#AP Japanese: Ultimate Study Guide 🚀

Welcome! This guide is designed to help you ace your AP Japanese exam. Let's dive in! Remember, you've got this! 💪

#🎯 Unit 6: Global Challenges in Japanese-Speaking Communities

This unit focuses on how environmental, political, and societal issues affect Japanese-speaking communities. We'll be using knowledge from previous units to think critically in Japanese. Let's get started!

#🤔 Guiding Questions

• How do global challenges positively or negatively affect Japanese-speaking communities?
• What are some possible solutions to these challenges?
• How can individuals influence the world around them?

This unit is crucial, as it often combines multiple concepts from previous units. Expect to see questions that require you to apply your knowledge of vocabulary, grammar, and cultural contexts to analyze complex scenarios.

#🌱 Environmental Challenges

#🛣️ Narrow Roads

Japanese roads are very narrow, semai (せまい), due to the country's small size and large population. This leads to unique traffic situations.

Image: A narrow Japanese road, illustrating the challenge of limited space.

#The Solution

Many people use bicycles (jitensha (自転車)) for transportation due to the narrow roads and short distances. Bike racks are common near major buildings.

Image: A bike rack full of bicycles, highlighting the popularity of cycling in Japan.

#🌊 Tsunami and Earthquakes

Japan, an island (shima (島)), is prone to tsunamis (tsunami (津波)) and earthquakes due to its location on tectonic plates.

Image: The aftermath of a tsunami, showing the destructive power of these natural disasters.

#The Solution

• Flexible building designs absorb shock.
• Earthquake alert apps on cell phones provide early warnings.
• Schools conduct monthly earthquake drills, teaching students to crouch under their desks (tsukue (机)).

#Landslides

Landslides (doshakuzure (土砂崩れ)) are increasing due to global warming and heavy rainfall (ōame (大雨)).

Image: A landslide, illustrating the impact of heavy rainfall and unstable land.

#The Solution

• High-risk areas are identified, and evacuation plans are created.
• Families keep emergency kits (saigai setto (災害セット)) with essentials.

Image: A typical emergency kit, showing the supplies needed for a disaster.

#🧹 Waste and Pollution

Japan has limited landfill space, so trash (gomi (ゴミ)) is often burned. However, this causes pollution. Japan also produces a lot of waste due to excessive packaging.

Image: A Japanese trash sorting system, showing the different bins for various types of waste.

Trash is sorted into categories:

• Combustible (燃えるゴミ)
• Non-combustible (燃えないゴミ)
• Bins and cans (ビンやカン)
• Plastic bottles (ペットボトル)
• Other (その他)

Recycling is also emphasized. Items must be disassembled and washed before disposal.

Image: Recycling symbols, indicating that items can be reused.

#💥 Strive For a Five Vocabulary

• mondai (問題): problem
• dōro (道路): road
• jishin (地震): earthquake
• kōzui (洪水): flood
• hinan (ひ難): evacuate
• chikyū ondanka (地球温暖化): global warming
• setsuyaku (節約): to save
• mudazukai (無駄ずかい): wasteful spending
• shigen (資源): resource
• ten-nen shigen (天然資源): natural resource
• mamoru (守る): to protect
• denki (電気): electricity
• bunrui (分類): to sort

#📝 Final Exam Focus

#High-Priority Topics

• Environmental Issues: Narrow roads, tsunamis, earthquakes, landslides, waste, and pollution.
• Solutions: Transportation, building design, emergency preparedness, waste management.
• Vocabulary: Focus on disaster-related terms and environmental vocabulary.

#Common Question Types

• Multiple Choice: Expect questions that test your understanding of vocabulary and cultural contexts.
• Free Response: Be prepared to analyze scenarios, propose solutions, and express your opinions in Japanese.

#Last-Minute Tips

• Time Management: Don't spend too much time on one question. Move on and come back if you have time.
• Common Pitfalls: Avoid direct translations. Think in Japanese.
• Strategies: Read the questions carefully, use context clues, and showcase your knowledge of vocabulary and grammar.

#

Practice Question

Practice Questions

#Multiple Choice Questions

1. 日本で、道が狭い理由は何ですか。 (A) 人口が少ないからです。 (B) 国が大きいからです。 (C) 人口が多いからです。 (D) 車が多いからです。

2. 地震が起きた時、学校で何をしますか。 (A) 運動場に逃げます。 (B) 先生の言うことを聞きます。 (C) 机の下にもぐります。 (D) 窓から外に出ます。

3. 日本のゴミの分別で、燃えるゴミは何ですか。 (A) ガラスのびんです。 (B) プラスチックの容器です。 (C) 新聞紙です。 (D) アルミ缶です。

#Free Response Question

Scenario: You are a student in Japan, and your school is organizing a project to raise awareness about environmental issues. Write a proposal (in Japanese) outlining the project, including the issue you will focus on, why it is important, and what actions students can take to help.

Point Breakdown:

• Introduction (2 points): Clearly state the purpose of the proposal and the environmental issue you will address.
• Explanation (3 points): Explain why the issue is important to Japan and the community.
• Action Plan (4 points): Describe specific actions students can take to help mitigate the issue.
• Conclusion (1 point): Summarize the proposal and emphasize the importance of student involvement.

#Answer Key

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. (C) 人口が多いからです。
2. (C) 机の下にもぐります。
3. (B) プラスチックの容器です。

Free Response Answer (Example):

Introduction:

皆さん、こんにちは。今日は、学校の環境プロジェクトについて提案します。このプロジェクトでは、日本のゴミ問題を考えたいと思います。

Explanation:

日本は小さい国ですが、ゴミがたくさん出ています。特にプラスチックのゴミは、海を汚染し、環境に悪い影響を与えています。この問題を解決するために、私たち学生も何かできるはずです。

Action Plan:

まず、学校でゴミの分別を徹底します。燃えるゴミ、燃えないゴミ、リサイクルできるゴミをきちんと分けましょう。次に、プラスチックの使用を減らすために、マイボトルやマイバッグを使うことを勧めます。さらに、地域の清掃活動に参加し、ゴミを拾うことも大切です。

Conclusion:

このプロジェクトを通じて、学生一人一人が環境問題への意識を高め、行動を起こすことが大切です。みんなで力を合わせ、美しい日本を守りましょう。

Good luck! You're going to do great! 🌟