2012/07 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 スポーツで<u>汗</u>をかいたので、シャワーをあびた。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
汗 (あせ) is the correct reading for the kanji 汗, which means 'sweat'. The sentence means 'I sweated during sports, so I took a shower.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 塵 or 芥, meaning 'trash' or 'dust'.
This is the reading for 汚れ, meaning 'dirt' or 'stain'.
This is the reading for 涙, meaning 'tears'.
２ このお知らせをみんなに<u>配って</u>ください。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
配って (くばって) is the te-form of 配る (くばる), which means 'to distribute' or 'to hand out'. The sentence means 'Please distribute this notice to everyone.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the te-form of 黙る (だまる), meaning 'to be silent'.
This is the te-form of もらう, meaning 'to receive'.
This is the te-form of 払う (はらう), meaning 'to pay' or 'to sweep'.
３ 新しい道路がもうすぐ<u>完成</u>するそうだ。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
完成 (かんせい) means 'completion' or 'to be completed'. The sentence means 'I heard the new road will be completed soon.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 建設, meaning 'construction'. While related, it is not the correct reading for 完成.
This is the reading for 完全, meaning 'perfect' or 'complete'. It uses different kanji.
This is the reading for 建築, meaning 'architecture' or 'construction'. It uses different kanji.
４ ここから<u>島</u>がたくさん見えますよ。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
島 (しま) is the correct reading for the kanji 島, which means 'island'. The sentence means 'You can see many islands from here.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 星, meaning 'star'.
This is the reading for 鳥, meaning 'bird'.
This is the reading for 馬, meaning 'horse'.
５ 田中さんはちょっと<u>困って</u>いるみたいです。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
困って (こまって) is the te-form of 困る (こまる), which means 'to be troubled' or 'to be in difficulty'. The sentence means 'Mr. Tanaka seems to be a little troubled.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the te-form of 迷う (まよう), meaning 'to get lost' or 'to be confused'.
This is the te-form of 怒る (おこる), meaning 'to get angry'.
This is the te-form of 疑う (うたがう), meaning 'to doubt' or 'to suspect'.
６ <u>平日</u>は午後8 時まで開いています。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
平日 (へいじつ) is the correct reading for the kanji 平日, which means 'weekday'. The sentence means 'It is open until 8 PM on weekdays.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 本日, meaning 'today' (formal).
This is an incorrect reading.
This is the reading for 本日, meaning 'today' (formal).
７ わたしは3年前に大学を<u>卒業</u>しました。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
卒業 (そつぎょう) is the correct reading for the kanji 卒業, which means 'graduation'. The sentence means 'I graduated from university three years ago.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is an incorrect reading.
This is an incorrect reading.
This is an incorrect reading.
８ びんのふたは<u>固く</u>しめておいてください。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
固く (かたく) is the adverbial form of 固い (かたい), meaning 'firmly' or 'tightly'. The sentence means 'Please close the bottle lid tightly.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 軽く, meaning 'lightly'.
This is the reading for 緩く, meaning 'loosely'.
This is the reading for きつく, which can also mean 'tightly' or 'severely', but 固く is the direct reading for the kanji 固く.
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 やくそくを<u>まもる</u>ことは大切だ。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
守る (まもる) is the correct kanji for まもる, meaning 'to protect' or 'to keep (a promise)'. The sentence means 'It is important to keep promises.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the kanji for 保つ (たもつ), meaning 'to keep' or 'to preserve', but not the correct kanji for まもる in this context.
This is the kanji for 要る (いる), meaning 'to need'.
This is the kanji for 取る (とる), meaning 'to take'.
10 今、この<u>しゅうかんし</u>が一番売れている。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
週刊誌 (しゅうかんし) is the correct kanji for しゅうかんし, meaning 'weekly magazine'. The sentence means 'This weekly magazine is selling the best right now.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is an incorrect kanji combination. 議 means 'deliberation'.
This uses 週間 (week) instead of 週刊 (weekly publication).
This is an incorrect kanji combination.
11 今日はこれから友達と旅行の<u>そうだん</u>をします。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
相談 (そうだん) is the correct kanji for そうだん, meaning 'consultation' or 'discussion'. The sentence means 'Today, I will discuss travel plans with my friends.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is an incorrect kanji combination.
