大学受験対策｜英語 長文読解問題52 難易度：★☆☆☆☆

When we talk about big companies, many people think of large American businesses like Apple, Google, or Amazon. These companies have millions of customers around the world. They also have many workers and make a lot of money every year. For example, Apple’s revenue in 2023 was over 380 billion U.S. dollars.

In Japan, there are also some very large companies. Toyota is one of the biggest car companies in the world. In 2023, Toyota sold over 10 million cars. Companies like Sony and Panasonic are also well known in many countries. These Japanese businesses are famous for making cars, electronics, and machines.

However, not all companies are big. In fact, most companies in both Japan and the United States are small or medium-sized businesses. These are often called “SMEs,” which stands for “small and medium-sized enterprises.” In Japan, more than 99% of all businesses are SMEs. In the U.S., about 99% of businesses are also in this group. These companies do not have thousands of workers, but they play an important role in the economy.

SMEs often provide local jobs and support communities. For example, restaurants, shops, and small factories are usually SMEs. They are also important because they can change quickly and offer unique services or products.

Big companies get a lot of attention, but small companies are everywhere. They help people in daily life and keep the economy moving. In both Japan and the United States, the business world is not only about big names—it is also about many small businesses working hard every day.

Q1. Which fact about Toyota is stated in the passage?

1. Toyota sold over ten million cars last year.
2. Toyota built only hybrid cars for Japanese drivers.
3. Sony and Toyota share exactly the same products.
4. Toyota is smaller than famous American technology companies.

Q2. Why are small and medium businesses important for communities?

1. They employ only students during long summer holidays.
2. They create jobs and support towns where people live.
3. They focus on exporting products instead of local sales.
4. They do not change their services for years.

Q3. Which sentence is NOT supported by details in the passage?

1. Large American firms serve millions of customers worldwide.
2. Small businesses keep the economy running in both countries.
3. Restaurants usually belong to the small business group.
4. Most U.S. companies have more than ten thousand employees.