Modern Japanese: Practical Texts (Common Test Preparation)

Hello everyone! When you hear the term "practical texts," what comes to mind? You might think, "That sounds difficult...", but actually, these are the things we see most often in our daily lives. For example, smartphone contracts, event flyers, club activity guidelines, and news articles that use graphs all fall into this category.

In the Common Test, your "ability to accurately locate and understand necessary information" is put to the test. The reading method is a little different from reading novels or analytical essays, but once you grasp the tips, it’s a section where you can easily rack up points. Let's look at the strategy together!

1. What are "Practical Texts"?

Practical texts are texts written to achieve a specific purpose. Rather than savoring the writer's emotions, it is important to quickly grasp "what is written (the information)."

Common Types of Texts
  • Official Documents: Terms of service, reports, guidelines, etc.
  • Publicity/Advertising: Posters, pamphlets, website introductions.
  • Data Materials: Graphs, tables, survey results.
  • Communication Records: Emails, chats, meeting minutes.

【Pro Tip】
For practical texts, the golden rule is to first identify "who," "to whom," and "for what purpose" the text was written! Just by understanding this, the content becomes much easier to grasp.

2. Three Major Reading Techniques

If you try to read every single word carefully from start to finish, you will run out of time. Here are three tips for reading efficiently.

① Read the Questions First

For practical texts, it is most efficient to know "what you should be looking for" before you start reading. Look at the questions and narrow your target, thinking, "Oh, it's asking about a date," or "I need to find the discount conditions."

② Pay Attention to Form (Layout)

Important information is located in noticeable places. Prioritize checking the following:
・Titles/Headings: You can understand what the text is about at a glance.
・Bullet Points: Important rules and conditions are summarized here.
・Notes (marked with ※): Exception rules, such as "However," or "Limited to," which are common trick points, are often written here.

③ Mark Keywords

While reading, circle or underline words that represent numbers or specific conditions, such as "deadlines," "eligibility," "prohibitions," or "costs."

【Trivia】
Reading "practical texts" is like a treasure hunt. Try to approach it with the feeling that you have a map (the questions) and are going to find the treasure (the correct information).

3. Strategy for Charts and Graphs

Many of you might get a headache when numbers or graphs appear. But don't worry, you don't need difficult math calculations. The points you need to look at are predetermined.

Three Items to Check in Graphs
  1. Title and Units: Check "what it represents" and "is it in %, or number of people?"
  2. Max/Min/Changes: Focus on extreme movements, such as "Which is the highest?" or "Where did it suddenly increase?"
  3. Notes: The small text at the bottom of the graph often hides hints to the answer.

【Common Mistake】
Choosing answers based on your own "common sense" or "assumptions" is a big no-no! Make sure to select answers based solely on "the facts written in the material."

4. Combining Multiple Materials (Application)

The most difficult part of the Common Test is the pattern where you must think by combining "Text A" and "Chart B."

Steps for Solving

1. First, grasp the main point of "Text A."
2. Next, think about which part of Text A is being supplemented by "Chart B."
3. Distinguish what is common to both and what is written in only one of them.

Example: If Text A says "Energy-saving awareness is increasing recently" and Chart B shows "Trends in air conditioner sales," look for the connection between them.

【Key Point Summary】
Cross-referencing information will determine your success. Go back and forth between A and B multiple times to find the commonalities!

5. Finally: "Secret Tricks" for the Exam

"You might feel it's difficult at first, but it's okay!"
Keep the following checklist in mind:

  • Be careful with strong words like "only," "must," or "all" (these are often used in incorrect options).
  • Pay attention to "conjunctions" in the text (however, in other words, therefore) to grasp the logical flow.
  • Do not spend too much time on a question you don't understand. In practical texts, "the answer is somewhere if you look for it," so if you stay calm and look back, you'll be fine.
Summary: Things you can start today

Look at posters at the station, handouts from school, or the back of a snack package and try practicing by asking, "Where are the important points here?" That practice is exactly what you need for the Common Test!

Let's build your skills one step at a time, steadily. I'm rooting for you!