Section 1: School Clean-up as a Daily Practice

A visiting educator observes a Japanese junior high school for one week. Each afternoon, classes pause and students move to assigned areas with brooms and mops. The visitor notices that this routine is treated as ordinary, not exceptional. Based on this situation, answer the following questions.

The daily cleaning routine practiced in Japanese schools is called (1)回答を選択BichikenBukatsuHanseiShukudai.

Although the practice is not nationally mandated, it is carried out in (2)回答を選択a limited number of private schoolsevery school across Japanonly elementary schoolsonly public schools in large cities.

A foreign teacher is surprised to see students cleaning toilets. According to the passage, which reaction best describes how such teachers usually respond after the initial shock? (3)回答を選択They demand that janitors replace students.They recognize the inherent benefits of the activities.They refuse to participate in cleaning time.They report the practice as inappropriate.

A principal argues that assigning cleaning duties encourages cooperation among classmates and a sense of belonging. The quality most directly related to working together during cleaning time is (4)回答を選択avoiding responsibilitycompeting for gradespracticing teamworkreducing study hours.

Students are expected to take care of the areas they use; this expectation reflects the idea that they should be (5).

Section 2: Comparison with Western Countries

Consider a comparison between schools in Japan and those in many Western countries. In one Western school, cleaning is handled after classes end, and students view such tasks negatively, especially when they are linked to discipline. In another country outside Japan, graffiti has become a financial burden on schools. Answer the following questions.

In many Western countries, the cleaning and maintenance of schools are mainly handled by (6)回答を選択local government officialsparents on a volunteer basisschool janitors or contracted cleaning staffstudents and teachers together.

In some Western schools, cleaning tasks may be assigned as a response to students' breaking school rules. In this case, cleaning is regarded as (7)回答を選択celebratoryoptionalpunitiverewarding.

A city reports high repair costs due to graffiti and vandalism at schools. According to the passage, these problems often result in (8)回答を選択higher teacher salariesincreased student enrollmentlonger school vacationssubstantial amounts of money in repairs.

When graffiti and vandalism are widespread, they create the perception that the learning environment is (9)回答を選択academically advancedfinancially independenthighly competitiveunsafe for students.

Answer each of the following statements with “◯” or “✗”.

1. In Japan, the practice of school cleaning is required by national law. (10)回答を選択◯✗
2. In many Western countries, students commonly take primary responsibility for cleaning their classrooms every day. (11)回答を選択◯✗
3. According to the passage, respecting one’s environment is presented as a beneficial quality for students of any nationality. (12)回答を選択◯✗
4. The passage suggests that graffiti and vandalism can influence how safe a school appears to be. (13)回答を選択◯✗