How to Solve N3/N2 Reading “Reason Questions”: Looking Only for 「なぜなら」 Is Not Enough

The biggest reason learners get stuck on reading questions that ask for a reason is that they have not fixed where to look for that reason.
If you only search the passage for a word like 「なぜなら」, there will be more and more cases where you still miss the correct answer.

First, train your mind to recognize the three places where reasons tend to hide.

Three places where reasons often appear

Focus on the points where the writer supports or justifies their own claim.

1. Right after the conclusion

This is the pattern where the writer states a claim first and then adds the supporting reason afterward.

2. After contrast markers such as 「しかし」「ただし」「一方で」

After rejecting or adjusting a general opinion, the writer often continues with the reason why their own view makes sense.

3. After examples such as 「たとえば」「例えば」

After introducing an episode or example, the summary part that follows often contains the essential reason.

Two checkpoints to use when comparing answer choices

Even if you identify the correct place in the passage, the answer choices may still try to mislead you through careful rewording.
Check the following two points.

1. Mismatch in conditions

Do conditions such as 「〜なら」「〜ても」「〜場合」 match the conditions in the original passage?

2. Mismatch in the subject

Who thinks that?
Whose action is it?
Be careful of trap choices that quietly switch the subject.

Use 10 free reading questions to train yourself to fix the location

Instead of increasing your reading volume blindly, it is much more effective to fix where you should search.
That is the faster route to improving your score.

Start by trying 10 free reading questions and check whether your viewpoint is drifting away from the right place.

▼ Try 10 reading questions in the free course