国際教養AO入試 reference, Japan

Japan and South Korea agree to settle wartime sex slaves row

The Guardian   December 28, 2005http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/28/japan-to-say-sorry-to-south-korea-in-deal-to-end-dispute-over-wartime-sex-slaves

South Korea, Japan strike deal on ‘comfort women’
INQUIRER.net
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFJ_nYRyu0M

国際教養AO入試 reference, Language, generative grammar

Chomsky was right, NYU researchers find: we do have "grammar" in our head
The New York University December 7, 2015
http://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2015/12/07/chomsky-was-right-nyu-researchers-find-we-do-have-a-grammar-in-our-head.html

TOEFL, iBT, Independent Writing, Is watching TV useful or enjoyable way of spending time. -rewrite-

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement. Watching TV is a useful or enjoyable way of spending time. Support your response with specific reasons and examples.

☆Let’s think

 “A” useful or enjoyable way of spending time means that, although it is not “the” best, it is as useful or enjoyable as activities that are considered good. What are useful and enjoyable ways of spending time? What do you usually do when you have some free time and try not to waste it? Do you read, listen to music, watch a movie, work out, do something creative like painting, or hang around with your family or friends? Is watching TV as worth spending your precious time on as other choices?

☆Ideas and Expressions

♦Waste of Time

1.    not a good information source anymore:

♢The amount of information provided by TV is smaller compared to that of newspapers, magazines, books, and the Internet, which provide detailed information.

♢The quality of TV news is not so good as that of other media. TV stations select information to broadcast in response to ratings, or popularity votes, which are not always good or right.

♢TV news is not really new. Information on the Internet is now updated by the minute.

2.    passive: Not interactive, TV watching requires little creativity, so it dulls your mind.

3.    mind-numbing: TV can make you narrow-minded or brainwashed because it is sponsored by corporations, which can manipulate the content and put emphasis on advertisements. For example, you might develop desire for needless goods or come to follow fashion trends obsessively, not aware of what is really going on in the world.

♦Useful or Enjoyable

1.    Some special programs such as live broadcasts of sporting events, documentaries, and language programs are hardly available elsewhere.

2.    Popular TV programs or ads provide conversation pieces, which are good icebreakers.

3.    One good thing about TV watching is that it allows you to learn things that you did not intend to. By keeping TV on or zapping channels, you can come across interesting people, useful information, or moving stories. It is like taking a walk in an unfamiliar neighborhood and find a lovely garden or sitting among strangers and hear an eye-opening story. The Internet, which is made to be used to search for specific information of your choice, allows this to happen less often.

4.    As long as you keep an eye on how you use it, TV can be an inexpensive, handy tool for fun.

☆Essay Structure

Sample

【Main Idea = Outline】In moderation, watching TV is useful and enjoyable.

【Good/Bad point 1】Watching big events on a large screen at home is enjoyable.

【Good/Bad point 2】 TV-watching is useful for spending time with others because it is inclusive.

【Counterargument-treatment】Although most programs are good for nothing, some are good, educational, or only on TV. Also, it is true that TV is addictive and you could waste your precious time, but if you can control yourself, TV poses no problem just as alcohol and gambling helps you enjoy life unless you indulge yourself in them too much.

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】TV can provide a good time if used wisely.

Your essay structure

【Main Idea = Outline】

【Good/Bad point 1】

【Good/Bad point 2】

【Counterargument-treatment】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

☆Paragraph development

Sample 1

【Main Idea】 TV-watching is useful for spending time with others because it is inclusive.

【Explanation】You can usually share the content of TV with others and with anyone.

【Detail / Example】 You can enjoy an evening with your family or friends watching programs most people like.

【More Specific Detail / Example】 TV is especially useful when you spend time with someone you know little about. Popular TV programs are often used to entertain guests. You just watch TV together, and in time you can laugh together or pick up a conversation piece from the content of the program such as an idol singer or a succor game result.

【Counterargument Treatment or Detail Follow-up】If your guest says that the only program he watches is FoxNews, you could just watch the ultra-right-wing news show with him and learn what the Right have to say.

【Conclusion】 TV is a good medium for relationship-building.

Sample 2

【Main Idea】TV is addictive.

【Explanation】For many people, the act of watching TV itself is the objective.

