Following a longer Japanese passage: JLPT N2

The idea

First identify the proposal and its purpose. しかし introduces a complication; そこで links the response to that problem. The final paragraph weighs the trial results and recommends continuing with changes. Trace what その refers to back to the trial, and distinguish a proposal from a decision.

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Examples

• 市しの図書館としょかんは、仕事帰しごとがえりにも利用りようできるよう、閉館へいかん時間じかんを遅おそくすることにした。The city library decided to close later so people could use it after work.
• 一いっか月げつの試行しこうでは、平日へいじつの利用者りようしゃが増ふえた日ひもあった。During the one-month trial, weekday visitor numbers rose on some days.
• しかし、遅おそい時間じかんには来こられない住民じゅうみんもいた。However, some residents could not come late.
• そこで、図書館としょかんは住民じゅうみんの意見いけんを集あつめた。Therefore, the library collected residents’ opinions.
• 調査ちょうさでは、週末しゅうまつの開館かいかんを望のぞむ声こえも多おおかった。In the survey, many also wanted weekend opening.
• その結果けっかを踏ふまえ、時間じかんを調整ちょうせいして続つづけるべきだ。In light of those results, the change should continue with adjusted hours.

Watch out

Do not assume that more visitors prove the change helped everyone. The passage reports a rise on some days and also describes people who could not use the service.

Try it yourself

1. 試行しこうはどのくらい続つづいたか。（一か月／一年／一週間）

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   一か月

   The trial lasted one month: 一か月 is stated in the second paragraph.

2. なぜ図書館としょかんは意見いけんを集あつめたか。（来られない住民がいたから／本が足りなかったから／職員が増えたから）

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   来られない住民がいたから

   The library collected opinions because some residents still could not come; そこで connects the survey to that problem.

3. 筆者ひっしゃはどうするべきだと考かんがえているか。（調整して続ける／すぐやめる／変更せず続ける）

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   調整して続ける

   The author recommends continuing with adjustments, not abandoning the change or keeping it unchanged.

Use it today

Read the passage, locate the evidence for each question, and choose the Japanese answer.