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N1 Reading · Test 38

Questions from the JLPT July 2019 past paper

All N1 reading tests

情報があふれる現代では、選択肢が多すぎてなかなか決断ができないという状況に陥りやすい。最善の結果を得ようと情報を探せば探すほどリスクの可能性を知り、迷い、検討を繰り返しているうちに決断がどんどん遅れてしまう。しかしどのような決断にも負の面は必ずある。だから時間をかけすぎるよりも、失敗を恐れず迅速に決断していく人のほうが「決める力」がある人だと言える。

しかし、早さが必要だといっても、適切な判断ができなければ意味がない。早く適切な決断ができるようになるには、瞬時に自身とは違う見方を検討し、客観的な判断ができなければならない。日頃からさまざまな価値観に触れ、多角的に物事をとらえられるようになることが必要だ。

  1. 1.「決める力」のある人について、A と B はどのように述べているか。

    1. 1 A も B も、時間を十分にかけて慎重に判断すると述べている。
    2. 2 A も B も、どのような場面でも失敗を恐れないと述べている。
    3. 3 A は迷いすぎることなく適切に判断できると述べ、B は素早く決断できると述べている。
    4. 4 A は決断が早すぎたり遅すぎたりしないと述べ、B はリスクを回避することができると述べている。
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    Answer: 3. A は迷いすぎることなく適切に判断できると述べ、B は素早く決断できると述べている。

    Option 3 is correct. The passage can be read as two parts: A (first paragraph) and B (second paragraph). A states that rather than spending too much time deliberating, a person with 「決める力」 makes decisions swiftly without fearing failure — in other words, they can judge appropriately without hesitating too much (迷いすぎることなく適切に判断できる). B states that while speed is necessary, proper judgment is also required, and to make quick and appropriate decisions one must be able to consider different viewpoints instantly and make objective judgments — in other words, they can make quick decisions (素早く決断できる). Option 3 captures both descriptions accurately.

    • 1Both A and B say to spend enough time and judge carefully — this is wrong. A explicitly says 時間をかけすぎるよりも (rather than spending too much time), advocating quick decisions, not careful deliberation.
    • 2Both say not to fear failure in any situation — A does mention 失敗を恐れず (without fearing failure), but B does not mention fear of failure at all; B focuses on objective judgment and multiple perspectives.
    • 4A says decisions are neither too fast nor too slow, and B says they can avoid risk — A does not mention a balance of speed; A advocates swift decisions. B does not mention risk avoidance; B mentions considering different viewpoints.
    • 決断けつだん — decision, making a decision
    • 迅速じんそく — swift, prompt
    • 迷まよう — to hesitate, to waver
    • 適切てきせつ — appropriate, proper

  2. 2.「決める力」のある人になるために必要なことについて、A と B の認識で共通していることは何か。

    1. 1 他人の意見に惑わされてはいけない。
    2. 2 複数の視点から問題を検討することが大切だ。
    3. 3 いつも最善の結果を得ようとするべきではない。
    4. 4 情報を頼りにせず、自身の意見に自信を持つべきだ。
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    Answer: 2. 複数の視点から問題を検討することが大切だ。

    Option 2 is correct. The question asks what A and B commonly recognize as necessary to become a person with 「決める力」. B explicitly states that one must consider different viewpoints instantly (瞬時に自身とは違う見方を検討し) and grasp things from multiple angles (多角的に物事をとらえられるようになる), which directly supports 複数の視点から問題を検討する. A, by pointing out that seeking the best result through endless information gathering leads to paralysis, and that every decision inevitably has negative aspects, implicitly encourages looking at the problem from broader, multiple perspectives rather than fixating on one ideal outcome. Thus, examining problems from multiple perspectives is the common thread.

    • 1Don't be swayed by others' opinions — neither A nor B mentions being swayed by others' opinions. B actually advocates considering different viewpoints, which is the opposite of ignoring others' perspectives.
    • 3Shouldn't always try to get the best result — A does suggest that pursuing the best result leads to paralysis, but B does not explicitly say one shouldn't seek the best result; B focuses on how to make good decisions (through multiple perspectives), so this is not a common point.
    • 4Don't rely on information, have confidence in your own opinion — A criticizes over-reliance on information gathering but does not say to abandon information entirely. B does not mention self-confidence or ignoring information. Neither text supports this.
    • 多角的たかっかくてき — multifaceted, from multiple angles
    • 客観的きゃっかんてき — objective
    • 瞬時しゅんじ — instant, momentary
    • 価値観かちかん — values, sense of values
    • 陥おちいる — to fall into (a state)

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