EigoPro 準2級プラス 読解 — Should Students Take a Gap Year?

Should Students Take a Gap Year? In some countries, it is common for students to take a "gap year" — a year off between finishing high school and starting university. During this time, young people might travel, work, or volunteer. While this idea is still unusual in Japan, more students are beginning to consider it. Is a gap year a wise choice, or simply a waste of time? The Case For Supporters argue that a gap year helps young people grow. Traveling to other countries teaches them to deal with difficult situations on their own, far from the safety of home. Many students return more confident, more independent, and clearer about what they want to study. Some even discover a passion they never knew they had. Employers, too, often value the maturity that comes from such experiences. The Case Against Critics, however, point out the risks. A year away from study can make it harder to return to academic life. There is also the cost: travel and living expenses can be significant, and not every family can afford them. Perhaps most importantly, a gap year without a clear plan can easily turn into a year of doing very little. Making It Work Experts who study this topic suggest that the value of a gap year depends almost entirely on how it is used. A student who volunteers at a hospital or learns a new language gains far more than one who simply stays at home. The key, they say, is to set clear goals before the year begins. A Personal Decision In the end, there is no single right answer. A gap year can be a life-changing experience or a missed opportunity, depending on the person. What matters most is making the choice thoughtfully, rather than following what others do.

5問合格 60%以上普通

新規登録 または ログイン が必要です

この単元の問題を3問、解説つきで公開しています

準2級プラス · 読解 · 全5問

問 1

What is a "gap year"?

  • A year off between high school and university for travel, work, or volunteering.
  • A special university course taken during summer.
  • A year in which students are not allowed to study.
  • A year spent repeating the final year of high school.
Phrase

a year off between school and university

高校と大学の間の1年

準2級プラス読解教育社会記事用語の定義
⚡ひとことで

「A year off between high school and university for travel, work, or volunteering.」を表す読解フレーズ。ギャップイヤーの定義の文脈で頻出。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「A year off between high school and university for travel, work, or volunteering.」

正解

本文 "a 'gap year' — a year off between finishing high school and starting university. During this time, young people might travel, work, or volunteer" より、定義 = 高校卒業後・大学入学前の1年で、旅・仕事・ボランティアをする。a year off = 「1年の休み」、between A and B = 「AとBの間」。

  • 「A whole year that is spent repeating the final year of high school again.」

    = 高校最終学年の留年 ━ 留年ではなく 高校と大学の間。

  • 「A special university course that is taken during the summer holiday.」

    = 夏の特別大学講座 ━ 大学講座ではない。

  • 「A whole year in which students are not allowed to study anything at all.」

    = 勉強禁止の1年 ━ 勉強禁止ではない ━ 自由に活動。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
a year off1年の休暇a year off
between A and BAとBの間between high school and university
take a gap yearギャップイヤーを取るtake a gap year
travel, work, or volunteer旅・仕事・ボランティアtravel, work, or volunteer
be common for ~ to do〜が…するのは一般的common for students to take
❝例文

  • A gap year is a year off before university.

    ギャップイヤーは大学前の1年。

  • Students may travel, work, or volunteer.

    学生は旅・仕事・ボランティアをする。

  • It is still unusual in Japan.

    日本ではまだ珍しい。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

用語定義設問の鉄則 ―― ダッシュ後の "— a year off between ..." が定義。a year off = 「(仕事・学業の)1年の休み」、between A and B は準2級プラス必須。誤答は『留年』『勉強禁止』など本文と矛盾する解釈で誘導。

問 2

According to supporters, what is one benefit of a gap year?

  • Students avoid all difficult situations.
  • Students often return more confident and independent.
  • Students never have to study at university afterward.
  • Students are guaranteed a high-paying job.
Phrase

return more confident and independent

より自信を持ち自立して戻る

準2級プラス読解教育社会記事賛成意見
⚡ひとことで

「Students often return more confident and independent.」を表す読解フレーズ。賛成派の論点の文脈で頻出。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「Students often return more confident and independent.」

正解

The Case For "Many students return more confident, more independent, and clearer about what they want to study" より、利点 = より自信を持ち自立して戻る。return + 形容詞 = 「〜な状態で戻る」、比較級 more confident/independent が成長を示す。

  • 「Students never have to study at university afterward.」

    = その後大学で勉強不要 ━ 大学進学が前提 ━ 勉強不要ではない。

  • 「Students are guaranteed a high-paying job.」

    = 高給職が保証される ━ 雇用者が評価するが保証はない。

  • 「Students avoid all difficult situations.」

    = 全ての困難を避ける ━ 本文 "deal with difficult situations" ━ 困難に対処する。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
return + 形容詞〜な状態で戻るreturn more confident
deal with ~〜に対処するdeal with difficult situations
on their own自力でon their own
discover a passion情熱を見出すdiscover a passion
value the maturity成熟を評価するvalue the maturity
❝例文

  • Students return more confident and independent.

    学生はより自信と自立を持って戻る。

  • They learn to deal with situations on their own.

    自力で状況に対処できるようになる。

  • Employers value this maturity.

    雇用者はこの成熟を評価する。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

賛成意見設問の鉄則 ―― "Supporters argue that ..." の論点を拾う。return + 形容詞 = 「〜な状態で帰る」(SVC)、deal with ~ = 「対処する」、on one's own = 「自力で」は準2級プラス必須。誤答は『困難を避ける』など本文と逆で誘導。

問 3

What risk do critics mention?

  • Universities refuse to accept gap-year students.
  • Volunteering abroad is against the law.
  • A year away from study can make returning to academic life harder.
  • Travel always makes students less mature.
Phrase

harder to return to academic life

学業復帰が難しくなる

準2級プラス読解教育社会記事反対意見
⚡ひとことで

「A year away from study can make returning to academic life harder.」を表す読解フレーズ。反対派の論点の文脈で頻出。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「A year away from study can make returning to academic life harder.」

正解

The Case Against "A year away from study can make it harder to return to academic life" より、リスク = 学業から1年離れると復帰が難しくなる。a year away from ~ = 「〜から離れた1年」、make it harder to + 動詞 = 「〜することを難しくする」。

  • 「Travelling abroad always makes students far less mature than before.」

    = 旅は常に未熟にする ━ 本文 "value the maturity" ━ 成熟を促す。

  • 「Universities always refuse to accept students who take a gap year.」

    = 大学が受入拒否 ━ 受入拒否の記述無し。

  • 「Volunteering abroad is against the law in many countries.」

    = 海外ボランティアは違法 ━ 違法の記述無し、創作。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
a year away from ~〜から離れた1年a year away from study
make it harder to + 動詞〜を難しくするmake it harder to return
academic life学業生活return to academic life
point out ~〜を指摘するcritics point out the risks
turn into ~〜に変わるturn into a year of doing very little
❝例文

  • A year away can make returning harder.

    1年離れると復帰が難しくなる。

  • Critics point out several risks.

    批判者は幾つかのリスクを指摘する。

  • Without a plan, it can turn into wasted time.

    計画がないと無駄な時間になりうる。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

反対意見設問の鉄則 ―― "Critics point out ..." の論点を拾う。make it harder to + 動詞 = 「〜を難しくする」(形式目的語 it)、turn into ~ = 「〜に変わる」は準2級プラス必須。誤答は『大学拒否』『違法』など本文にない極端な内容で誘導。

残り2問は、解いて確かめられます

全5問すべてに、この形式の解説が付いています。 間違えた問題は記録され、あとから復習できます。

無料で登録して続きを解く

インストール不要・カード登録なし・いま全機能無料

この単元の講義を見る準2級プラスの単元一覧準2級プラスの用語集