【Detail / Example】 Many just automatically turn on TV when they have some free time and keep it on, without selecting programs.

【More Specific Detail / Example】 Even when they select a program, in a few minutes, they get hypnotized and keep staring at the screen for hours while remembering little in the content.

【Counterargument Treatment or Detail Follow-up】Conscious use can avoid such behavior but the problem is that TV makes us believe doing something productive and feel good when in fact we could be doing something more memorable such as listening to a good piece of music or talking with someone.

【Conclusion】 TV-watching is detrimental to our life itself.

Now let’s practice paragraph development. Choose one of the reasons you have come up with, make it the main idea, and develop it using the following form. As this is a sketch of a part of your real essay, use simple words and sentences for supporting details and focus on the logic and ideas.

【Main Idea】

【Explanation】

【Detail / Example】

【More Specific Detail / Example】

【Counterargument Treatment or Detail Follow-up】

【Conclusion】

国際教養AO入試 reference, refugee support, non-governmental actions

Michael Moore Defies Governor's Ban On Syrian Refugees And Opens Up His Apartment
The filmmaker set up a website for others to take in refugees, too.
Jennifer Bendery White House & Congressional Reporter, The Huffington Post   Nov 30, 2015
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/michael-moore-syrian-refugees_565c8094e4b072e9d1c27693?9dgta9k9
(#MyHomeIsOpen https://twitter.com/search?q=%23MyHomeIsOpen)

難民の自立を支援するインターンシッププログラム
ユニクロホームページ  2015年10月15日　　

http://www.uniqlo.com/jp/corp/pressrelease/2015/10/2015101511_mag2.html

国際教養AO入試 reference, media, Asian politics (South Korea)

Scholar Noam Chomsky sends message of support for Korean protester
The Korean Times   November 27, 2015
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/11/116_191972.html

TOEFL, iBT, Independent Writing, eating out on a regular basis or eating at home and seldom go out to eat -rewrite-

Writing Topic

Many people like to eat in restaurants on a regular basis. Others would rather eat at home, except on rare occasions. Which approach to dining habits do you choose and why? Support your essay with details and examples.

☆Hints for points

Eating at home:

1.    healthy

2.    economical

3.    relaxing

4.    flavor of Mom’s cooking / passing down culture and tradition

5.    Eating out only once in a while will make the event more enjoyable ( “spice of life”, “less is more”)

Counterargument: It takes time to cook.

Counter-counterargument: A simple but well-balanced meal takes only 15-40 minutes to prepare. Also, cooking helps you get refreshed because you use the different part of your brain and, if you cook with someone else, you can interact with other human beings.

Eating out on a regular basis:

1.    saves time

2.    tastes better, more variety

3.    social life (people, manners)

4.    “spice up one’s life”

Counterargument: unhealthy

Counter-counterargument: health-conscious restaurants, good breakfast at home

☆Essay Structure

♦Sample Essay Structure in the case that you have two or three reasons to support your argument

【Introduction = Outline】　主張と理由の概要

【Point 1】理由1の詳細

【Point 2】理由2の詳細

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】理由3の詳細または反論の処理

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】結論

♦Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

Paragraph development

☆A paragraph of the body of an essay often develops its main idea as follows:

【Main Idea】 (主張)

【Explanation】 (主張の説明)

【Detail / Example in general】 (一般的な例)

【Specific Detail / Example】 (具体的な例)

【Follow-up / Counterargument-treatment】 (補足または反論の処理)

【Conclusion】 (結論)

Sample 1

【Main Idea】 Eating at home is better for your health than eating out.

【Explanation】 You can use fresh and safe ingredients.

【Detail / Example】 For example, when you prepare food, you buy ingredients at a store of your own choice right before you cook while restaurants often use frozen food.

【Specific Detail / Example】 This is especially true in seasoning. At home, you can make broth from real bones or fish and use fresh spices, but restaurants often use ready-made soup stock which may contain synthetic additives and preservatives.

【Follow-up / Counterargument-treatment】Of course, regulations on food have become tighter these days and eating out is not so unhealthy as before. However, businesses always prioritize cutting costs to make profits and at least you know what you are eating when you prepare dishes for yourself.

【Conclusion】 By cooking for yourself, you can make sure that you stay healthy.

