原田英語の英検二次面接 ぜんぶ攻略くん
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英検1級 二次 予想トピック 41 ・ 🏘️ 社会・地域・高齢化 ・ Is ~ worth ~?

Is maintaining public services in shrinking rural towns worth the cost?

人口が減っている地方の町で公共サービスを維持することは、費用に見合うか。

このトピックを選ぶべき人

地方の鉄道や病院の廃止など、地元の具体例が思い浮かぶ人向け。

骨組み理由3つ（どちらの立場でも話せる）

賛成（Yes）で話すなら

I believe it is worth the cost to maintain basic public services in rural towns.

  1. equal rightsEveryone deserves access to basic services such as healthcare and transportation, wherever they live. Older people in rural areas who cannot drive depend completely on local buses and clinics.
  2. national roleRural areas produce food, protect forests, and manage water resources for the whole country. If these communities collapse, cities will also suffer in the long run.
  3. new residentsGood services can attract new residents, such as remote workers and young families. Some small towns have actually attracted new families by offering childcare support and fast internet.

反対（No）で話すなら

I don't believe it is always worth the cost. Limited resources should be used more efficiently.

  1. limited budgetWith a shrinking tax base, the government cannot keep every train line, hospital, and school open forever. Several local railway lines in Hokkaido, for example, have already been closed because very few people used them.
  2. compact townsEncouraging people to live closer together in town centers can make services cheaper and better. A compact town can support a good hospital, while scattered villages may only have weak services.
  3. new technologyTechnology can replace some expensive services. Online medical consultations and drone deliveries, for instance, can serve remote areas at a lower cost.

想定質疑面接委員はこう突っ込んでくる

QIsn't it more efficient to encourage people to move to larger towns?

In some cases, yes. Admittedly, it is cheaper to provide services in compact areas. However, many older people have lived in their villages all their lives and cannot easily move. So I think we should support those communities, while encouraging new housing to be built in town centers.

Q：人々に大きな町へ移ってもらう方が効率的では？
A：場合によってはそうです。確かに、まとまった地域の方がサービスを安く提供できます。しかし、多くの高齢者は生まれてからずっと村で暮らしてきて、簡単には移れません。ですから、新しい住宅は町の中心に建つよう促しつつ、今ある地域も支えるべきだと考えます。

QWhich public service is most important to maintain?

I would say healthcare is the most important. If there is no clinic nearby, older people may not get help in an emergency. Transportation comes next, because without buses, people cannot even reach the services that do exist.

Q：維持すべき公共サービスで最も大切なのは何ですか。
A：医療が最も大切だと思います。近くに診療所がなければ、高齢者は緊急時に助けを得られないかもしれません。次は交通です。バスがなければ、今あるサービスにさえたどり着けないからです。

QCan technology solve the problems of rural areas?

It can help a lot, but it is not a complete solution. Online consultations are useful, but many older people are not comfortable with smartphones. So technology should be combined with local support, such as staff who can help people use it.

Q：テクノロジーで地方の問題は解決できますか。
A：大いに役立ちますが、完全な解決策ではありません。オンライン診療は便利ですが、スマートフォンが苦手な高齢者も多くいます。ですから、使い方を手伝う職員など、地域の支えと組み合わせるべきです。

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