2021年度入試

記述問題（英語）
Read the passage and answer the questions.
次の英⽂を読んで，下の設問に答えなさい。

1.

Why do some individuals achieve more than others of equal intelligence? In addition

to mental ability, a list of characteristics of high-achieving individuals would likely include
creativity, energy, emotional intelligence, charisma, self-confidence, physical attractiveness,and other positive qualities. Some characteristics seem more crucial than others forparticular vocations. Being lively and sociable may be necessary for a career in sales, forinstance, but unimportant for a career in creative writing. However, some qualities might beimportant for success no matter the area. We suggest that one personal quality is shared by
the most well-known leaders in every field: grit.
2.

We define grit as the quality of having passion for a particular long-term goal andcontinuing to try to achieve the goal despite difficulties. Grit involves putting a lot of energy
into difficult tasks and maintaining effort and interest over years despite failure, difficult or
unlucky situations, and periods during which there are no big improvements. The gritty
individual approaches achievement as a marathon; his or her advantage is stamina.
Whereas many give up and change their goals when they are disappointed or bored, thegritty individual stays the course.
3.

Our idea that grit is essential to high achievement developed during interviews withprofessionals in investment banking, painting, journalism, higher education, medicine, andlaw. Many people who were interviewed were impressed by the achievements of colleagues
who did not at first seem as talented as others but worked hard, giving their time and energy
to achieve their goals. In the same way, many were surprised that highly talented colleagues
did not end up in the top positions.
4.

More than 100 years before our work on grit, Galton (1892) collected information on

the lives of famous judges, politicians, scientists, poets, musicians, painters, wrestlers, andothers. Ability alone, he concluded, did not bring about success in any field. Rather, hebelieved high achievers to have three important qualities: ability, strong interest, and physicalor mental power to work hard (p. 33).

12021年度入試5.

Looking closely at the lives of Darwin, Einstein, and other highly intelligent or skilled

people, Howe (1999) believed that high achievement is not a direct result of very high mentalability. Putting effort continuously into the task despite difficulties is at least as important as
intelligence (p. 15). Similarly, from a large collection of research in chess, sports, music, andthe visual arts, Ericsson and Charness (1994) pointed out that expert performers had over
10 years of daily “practice”, but those who were less skilled in their fields did not. In addition,
performers who had 20 years of practice could reach top-class level.
6.

The gritty individual not only finishes immediate tasks, but also follows a given aim

over years. Grit is also different from self-control which may apply to short-term goals. An
individual high in self-control but average in grit may, for example, effectively control his or
her temper, stick to his or her diet, and try to stop himself or herself from surfing the Internet
at work—yet he or she may switch careers annually. As Galton (1892) suggested, continuous
commitment to a specific type of work (or hobby) does not come from control of short-term
desires.
7.

Grit also is different from need for achievement. The need for achievement isdescribed by McClelland (1961) as a push to complete goals that are easy to achieve andallow for immediate feedback on performance. Whereas individuals high in need forachievement go after goals that are neither too easy nor too hard, individuals high in gritdeliberately set for themselves long-term objectives and do not stop trying to achieve them—even when they do not receive positive feedback.
Adapted from:
Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: Perseverance andpassion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087–
1101. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087

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2021年度入試

Answer all four sections. All answers should be written on the designated parts ofthe answer booklet.
4 つのセクションすべてに解答しなさい。
各問題の解答は，それぞれ指定された解答⽤紙に記⼊すること。

SECTION 1: True/False questions
Read the sentence and circle the correct answer.
Example:There are seven paragraphs in the passage.
TRUE/

FALSE

1) The main idea in this whole passage is about the meaning of intelligence.
TRUE/

FALSE

2) A writer must be lively and sociable to be successful in their career. (Paragraph 1)
TRUE/

FALSE

3) The interviews show that less talented workers can do well if they work hard to achieve
their goals. (Paragraph 3)
TRUE/

FALSE

4) A person with good self-control will certainly have high grit. (Paragraph 6)
TRUE/

FALSE

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5) If a person changes his or her career every year, it likely shows that the person does nothave a high level of grit. (Paragraph 6)
TRUE/

FALSE

6) Individuals high in grit like to set goals that are easy to achieve. (Paragraph 7)
TRUE

/

FALSE

7) Many who were interviewed at first assumed that their highly talented colleagues would bein top positions. (Paragraph 3)
TRUE

/

FALSE

8) The authors of this passage used interview results and research to support their ideas.
(whole passage)
TRUE/

FALSE

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2021年度入試

SECTION 2: Multiple-choice questions
Read the question and circle the correct answer.
9) In Paragraph 1, it is written ‘some qualities might be important for success no matter thearea’. What is an example of these qualities?
1. Physical attractiveness2. Grit
3. Being sociable
4. All of the above10) Which of the following sentences does NOT describe grit? (Paragraph 2)
1. A gritty person gives up when there are no big improvements.
2. A gritty person keeps trying to achieve the goal even when there are difficulties.
3. A gritty person can be interested in achieving a goal over many years.
4. A gritty person has good stamina to achieve a goal.
11) Why did Galton believe that ability alone did not bring about success? (Paragraph 4)
1. Because he studied grit for more than 100 years
2. Because he had many friends who were high achievers
3. Because he studied the lives of people such as famous judges, politicians and scientists
4. Because he believed that physical or mental power to work hard is most important
12) Which of the actions below does NOT show good self-control? (Paragraph 6)
1. Keeping to the same diet for a period of time
2. Using the Internet for fun during working hours
3. Controlling one’s temper
4. All of the above52021年度入試

13) Which of the words below has the closest meaning to ‘vocation’? (Paragraph 1)
1. Success2. Quality
3. Leader
4. Career14) What is the main idea of Paragraph 5?
1. Effort is important for high achievement.
2. Practice does not affect the level of achievement.
3. Intelligence has nothing to do with achievement at all.
4. Only scientists and performers can have high achievement.
15) Choose the best answer for the blank. In the passage, the authors point out that the gritty
individual is like someone who _____________________.
1. has a career in sales
2. does not give up running in a marathon
3. is a professional
4. can control short-term desires

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SECTION 3: Summary question
Read the question and write your answer in English.
16) Write a summary, explaining what grit is and how it is related to success/high achievement
based on the passage. Write your answer on the answer booklet.
Important note: You may use some key words from the passage in your answer, but do NOT
copy sentences from the passage. Points will not be given for copied sentences.

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SECTION 4: Short response question
Read the question and write your answer in English.
17) Do you agree with the authors’ opinion that grit is essential for success? Support youropinion with examples. It is recommended that you give examples of people you studied orlearnt from the news. Use your examples to explain how grit is or is not essential for success.
Your answer should be about 150 words (+/- 50 words). Write your answer on the answer
booklet.

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