接続詞・前置詞なら文脈の論理展開(「因果」「対比」「追加」)を把握など、何を繋ぎたいのかを考える。
and / but / so / for / while / whereas … などの機能を意識して選択する。
直後が名詞なら前置詞か形容詞か？動詞なら副詞か？など、文法的に不自然な選択肢は排除できる。
空欄部分だけでなく、前後の2～3語を含めて読めば、文意の矛盾に気づきやすい。
4,整除問題
リード文例
A, B, C, Dの4つのフレーズを正しい順番に並べ替え、3番目に来るものを選びなさい。
The Rise of Digital Nomads: Flexibility vs. Stability
In recent years, the notion of working and traveling simultaneously has gained significant popularity, giving birth to a new breed of professionals known as “digital nomads.” Proponents argue that this lifestyle offers unparalleled freedom, allowing individuals to explore diverse cultures while maintaining a career on their own terms. They point out that remote work eliminates long commutes and fosters creativity through constant exposure to fresh environments. However, critics question the viability of this wanderlust-driven approach. They emphasize that a stable work setting often promotes stronger social connections, professional development, and consistent routines. Unlike digital nomads, office-based employees can readily seek advice from seasoned mentors, cultivate enduring professional networks, and benefit from clear corporate structures.Ultimately, the debate hinges on whether the thrill of mobility outweighs the potential drawbacks of limited job security and fragmented relationships. Although digital nomadism promises a life of adventure, skeptics warn that its short-term excitement may not guarantee long-term career growth or personal stability.
構造の特徴: “Flexibility vs. Stability” という二項対立を明示し、前半で「自由・創造性」を肯定、後半で「安定と継続的成長の大切さ」を否定的観点から示しています。
筆者の立場: 明言しすぎずに双方のメリット・デメリットを列挙し、最後に「トレードオフ」を示す形でまとめています。実際の出題では、最終段落でどちらに重心があるかを要約で問われることが多いです。
Addressing Algorithmic Bias in Online Recruitment
As more companies adopt automated systems to screen job applicants, a growing concern is the potential for algorithmic bias to exclude qualified candidates. These biases often arise when the historical data used to train the algorithms reflect existing inequalities, such as underrepresentation of certain ethnic groups or gender stereotypes. Consequently, well-intentioned recruiters may unknowingly miss out on diverse talent, while perpetuating systemic discrimination.
To combat this issue, experts recommend several strategies. First, organizations should regularly audit the data sets and screening criteria to identify patterns of bias. Second, companies can employ diverse development teams, ensuring that the people designing these algorithms are sensitive to various cultural and social contexts. Finally, transparency in how the software makes its decisions allows both applicants and regulators to hold employers accountable. Through these measures, automated hiring practices can become more equitable, benefiting both job seekers and forward-thinking businesses alike.
The Productivity Paradox: Working Less to Achieve More
It seems contradictory to suggest that people might produce higher-quality work by reducing their total working hours. Yet recent studies have shown that shorter workweeks can actually lead to increased productivity, reduced stress, and greater job satisfaction. On the surface, it appears illogical: how can working fewer hours result in accomplishing more tasks?
One explanation lies in the concept of “focused energy.” When employees know they have limited time, they often eliminate unproductive activities and concentrate on the most crucial tasks. This heightened focus can intensify creativity and reduce burnout, enabling teams to achieve better outcomes within tighter schedules. Meanwhile, free time away from work fosters mental recovery, allowing for deeper problem-solving and innovative thinking.
Paradoxically, by constraining work hours, organizations may cultivate an environment where both individuals and projects flourish—a notion that challenges the age-old belief in endless labor as the path to progress.
Reevaluating Queen Isabella: Conqueror or Visionary?
Historians have long portrayed Queen Isabella of Castile as a staunch advocate of imperial expansion, often criticizing her for the harsh treatment of indigenous peoples under Spanish rule. Traditional accounts emphasize her relentless drive for power, highlighting her role in sponsoring overseas conquests and consolidating absolute authority. In recent years, however, scholars have begun to reassess her reign by examining newly discovered letters and financial records.
These sources suggest that Isabella was more than a ruthless conqueror; she also championed administrative reforms and education initiatives that laid the groundwork for Spain’s subsequent cultural renaissance. Moreover, her personal correspondence reveals concerns about the moral implications of colonization and the potential for cultural exchange. While modern perspectives cannot entirely absolve Isabella of wrongdoing, they do paint a more nuanced portrait of a ruler grappling with the complexities of nation-building. In this light, Isabella’s legacy may be neither purely heroic nor wholly villainous, but a blend of both.
構造の特徴: 従来の歴史解釈(“ruthless conqueror”)と新たな資料による再評価(“more nuanced portrait”)の対比・変化を示しています。
読解の要点: どこが従来と異なる評価か、また新資料によってどう見方が変わったのかが文章のメインテーマ。入試で問われやすいのは、「旧来説と新説の違い」「筆者がどうまとめているか（完全肯定・完全否定ではなく“blend of both”）」といった部分です。
2017 文学部:Mozart & Salieri: A Case of Misrepresented History
2014 文学部:The Rise of E-Books and the Possible End of Paper Books
2013 文学部:Urbanization: Global Population Shift to Cities
2017 文化構想学部:New Communication Types Surpassing SF Imagination
2015 文化構想学部:Reverse Culture Shock upon Returning Home
2014 文化構想学部:Beyond the Five Senses
2013 文化構想学部:ARPANET and the Future of the Internet
難易度 [rating stars="3.0"]（中間レベル）
2022 文学部:Accelerating Climate Change
2021 文学部:Speed-Reading vs. Slow-Reading
2020 文学部:Memory, Forgetting, and Individual Identity
2018 文学部:English Literature as a Tool of Colonial Influence in India
2015 文学部:The Mass Microfilming Crisis in Libraries
2023 文化構想学部:“Eskimos Have Many Words for Snow” as a Common Myth
2022 文化構想学部:Hyperreality and Our Shift to the Online World
2021 文化構想学部:Communication as Performance and Ritual
2019 文化構想学部:Clock Time and Industrial Capitalism
2018 文化構想学部:Education’s Paradox: Socialization vs. Critical Awareness
2016 文化構想学部:Conversation as a Goal-Free Activity
難易度 [rating stars="4.0"]（やや難）
2024 文学部:Diversity in American Higher Education
2019 文学部:Social Identities and Public Representation
2016 文学部:Decline of External Moral Consensus in the U.S.
2020 文化構想学部:Transformation of Sports in Modern Britain
2024 文化構想学部:Art vs. Knowledge: Direct vs. Indirect Means to Good
