るなぁ。
（あの時）もし私が君だったなら
そのクラブに入ったなぁ。
動詞⇒過去⇒大過去

146. If I were you,
I would join the club.
（今）もし私が君だったら
そのクラブに入るなぁ。
If I had been you,
I would have joined the club.
（あの時）もし私が君だったなら
そのクラブに入ったなぁ。

147. 現在 過去 大過去
live lived had lived
eat ate had eaten
will live would live
would have
lived
can live could live could have
lived
is/am/are were had been

148. 現在 過去 大過去
live lived had lived
eat ate had eaten
will live would live
would have
lived
can live could live could have
lived
is/am/are were had been

149. If you got up early,
you would not be late.
（今）もし君が早起きすれば、
ちこくしないでしょう。
If you had got up early,
you wouldn’t have been late.
（あの時）もし君が早起きしていれば、
遅刻しなかったでしょう。

150. Researchers have thought
mosquitoes may hold an important
clue because mosquito bites are
painless.
that

151. They have looked into this and
found out why.
researchers
1
2
前文：蚊に刺される
ことが痛くない
mosquito bites are
painless.

152. Take a close look at
how mosquitoes suck blood.

153. They land on us and stab our skin
with sharp, needle-like mouth parts.
道具
1 2
mosquitoes

154. These are extremely thin ― just
one tenth of a millimeter, the width
of a human hair ― and barely
touch the nerves.
mouth parts
かろうじて（ポジ）
ほとんど～ない（ネガ）
10分の１

155. Even more importantly,
their needles are serrated.
比較の強調 far/still/much/

156. You might think that would cause
more pain, but in fact it doesn’t.
that Serrated needles
cause more pain

157. This is because they touch
the nerves in the skin at fewer
points than the smooth surfaces
on man-made needles.
mouth parts: serrated needles

159. This is why
This is because
なので・だから
これはなぜかというと
This is why
This is because
原因 / 結果
原因
結果
結果
原因

160. I was sick. ( ) I didn’t go to school.
I didn’t go to school. ( ) I was sick.
That[This] is why
That[This] is because

161. I haven’t done laundry yet.
That is ( ) it has been raining.
You never pay people back. That is
( ) no one else lends you
money.
because
why

162. This smaller contact area means less
pain, which is why we don’t realize
they have stabbed our skin
until it gets itchy.
and it
mosquitoes
our skin

163. ⑦

164. Do you think digital books are
better than paper books?
opinion / idea
I agree [don’t agree]
with the idea[opinion] that digital
books are better....
I think [don’t think]
that digital books are better....

165. First, digital books are useful[convenient]
(to read[carry]).
They are light and easy to carry.
People can look up[check] the word
easily.

166. First[Second], digital books are
more reasonable[cheaper].
People can buy them online
at a discount price.
They are sold online and they are
cheaper (than paper books)

167. First[Second], digital books are
good for the environment.
They don’t use paper to make.
They are not made of paper.

168. That’s why,/So,/Therfore,
That’s why, I think that...
I agree with the idea that...

169. Because mosquitoes have evolved
over the past thirty million years to
become experts at sucking blood
without our notice, they have
survived well.

170. They might not have been
successful if they had caused the
same pain as shots.
仮定法過去完了
mosquitoes
（あの時）

171. Mimicking mosquito bites,
researchers have tried to create new
types of needles, and some are
already in practical use.
分詞構文： 接続詞＋主語
needles
Researchers mimicked mosquito bites, and...

172. It may not be long before we all can
look forward to painless shots.
前置詞
長くないでしょう ～するより以前が
訳⇒まもなく ～するでしょう。

173. It won’t be long before we get snow.
まもなく雪が降るよ
I look forward to going to NY.
ＮＹに行くことが楽しみ

176. Biomimicry is also useful for looking
at things that we have long taken
for granted, such as silk.
take (it) for granted that...
当然のこと（あたりまえ）と思う

177. Don’t take it for granted.
当たり前と思うなよ
He takes it for granted
that women cook at home.
彼は女性が家庭で料理するのを当然と考
えている。

178. Silk is produced by silkworms.
worms
insects
芋虫系
そのほか

179. When they are fully grown as
worms, they start spinning
silk thread around themselves
to create cocoons.
silkworms

181. There, they change into their adult
forms.
in the cocoons

182. Cocoons act as shelters
for silkworms
to survive in severe conditions.
として

183. The silk from cocoons has
remarkable characteristics.
outstanding/notable
significant/noticeable/impressive

184. One of them is its ability to absorb
harmful ultraviolet rays from the
sun, which can cause skin damage.
the characteristics
and it [ the sun ]

185. Parasols, hats, and even cosmetics
are often produced from silk
to make use of this ability.
活用する 紫外線吸収

187. Natural materials like silk are
created in environmentally friendly
processes that use other natural
materials, such as water.
processed food

188. When they have served their
purpose, they decompose,
returning to the earth.
natural materials
サービスを提供する⇒役割を果たす
主語＋接続詞

189. Man-made materials, however, are
the exact opposite.
推測：分解されない・土に帰らない

190. Materials such as nylon and other
plastics are made in ways that
damage the environment.
方法

191. When these materials were first
invented, people were amazed at
how durable they were.
感情：させる系動詞
man-made materials

192. When these materials were first
invented, people were amazed at
how durable they were.
感情：させる系動詞
man-made materials

193. I was surprised at the news.
ニュースに驚いた
The truth was surprising.
その真実は驚きだった。
excite/interest/impress/satisfy...

194. Now we realize that this is exactly
what we don’t want ― materials
which are so durable that they
don’t easily decompose.
めっちゃ丈夫な事
こと・もの
とても～なので・

195. We need to make materials with
more natural characteristics,
using processes that are more like
nature’s.
主語＋接続詞

196. Biomimicry offers important
opportunities.
chances
gives/provides

197. There is plenty in nature
to inspire us.
motivate/influence
/impress

198. Maybe what works in nature will
work for us, too.
こと・もの

199. Look to nature for inspiration.
≒turn to
look to A for B
Aに頼る Bを求めて

200. Use nature as a model.
Solutions are all around us.

203. Biomimicry is also useful for looking
at things that we have long taken
for granted, such as silk.
take (it) for granted that...
当然のこと（あたりまえ）と思う

204. You should never take your health
for granted.
健康を当然と考えちゃだめ
A: Don’t take me for granted.
B: I’ve never taken you for granted.
Ａ：私がいて当たり前と思わないで。
Ｂ：思った事ないよ。

205. Silk is produced by silkworms.
worms
insects
芋虫系
そのほか

206. When they are fully grown as
worms, they start spinning
silk thread around themselves
to create cocoons.
silkworms

208. There, they change into their adult
forms.
in the cocoons
turn

209. Cocoons act as shelters
for silkworms
to survive in severe conditions.
として

210. The silk from cocoons has
remarkable characteristics.
outstanding/notable
significant/noticeable/impressive

211. One of them is its ability to absorb
harmful ultraviolet rays from the
sun, which can cause skin damage.
the characteristics
and it [ the sun ]
皮膚へダメージを起こす

212. Parasols, hats, and even cosmetics
are often produced from silk
to make use of this ability.
活用する 紫外線吸収