Station Conversation: Listening for Constraint and Timing
The listening section plays a conversation at Miyazaki Station. A visitor asks how to reach Miyazaki Jingu by 16:00. The attendant says buses leave from the east exit every 20 minutes, the fare is 310 yen, the ride takes about 25 minutes, and the last bus is at 18:40. Today, however, the 15:20 bus is cancelled because of roadwork. The attendant suggests either the train to Miyazaki Jingu Station-trains at 15:12 and 15:32, 12 minutes, 240 yen, then a 10-minute walk-or the 15:40 bus, which may be delayed by 15 minutes. The visitor carries a heavy bag, looks at the clock (15:05), and says, 'I have a meeting at the shrine office at 16:00, and I cannot be late.' The examiner asks which option the visitor will most likely choose and why.
1. Which option is most reasonable: wait for the 15:40 bus, take the 15:12 train, or take the 15:32 train? Use the times and constraints. Explain.
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The 15:12 train is most reasonable. The visitor is at the station at 15:05 and must be at the shrine office by 16:00. The 15:12 train takes 12 minutes, arriving at 15:24; the 10-minute walk puts the visitor at the shrine at about 15:34, leaving 26 minutes to spare. The 15:32 train arrives at 15:44 and, after the walk, reaches the shrine at about 15:54-only 6 minutes of buffer, which is risky with a heavy bag and an unfamiliar route. The 15:40 bus is worse: if it is delayed 15 minutes, it leaves at 15:55 and, with a 25-minute ride, arrives at 16:20, missing the meeting. Waiting for the 15:40 bus also depends on an uncertain delay. The train at 15:12 is the only option with a comfortable margin.
2. What is the function of the visitor's sentence 'I cannot be late' in the conversation? How does it affect the attendant's suggestion?
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The sentence states a hard constraint, not a preference. It tells the attendant that punctuality matters more than fare, comfort, or convenience. In the conversation, it functions as a cue for the listener to rule out options with little buffer. The attendant first mentions the bus, but after hearing the constraint, the attendant offers the train-a faster option with a predictable 12-minute ride and a 10-minute walk. The sentence also explains why the visitor rejects the 15:40 bus despite its lower effort: a possible 15-minute delay could make arrival too late. In listening questions, such constraint statements often signal the key reason for a decision.
3. If the 15:40 bus is delayed 15 minutes, what is the latest arrival time at the shrine, and does it meet the 16:00 deadline? Show calculation.
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Scheduled departure: 15:40. Delay: 15 minutes, so actual departure = 15:40 + 0:15 = 15:55. Bus ride: 25 minutes, so arrival at the bus stop near the shrine = 15:55 + 0:25 = 16:20. If the bus stop is not the shrine office, the visitor may need additional walking time, which would make arrival even later. Even without that extra time, 16:20 is 20 minutes after the 16:00 deadline. Therefore it does not meet the deadline. This calculation supports the earlier choice of the 15:12 train, which arrives at about 15:34 after the walk.