Many towns in Japan have started community cafés. These cafés are usually run by local volunteers, and they are open to everyone, including children and older people. Visitors can eat cheap meals and talk with their neighbors.
There are several good points about community cafés. Children whose parents work late can have a healthy dinner and get help with their homework. Older people who live alone can make friends and feel less lonely. As a result, people in the community become closer.
However, running a community café is not easy. Many cafés depend on donations of food and money, so they sometimes cannot buy enough ingredients. Also, it is hard to find volunteers who can work regularly, and some cafés have had to close because of a lack of staff.
模範解答（50語） Community cafés run by volunteers have opened in many Japanese towns. They give children healthy meals and homework help, and they help older people feel less lonely, so communities become closer. However, they rely on donations and often lack food and regular volunteers, and some have had to close.
要約問題 第2問 （朝の読書の時間のよい点と問題点）
In recent years, more and more schools have introduced a short reading time before classes start in the morning. During this time, students read any book they like for about ten minutes.
Supporters say that this activity has clear benefits. Students who did not read much before begin to enjoy books, and they learn many new words. Teachers also report that students become calm and can concentrate better in the first class.
On the other hand, some people point out problems. Ten minutes is too short for some students to understand a story, so they lose interest. In addition, some teachers feel that this time could be used for other subjects, such as math or English, which students need for entrance exams.
模範解答（50語） Many schools now have a short reading time before morning classes. It helps students enjoy books, learn new words, and concentrate better in class. However, some people say ten minutes is too short to understand stories, and others think the time should be used for subjects needed for entrance exams.
要約問題 第3問 （シェア電動キックボードの便利な点と問題点）
Electric scooters that people can rent with a smartphone app have appeared in many large cities. Users can pick up a scooter on the street and leave it near their destination.
These scooters are convenient for short trips. People can travel a few kilometers quickly without waiting for a bus or walking a long way from the station. They also do not produce exhaust gas, so they are better for the environment than cars.
However, there are some problems. Some users ride on sidewalks or ignore traffic rules, which can cause accidents with people walking. Also, scooters left in the wrong places can block the way for wheelchairs and baby strollers, so some cities have made stricter rules.
模範解答（48語） Rental electric scooters have become common in many large cities. They are convenient for short trips and better for the environment than cars. However, some riders break traffic rules and cause accidents, and badly parked scooters block the way for wheelchairs, so some cities have made stricter rules.
TOPIC: Some people say that more companies should allow their workers to work from home. Do you agree with this opinion? POINTS: Time / Cost / Communication
模範解答（83語） I agree that more companies should allow their workers to work from home. First, it saves time. Workers do not have to spend hours on crowded trains every day, so they can use that time to rest, study, or spend time with their families. Second, it reduces costs for both workers and companies. Workers can save money on transportation, and companies do not need to rent large offices in expensive areas. Therefore, I think more companies should let their workers work from home.
英作文 第2問 （キャッシュレス決済はもっと広がるか（便利さ・安全・高齢者））
TOPIC: Today, many people use cashless payment such as credit cards and smartphones. Do you think cashless payment will become more common in the future? POINTS: Convenience / Safety / Older people
模範解答（83語） I think cashless payment will become more common in the future. First, it is very convenient. People do not need to carry coins or wait for change, so shopping becomes faster and easier, especially in busy stores. Second, it is safer than carrying a lot of cash. If people lose their smartphones, they can stop the payment service quickly, but lost cash usually does not come back to its owner. For these reasons, I believe more and more people will use cashless payment.
英作文 第3問 （外国から働く人をもっと受け入れるべきか（人手不足・文化・言葉））
TOPIC: Some people say that Japan should accept more workers from other countries. Do you agree with this opinion? POINTS: Labor shortage / Culture / Language
模範解答（83語） I agree with this opinion. First, Japan has a serious labor shortage because the number of young people in the country is decreasing year by year. Workers from other countries can help industries such as nursing care and farming that need more people to keep running. Second, accepting foreign workers can bring new ideas and cultures to Japan. Japanese people can learn different ways of thinking by working with them every day. Therefore, I think Japan should accept more workers from other countries.
英作文 第4問 （高校生はボランティアをすべきか（経験・地域・時間））
TOPIC: Some people think that high school students should do volunteer work. Do you agree with this opinion? POINTS: Experience / Community / Time
模範解答（87語） I agree that high school students should do volunteer work. First, it gives them valuable experiences that they cannot get at school. For example, by helping older people or cleaning parks, they can learn how to communicate with many kinds of people of different ages. Second, volunteer work helps local communities. Many towns do not have enough people to support events and services, so students can make a big difference by joining them on weekends. For these reasons, I think high school students should do volunteer work.
英作文 第5問 （将来、紙の本を読む人は減るか（電子書籍・値段・環境））
TOPIC: Do you think people will read fewer paper books in the future? POINTS: E-books / Price / Environment
模範解答（87語） Yes, I think people will read fewer paper books in the future. First, e-books are becoming more popular because people can carry hundreds of books on one tablet. This is very useful for people who read on trains or while traveling abroad for a long time. Second, e-books are usually cheaper than paper books, and they do not use paper, which is better for the environment because fewer trees are cut down. For these reasons, I believe the number of people who read paper books will decrease.
英作文 第6問 （学校でお金の管理を教えるべきか（将来・貯金・ネット通販））
TOPIC: Some people say that schools should teach students how to manage money. Do you agree with this opinion? POINTS: Future / Saving / Online shopping
模範解答（84語） I agree with this opinion. First, learning how to manage money is important for students' future. When they start living alone, they need to pay rent and bills, so they should know how to make a budget and plan their spending. Second, many young people now shop online, and it is easy to spend too much money. If schools teach them how to save and use money wisely, they can avoid serious problems such as debt. Therefore, I think schools should teach money management.