早稲田大学 国際教養学部（SILS）英語攻略チートシート確認問題集

Ⅰ 次の英文を読み、設問に答えよ

[1] When the word “meritocracy” first became popular in the late 1950s, it was meant as a warning rather than an ideal. The writer who made it famous imagined a future society in which people were sorted by intelligence and effort, and in which those at the top came to believe that they fully deserved their position. [2] It must be admitted that the meritocratic ideal has achieved a great deal. Jobs that were once reserved for the children of wealthy families are now open, at least in principle, to anyone with the right qualifications. No one seriously wishes to return to a world in which birth determined destiny. [3] Yet the ideal has a darker side that its supporters rarely acknowledge. Merit is never measured in a vacuum(ア): children of well-educated parents enter school with advantages that have nothing to do with their own efforts. When such children succeed, they, and society, tend to attribute(イ) their success entirely to talent and hard work. The result is a ruling class that is not only privileged but also convinced that it deserves to be, and that looks down on those who have fallen behind. [4] Perhaps the most damaging effect of meritocracy will turn out to be psychological. If success is seen as entirely earned, failure may come to be seen as entirely deserved. A society that thinks this way might gradually lose its sense of shared fate, and with it, the willingness to support those who struggle.

1. 1
   In paragraph [1], the writer .

   aargues that a term should no longer be usedbconcedes that a term has positive aspectscpredicts how the meaning of a term will changedexplains the original, critical sense of a term
2. 2
   In paragraph [2], the writer .

   aproposes a new way of selecting job candidatesbdescribes a society in which birth determined destinycacknowledges the benefits of the meritocratic idealdcontends that meritocracy is completely unfair
3. 3
   In paragraph [3], the writer .

   aconcedes that privileged children work harder than othersbillustrates how schools measure talent fairlyccontends that meritocracy disguises inherited advantage as personal meritdtraces the history of the ruling class
4. 4
   In paragraph [4], the writer .

   asummarizes evidence that society has lost its sense of shared fatebdescribes a survey on attitudes toward failurecspeculates about a possible long-term effectdrecounts an event that changed society
5. 5
   Here “in a vacuum” means .

   ain isolation from other influencesbwithout any costcin a completely empty roomdwith great accuracy
6. 6
   Here “attribute” means .

   agive money tobregard as resulting fromcadd as a featuredpay respect to
7. 7
   Which FOUR of the following do NOT agree with the passage? ① The word “meritocracy” was originally intended as a criticism. ② The writer wants to return to a system based on family background. ③ Children of well-educated parents may start school with advantages. ④ The writer believes meritocracy has achieved nothing of value. ⑤ According to the writer, successful people usually recognize the role of their family background. ⑥ The writer has proved that meritocracy has destroyed social solidarity.

   a②④⑤⑥b①②④⑥c①③⑤⑥d②③④⑤

Ⅱ 下線部の意味に最も近いものを選べ

1. 8
   After years of struggle, the party finally gained ascendancy over its rivals.

   aa position of powerba link to an ancestorca slow climbda formal agreement
2. 9
   Smartphones have largely superseded paper maps.

   areplacedbimprovedcsuperviseddcopied
3. 10
   In light of the new evidence, his position is no longer tenable.

   awidely knownbeasy to explaincavailable for rentdpossible to defend
4. 11
   The study's findings were counterintuitive: more choice made shoppers less satisfied.

   aaccepted by most peoplebdifficult to countccontrary to what one would expectdagainst the law
5. 12
   Income alone is a poor yardstick of a country's well-being.

   aunit of distancebtool for gardeningcreward for workdstandard of measurement

Ⅲ 次の短い英文で筆者がしていることを表す動詞として最も適切なものを選べ

1. 13
   The town's first bookstore opened in 1890. Over the following decades, a second shop, a lending library, and finally a small publishing house appeared on the same street.

   atracesbspeculatescqualifiesdconcedes
2. 14
   It may be that, within a few decades, most translation will be done by machines. If so, people's reasons for learning foreign languages might change.

   aconcedesbrecountscspeculatesdcontrasts
3. 15
   Exercise improves mood. This is true, however, only for moderate exercise; very intense training can actually increase stress in some people.

   atracesbqualifiescdescribesdillustrates
4. 16
   Many experts claim that homework improves learning. But is there really evidence for this? Studies of younger children, at least, have found little benefit.

   arecountsbquestionscconcedesdillustrates
5. 17
   In cities, people can reach shops and hospitals within minutes. In the countryside, by contrast, a trip to the doctor may take an hour.

   acontrastsbtracescconcedesdspeculates

Ⅳ 指示に従って書け

1. 18
   （W1）Should university education focus mainly on preparing students for jobs? 立場を明らかにし、理由を挙げて1パラグラフ（80〜100語）の英語で書け。答えを見る
2. 19
   （W2）次のデータが示す傾向を、理由の推測も添えて60〜80語の英語で書け。【ある国で週1日以上在宅勤務をする会社員の割合】2019年 10％／2021年 45％／2023年 30％答えを見る
3. 20
   （W3）Ⅰ の英文の内容を、150〜200字の日本語で要約せよ。答えを見る