Two Texts, Two Rules: The Clean Walk Notice
A flyer on the Nagasaki City Hall website announces a “Clean Walk” on Saturday, May 17, from 9:00 to 11:30. It says: “Meet at City Hall at 9:00. Gloves are not necessary; the city provides gloves and bags. The event is canceled only if heavy rain is forecast.” A teacher’s email sent on May 14 says: “Our school will join the 10:00 group because our bus arrives at 9:40. Please bring your own gloves; the city has bags but not enough gloves this year. We will go if it rains lightly.” Ken reads both and asks: “So I don’t need gloves, right? And if it rains, it’s canceled?” The flyer was made in March; the email is newer. Ken has a tennis match at 11:00 and wants to know if he can join for one hour.
1. Should Ken bring gloves? Which text controls, and why?
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Yes, Ken should bring gloves. The teacher’s email controls.
The flyer is a general city notice made in March. The email is dated May 14 and is addressed to the school group. It gives a specific, current reason: the city has bags but not enough gloves this year, so students must bring their own. The flyer’s statement that gloves are “not necessary” may have been true when it was written, but it is overridden by the newer and more specific instruction. When two texts conflict, ask two questions: which text is newer, and which text was written for this particular group? The email wins on both points.
2. If light rain falls on May 17, will the Clean Walk be canceled? Explain using both texts.
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No. The flyer says the event is canceled only if heavy rain is forecast. Light rain is not heavy rain, so the flyer’s cancellation condition is not met. The teacher’s email also says the school will go if it rains lightly. Both texts therefore point to the same conclusion: the event continues in light rain.
Ken should still prepare for rain, but he should not assume cancellation. If the forecast changes to heavy rain, then the flyer’s condition applies and the event may be canceled.
3. Ken’s tennis match starts at 11:00. Can he join the school group and still play? What should he check or tell someone?
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He can join the 10:00 group, but he cannot stay until the event ends at 11:30. To reach a match that starts at 11:00, he would need to leave before 11:00, probably around 10:45, depending on travel time. So he could participate for about 45 minutes to an hour.
He must tell the teacher before May 17 and ask whether leaving early is allowed. He should also confirm how he will return or meet the group later. He should not simply disappear from the group. The plan is possible only if the tennis court is close enough and the teacher agrees.