Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)

　　Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer sheet 1.

　　For questions 1-7, mark

　　Y (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;

　　N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage;

　　NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.

　　For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.

　　New Proposals on Youth Employment

　　The unemployment rate in Japan continues to hover at around the 5% level, but the number of unemployed youths is exceptionally high compared to other age groups. The fluid situation is gradually taking root in society, with an increasing number of youths making a living as "freeters" (as young job-hoppers are called in Japan) or leaving and changing jobs even after they find employment. This youth employment problem is essentially a product of many companies' guarded stance (姿態) on employment and the narrowing of employment opportunities for those seeking to work as regular employees.

　　To deal with the youth employment problem, the government and relevant institutions have already presented various proposals for specific policies, such as to strengthen policies that can turn economic recovery into a vigorous increase of labor demand; while expanding job openings for regular employees, also to promote equal treatment of non-regular employees and secure opportunities for them to become regular employees so that the working styles of non-regular employees are not disadvantaged; from the earliest stage as possible, systematically to provide job preparatory education with a long-range outlook on career development. Some of these policies are actually being implemented, but they are not necessarily producing adequate results. For this reason, the following three new measures should be considered in addition to other measures being deliberated.

　　Reform of employment and recruitment practices

　　It is important that high school graduates are given as many opportunities as possible to select an occupation. While completely abolishing the one-person-one-company system on one hand, on the other hand, employment and career guidance should begin when students enter high school so they are well able to select an occupation on their own judgment.