This is an incorrect kanji combination.
This is an incorrect kanji combination.
12 わたしは体力には<u>じしん</u>があります。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
自信 (じしん) is the correct kanji for じしん, meaning 'self-confidence'. The sentence means 'I have confidence in my physical strength.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is an incorrect kanji combination.
This is an incorrect kanji combination.
This is an incorrect kanji combination.
13 電子レンジでミルクを<u>あたためました</u>。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
温めました (あたためました) is the past tense of 温める (あたためる), meaning 'to warm up'. The sentence means 'I warmed up the milk in the microwave.'
Why other options are incorrect:
湯 (ゆ) means 'hot water', but 湯める is not a standard verb for warming.
熟 (じゅく) means 'ripe' or 'mature'. 熟める is not the correct verb for warming.
熱 (ねつ) means 'heat' or 'fever'. 熱める is not the correct verb for warming.
14 この製品の<u>げんりょう</u>はすべて輸入しています。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
原料 (げんりょう) is the correct kanji for げんりょう, meaning 'raw materials'. The sentence means 'All the raw materials for this product are imported.'
Why other options are incorrect:
材料 (ざいりょう) means 'ingredients' or 'materials', but げんりょう specifically refers to raw materials.
This is an incorrect kanji combination.
This is an incorrect kanji combination.
問題３（ ）に入れるのに最もよいものを１・２・３・４から一つえらびなさい。
15 今日は川の（ ）が速いから、泳いではいけません。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
流れ (ながれ) means 'current' or 'flow'. The sentence means 'The river's current is fast today, so you shouldn't swim.'
Why other options are incorrect:
感じ (かんじ) means 'feeling' or 漢字 (かんじ) means 'kanji'. Neither fits the context of a river.
急ぎ (いそぎ) means 'hurry' or 'urgency'. This does not fit the context of a river.
動き (うごき) means 'movement'. While a river moves, 流れ is the specific term for its current.
16 ( )はお金がかかるので、いつも家でご飯を食べています。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
外食 (がいしょく) means 'eating out'. The sentence means 'Eating out costs money, so I always eat at home.'
Why other options are incorrect:
食器 (しょっき) means 'tableware' or 'dishes'.
試食 (ししょく) means 'food tasting'.
食欲 (しょくよく) means 'appetite'.
17 きのうの試合は一点（ ）で勝つことができた。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
一点差 (いってんさ) means 'a one-point difference'. The sentence means 'We were able to win yesterday's game by one point.'
Why other options are incorrect:
引く (ひく) means 'to pull' or 'to subtract'. It does not form a common phrase with 一点.
比 (ひ) means 'ratio' or 'comparison'. It does not form a common phrase with 一点.
別 (べつ) means 'separate' or 'different'. It does not form a common phrase with 一点.
18 寝坊しないように、きのうは目覚まし時計を2 つ（ ）して寝ました。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
セット (setto) means 'to set'. セットする is used for setting an alarm clock. The sentence means 'To avoid oversleeping, I set two alarm clocks last night before going to bed.'
Why other options are incorrect:
ストップ (sutoppu) means 'stop'.
キャンセル (kyanseru) means 'cancel'.
スタート (sutaato) means 'start'.
19 佐藤さんは（ ）の強い人で、何度失敗してもあきらめなかった。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
意志 (いし) means 'will' or 'determination'. 意志が強い (いしがつよい) means 'strong-willed'. The sentence means 'Mr. Sato is a strong-willed person; he never gave up no matter how many times he failed.'
Why other options are incorrect:
期待 (きたい) means 'expectation'.
努力 (どりょく) means 'effort'. While related to perseverance, 意志 directly describes the strong will or determination.
希望 (きぼう) means 'hope'.
20 空港でホストファミリーと（ ）一人になったときは、とても寂しかった。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
別れて (わかれて) is the te-form of 別れる (わかれる), meaning 'to separate' or 'to part ways'. The sentence means 'When I parted ways with my host family at the airport and was alone, I felt very lonely.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the te-form of 付き合う (つきあう), meaning 'to associate with' or 'to date'.
This is the te-form of 関わる (かかわる), meaning 'to be involved with'.
This is the te-form of 待ち合わせる (まちあわせる), meaning 'to meet up' or 'to arrange to meet'.