Sample 2

【Main Idea】&【Explanation】 Eating out regularly livens up life because going out to eat in town is a fun activity.

【Detail / Example】Having a jolly conversation over lunch or dinner surrounded by other relaxed diners helps see people and life positively.

【Specific Detail / Example】Going to a familiar Chinese restaurant with your beloved makes you feel comfortable while trying a new Italian dish with your friends is exciting, and each of such times is a precious moment of life.

【Follow-up / Counterargument-treatment】This habit might seem to some morally wrong, but eating in restaurants on a regular basis does not mean going out to eat three times a day. Allowing oneself an hour of good mealtime a couple of times a week is neither an extravagance nor indulgence. It is a good practice.

【Conclusion】Man does not live to eat but eat to live.

♦Your Sample Paragraph Development

Choose one of the points of your essay structure, and develop it. You can either use or not use the form below. Starting with【Main Idea】 and 【Specific Detail / Example】, and then filling in other parts is one way to develop a point.

【Main Idea】

【Explanation】

【Detail / Example in general】

【Specific Detail / Example】

【Follow-up / Counterargument-treatment】 

【Conclusion】

国際教養AO入試 reference, global warming, the destiny of humanity

More than 2,000 academics call on world heads to do more to limit global warming

The Guardian   November 23, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/nov/23/over-2000-academics-world-heads-do-more-limit-global-warming-noam-chomsky

国際教養AO入試 reference, state capitalism, state intervention (Syria, Kossobo), ISIS (ISIL), austerity (Greece), the future of the human race

Noam Chomsky on ISIS, his foreign policy critics, and why socialist ideas are “never far below the surface.”
Jacobin    November 23, 2015

https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/11/noam-chomsky-interview-isis-syria-intervention-nato/

国際教養AO入試 reference, drone strikes, terrorism

Obama's drone war a 'recruitment tool' for Isis, say US air force whistleblowers
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/18/obama-drone-war-isis-recruitment-tool-air-force-whistleblowers

国際教養AO入試 reference, human rights, discrimination, abuse and harassment

Mexico City's domestic workers: a life being treated as a lesser person

The Guardian   November 11, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/nov/10/mexico-city-domestic-workers-life-lesser-person

TOEFL, iBT, Independent Writing, a new university in your community -rewrite-

☆Writing Topic

The government of your area has announced plans to build a large, new university. Some people think that your community would be a favorable location for the university; others disagree. Compare and discuss the good and bad consequences that might result from building a new university in your community. Use specific reasons and details to support your essay.

☆Let’s think

This question is made up of two parts: the premise and a direction. The first two sentences provide the premise of this topic, that is, a hypothetical plan to build a large, new university and the situation in which people separate on whether to support the plan. Therefore, your area is supposed to be both favorable and unfavorable for the university depending on the points of view. The third sentence is the direction. Since it says “compare and discuss the good and bad consequences, “ an essay referring to only good or bad points would not get a high score.

☆Hints for points

Good Consequences:

1. better access to information (library, audit program, extension school)

2. stimulation to the local economy (shops, apartments, construction of new facilities)

3. influx of young power (events, volunteering, interaction with the local people, younger population)

Bad Consequences:

1. loss of a large area of nature

2. heavier traffic

3. binge drinking

☆Essay Structure

♦Sample Essay Structure in the case that you have two or three reasons to support your argument

【Introduction = Outline】　The addition seems to have both positive and negative impacts on my society.

【Point 1】A new university would vitalize the economy and the overall morale of our community.

【Point 2】The atmosphere in the community may have some adverse changes.

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】My hometown already has two universities and has few problems.

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】The community would be a little livelier and noisier than now.

♦Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

☆Paragraph Development

Paragraph development is a key to making your essay convincing. If a paragraph has only one sentence or two, it lacks some essential sentences such as supporting details (background information), or the main idea.

【Main Idea】 The atmosphere in the community may have some adverse changes.

【Transition】 There might be some environmental issues and concern about the increase of troublesome behaviors.

【Detail / Example】 For example, part of the large hill would be used to build the campus and a new town for the students and people who work there. The number of automobiles and the amount of garbage would increase. Also, the usual habit of some students such as staying up very late or getting drunk in the street may disturb their neighbors.

【Follow up】 However, most of these behaviors can be forgiven as lack of socialization and students will learn to behave in time.

