CH 47

Chapter 47. [The Test, First Half]

The junior high school entrance examination had finally begun.

I picked up a pencil and faced the exam questions.

The first day of the exam. The first subject – is Japanese.

The way to solve the questions was the same as that of high school and university entrance examinations.

I check the questions first and then read the longer passages. That is the theory of solving Japanese.

If I can solve basic problems calmly, I’ll be fine.

The troublesome one is the second half, it’s a problem that asked the imagination.

Question. Complete each shiritori using two kanji idioms.

1. Interest A-AB-BC

2. Statement A-AB-BC

3. …

I can’t come up with any!

I’m wasting my time if I keep thinking about it!

If I can’t think of anything, quickly discard it and put it off for later.

Let’s reset my brains by reviewing them first, and then try again.

***

The first day of the exam. The second subject – is math.

There are many problems. If I don’t solve them efficiently, I won’t have enough time for calculation.

And the problems involving the current year, which are given every year. I must recognize the numbers hidden in the formulas at a glance.

And the most troublesome problem is a figure problem.

There are several patterns, but you have to be flexible and use your head to find which method to use.

If I can think of it, it will take a moment. If I don’t, it’s a lifetime.

Problem. The rectangle ABCD in the figure is a trapezoid with angle A = angle B = 90 degrees.

Find the area of trapezoid ABCD when AB=AD, BC=5cm, and angle C=30 degrees.

Should I draw an auxiliary line or transform the figure?

Or should I duplicate and combine the figures?

* * *

“Iroha, how was the exam!?”

“Hmmm. I think it’s probably not bad.”

As I left the school gate, my mom found me and ran up to me.

The nose and fingertips are painfully red. No way.

“Mom, have you been waiting outside all this time!?”

“That’s not true! I was in the waiting room during the exam! I heard that she would be called when something happened! hand”

“Okay. What if you catch a cold?”

“I’m sorry. Ah, but here you go! Today’s exam questions were posted in the waiting room! It may be difficult to read.”

“Thank you, but next time I’ll wait for it properly. But next time, please wait in the waiting room with something warm to drink… Fukushun~.”

“Oh, pollen again? You’re taking medicine, and the temperature is low today, so I thought it would be better.”

“…… Oh, Mom. That might not be good.

“What?”

“It’s so cold.”

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!

That’s the best time of all.

I looked up at the heavens to see how unlucky I was.

***

“Fukushun~! Ngaah.”

On the second day of the exam. The first subject – is science.

I was facing the answer sheet with a sniffling sound. It seems my body could not keep up with the rise and fall of the temperature.

My body is not strong enough to do well in physical education.

Half of this is my fault for not liking exercise.

I hope the sound of my snotty nose wasn’t disturbing the students around me.

And then, when I raised my eyes slightly.

“Oeeee!”

One of the students at a seat a little further away from me vomited and collapsed.

The instructor immediately came over and took care of it in a familiar manner.

It seemed that it was more than just a runny nose.

These examinations are wars.

Is it true what they say?

You have to win against yourself and the stress.

For the immature body and mind of an elementary school student, it is too much of a battle.

I can’t lose either.

The problem. Consider a time when the full moon is directly above your head at a point on the earth’s equator.

To what latitude in the northern hemisphere is the center of this moon visible?

In the previous problems, it is known that the size (angle) of the moon when viewed from the center of the earth is 0.5 degrees.

Also, the length of the arc and the oval string with the smallest central angle can be considered equal.

Furthermore, the earth is defined to be 4 times the size of the moon.

That’s no longer a science or math problem.

Oh, no. I can’t think straight anymore.

***

On the second day of the exam. The second subject – is social studies.

I’ll have to fill in the answer columns in order.

As a matter of course, current affairs should be included.

Question. Russia and Ukraine were (A) a group of 15 countries until 1991.

Russia’s (B) regime was (A) opposed to Ukraine’s membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (C), a U.S.-led military alliance,・・・・・・.

This was about as far as I got, and from there, the issue evolved into one involving the climates of the two countries.

The questions require not only memorization but also comprehension and thinking skills.

I’m asked if I can think about things by connecting knowledge.

“What is ……? hah——.”

My vision was shaking.

I knew my head was not working properly.

Still, I managed to run my pen.

Then, I reached my limit before the end of the exam.

As soon as I managed to fill in the last question, I let go of my consciousness.