To: All store staff
From: Adriana Loris, Store Manager
Date: December 8
Subject: Clearance sale
Now that our year-end inventory is complete, we’re ready for our annual clearance sale. The sale will run for a week from Sunday. There is a considerable amount of surplus stock of the SnoWiz line of ski wear—everything in the line will be sold for half price except for the after-ski boots which will be marked down 30%. The winter sports season is still in full swing and all of you are encouraged to recommend the line to customers during the sale so we can clear as much stock as possible while the sale is on. Sale prices for other merchandise will vary with some items going for as low as 70% off. As usual, sunscreens and cosmetics will not be discounted.
Question: What are the store staff advised to do during the sale?
(A) Persuade customers to buy certain items
(B) Sell as many cosmetics as possible
(C) Recommend winter sports tours
(D) Decide how much items should be reduced
文の構造をつかもう！
5文目
Sale prices for other merchandise will vary /
with some items going for as low as 70% off.
この文の主語はSale prices for other merchandiseで、動詞はwill vary。動詞のあとに注目。with some items goingが、＜with＋名詞＋現在分詞＞という形になっている。これは、主節の内容と同時に起こっている事柄を補足的に表す用法。
4 文目に、all of you are encouraged to recommend the line to customers during the sale「皆さんからお客様にこのラインアップを薦めることが推奨される」とあるので、(A)が正解。＜persuade＋人＋ to＞「…するように（人）を説得する」。(D)reduce「…を減らす」。
語注
now that
（今や）…なので
year-end
[形] 年末の
run
[動]（ 物事が）続く
considerable
[形] かなりの
amount
[名] 量
line
[名] 商品（のラインアップ）
except for
…を除いて
mark down
…を値下げする
in full swing
盛りで、たけなわで
encourage
[動] …するように仕向ける
merchandise
[名] 商品
vary
[動] 異なる、変わる
as usual
通常通り
問題 2
July 17
Ms. Patricia Sinclair
254 Interlaken Avenue
Seattle, WA 98203
Dear Ms. Sinclair:
Thank you for your order of July 14. Of the three items you ordered, the two-drawer file cabinet (Item # 34-210) and handy desk vacuum (Item # 5202) were shipped on July 15. However, the miniature easel (Item # 4277) is currently out of stock. We have contacted the manufacturer to back-order and have been told that the item will become available around the end of this month. Would you like to wait? Or would you like to cancel your order for this item? We charge credit cards or issue invoices only when items are shipped, so you have not been charged for the easel.
Please let us know what you would like us to do. We sincerely appreciate your patience and look forward to hearing from you.
Noel Mitchell
Customer Service
Sunshine Offices
Question: What is Ms. Sinclair being asked to do?
(A) Cancel an order
(B) Order another item
(C) Provide instructions
(D) Get a rain check
文の構造をつかもう！
第1段落7文目
We charge credit cards or issue invoices /
only when items are shipped, /
so you have not been charged for the easel.
shippedのあとで文を前後2つに区切って考える。前半は、charge credit cardsとissue invoicesがorでつながれている。only when items are shippedはcharge credit cards or issue invoicesを修飾している。
第2段落1文目に、Please let us know what you would like us to do.「どのようになさりたいかをご連絡ください」とあるので、(C)が正解。(A) 第1 段落6 文目に、「この商品の注文をキャンセルしたいですか」とあるが、そうするように頼まれているわけではない。