【Conclusion】 The new university would bring about a loss of nature, which might disrupt the ecology in the area, and some rambunctious students, although this would not matter very much.

♦Your test paragraph development:

【Main Idea】

【Transition】

【Detail / Example】

【Follow up】

【Conclusion】

国際教養AO入試 reference, climate change, corportatocracy

Exxon Mobil Investigated for Possible Climate Change Lies by New York Attorney General
By JUSTIN GILLIS and CLIFFORD KRAUSSNOV. 5, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/06/science/exxon-mobil-under-investigation-in-new-york-over-climate-statements.html?_r=0
Obama rejects Keystone XL pipeline and hails US as leader on climate change

The Guardian   November 7, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/nov/06/obama-rejects-keystone-xl-pipeline

中学生 英文法 主語（代名詞別） 疑問文・否定文 出だし表

主語（代名詞）別　疑問文(?)・否定文(not)出だし表
文の種類	意味	I	we	you (単・複）	he	she	it	they
《疑問文》
beV	～ですか？（～に）いますか？	Am I ～?	Are we ～?	Are you ～?	Is he ～?	Is she ～?	Is it ～?	Are they ～?
受動態: beV+過去分詞(-ed）	～されますか？	Am I  -ed ?	Are we -ed?	Are you -ed?	Is he -ed?	Is she -ed?	Is it -ed?	Are they -ed?
進行形  beV+現在分詞(-ing)	～しているところですか？	Am I -ing?	Are we -ing?	Are you -ing?	Is he -ing?	Is she -ing	Is it -ing?	Are they -ing?
be going to ～?	～する予定ですか？	Am I going to ～?	Are we going to ～?	Are you going to ～?	Is he going to ～?	Is she going to ～?	Is it going to ～?	Are they going to ～?
beV 過去形	～でしたか？（～に）いましたか？	Was I ～?	Were we ～?	Were you ～?	Was he ～?	Was she ～?	Was it ～?	Were they ～?
過去形 受動態: beV+過去分詞(-ed）	～されましか？	Was I -ed?	Were we -ed?	Were you -ed?	Was he -ed?	Was she -ed?	Was it -ed?	Were they -ed?
過去形 進行形  beV+現在分詞(-ing)	～しているところでしたか？	Was I -ing?	Were we -ing?	Were you -ing?	Was he -ing?	Was she -ing	Was it -ing?	Were they -ing?
過去形 be going to	～する予定でしたか？	Was I going to ～?	Were we going to ～?	Were you going to ～?	Was he going to ～?	Was she going to ～?	Was it going to ～?	Were they going to ～?
助動詞 can	～できますか？	Can I ～?	Can we ～?	Can you ～?	Can he ～?	Can she ～?	Can it ～?	Can they ～?
助動詞 must	～しなければなりませんか？	Must I ～?	Must we ～?	Must you ～?	Must he ～?	Must she ～?	Must it ～?	Must they ～?
助動詞 will	～するつもりですか？	Will I ～?	Will we ～?	Will you ～?	Will he ～?	Will she ～?	Will it ～?	Will they ～?
一般動詞	～しますか？	Do I ～?	Do we ～?	Do you ～?	Does he ～?	Does she ～?	Does it ～?	Do they ～?
過去形 一般動詞	～しましたか？	Did I ～?	Did we ～?	Did you ～?	Did he ～?	Did she ～?	Did it ～?	Did they ～?
現在完了形: have+過去分詞(-ed)	継続・完了・結果・経験ですか？	Have I -ed?	Have we -ed?	Have you -ed?	Has he -ed?	Has she -ed?	Has it -ed?	Have they -ed?
現在完了進行形: have+been+現在分詞(-ing)	進行中の動作が継続していますか？	Have I been -ing?	Have we been -ing?	Have you been -ing?	Has he been -ing?	Has she been-ing?	Has it been -ing?	Have they been -ing?
過去完了形: had+過去分詞(-ed)	継続・完了・結果・経験でしたか？	Had I -ed?	Had we -ed?	Had you -ed?	Had he -ed?	Had she -ed?	Had it -ed?	Had they -ed?
《否定文》
beV	～ではありません。（～に）いません。	I'm not   ～.	We aren't  ～.	You aren't ～.	He isn't  ～.	She isn't  ～.	It isn't  ～.	They aren't  ～.
受動態: beV+過去分詞(-ed）	～されません。	I'm not -ed.	We aren't -ed.	You aren't -ed.	He isn't -ed.	She isn't -ed.	It isn't -ed.	They are n't -ed.
進行形  beV +現在分詞(-ing)	～しているところではありません。	I'm not -ing.	We aren't -ing.	You aren't -ing.	He isn't -ing.	She isn't -ing.	It isn't -ing.	They aren't -ing.
be going to	～する予定ではありません。	I'm not going to  ～.	We aren't going to ～.	You aren't going to ～.	He isn't going to  ～.	She isn't going to ～.	It isn't going to ～.	They aren't going to ～.
