2011/12 JLPT N3 Letters and Vocabulary test
問題 1 __のことばの読み方として最もよいものを、1・2・3・4から一つえらびなさい。
1 今年の夏は、<u>過去</u>十年間で一番の暑さだったそうだ。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
過去 (かこ) is the correct reading for the kanji meaning 'past' or 'previous'. The sentence means 'This summer was reportedly the hottest in the past ten years.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is an incorrect reading for 過去.
This is an incorrect reading for 過去.
This is an incorrect reading for 過去.
2 あと5分で東京駅に<u>到着</u>します
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
到着 (とうちゃく) is the correct reading for the kanji meaning 'arrival'. The sentence means 'We will arrive at Tokyo Station in 5 minutes.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is an incorrect reading for 到着.
This is an incorrect reading for 到着.
This is an incorrect reading for 到着.
3 公園の木の枝を<u>折って</u>はいけません。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
折って (おって) is the correct reading for the kanji 折る, meaning 'to break' or 'to snap'. The sentence means 'You must not break the branches of the park trees.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 打って (utte), meaning 'to hit'.
This is the reading for 割って (watte), meaning 'to break' (e.g., glass, something that shatters).
This is the reading for 切って (kitte), meaning 'to cut'.
4 インターネットで最新の<u>情報</u>をチェックした。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
情報 (じょうほう) is the correct reading for the kanji meaning 'information'. The sentence means 'I checked the latest information on the internet.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is an incorrect reading for 情報.
This is an incorrect reading for 情報.
This is an incorrect reading for 情報.
5 最近、野菜の<u>値段</u>が高くなっています。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
値段 (ねだん) is the correct reading for the kanji meaning 'price'. The sentence means 'Recently, vegetable prices have become high.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 価格 (kakaku), which also means 'price', but is not the reading for 値段.
This is the reading for 科学 (kagaku), meaning 'science', or 化学 (kagaku), meaning 'chemistry'.
This is an incorrect reading for 値段.
6 彼はあの国の文化に<u>深い</u>関心を持っている。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
深い (ふかい) is the correct reading for the kanji meaning 'deep'. The sentence means 'He has a deep interest in that country's culture.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 強い (tsuyoi), meaning 'strong'.
This is the reading for 広い (hiroi), meaning 'wide' or 'spacious'.
This is the reading for 重い (omoi), meaning 'heavy', or 遠い (tooi), meaning 'far'.
7 昨日、友達に本を<u>返しました</u>。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
返しました (かえしました) is the correct reading for the kanji 返す, meaning 'to return' or 'to give back'. The sentence means 'Yesterday, I returned the book to my friend.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 貸しました (kashimashita), meaning 'lent'.
This is the reading for 戻しました (modoshimashita), meaning 'returned' (often to a previous state or place), but 返す is specifically for returning an item.
This is the reading for 渡しました (watashimashita), meaning 'handed over' or 'passed over'.
8 月の<u>表面</u>はでこぼこしている。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
表面 (ひょうめん) is the correct reading for the kanji meaning 'surface'. The sentence means 'The moon's surface is bumpy.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 書面 (shomen), meaning 'document' or 'written form'.
This is an incorrect reading for 表面.
This is the reading for 正面 (shōmen), meaning 'front' or 'facade'.
問題 2 __のことばを漢字で書くとき、最もよいものを、1・2・3・4から一つえらびなさい。
9 東京は<u>げんざい</u>午後3時です。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
現在 (げんざい) is the correct kanji for 'present' or 'current time'. The sentence means 'It is currently 3 PM in Tokyo.'
Why other options are incorrect:
The kanji 視 (shi) means 'to see' and 在 (zai) means 'to exist'. This combination does not form a valid word for 'present time'.
現存 (genzon) means 'existing' or 'still in existence', but it's not used for 'current time'.
This combination of kanji does not form a valid word.
10 こちらのサンプルは<u>ごじゆう</u>にお取りください。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
ご自由 (ごじゆう) is the correct kanji for 'freely' or 'at your discretion'. The sentence means 'Please take these samples freely.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This combination of kanji does not form a valid word.
事由 (jiyū) means 'reason' or 'cause', which is different from 'freedom'.
自有 (jiyū) means 'self-owned' or 'inherent', which is not the intended meaning.
11 大学では<u>ほうりつ</u>を勉強ました。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
法律 (ほうりつ) is the correct kanji for 'law'. The sentence means 'I studied law at university.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This combination of kanji does not form a valid word.
