以下の英文[Ｉ]は二人の友人による対話で、英文[Ⅱ]はその要約である。英文[Ｉ]と内容が合致するように、英文[Ⅱ]の空欄 ( 1 )～( 12 )に入るもっとも適切な語を下の枠の中からそれぞれ１つずつ選びなさい。
[Ｉ]
Sachie(S): Tatsuya, great to see you again! How have you been?
Tatsuya(T): Fine, thanks. I have been keeping busy as usual. The shop seems to be doing reasonably well, despite the overall state of the economy. How have you been? Are you still working at the library?
S: No, I have changed jobs. I am now at a home for the elderly. The hours are long and the pay is not great, but it is rewarding work. So, I am happy. But I am a little concerned about the upcoming rise in consumption tax the government has passed.
T: How come?
S: Well, workers in old people’s homes are not very well paid. It will affect me quite badly. I assume that you are also quite worried about the effect it will have on your business.
T: Not really. I think it is inevitable that taxes will have to rise inJapan, and raising consumption tax is probably the best way to do it in my view. I am more worried about a financial crisis like the one they have had inGreece than having to raise the prices of my goods a little.
S: But a consumption tax rise will surely reduce your sales, and maybe even bankrupt the business. Another friend of mine is really worried about this.
T: It’s a possibility. But I am not losing any sleep over it at the moment.
S: That’s good to hear. There have been so many people going through tough times after the earthquake on 11 March 2011. The people in the disaster areas certainly need a lot of financial assistance in the coming years. But I also think we should not forget other pressing issues. As I see at work every day, someone has to pay for the increasing costs of care of the elderly.
T: Yes, and there is also the problem ofJapan’s national debt. We cannot continue generating debt for future generations to pay off. In my view, we have to start reducing the debt right now.
S: I agree with you there. So, what’s the best way to do it? I think we should raise income tax for the wealthiest people in society. They earn most, so they should pay most. The problem with consumption tax is that people on low wages have to pay the same rate as people with high wages. That really hurts them financially.
T: I agree with the basic principle of taxing the rich, but income tax is not the right way to do it. The tax system must give incentives to people to work hard. I believe in low income tax to reward business people and entrepreneurs. One possibility is to raise consumption tax on luxury goods, for example expensive watches and alcohol. But there might be other better alternatives, too.
S: Yes, I am sure this debate will continue inJapan over the coming years.
[Ⅱ]
This is a conversation between two people about the rise in consumption tax inJapan. Sachie is a care worker in a home for the elderly. She ( 1 ) raising consumption tax. Tatsuya runs his own small business. He is in ( 2 ) of the consumption tax rise.
They consider how the tax changes will affect their places of work. Changes in the consumption tax rate will reduce sales at Tatsuya’s shop, and may even ( 3 ) him out of business. Sachie says that the increasing costs of caring forJapan’s aging population have to be paid for ( 4 ).
Ultimately, they both agree that ( 5 ) must be done by the government to raise money for reconstruction after the 11 March earthquake. The tax increase is also essential ( 6 ) the size ofJapan’s national debt. Leaving ( 7 ) a burden to future generations is irresponsible, they think. It is not a question of ( 8 ) to raise taxes, but how.
Sachie proposes an income tax rise for the wealthiest people in society. This would ( 9 ) the poor less, she argues. While Tatsuya is not ( 10 ) the principle of taxing the rich, he believes strong incentives are needed to encourage entrepreneurs. Instead, he says that consumption tax ( 11 ) be raised on luxury goods ( 12 ) expensive watches. 【682 words ※（カッコ）に入る語を含む】
【枠内の語】
(A) make (B) somehow (C) for (D) favor (E) whether (F) given (G) proposes (H) must (I) as (J) some (K) which (L) could (M) such (N) reduction (O) something (P) supports (Q) help (R) like (S) against (T) someone (U) opposes (V) kind (W) put (X) harm
※この問題文については５つのパートに分けて月曜日と金曜日に解説して參ります。
パート 1： Sachie(S): Tatsuya, great to see you again! ～
パート 2： T: Not really. I think it is inevitable ～
パート 3： S: I agree with you there. ～
パート 4： This is a conversation between two people ～
パート 5： Ultimately, they both agree that ～
