英語エッセイテーマ

富裕層は空港やディズニーワールド、スキー場で「順番待ち」をお金で飛ばしていることについて

・引用元：　The wealthy are cutting the line at the airport, Disney World and ski resorts

Cutting in front of someone who’s been waiting patiently in line used to be unethical, bad manners, taboo. Now, businesses are letting people pay for the privilege of skipping the line. Across everything from ski lifts to airport security or music festivals, there’s been an explosion of options and services that let certain people pay to go first. This trend is accelerating and reflects a shift in the idea of the concept of time itself, which becomes a commodity available to those who can afford it.

There have always been VIP perks for wealthier customers: boxes at stadiums and first class seats are obvious examples. But now people are paying not simply for extra comfort, but for priority over others. This trend, according to Edward Tenner, author of “The Efficiency Paradox”, makes such systems increasingly look like auctions.

Yet others defend priority access. Behavioral scientist Ayelet Fishbach says priority lines allow people to choose which resource to use — time or money. For many people, time is more precious than money. She also argues that, in many situations, the act of queuing increases the perceived value of a product or service.

But the issue remains when people can simply pay a fee to move faster through the system. Does this create a two-tiered society? Some say yes. Others argue that such inequality has always existed.

The gap between the rich and the poor has widened in recent decades, and dividing consumers based on how much they can pay to skip a line raises concerns about fairness and service quality for people who do not have the means to pay extra fees.

Adapted from:

BBC Worklife, 2019
CNN Business, February 8, 2024

QUESTION

Do you agree or disagree with the idea of paying to skip the line? Write your opinion with reasons

・主題・題材の観点で分類（表の分類）：　４、「社会制度・公共政策」系のニュース記事
・「出題者が受験生にどのような思考をさせたいか」という視点で分類（裏の分類）：　２、「正しさの衝突」

ディスカッションテーマ

多様な価値観を持つ生徒たちが仲良くなるために、クラスではどのようなことを取り組めば良いと思いますか？

採点基準

A　理解と解釈

問題文・資料・設問を的確に理解し、それに対応した答えになっている。

B　論理

論理展開が理にかなっている。意見の発展に、想像力や洞察力がみられる。

C　構成

文や段落のつながりや流れを効果的に展開し、論点が絞られている。

D　言語

正確な語法、豊かな語彙を、課題に適した表現方法で使用している。