過去形 beV	～ではありませんでした。（～に）いませんでした。	I wasn't  ～.	We weren't ～.	You weren't  ～.	He wasn't  ～.	She wasn't  ～.	It wasn't ～.	They weren't ～.
過去形 受動態: beV+過去分詞(-ed）	～されませんでした。	I wasn't -ed.	We weren't -ed.	You weren't -ed.	He wasn't -ed	She wasn't -ed.	It wasn't -ed.	They weren't -ed.
過去形 進行形 beV + not +現在分詞(-ing)	～しているところではありませんでした。	I wasn't -ing.	We weren't -ing.	You weren't -ing.	He wasn't -ing.	She wasn't -ing.	It wasn't -ing.	They weren't -ing.
過去形 be going to + not	～する予定ではありませんでした。	I wasn't going to ～.	We weren't going to ～.	You weren't going to ～.	He wasn't going to ～.	She wasn't goinh to ～.	It wasn't going to ～.	They weren't going to ～.
助動詞 can	～できません。	I can't (cannot) ～.	We can't (cannot)  ～.	You can't (cannot)  ～.	He can't (cannot)   ～.	She can't (cannot)  ～.	It can't (cannot)  ～.	They can't (cannot)  ～.
助動詞 must	～してはいけません。	I musn't  ～.	We musn't ～.	You musn't  ～.	He musn't ～.	She musn't ～.	It musn't ～.	They musn't ～.
助動詞 will	～するつもりではありません。	I won't  ～.	We won't ～.	You won't  ～.	He won't ～.	She won't ～.	It won't ～.	They won't ～.
一般動詞	～しません。	I don't ～.	We don't ～.	You don't  ～.	He doesn't ～.	She doesn't ～.	It doesn't ～.	They don't ～.
過去形 一般動詞	～しませんでした。	I didn't ～.	We didn't ～.	You didn't  ～.	He didn't ～.	She didn't ～.	I didn't ～.	They didn't ～.
現在完了形: have+過去分詞(-ed)	継続・完了・結果・経験ではありません。	I haven't -ed.	We haven't -ed.	You haven't  -ed	He hasn't -ed.	She hasn't -ed.	It hasn't -ed.	They haven't -ed.
現在完了進行形: have+been+現在分詞(-ing)	進行中の動作が継続していません。	I haven't been -ing.	We haven't been -ing.	You havn't been -ing.	He hasn't been -ing.	She hasn't been -ing.	It hasn't been -ing.	They haven't been -ing.
過去完了形: had+過去分詞(-ed)	継続・完了・結果・経験ではありませんでした。	I hadn't -ed.	We hadn't -ed.	You hadn't  -ed	He hadn't -ed.	She hadn't -ed.	It hadn't -ed.	They hadn't -ed.

TOEFL, iBT, Independent Writing, Paper Books or E-books? -rewrite-

Writing Topic

Consider the following statement. Computers can provide all the information that once could be found only in books, and therefore, it will not be long before electronic technology makes books unnecessary. Do you agree or disagree with this idea? Support your response by including specific reasons and examples.

☆Hints for Points

Agree: information search … more efficient / thousands of books in an electronic reader / many functions that allow quicker and better learning

Disagree: no need for electricity / some information that cannot be digitized (copy right, when the book itself provides information) / more reliable information

☆Paragraph Development

Paragraph development is a key to making your essay convincing. If a paragraph has only one sentence or two, it lacks some essential sentences such as supporting details (background information), or the main idea. Also, as Japanese, whose culture directs them to start with details and make a conclusion in general in the end or often stick to details to the end, we often produce a paragraph as follows:

Paragraph A

By pointing a word you do not know, you can look into the dictionary installed in the electronic reader for the word. You can also refer to the related information of a particular person or event, often accompanied by sound, picture, and video. With the help of these functions, you can learn more quickly, actively and intuitively. E-books will make learning more efficient. It will not be long before school provides students with tablets instead of textbooks.

