Wakayama Prefectural Public High School Entrance Examination - English cheat sheet

Numbers, times, and prices are usually stated once; write digits immediately as you hear them, then check them against the question options.

Question words decide the answer type: when/where/who/why/how much each signal a different option set, so underline the question word before the audio starts.

In dialogues, the second speaker's reply usually contains the answer; the first speaker sets the situation.

Negation and correction cues (not, never, actually, instead, but) often reverse an option that looks correct.

Dates in school contexts follow month-day order: June 3rd is said 'June the third'; 3/6 is read differently in British and American usage, so match the audio.

Distractor options frequently repeat a word heard in the audio while the correct option paraphrases it.

For map or route tasks, track direction words: go straight, turn left/right at the second corner, next to, across from, between.

In monologue announcements, listen for the change marker (however, so, please note) because schedules and rooms are often revised mid-talk.

Short-dialogue questions are resolved by locating the response to a wh-question; the answer sits in the sentence right after the question.

For sign and notice items, the answer must satisfy all conditions at once; an option that meets only one condition is wrong.

Pronoun reference (it, they, this) points to the nearest preceding noun phrase that fits the verb's number and logic.

Emotion and intention questions are answered by adjectives and adverbs (glad, sorry, surprised, reluctantly), not by facts alone.

When two options seem true, choose the one that answers the exact question asked, not the one that is merely mentioned.

Time-order items: build a mini timeline of events with markers (first, then, after that, before) before reading the options.

Inference items use wording like 'probably' and 'most likely'; the answer must be supported by the text, not by general knowledge.

Paragraph-topic questions: the topic sentence is usually first or second; the last sentence often restates the main idea.

For multi-source retrieval (timetables, brochures, notices), convert each condition into a checklist and eliminate options one condition at a time.

Scan for the keyword in the question, then read the whole sentence around it; answers are rarely split across two distant paragraphs.

Cause-effect questions look for because, so, therefore, as a result; the cause precedes the effect in English expository prose.

Writer's-purpose questions use a fixed answer set: to inform, to persuade, to explain how, to warn, to invite.

Numbers in tables may need one calculation (difference, total, remaining seats); write the arithmetic out rather than guessing.

Words like all, always, only, must in an option usually make it too strong and therefore wrong; some, often, may are safer.

Subject-verb agreement: a singular subject takes -s in the present tense; phrases between subject and verb (with, together with, of) do not change the verb.

Tense sequence: if the main clause is past, the subordinate clause normally shifts back (is→was, will→would, has→had).

Articles: a before consonant sounds, an before vowel sounds (an hour, a university); the for previously mentioned or unique items.

Prepositions of time: in + month/year/season, on + day/date, at + clock time.

Comparatives: -er/more for two, -est/most for three or more; as ... as takes the base form.

Infinitives and gerunds: want/decide/hope + to do; enjoy/finish/stop + doing; stop to do means pause in order to do.

Countable vs uncountable: much/little/a few vs many/few/a little; information, advice, news take singular verbs.

Relative pronouns: who for people, which for things, whose for possession, where for places, when for times.

Start from the fixed chunks: a question word or subject goes first, the finite verb's position is set by tense and auxiliary.

Idiomatic frames decide order: too ... to, so ... that, such a ... that, not only ... but also, It is ... for A to do.

Prepositional phrases attach after the noun or verb they modify; place and time phrases usually go last (manner, place, time).

In indirect questions, the word order returns to statement order: Do you know where he lives? (not where does he live).

Adverb position: frequency adverbs (always, usually) go before the main verb but after be.

Relative clauses follow the noun immediately; a clause ending in a preposition (the house he lives in) is possible in informal English.

Check the completed sentence by reading it aloud for agreement, tense consistency, and a single clear meaning.

Answer every prompt element explicitly: each required content point earns credit; a missing point caps the score regardless of grammar.

Structure: introduction stating the opinion or topic, two supporting sentences with reasons or examples, concluding sentence.

Use linking words to show logic: first, also, for example, however, so, in conclusion.

Keep sentences short and correct; a simple accurate sentence scores higher than a long broken one.

Word count: count words after writing and adjust by adding an example or a reason, not by repeating the thesis.

Tense choice: past for experiences, present for opinions and general facts, future with will or be going to for plans.

Avoid Japanese-style literal translation; use familiar patterns (I think that ..., It is important for me to ...).

Japanese-to-English: identify the verb at the end of the Japanese sentence first, then build the English order subject-verb-object.

Japanese particles map to English structure: は/が→subject, を→object, に→to/at, で→by/at/with, の→of/'s.

Do not translate word-for-word; translate meaning units (よろしくお願いします has no single English equivalent; choose a situational phrase).