21 仕事のやり方を変えたら、大きな問題は（ ）。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
起きなくなった (おきなくなった) means 'stopped occurring' or 'stopped happening'. 問題が起きる (もんだいがおきる) means 'a problem arises/occurs'. The sentence means 'After changing the way of working, major problems stopped occurring.'
Why other options are incorrect:
立つ (たつ) means 'to stand'. 問題が立つ is not a common or natural phrase.
始まる (はじまる) means 'to begin'. While problems can begin, 起きる is more natural for problems arising or occurring.
開く (ひらく) means 'to open'. This does not fit the context of problems.
22 今日は先輩がサッカーの試合に出るので、友達と一緒に（ ）に行った
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
応援 (おうえん) means 'support' or 'cheering'. 応援に行く means 'to go to cheer/support'. The sentence means 'My senior is playing in a soccer match today, so I went to cheer them on with my friends.'
Why other options are incorrect:
参加 (さんか) means 'participation'. One participates in a match, not goes to participation.
指導 (しどう) means 'guidance' or 'instruction'.
競争 (きょうそう) means 'competition'.
23 先生に頼んでレポートの締め切りを1 日だけ（ ）もらった。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
延ばして (のばして) is the te-form of 延ばす (のばす), meaning 'to extend' or 'to postpone'. 締め切りを延ばす means 'to extend the deadline'. The sentence means 'I asked the teacher to extend the report deadline by one day.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the te-form of 移す (うつす), meaning 'to move' or 'to transfer'.
This is the te-form of やり直す (やりなおす), meaning 'to redo' or 'to start over'.
This is the te-form of 取り替える (とりかえる), meaning 'to exchange' or 'to replace'.
24 孫たちの乗った車が見えなくなるまで、大きく手を（ ）見送った。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
振って (ふって) is the te-form of 振る (ふる), meaning 'to wave'. 手を振る means 'to wave one's hand'. The sentence means 'I waved my hand widely and saw my grandchildren off until their car was out of sight.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the te-form of 叩く (たたく), meaning 'to hit' or 'to tap'.
This is the te-form of 握る (にぎる), meaning 'to grasp' or 'to hold'.
This is the te-form of 触る (さわる), meaning 'to touch'.
25 今夜は雨が降るそうなので、家の外に止めてあるバイクに（ ）をかけた。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
カバー (kabaa) means 'cover'. カバーをかける means 'to put a cover on'. The sentence means 'It seems it will rain tonight, so I put a cover on the motorcycle parked outside the house.'
Why other options are incorrect:
ケース (keesu) means 'case'.
マスク (masuku) means 'mask'.
ラップ (rappu) means 'plastic wrap'.
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 これらのやり方には、<u>共通点</u>があります。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
共通点 (きょうつうてん) means 'common point' or 'something in common'. 同じところ (おなじところ) means 'the same point/place'. The sentence means 'These methods have common points.'
Why other options are incorrect:
悪いところ (わるいところ) means 'bad point'.
いいところ means 'good point'.
違うところ (ちがうところ) means 'different point'.
27 書類をみんなで<u>整理した</u>。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
整理した (せいりした) is the past tense of 整理する (せいりする), meaning 'to organize' or 'to arrange'. 片付けた (かたづけた) is the past tense of 片付ける (かたづける), meaning 'to tidy up' or 'to put in order'. The sentence means 'Everyone organized the documents.'
Why other options are incorrect:
数えた (かぞえた) is the past tense of 数える (かぞえる), meaning 'to count'.
運んだ (はこんだ) is the past tense of 運ぶ (はこぶ), meaning 'to carry' or 'to transport'.
探した (さがした) is the past tense of 探す (さがす), meaning 'to search for'.
28 田中さんは<u>ぜったいに</u>来ると思います。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
ぜったいに (zettai ni) means 'absolutely' or 'definitely'. かならず (kanarazu) means 'without fail' or 'certainly'. Both convey a strong sense of certainty.
Why other options are incorrect:
すぐに means 'immediately'.
たぶん means 'probably', which is the opposite of ぜったいに.
あとから means 'later'.