This combination of kanji does not form a valid word.
This option is malformed and incorrect. 方 (hō) means 'direction' or 'method', and 律 (ritsu) means 'law' or 'rhythm', but the combination is not 法律.
12 いつか京都をゆっくり<u>かんこう</u>したい。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
観光 (かんこう) is the correct kanji for 'sightseeing' or 'tourism'. The sentence means 'Someday, I want to slowly sightsee in Kyoto.'
Why other options are incorrect:
観察 (かんさつ) means 'observation' or 'inspection'.
歓 (kan) means 'joy' or 'delight', and 光 (kō) means 'light'. This combination does not form a valid word for sightseeing.
This combination of kanji does not form a valid word.
13 当日、この<u>けん</u>を忘れないようにしてください。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
券 (けん) is the correct kanji for 'ticket' or 'coupon'. The sentence means 'Please try not to forget this ticket on the day.'
Why other options are incorrect:
巻 (kan) means 'volume' (of a book) or 'scroll'.
募 (bo) means 'to recruit' or 'to collect'.
巷 (kō) means 'alley' or 'street'.
14 なかなか<u>なみだ</u>が止まらなくて困りました。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
涙 (なみだ) is the correct kanji for 'tears'. The sentence means 'My tears wouldn't stop, and I was troubled.'
Why other options are incorrect:
流 (ryū/naga-) means 'to flow'.
汗 (ase) means 'sweat'.
泣 (naki-) means 'to cry' (verb), not the noun 'tears'.
問題 3 ()に入れるものに最もよいものを、1・2・3・4から一つえらびなさい。
15 この病気に()と、最初に高い熱が出る。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
かかる (kakaru) is the correct verb here, meaning 'to catch (a disease)' or 'to suffer from'. The phrase '病気にかかる' means 'to catch a disease'. The sentence means 'If you catch this disease, you will first get a high fever.'
Why other options are incorrect:
受かる (ukaru) means 'to pass (an exam)' or 'to be accepted'.
当たる (ataru) means 'to hit', 'to be correct', or 'to be exposed to'.
入る (hairu) means 'to enter'.
16 このホテルの部屋は、いつもきちんと掃除されていて()だ。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
清潔 (せいけつ) means 'clean' or 'hygienic'. This fits the context of a hotel room that is always neatly cleaned. The sentence means 'The rooms in this hotel are always neatly cleaned and are clean/hygienic.'
Why other options are incorrect:
上品 (jōhin) means 'elegant' or 'refined'.
派手 (hade) means 'flashy' or 'showy'.
安全 (anzen) means 'safe' or 'secure'.
17 今度の試合はみんなで力を()頑張ろう。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
力を合わせる (chikara o awaseru) is a common idiom meaning 'to combine forces' or 'to cooperate'. The sentence means 'Let's combine our strengths and do our best in the next match.'
Why other options are incorrect:
重ねて (kasanete) means 'repeatedly' or 'to pile up'.
加えて (kuwaete) means 'in addition to' or 'to add'.
増やして (fuyashite) means 'to increase'.
18 会議のためあしたから一週間、部長とアメリカへ()する。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
出張 (しゅっちょう) means 'business trip'. This is the most appropriate word for going to America for a meeting. The sentence means 'For a meeting, I will go on a business trip to America with the department head for a week starting tomorrow.'
Why other options are incorrect:
出席 (shusseki) means 'attendance' (e.g., attending a meeting).
出勤 (shukkin) means 'going to work' or 'reporting for duty'.
出国 (shukkoku) means 'departure from a country'.
19 山田さんは、よく()を言う面白い人です。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
冗談 (じょうだん) means 'joke'. The phrase '冗談を言う' means 'to tell a joke'. This fits the description of an 'interesting person'. The sentence means 'Mr. Yamada is an interesting person who often tells jokes.'
Why other options are incorrect:
文句 (monku) means 'complaint'.
感想 (kansō) means 'impressions' or 'thoughts'.
希望 (kibō) means 'hope' or 'wish'.
20 ピザのおいしい店を友達が教えてくれたので、()食べに行ってみた。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
さっそく (sassoku) means 'immediately' or 'right away'. This fits the context of going to try a recommended pizza place without delay. The sentence means 'My friend told me about a delicious pizza place, so I immediately went to try it.'