The paragraph above goes from specific (detail) to general (conclusion). If this paragraph is rewritten to conform to the English essay structure, the western thought process, it may become as follows:

Paragraph B

【Main Idea】 E-books will make learning more efficient.

【Detail / Example】 For example, by pointing a word you do not know, you can look into the dictionary installed in the electronic reader for the word. You can also refer to the related information of a particular person or event, often accompanied by sound, picture, and video. With the help of these functions, you can learn more quickly, actively and intuitively.

【Conclusion】 It will not be long before school provides students with tablets instead of textbooks.

As you can see, the comment after the detail in the former (Paragraph A) is placed on top of the latter (Paragraph B) as the main idea of the paragraph. If you add sentences of transition and follow-up it would be as follows:

【Main Idea】 E-books will make learning more efficient.

【Transition】 Their functions will help faster and more active learning.

【Detail / Example】 For example, by pointing a word you do not know, you can look into the dictionary installed in the electronic reader for the word. You can also refer to the related information of a particular person or event, often accompanied by sound, picture, and video. With the help of these functions, you can learn more quickly, actively and intuitively.

【Follow up】 It is true that to have a deeper understanding of a subject, you might need to read some books, but digitized books help form a general idea of a topic efficiently.

【Conclusion】 It will not be long before school provides students with tablets instead of textbooks.

It might be a good idea for us Japanese to write following our thought process (specific →general) and then rearrange the sentences following the western thought process (general→ specific).

♦Your test paragraph development:

【Main Idea】

【Transition】

【Detail / Example】

【Follow up】

【Conclusion】

☆Essay for Ideas and Expressions

I do not have the impression that books will soon become antiques that you seldom see in your daily lives, at least in lives of people who read.

Technically, computers and electronic readers can replace books in the near future. In terms of information search, it is usually much more efficient to use computers than it is to go to the library or subscribe to a paper newspaper or two; books that purely provide information such as dictionaries and encyclopedias have almost gone extinct. Tablets and electronic readers have displays pretty close to the surface of book pages and allow flipping and underlining. It might not be long before functions for leafing through and writing in are added. Ultimately, the difference will be literally either in ink on paper or electric. Here I think is the answer to this question. Paper books will not become totally unnecessary because they exist in the non-virtual world.

First, libraries will keep paper books even though they have been digitizing as many books as possible over decades. Paper and electric books complement each other in their physical shortcomings. Unlike e-books, paper books are bulky and vulnerable to nature such as fire and fungi, yet they are important resources because of their feature as tangible objects. They are ready to be read any time if you just pick them up and open them. Computers need electricity. For fear of blackouts, cyber-terrorism, or accidents that will disable access to or cause damage on digital archive, hard copies will always be kept in libraries and archives. Paper books are to human knowledge will be what bankbooks are to our accounts. Bankbooks still exist in this era of e-banking.

In private libraries, books might gradually disappear but will never be “unnecessary.” Digital books occupy no space and this is attractive for most of us, who do not live in a mansion. Therefore, natural selection, in fact the owner’s selection, of books in our bookshelves will be accelerated as many more cheaper digitalized versions will be available. But I think some books will remain, those books to which you have some personal attachment. They are in your shelf as proof of your life itself. It is hard to imagine readers throwing away their favorite books and downloading e-books of the same titles. I do not think they will no matter how small apartments they live in, and I think some of their books will establish the same kind of relationship with the next owners after their death, and this will be repeated until they are worn out and naturally perish. It would take long for all paper books to disappear this way, and they will just disappear, treasured by someone till the last moment. Therefore, paper books will never become unnecessary.

The substantial presence of books will be necessary in a digitized society. Paper books will be preserved forever as the originals. Good books will always be loved and needed by their owners until someday they are not available in print, and probably some special books such as the Bible, the Koran, or Bruce Springsteen’s biography, whose existence is indispensable for many people, will always be in demand.