Answer: The term "focused attention" refers to the act of concentrating or directing one's attention to a specific task, object, or idea with intention and purpose. It means paying close and careful attention to a particular matter, while ignoring distractions or other competing stimuli.
When someone is said to be giving "focused attention" to something, it suggests that they are giving it their full concentration and effort, and not allowing themselves to be distracted by other things. It is often a deliberate and conscious effort to give careful consideration to a particular topic, in order to gain a deeper understanding of it or to achieve a specific goal.
Overall, "focused attention" implies a deliberate effort to concentrate and direct one's cognitive resources towards a specific task or object, often with the aim of achieving a specific outcome or result.
Explanation: In this context, "focused attention" refers to the increased attention or emphasis that was given to a particular issue or topic. The text suggests that the conduct of Matsuoka, a Japanese foreign minister, drew particular attention to the issue of Japan's relations with Germany, which had become a major concern for the American officials involved in the talks.
The phrase "focused attention" implies that the American officials were giving this issue significant and deliberate attention, perhaps because they saw it as particularly important or because they believed it needed to be resolved in order to avoid a larger conflict. This phrase indicates that the issue of Japan's relations with Germany was a central concern for the American officials, and that they were devoting significant resources and effort to address it.