EigoPro 準2級プラス 読解 — Could Working Less Mean Doing More?

Could Working Less Mean Doing More? For over a century, the five-day work week has been the normal pattern in most countries. But recently, companies in several nations have begun testing a surprising idea: a four-day week, with no cut in pay. The early results have caught the attention of business leaders everywhere. The Experiment In one large study, dozens of companies gave their staff a three-day weekend for several months. The rule was simple: work 80 percent of the usual hours, but produce 100 percent of the usual results. To everyone's surprise, most companies found that this actually worked. Employees, knowing they had less time, wasted fewer hours in long meetings and focused harder on important tasks. The Benefits The reported benefits were striking. Workers said they felt less stressed and had more time for family, exercise, and rest. Many returned on Monday with more energy and fresh ideas. Companies also noticed that fewer employees quit their jobs, which saved the cost of hiring and training new staff. Some even reported higher profits. Not for Everyone Still, the four-day week is not a perfect fit for every job. Hospitals, shops, and emergency services must stay open seven days a week, so the idea is harder to apply there. Critics also warn that squeezing five days of work into four can leave some employees feeling more tired, not less. A Changing World Despite these concerns, interest continues to grow. Supporters argue that the way we work has barely changed in a hundred years, even though technology has transformed almost everything else. Whether or not the four-day week becomes common, it has already started an important conversation about how we balance work and life.

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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 surprising idea are some companies testing?

  • A four-day work week with no cut in pay.
  • Cutting workers' pay by twenty percent.
  • A six-day work week with higher pay.
  • Working from home every single day.
Phrase

four-day week with no cut in pay

減給なしの週4日勤務

準2級プラス読解社会経済記事新しい試み
⚡ひとことで

「A four-day work week with no cut in pay.」を表す読解フレーズ。新しい働き方の文脈で頻出。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「A four-day work week with no cut in pay.」

正解

本文 "companies ... have begun testing a surprising idea: a four-day week, with no cut in pay" より、試み = 減給なしの週4日勤務。with no cut in ~ = 「〜を削減せずに」、コロン後が具体的な内容。

  • 「A six-day work week with higher pay.」

    = 高給の週6日勤務 ━ 週4日 ━ 週6日ではない。

  • 「Working from home every single day.」

    = 毎日在宅勤務 ━ 在宅勤務の話ではない。

  • 「Cutting workers' pay by twenty percent.」

    = 賃金を20%削減 ━ "no cut in pay" と矛盾。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
with no cut in ~〜を削減せずにwith no cut in pay
test an idea案を試すtesting a surprising idea
for over a century1世紀以上for over a century
catch one's attention注目を集めるcaught the attention
a three-day weekend3連休a three-day weekend
❝例文

  • They are testing a four

    day week. — 週4日勤務を試している。

  • There is no cut in pay.

    減給はない。

  • This has caught the attention of leaders.

    これが指導者の注目を集めた。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

新しい試み設問の鉄則 ―― コロン "a surprising idea: ..." の後が具体的内容。with no cut in ~ = 「〜を減らさずに」は準2級プラス必須。誤答は『週6日』『20%減給』など数字や方向を変えて誘導 ━ 80%労働で100%成果の数字も狙われやすい。

問 2

What was the rule in the large study?

  • Take a three-month holiday with no work.
  • Work twice as many hours for the same pay.
  • Work 80 percent of the usual hours but produce 100 percent of the results.
  • Produce only 80 percent of the usual results.
Phrase

80% hours, 100% results

労働8割で成果10割

準2級プラス読解社会経済記事実験のルール
⚡ひとことで

「Work 80 percent of the usual hours but produce 100 percent of the results.」を表す読解フレーズ。実験条件の文脈で頻出。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「Work 80 percent of the usual hours but produce 100 percent of the results.」

正解

The Experiment "work 80 percent of the usual hours, but produce 100 percent of the usual results" より、ルール = 通常の8割の時間で10割の成果を出す。X percent of ~ = 「〜の何％」、but が対比 (時間減・成果維持)。

  • 「Work twice as many hours in every week for exactly the same pay.」

    = 同給で2倍働く ━ 時間は 減らす ━ 増やすではない。

  • 「Produce only 80 percent of the usual results in the same hours.」

    = 成果は8割だけ ━ 成果は 100% ━ 8割ではない。

  • 「Take a three-month long holiday with no work and no pay at all.」

    = 3ヶ月無労働の休暇 ━ 数ヶ月の実験期間であり休暇ではない。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
X percent of ~〜のX%80 percent of the usual hours
produce results成果を出すproduce 100 percent of the results
to everyone's surprise皆の驚きにTo everyone's surprise
waste fewer hours無駄な時間を減らすwasted fewer hours
focus harder on ~〜により集中するfocused harder on important tasks
❝例文

  • Work 80% of the hours, produce 100% of results.

    8割の時間で10割の成果を。

  • To everyone's surprise, it worked.

    皆の驚きに、うまくいった。

  • Employees focused harder on key tasks.

    社員は重要業務により集中した。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

条件設問の鉄則 ―― "80 percent of hours, but 100 percent of results" の 2つの数字の対比 を正確に。X percent of ~、to everyone's surprise = 「皆の驚いたことに」は準2級プラス必須。誤答は数字を入れ替え (成果80%等) して誘導。

問 3

Why did the four-day week often work, according to the passage?

  • Employees wasted fewer hours and focused harder on important tasks.
  • Companies hired many more new workers.
  • Employees worked secretly on their day off.
  • Employees spent longer in meetings.
Phrase

wasted fewer hours, focused harder

無駄を減らし集中

準2級プラス読解社会経済記事成功の理由
⚡ひとことで

「Employees wasted fewer hours and focused harder on important tasks.」を表す読解フレーズ。なぜ機能したかの文脈で頻出。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「Employees wasted fewer hours and focused harder on important tasks.」

正解

The Experiment "Employees, knowing they had less time, wasted fewer hours in long meetings and focused harder on important tasks" より、機能した理由 = 時間が少ないと知り無駄を減らし集中した。knowing ~ (分詞構文) = 「〜と知って」、fewer/harder が比較級。

  • 「Employees secretly kept on working on their extra day off.」

    = 休日にこっそり働いた ━ 隠れ労働の記述無し。

  • 「Companies simply hired many more new workers to help out.」

    = 新人を大量採用 ━ むしろ離職が減った ━ 逆。

  • 「Employees spent a great deal longer in meetings each week.」

    = 会議に長居した ━ "fewer hours in long meetings" ━ 会議短縮。

▦Collocation
パターン意味例
knowing ~〜と知ってknowing they had less time
waste fewer hours無駄な時間を減らすwasted fewer hours
focus harder on ~〜により集中するfocused harder on tasks
less timeより少ない時間they had less time
long meetings長い会議long meetings
❝例文

  • Knowing they had less time, they focused harder.

    時間が少ないと知り、より集中した。

  • They wasted fewer hours in meetings.

    会議での無駄を減らした。

  • Most companies found it actually worked.

    多くの企業で実際に機能した。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

理由設問の鉄則 ―― "Employees, knowing they had less time, wasted fewer hours and focused harder" の 分詞構文 knowing が理由。比較級 fewer/harder は準2級プラス必須。誤答は『隠れ労働』『会議長居』など本文と逆で誘導。

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