一橋大学の自由英作文問題　　［過去問］

★ 2008 一橋大学 前期

Write 120 to 150 words of English about one of the topics below. Indicate the number of the topic you have chosen. Also, indicate the number of words you have written at the end of the composition.

1. Japanese people need longer vacations.
2. The low birth rate is not really a problem for Japan.
3. The power of words.

★ 2008 一橋大学 後期

Write 120 to 150 words of English about one of the topics below. Indicate the number of the topic you have chosen. Also, indicate the number of words you have written at the end of the composition.

1. The exploration of space is a waste of money.
2. What would you do if you were the Prime Minister?
3. The main purpose of education is to get a job.

★ 2007 一橋大学 前期

Write 120-150 words of English about one of the topics below. Indicate the number of the topic you have chosen. Also, indicate the number of words you have written at the end of the composition.

1. Japan is not a democratic society.
2. Christmas should not be celebrated in Japan.
3. The school year in Japan should start in September.

★ 2007 一橋大学 後期

以下の英文を読み，(1)フェアトレードマークの理念とはなにか，また(2)フェアトレードマークを商品につける資格とはなにか，それぞれ30語以内の英語にまとめて述べなさい。

The principle of Fairtrade labelling, which started in the Netherlands in 1988, is quite simple. Farmers, generally small-scale co-operatives in developing countries, are guaranteed a price above the world market price, making them richer and protecting them from big swings in global commodity prices. In coffee, for example, the grower of any higher-quality coffee beans is guaranteed whichever is the higher of $1.26 per pound or five cents above the world market price, which is currently about $1 per pound. Co-operatives are also paid a variable “social premium” to be spent collectively on projects of common benefit.

Prices are set and permission to use the Fairtrade mark granted by the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO), a Berlin-based non-profit association, and its national branches, of which the Fairtrade Foundation is the British one. To become qualified as Fairtrade, which costs a small fee, a co-operative has to convince inspectors contracted to FLO that it meets basic environmental and labour standards and is able to decide collectively on what to spend the social premium on. Later on in the production chain, the wholesaler pays Fairtrade an extra 2 per cent of the product’s value, which pays for FLO’s 100 or so staff and running costs.

★ 2007 一橋大学 後期

Write 120 to 150 words of English about one of the topics below. Indicate the number of the topic you have chosen. Also, indicate the number of words you have written at the end of the composition.

1. The concept of world peace is totally unrealistic.
2. The effects of mobile technology on my life now and in the future.
3. The place I most want to visit.

★ 2006 一橋大学 前期

Write 120-150 words of English about one of the topics following. Indicate the number of the topic you have chosen. Also, indicate the number of words you have written at the end of the composition.

1. What would you do with 100,000,000 yen?
2. Japan should open its doors to foreign workers.
3. The age of adulthood in Japan should be 18, as in many other countries.

★ 2006 一橋大学 後期

Write 130-150 words of English about one of the topics following. Indicate the number of the topic you have chosen. Also, indicate the number of words you have written at the end of the composition.

1. Being feared is more important than being respected.
2. Religion has no place in modern society.
3. University education is useless in today’s world.

★ 2005 一橋大学 前期

Choose one of the following topics and write not more than 150 words of English about it. Indicate the number of the topic you are going to write about.

1. Being respected is not important to me.
2. Multiculturalism is important in today’s world.
3. A woman should be chosen as the next prime minister of Japan.

★ 2005 一橋大学 後期

Choose one of the following topics and write not more than 150 words of English about it. Indicate the number of the topic you are going to write about.

1. Humankind should return to nature.
2. High school education should be more practical.

★ 2004 一橋大学 前期

Choose one of the following topics and write at least 100 words of English about it. Indicate the number of the topic you are going to write about.

1. It is better to marry late rather than early.
2. Men and women should have equal roles in the home and in the workplace.
3. Modern society should value tradition more.

★ 2004 一橋大学 後期

以下の手紙文の空所(1)～(3)を埋めるのに最も適切な内容を英語で書け。

Dear Barbara

How are you and Tom? It seems ages since we saw you. I hope your job ₍₁₎　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　. David and I are both fine, and Lizzie is getting on well at her new school.

I’m writing now because I’m coming to Oxford next Tuesday for a meeting, and I

wondered ₍₂₎　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　afterwards. Another possibility is that I could ₍₃₎　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　. The meeting should be over by 5:30 at the latest.

Let me know what suits you. It would be lovely to see you if you have time.

