2018/12 JLPT N3 Letters and Vocabulary test
問題1: ___の言葉の読み方として最もよいものを、1・2・3・4から一つ選びなさい。
1. 息子は来年<u>卒業</u>します。
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 'My son will graduate next year.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is an incorrect reading for 卒業.
This is an incorrect reading for 卒業.
This is an incorrect reading for 卒業.
2. 留学について先生に<u>相談</u>した。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
相談 (そうだん) is the correct reading for the kanji 相談, which means 'consultation' or 'discussion'. The sentence means 'I consulted my teacher about studying abroad.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is an incorrect reading for 相談.
This is an incorrect reading for 相談.
This is an incorrect reading for 相談.
3. <u>確か</u>にかばんにしまいました。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
確か (たしか) is the correct reading for the kanji 確か, which means 'certainly' or 'surely'. The sentence means 'I certainly put it in my bag.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 静か (shizuka), meaning 'quiet'.
This is an incorrect reading for 確か.
This is an incorrect reading for 確か.
4. 子どもたちが<u>遊ぶ</u>声が聞こえます。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
遊ぶ (あそぶ) is the correct reading for the kanji 遊ぶ, which means 'to play'. The sentence means 'I can hear the children playing.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 呼ぶ (yobu), meaning 'to call'.
This is the reading for 学ぶ (manabu), meaning 'to learn'.
This is the reading for 叫ぶ (sakebu), meaning 'to shout'.
5. 店の人はみんな同じ<u>制服</u>を着ていた。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
制服 (せいふく) is the correct reading for the kanji 制服, which means 'uniform'. The sentence means 'All the store staff were wearing the same uniform.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 洋服 (yōfuku), meaning 'Western clothes'.
This is an incorrect reading for 制服.
This is the reading for 洋風 (yōfū), meaning 'Western style'.
6. 鈴木さんが<u>換えて</u>くれました。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
換えて (かえて) is the correct reading for the kanji 換えて, which is the te-form of 換える, meaning 'to exchange' or 'to change'. The sentence means 'Mr. Suzuki changed it for me.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 加えて (kuwaete), meaning 'to add'.
This is the reading for 捕まえて (tsukamaete), meaning 'to catch'.
This is the reading for 伝えて (tsutaete), meaning 'to convey'.
7. <u>血圧</u>が前よりも高かったようです。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
血圧 (けつあつ) is the correct reading for the kanji 血圧, which means 'blood pressure'. The sentence means 'My blood pressure seems to be higher than before.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is an incorrect reading for 血圧.
This is an incorrect reading for 血圧.
This is an incorrect reading for 血圧.
8. <u>改札</u>の前で会いましょう。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
改札 (かいさつ) is the correct reading for the kanji 改札, which means 'ticket gate'. The sentence means 'Let's meet in front of the ticket gate.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is an incorrect reading for 改札.
This is the reading for 警察 (keisatsu), meaning 'police'.
This is an incorrect reading for 改札.
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. 高橋さんに<u>しゅうかんし</u>を買ってきてもらった。
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, which means 'weekly magazine'.
Why other options are incorrect:
完 (kan) means 'completion', not 'weekly'. This is an incorrect kanji combination.
記 (ki) means 'record' or 'account', not 'magazine'. This is an incorrect kanji combination.
Both kanji are incorrect for 'weekly magazine'.
10. このドラマの<u>つづき</u>が楽しみだ。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
続き (つづき) is the correct kanji for つづき, which means 'continuation' or 'sequel'. The sentence means 'I'm looking forward to the continuation of this drama.'
Why other options are incorrect:
総 (sō) means 'total' or 'general'. This is an incorrect kanji.
統 (tō) means 'rule' or 'govern'. This is an incorrect kanji.
績 (seki) means 'achievements' or 'results'. This is an incorrect kanji.
11. 毎日<u>ねっしん</u>に勉強している。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
熱心 (ねっしん) is the correct kanji for ねっしん, which means 'enthusiastic' or 'eager'. The sentence means 'I study enthusiastically every day.'
Why other options are incorrect:
燃 (nen) means 'burn'. This is an incorrect kanji.
身 (shin) means 'body'. This is an incorrect kanji.
Both kanji are incorrect for 熱心.
