Gunma Entrance English cheat sheet

Gunma listening items are played twice: use the first pass for who/where/what, the second pass to confirm numbers, times, prices, and the final sentence, where the answer usually sits.

Question formats to expect: choosing a picture, following a route on a map, calculating a price or time, and deciding what a speaker will do next.

Numbers are typically revised once ('Two tickets... actually, three.'). Record the corrected figure, not the first one heard.

Time expressions: 'a quarter past seven' = 7:15; 'ten to seven' = 6:50; 'by 7:30' = no later than 7:30; 'in 20 minutes' = 20 minutes from now.

Money cues: 'half price', '20% off', 'two for the price of one', 'change' - compute the total and keep the unit (yen or dollars) the question asks for.

Next-action answers come from the last line of the dialogue, usually after 'I'll...', 'Let's...', or 'Could you...?'.

Reason answers sit directly after 'because', 'so', or 'That's why'; listen for that clause rather than the whole exchange.

Scan the answer choices during the pause before each item so you know whether to listen for a place, a person, a time, or a reason.

Japanese names, places, and katakana loanwords (コンビニ, パーティー) can appear in the English script; they are not unknown vocabulary.

Question order normally follows passage order; answer each question at the point in the text where it arises instead of re-reading from the top.

For 'What does it/this refer to?', check the sentence immediately before the pronoun; the answer must fit both grammar and meaning.

Main-idea and purpose questions are answered in the first or last paragraph, often after 'I think', 'I want to', or 'The important thing is'.

Contrast markers (but, however, on the other hand) flag the point the writer is arguing against or turning to; they are frequent question targets.

Cause-and-effect markers (so, because, therefore, That's why) link two events; reason questions are answered inside the because-clause.

In notices, posters, and e-mails, read the headings first, then match date, time, place, price, and deadline to the exact condition in the question.

For 'Which is NOT true?' or 'All except', test each option against a specific line and eliminate only with evidence.

An unfamiliar word is usually explained in the next sentence by a definition, an example, or a contrast; keep reading instead of stopping.

Separate event date from application deadline, and opening time from closing time, when a table or schedule is given.

Word-ordering (並べ替え) procedure: build subject + verb first, place the question word or auxiliary in front, then attach the remaining phrase at the end.

Indirect questions take statement order: 'Do you know where he lives?' / 'Can you tell me when the bus leaves?' - never 'where does he live'.

Rewriting equivalences: too ... to = so ... that ... not = not ... enough to. 'This box is too heavy for me to carry' = 'I can't carry this box because it is very heavy.'

Comparative set: as ... as (equal), not as ... as (less), than any other + singular noun (superlative meaning), the + superlative + in/of.

Present perfect: for + length of time, since + starting point; have been to = experience, have gone to = away now.

Passive = be + past participle, keeping the original tense: 'People use this room' → 'This room is used.'

Verb patterns: enjoy / finish / stop / practice + -ing; want / hope / decide + to + verb; stop -ing (quit) vs. stop to + verb (pause in order to).

Relative clauses: who for people, which for things, that for both, where for places; the clause follows the noun it describes.

Conjunctions take a full clause (when / if / because / that + subject + verb); 'because of' takes a noun instead.

When the first line of a dialogue is blank, infer it from the reply: 'Sure, here you are' answers 'May I borrow...?'; 'Not at all' answers 'Would you mind...?'.

Requests: Could/Would you + verb? = please do it; Would you mind + -ing? = please do it (refuse with 'I'm afraid...'); May/Could I + verb? = asking permission.

Offers and suggestions: Shall I ...? = I will do it for you; Shall we ...? / Why don't we ...? / How about -ing ...? = let's do it together.

Polite refusal = apology + reason + alternative: 'I'd love to, but I have a game that day. Maybe next time.'

E-mail items: read From, To, Subject, and date first; the question usually asks who should reply or what the writer wants the reader to do.

Poster/notice items: separate the event date from the deadline ('apply by'), and check eligibility (age, grade, members only).

Response matching: sympathy → 'That's too bad'; thanks → 'You're welcome'; apology → 'That's all right' / 'Don't worry'.

Keep the responder's person and tense consistent with the prompt: an invitation for next Sunday is answered with 'I'll...' or 'I can...', not a past tense.

Read the condition line twice and underline three things: the topic, the required number of reasons or details, and the minimum word count.

Opinion structure: topic sentence + because + reason + example; add a second reason with 'Also,' or 'Second,' only when two are required.

First conditional: present tense after if, will in the main clause - 'If it is sunny, we will play tennis'; never 'if it will be'.

Answer in complete sentences with a subject and verb and one final period; fragments and a bare 'because' clause without a main clause lose points.

Match tense and person to the prompt: a report on last week's event uses the past tense; a plan for next month uses will or be going to.

Write two or three words above the stated minimum, and count articles (a, the) and 'I' as words.

Use safe frames instead of translating from Japanese: 'I think ... because ...', 'For example, ...', 'I want to ... so that ...'.

Final check order: capital letters, third-person -s, plural -s, past-tense endings, spelling of because / really / friend.