Love from

Rachel

★ 2004 一橋大学 後期

Choose one question below and write an essay of at least 100 words of English which gives an explanation of the cultural problem. Indicate the number of the question you are going to write about.

Question One:

At a party in California, John met a new Japanese student, Tadashi. They talked about their families, trips they had taken, and their life as college students. John figured out that Tadashi’s family was quite well-to-do: according to Tadashi, each of his four brothers and sisters had gone to an American or European college for a year or so; Tadashi also said he was living in an apartment that John knew was in the most exclusive part of town. Tadashi sounded like an interesting person, and John wanted to become friends with him. John was uncertain, however, because he suspected that Tadashi was lying about his family and his life since Tadashi never looked into John’s eyes as he talked.

Is John’s suspicion correct?

Question Two:

Becky is a student at a Japanese university. She always tries to be friendly and courteous. She is also very careful about her language usage: when she talks to older people or strangers, she uses “formal” style speech; she uses the “informal” style when she talks to other college students and to her host family members. However, her closest Japanese friend keeps telling her that she should use the formal style when addressing senpai of the club she belongs to, too. Becky doesn’t understand why-they are only one or two years older than she is. They are students too, and some of them are her friends! Becky is beginning to wonder if she can trust her best friend’s advice.

What do you think Becky should do?

★ 2003 一橋大学 前期

Choose one of the following topics and write at least 100 words of English about it. Indicate the number of the topic you are going to write about.

1. Nuclear war is winnable.
2. Divorce should never be accepted to end a marriage.
3. Experience is more valuable in life than education.

★ 2003 一橋大学 後期

以下の英文中の空所(1)～(3)を埋めるのに最も適当な内容をそれぞれ6語以上の英語で書け。(短縮形を用いてもかまわないが，その場合は一つの短縮形を1語として数える。)

“Your face is so small!” This is something I hear at least once a month in Japan ― and never heard once in the United States. The first time I was told this, within a few days of arriving in Japan, I was rather shocked, and wondered if ₍₁₎                                   . Was I a monster and had never realized it? Since then, I understand that it’s meant in praise, but ₍₂₎                                                   . “Yes, it is”?, “Thank you”?, “No, it’s not!”?, “So’s yours!”? For lack of a better reply, I usually just say, “Yes, people often tell me that.”

People frequently compliment others on things they themselves value. These types of comparisons also can vary from culture to culture.

For example, another compliment I hear a lot in Japan, but never in the United States, is that I look like a French doll. (Actually, I’m told that this is a compliment more often given to foreign children than adults.) More Japanese people have French dolls that they display in glass cases than Americans do ― so the association is more likely to come to mind. I realized this compliment was indeed a compliment immediately, but I still was a bit surprised to hear it at first ― and to tell the truth I’d rather be compared to a supermodel than a doll, but hey, I’ll take what I can get. I mostly respond with the useful Japanese nonverbal communication of smiling while waving my hand in front of me to suggest that I’m happy that they think so but that ₍₃₎　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　.

★ 2003 一橋大学 後期

Choose one topic below and write an essay of at least 100 words of English about it. Indicate the number of the topic you are going to write about.

1. Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Explain how and why.
2. English should be made an official language in Japan.
3. It is time for society to accept euthanasia*. (注 euthanasia：安楽死)

★ 2002 一橋大学 前期

Choose one of the following topics and write at least 100 words of English about it. Indicate the number of the topic you are going to write about.

1. Old people should live with their families.
2. Who is the person you admire most (living or dead)?

★ 2001 一橋大学 前期

Choose one of the following topics and write at least 100 words of English about it.

1. How would you feel if you had another person’s organ inside you as a result of an organ transplant?
2. The death penalty should never be used.
3. People live longer now, so the normal retirement age should be raised to 70.

★ 2001 一橋大学 後期

"Cohabitation: The Marriage Enemy"と題された次の英文の空所を埋めるのに最も適切な文章を60語以内の英語で書け。

    （ 長文 省略 ）

★ 2001 一橋大学 後期

Choose one topic below and write an essay of at least 100 words of English about the topic.

1. How can learning another language help you in the future?
2. Should Japan become a nuclear power?
3. If you became famous, what would you do with your fame?

★ 2000 一橋大学 前期

Which subject do you think is the most useful for your future, literature, history or philosophy? Choose one and write an essay of at least 100 English words.

★ 2000 一橋大学 後期

Choose one of the following topics and write an argument either FOR it or AGAINST it in about 100 words of English.

1. Cigarette advertising should be completely prohibited.
2. Ordinary people should no longer own cars today.