JLPT Reading: Hunt the Author's True Voice 🕵️‍♂️

At the N1/N2 level, many learners face a common problem in the Reading Comprehension (読解) section: you read the passage and feel like multiple answers are correct because their information is mentioned in the text. This is when you need a more advanced skill: distinguishing between quoted/objective information and the author's actual opinion (筆者の考え).

The test is designed to 'trap' you with answers that are factually correct according to the passage but are not what the author wants to emphasize.

The Common Trap 🎯

A reading passage often follows this structure:

1. State a general truth or a common belief (e.g., 「一般的には〜と言われている」- It is generally said that...).
2. Quote another expert's opinion (e.g., 「ある学者は〜と主張する」- A certain scholar claims that...).
3. However (しかし)... this is where the author truly speaks their mind.

Many students read parts 1 and 2, see information that matches answers A or B, and choose them immediately. This is a fatal mistake!

The 'Signal Hunting' Skill 🔎

To accurately find the author's opinion, become a detective and 'hunt' for the following linguistic cues. The answer to the question 「筆者の考えに最も合うものを選びなさい」 (Choose the one that best matches the author's opinion) is usually found right after them:

• Contradictory Conjunctions: These are 'golden' signals!

  • しかし (however)
  • だが (but)
  • ところが (and yet, however)
  • むしろ (rather, instead)

• Strong Opinion Phrases:

  • 〜に違いない (it must be)
  • 〜はずだ (it should be, I expect that)
  • 〜のではないだろうか (isn't it the case that...?)
  • 〜と言えるだろう (it can probably be said that)
  • 〜べきだ (should)

• Emphasizing and Concluding Phrases:

  • 重要なのは〜 (What's important is...)
  • 〜と言っても過言ではない (It is no exaggeration to say...)
  • つまり / 要するに (in short, in other words)

Application Strategy:

When you encounter a question about the author's opinion, don't immediately dive into the details. Skim the entire passage to locate and circle these signal words. The main idea you're looking for is almost certainly in the sentences containing these words/phrases.

By practicing this skill, you'll no longer get lost in the 'maze' of information and will be able to choose your answers with confidence and precision. Good luck with your studies! 💪