English-to-Japanese: decide tense and polarity first, then choose the appropriate polite level (です/ます for formal contexts).

Passive and causative Japanese forms (〜される, 〜させる) require restructuring into English active or passive with the right agent.

Numbers, counters, and honorifics need conversion: 〜さん becomes Mr./Ms. or is dropped in English; 〜人 becomes 'people'.

After translating, back-check that no information was added or lost and that the target sentence reads naturally.

Numbers, times, and prices are usually stated once; write digits immediately as you hear them, then check them against the question options.

Question words decide the answer type: when/where/who/why/how much each signal a different option set, so underline the question word before the audio starts.

In dialogues, the second speaker's reply usually contains the answer; the first speaker sets the situation.

Negation and correction cues (not, never, actually, instead, but) often reverse an option that looks correct.

For map or route tasks, track direction words: go straight, turn left/right at the second corner, next to, across from, between.

In monologue announcements, listen for the change marker (however, so, please note) because schedules and rooms are often revised mid-talk.

Short-dialogue questions are resolved by locating the response to a wh-question; the answer sits in the sentence right after the question.

For sign and notice items, the answer must satisfy all conditions at once; an option that meets only one condition is wrong.

Pronoun reference (it, they, this) points to the nearest preceding noun phrase that fits the verb's number and logic.

Emotion and intention questions are answered by adjectives and adverbs (glad, sorry, surprised, reluctantly), not by facts alone.

When two options seem true, choose the one that answers the exact question asked, not the one that is merely mentioned.

Time-order items: build a mini timeline of events with markers (first, then, after that, before) before reading the options.

Paragraph-topic questions: the topic sentence is usually first or second; the last sentence often restates the main idea.

For multi-source retrieval (timetables, brochures, notices), convert each condition into a checklist and eliminate options one condition at a time.

Scan for the keyword in the question, then read the whole sentence around it; answers are rarely split across two distant paragraphs.

Cause-effect questions look for because, so, therefore, as a result; the cause precedes the effect in English expository prose.

Writer's-purpose questions use a fixed answer set: to inform, to persuade, to explain how, to warn, to invite.

Words like all, always, only, must in an option usually make it too strong and therefore wrong; some, often, may are safer.

Subject-verb agreement: a singular subject takes -s in the present tense; phrases between subject and verb (with, together with, of) do not change the verb.

Tense sequence: if the main clause is past, the subordinate clause normally shifts back (is→was, will→would, has→had).

Articles: a before consonant sounds, an before vowel sounds (an hour, a university); the for previously mentioned or unique items.

Prepositions of time: in + month/year/season, on + day/date, at + clock time.

Comparatives: -er/more for two, -est/most for three or more; as ... as takes the base form.

Infinitives and gerunds: want/decide/hope + to do; enjoy/finish/stop + doing; stop to do means pause in order to do.

Countable vs uncountable: much/little/a few vs many/few/a little; information, advice, news take singular verbs.

Start from the fixed chunks: a question word or subject goes first, the finite verb's position is set by tense and auxiliary.

Idiomatic frames decide order: too ... to, so ... that, such a ... that, not only ... but also, It is ... for A to do.

Prepositional phrases attach after the noun or verb they modify; place and time phrases usually go last (manner, place, time).

In indirect questions, the word order returns to statement order: Do you know where he lives? (not where does he live).

Adverb position: frequency adverbs (always, usually) go before the main verb but after be.

Relative clauses follow the noun immediately; a clause ending in a preposition (the house he lives in) is possible in informal English.

Answer every prompt element explicitly: each required content point earns credit; a missing point caps the score regardless of grammar.

Structure: introduction stating the opinion or topic, two supporting sentences with reasons or examples, concluding sentence.

Use linking words to show logic: first, also, for example, however, so, in conclusion.

Keep sentences short and correct; a simple accurate sentence scores higher than a long broken one.

Word count: count words after writing and adjust by adding an example or a reason, not by repeating the thesis.

Tense choice: past for experiences, present for opinions and general facts, future with will or be going to for plans.

Japanese-to-English: identify the verb at the end of the Japanese sentence first, then build the English order subject-verb-object.

Japanese particles map to English structure: は/が→subject, を→object, に→to/at, で→by/at/with, の→of/'s.

Do not translate word-for-word; translate meaning units (よろしくお願いします has no single English equivalent; choose a situational phrase).

English-to-Japanese: decide tense and polarity first, then choose the appropriate polite level (です/ます for formal contexts).

Passive and causative Japanese forms (〜される, 〜させる) require restructuring into English active or passive with the right agent.

Numbers, counters, and honorifics need conversion: 〜さん becomes Mr./Ms. or is dropped in English; 〜人 becomes 'people'.