12. 中村さんは一週間前に<u>たいいん</u>したそうです。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
退院 (たいいん) is the correct kanji for たいいん, which means 'discharge from hospital'. The sentence means 'I heard Mr. Nakamura was discharged from the hospital a week ago.'
Why other options are incorrect:
帰 (ki) means 'return'. 帰院 (kiin) means 'return to hospital', which is different from being discharged.
員 (in) means 'member'. 退員 (taīn) means 'retirement from membership' or 'withdrawal of staff', which is incorrect in this context.
Both kanji are incorrect for 'discharge from hospital'.
13. もうちょっと<u>あつい</u>のが欲しいです。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
厚い (あつい) is the correct kanji for あつい, meaning 'thick'. The sentence implies wanting something a bit thicker.
Why other options are incorrect:
丸い (marui) means 'round'.
細い (hosoi) means 'thin'.
浅い (asai) means 'shallow'.
14. あしたは9時に<u>しゅっきん</u>します。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
出勤 (しゅっきん) is the correct kanji for しゅっきん, which means 'going to work' or 'attendance'. The sentence means 'I will go to work at 9 AM tomorrow.'
Why other options are incorrect:
勧 (kan) means 'recommendation'. This is an incorrect kanji.
勘 (kan) means 'intuition'. This is an incorrect kanji.
働 (dō) means 'work', but 出働 is not a standard word for 'going to work'.
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. 森選手は、全国で1位になることを( )にしてがんばっている。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
目標 (もくひょう) means 'goal' or 'target'. The phrase '目標にしてがんばっている' means 'working hard with the goal of...'. This fits the context of a player aiming to be number one.
Why other options are incorrect:
指定 (してい) means 'designation' or 'specification'. It doesn't fit the context of a personal goal.
満点 (まんてん) means 'perfect score'. It's not a general term for a goal.
一流 (いちりゅう) means 'first-class' or 'top-notch'. It describes quality, not a goal itself.
16. 玄関の電気は、スイッチを押さなくても、暗くなると( ) つきます。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
自動的に (じどうてきに) means 'automatically'. The sentence describes lights turning on by themselves when it gets dark, which is an automatic function.
Why other options are incorrect:
人工的に (じんこうてきに) means 'artificially'. This implies human intervention or creation, not automatic operation.
積極的に (せっきょくてきに) means 'actively' or 'positively'. This describes a proactive action, not an automatic one.
具体的に (ぐたいてきに) means 'concretely' or 'specifically'. This relates to detail, not how something operates.
17. 掃除をするので、この()に水を入れてきてください。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
バケツ (bucket) is the appropriate item to put water in for cleaning. The sentence means 'I'm going to clean, so please fill this bucket with water.'
Why other options are incorrect:
ロッカー (locker) is a storage unit.
ブラシ (brush) is a cleaning tool, not a container for water.
タオル (towel) is used for wiping, not for holding water.
18. この国は雨が少ないので、いつも空気が( ) している。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
乾燥 (かんそう) means 'dryness'. If there is little rain, the air will naturally be dry. The sentence means 'This country has little rain, so the air is always dry.'
Why other options are incorrect:
縮小 (しゅくしょう) means 'reduction' or 'shrinkage'. This does not apply to air quality.
沸騰 (ふっとう) means 'boiling'. This does not apply to air quality.
減少 (げんしょう) means 'decrease'. While rain decreases, the air itself doesn't 'decrease'.
19. この町は昔から貿易が盛んで、経済の中心地として( ) してきた。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
発展 (はってん) means 'development' or 'growth'. A town with thriving trade would develop and grow as an economic center. The sentence means 'This town has flourished in trade since ancient times and has developed as an economic center.'
Why other options are incorrect:
進歩 (しんぽ) means 'progress', often in terms of technology or skills. While related, 発展 is more suitable for the overall growth of a city or economy.
出発 (しゅっぱつ) means 'departure'. This is unrelated to economic growth.
開始 (かいし) means 'start' or 'commencement'. This refers to the beginning, not the continuous growth over time.
20. どちらのパソコンを買おうか、まだ( ) います。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
迷って (まよって) is the te-form of 迷う, meaning 'to be undecided' or 'to be lost'. The sentence means 'I'm still undecided about which computer to buy.'