Why other options are incorrect:
せっかく (sekkaku) means 'with much trouble' or 'at great pains', often used when something is a good opportunity that shouldn't be wasted.
もうすぐ (mō sugu) means 'soon' or 'shortly'.
なるべく (narubeku) means 'as much as possible' or 'as... as one can'.
21 この道は()が多いので、運転に気をつけてください。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
カーブ (kābu) means 'curve' or 'bend' (in a road). A road with many curves requires careful driving. The sentence means 'This road has many curves, so please drive carefully.'
Why other options are incorrect:
コース (kōsu) means 'course' or 'route'.
スピード (supīdo) means 'speed'.
ブレーキ (burēki) means 'brake'.
22 銀行でドルを円に()した。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
両替 (りょうがえ) means 'money exchange' or 'currency exchange'. This is the correct action to perform at a bank when converting dollars to yen. The sentence means 'I exchanged dollars for yen at the bank.'
Why other options are incorrect:
貯金 (chokin) means 'savings' or 'deposit money'.
会計 (kaikei) means 'accounting' or 'bill/check' (at a restaurant).
借金 (shakkin) means 'debt' or 'borrowed money'.
23 この商品は毎日 1000個()売れるらしい。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
前後 (ぜんご) means 'around' or 'approximately' (before and after a number). This fits the context of an approximate sales figure. The sentence means 'This product seems to sell around 1000 units every day.'
Why other options are incorrect:
上下 (jōge) means 'up and down' or 'upper and lower'.
大小 (daishō) means 'size' (large and small).
多少 (tashō) means 'a little' or 'some' (quantity), but 前後 is more appropriate for 'around a number'.
24 台風の()で飛行機の出発が遅れた。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
影響 (えいきょう) means 'influence' or 'effect'. A typhoon's influence would cause flight delays. The sentence means 'The airplane's departure was delayed due to the typhoon's influence.'
Why other options are incorrect:
効果 (kōka) means 'effect' or 'result' (often positive or intended).
制限 (seigen) means 'restriction' or 'limitation'.
結果 (kekka) means 'result' or 'outcome'.
25 中身がこぼれないよう、ふたを()しめてください。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
しっかり (shikkari) means 'firmly' or 'tightly'. This adverb describes how to close a lid to prevent contents from spilling. The sentence means 'Please close the lid tightly so the contents don't spill.'
Why other options are incorrect:
はっきり (hakkiri) means 'clearly' or 'distinctly'.
うっかり (ukkari) means 'carelessly' or 'by mistake'.
ぐっすり (gussuri) means 'soundly' (e.g., sleeping soundly).
問題 4 __に意味が最も近いものを、1・2・3・4から一つえらびなさい。
26 それがこの辞書の<u>欠点</u>なんです。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
欠点 (けってん) means 'defect', 'flaw', or 'weak point'. Therefore, わるいところ (warui tokoro), meaning 'bad point' or 'bad aspect', is the closest in meaning. The sentence means 'That is the flaw of this dictionary.'
Why other options are incorrect:
好きなところ (suki na tokoro) means 'favorite point' or 'what I like'.
いいところ (ii tokoro) means 'good point'.
嫌いなところ (kirai na tokoro) means 'disliked point' or 'what I dislike'.
27 彼が留学したのは、大学卒業の<u>翌年</u>です。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
翌年 (よくねん) means 'the following year' or 'the next year'. Therefore, 次の年 (tsugi no toshi), meaning 'the next year', is the closest in meaning. The sentence means 'He studied abroad the year after graduating from university.'
Why other options are incorrect:
前の前の年 (mae no mae no toshi) means 'the year before the previous year'.
次の次の年 (tsugi no tsugi no toshi) means 'the year after the next year'.
前の年 (mae no toshi) means 'the previous year'.
28 来週の会議の<u>スケジュール</u>について連絡があった。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
スケジュール (sukejūru) means 'schedule'. 予定 (yotei) means 'plan' or 'schedule', making it the closest synonym. The sentence means 'There was a contact about the schedule for next week's meeting.'
Why other options are incorrect:
準備 (junbi) means 'preparation'.
場所 (basho) means 'place' or 'location'.
資料 (shiryō) means 'materials' or 'data'.
29 彼には<u>らくな</u>仕事を頼んだ。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
楽な (らく な) means 'easy', 'comfortable', or 'simple'. Therefore, 簡単な (かんたん な), meaning 'easy' or 'simple', is the closest in meaning. The sentence means 'I asked him to do an easy job.'