29 このことは、<u>ないしょにして</u>ください。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
ないしょにして (naisho ni shite) is the te-form of ないしょにする, meaning 'to keep a secret'. だれにも話さないで (dare ni mo hanasanaide) means 'don't tell anyone', which is the equivalent meaning.
Why other options are incorrect:
いろいろな人に話して means 'tell various people', which is the opposite of keeping a secret.
早く忘れて means 'forget quickly'.
忘れないで means 'don't forget'.
30 このCD の中で一番<u>気に入っている</u>曲はこれです。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
気に入っている (きにいっている) means 'to like' or 'to be fond of'. 好きな (すきな) means 'favorite' or 'liked', which is the closest meaning.
Why other options are incorrect:
人気がある (にんきがある) means 'popular'. This refers to general popularity, not personal preference.
よく覚えている (よくおぼえている) means 'remember well'.
楽しい (たのしい) means 'fun' or 'enjoyable'. While a favorite song might be fun, 好きな directly expresses the preference.
問題５ 次のことば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 緊張
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
緊張 (きんちょう) means 'nervousness' or 'tension'. Option 4, 'テレビのインタビューを受けて、とても<u>緊張</u>した。' (I was very nervous receiving a TV interview.), correctly uses 緊張 to describe a feeling of nervousness in a stressful situation.
Why other options are incorrect:
緊張 is not used for positive excitement. 胸がドキドキした (my heart pounded) or 胸が高鳴った (my heart swelled) would be more appropriate for joy.
緊張 is not used to describe plans. 詰まっている (packed) or ぎっしりしている (tightly scheduled) would be more appropriate for busy plans.
緊張 is not used to describe difficulty or complexity of usage. 複雑 (complicated) or 難しい (difficult) would be more appropriate.
32 暗記
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
暗記 (あんき) means 'memorization' or 'learning by heart'. Option 2, '教科書に載っている文は、すべて<u>暗記</u>しています。' (I have memorized all the sentences in the textbook.), correctly uses 暗記 for learning factual information by heart.
Why other options are incorrect:
暗記 is for factual information, not for remembering a scene or impression. 覚えておきたい (want to remember) or 心に留めておきたい (want to keep in mind) would be more appropriate.
暗記 is not used for remembering people. 覚えていますか (do you remember) would be more appropriate.
暗記 is not used for recalling where something is. 覚えていません (don't remember) would be more appropriate.
33 通り過ぎる
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
通り過ぎる (とおりすぎる) means 'to pass by' or 'to go past'. Option 1, '店の看板に気づかず、いつのまにか前を<u>通り過ぎていた</u>。' (Without noticing the shop sign, I somehow passed by it.), correctly uses 通り過ぎる to describe passing a location.
Why other options are incorrect:
通り過ぎる is not used for surpassing in height. 追い越した (surpassed) or 超えた (exceeded) would be more appropriate.
While 通り過ぎる can mean 'to pass' in a race, 追い越す (to overtake) is more common and precise for passing a competitor.
通り過ぎる is not typically used for time passing. 過ぎていた (had passed) is the correct verb for time.
34 訪問
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
訪問 (ほうもん) means 'visit' (formal, often to a place or person for a specific purpose). Option 1, '就職活動のために、先輩の会社を<u>訪問</u>しました。' (I visited my senior's company for job hunting activities.), correctly uses 訪問 for visiting a company.
Why other options are incorrect:
Letters don't 訪問. 届いた (arrived) would be appropriate.
訪問 is too formal for casual visits to places like the sea. 行く (go) or 訪れる (visit, more general) would be more appropriate.
Opportunities don't 訪問. 訪れた (came) or 巡ってきた (came around) would be more appropriate.
35 翻訳
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
翻訳 (ほんやく) means 'translation' (specifically between different languages). Option 3, 'この小説は十以上の言語に<u>翻訳</u>されている。' (This novel has been translated into more than ten languages.), correctly uses 翻訳 for translating between languages.
Why other options are incorrect:
翻訳 is for language-to-language translation, not script conversion within the same language. 書き換えてください (please rewrite) or 読み方を書いてください (please write the reading) would be more appropriate.
This is not 翻訳 but 要約 (ようやく) 'summarization' or 言い換え (いいかえ) 'rephrasing'.
This is a definition or rephrasing, not 翻訳 between languages. 言い換えれば (if you rephrase it) would be more appropriate.