Why other options are incorrect:
大事な (daiji na) means 'important'.
細かい (komakai) means 'detailed' or 'fine'.
新しい (atarashii) means 'new'.
30 田中さんから<u>さっき</u>電話がありましたよ。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
さっき (sakki) means 'a little while ago' or 'just now'. Therefore, 少し前に (sukoshi mae ni), meaning 'a little while ago', is the closest in meaning. The sentence means 'Mr. Tanaka called a little while ago.'
Why other options are incorrect:
ずっと前に (zutto mae ni) means 'a long time ago'.
何回か (nankai ka) means 'a few times'. The '4)' is a typo in the option.
何回も (nankai mo) means 'many times'.
問題 5 次の言葉の使い方として最もよいものを、1・2・3・4から一つえらびなさい。
31 断る
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
断る (ことわる) means 'to refuse' or 'to decline'. Option 4 correctly uses it to mean 'I declined the invitation to the party because I had another appointment.' This is a common and correct usage.
Why other options are incorrect:
This uses 断る to mean 'quit' or 'give up' smoking, which is incorrect. The correct verb would be 禁煙する (kin'en suru) or やめる (yameru).
This uses 断る to mean 'quit' or 'leave' a company, which is incorrect. The correct verb would be 辞める (yameru) or 退職する (taishoku suru).
This uses 断る to mean 'give up' a dream, which is incorrect. The correct verb would be 諦める (akirameru).
32 ゆるい
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
ゆるい (yurui) means 'loose' or 'slack'. Option 2 correctly uses it to describe pants that are loose, requiring a belt to be tightened. The sentence means 'My pants are loose, so I tightened my belt.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This attempts to use ゆるい to mean 'less crowded' for a train, which is incorrect. The correct word would be 空いていた (aiteita) or すいていた (suiteita).
This attempts to use ゆるい to mean 'empty' or 'has space' for a suitcase, which is incorrect. The correct word would be 空いている (aiteiru) or 余裕がある (yoyū ga aru).
This attempts to use ゆるい to mean 'spacious enough' for a house, which is incorrect. The correct word would be 広い (hiroi) or 十分な広さがある (jūbun na hirosa ga aru).
33 性格
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
性格 (せいかく) means 'personality' or 'character'. Option 1 correctly uses it to describe a person's personality (short-tempered). The sentence means 'A short-tempered person is not very suited for this job.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This attempts to use 性格 to describe the 'condition' or 'state' of a ground, which is incorrect. The correct word would be 状態 (jōtai) or コンディション (kondishon).
This attempts to use 性格 to describe a 'characteristic' or 'feature' of a car, which is incorrect. The correct word would be 特徴 (tokuchō) or 性能 (seinō).
This attempts to use 性格 to mean 'mood' or 'temperament' of the day, which is incorrect. The correct word would be 気分 (kibun) or 機嫌 (kigen).
34 受け入れる
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
受け入れる (うけいれる) means 'to accept', 'to receive', or 'to admit'. Option 1 correctly uses it in the context of a university admitting many international students. The sentence means 'My university accepts many international students every year.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This attempts to use 受け入れる to mean 'to receive' a pamphlet, which is incorrect in this context. The correct verb would be 受け取る (uketoru).
This attempts to use 受け入れる to mean 'to accept' applications (for tickets) by phone, which is incorrect. The correct verb would be 受け付ける (uketsukeru).
This attempts to use 受け入れる to mean 'to incorporate' or 'to adopt' new technology into a product, which is incorrect. The correct verb would be 採用する (saiyō suru) or 取り入れる (toriireru).
35 そろそろ
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
そろそろ (sorosoro) means 'soon', 'gradually', or 'it's about time'. Option 4 correctly uses it to indicate that it's almost 12 o'clock, so it's time for a lunch break. The sentence means 'I still have work left, but it's almost 12 o'clock, so let's take a lunch break.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This attempts to use そろそろ with a negative verb to mean 'still not coming soon', which is incorrect. It implies an expectation of something happening soon, so 'still not coming' contradicts it. Perhaps 'まだ来ない' (still not coming) would be appropriate.
This attempts to use そろそろ to mean 'finally' or 'eventually' broke, which is incorrect. The correct word would be ついに (tsuini) or とうとう (tōtō).
This attempts to use そろそろ to mean 'finally' or 'at last' found, which is incorrect. The correct word would be やっと (yatto) or ついに (tsuini).