Why other options are incorrect:
おどろいて (驚いて) means 'to be surprised'. This does not fit the context of making a choice.
こわがって (怖がって) means 'to be scared' or 'to be afraid'. This does not fit the context of making a choice.
うたがって (疑って) means 'to doubt' or 'to suspect'. This does not fit the context of making a choice.
21. 駅のホームで、小学校のときの同級生に ( ) 会ってびっくりした。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
偶然 (ぐうぜん) means 'by chance' or 'accidentally'. Meeting an old classmate unexpectedly fits this meaning perfectly. The sentence means 'I was surprised to accidentally meet a classmate from elementary school at the station platform.'
Why other options are incorrect:
ぜひ (zehi) means 'by all means' or 'definitely', expressing strong desire or request.
一応 (ichiō) means 'for the time being' or 'just in case'.
ついでに (tsuide ni) means 'while you're at it' or 'at the same time'.
22. その映画は面白いと友達から聞いていたから、()していたのに、実際はあまり面白くなかった。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
期待 (きたい) means 'expectation'. The sentence implies that despite having high expectations for the movie (because a friend said it was interesting), it wasn't very interesting in reality. This creates a contrast.
Why other options are incorrect:
歓迎 (かんげい) means 'welcome'. This is unrelated to one's feelings about a movie's quality.
満足 (まんぞく) means 'satisfaction'. If one was satisfied, the latter part of the sentence ('it wasn't very interesting') would contradict it.
感激 (かんげき) means 'deep emotion' or 'impression'. While a movie can cause this, it doesn't set up the contrast of disappointment as 'expectation' does.
23. 寝坊して慌てて家を出たので、( ) 携帯電話を忘れてきてしまった。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
うっかり means 'carelessly' or 'by mistake'. Forgetting a phone because one overslept and rushed out fits this meaning. The sentence means 'I overslept and rushed out of the house, so I carelessly forgot my cell phone.'
Why other options are incorrect:
そっと means 'gently' or 'quietly'. This describes an action, not a state of mind leading to forgetting.
ぐっすり means 'soundly' (used for sleeping). This is unrelated to forgetting an item.
どっと means 'suddenly' or 'all at once'. This describes a sudden rush or outpouring, not the act of forgetting due to carelessness.
24. 会社に届いた郵便の中に、あて先が違う手紙が一通( ) いた。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
交ざって (まざって) is the te-form of 交ざる, meaning 'to be mixed in'. The sentence means a letter with a wrong address was mixed in with the mail delivered to the company.
Why other options are incorrect:
寄って (yotte) is the te-form of 寄る, meaning 'to approach' or 'to stop by'. This does not fit the context of a letter being misplaced among others.
固まって (katamatte) is the te-form of 固まる, meaning 'to harden' or 'to gather (into a mass)'. This is unrelated to letters.
合って (atte) is the te-form of 合う, meaning 'to match' or 'to fit'. This implies correctness, which contradicts 'あて先が違う' (wrong address).
25. この皿の上に同じ皿をどんどん ( ) ください。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
重ねて (かさねて) is the te-form of 重ねる, meaning 'to stack' or 'to pile up'. The sentence asks to stack similar plates on top of the current one.
Why other options are incorrect:
そそいで (sosoide) is the te-form of 注ぐ, meaning 'to pour' (liquid). This is not applicable to plates.
あずけて (azukete) is the te-form of 預ける, meaning 'to entrust' or 'to deposit'. This is not applicable to plates.
むかえて (mukaete) is the te-form of 迎える, meaning 'to welcome' or 'to meet'. This is not applicable to plates.
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. 山口さんに<u>指導して</u>もらいました。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
指導する (しどうする) means 'to guide' or 'to instruct'. 教える (おしえる) means 'to teach' or 'to tell', which is the closest meaning.
Why other options are incorrect:
探す (さがす) means 'to search'.
調べる (しらべる) means 'to investigate'.
決める (きめる) means 'to decide'.
27. もっと<u>トレーニング</u>をしたほうがいい。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
トレーニング (training) is a loanword meaning 'training' or 'practice'. 練習 (れんしゅう) means 'practice' or 'exercise', which is the closest meaning.
Why other options are incorrect:
準備 (じゅんび) means 'preparation'.
競争 (きょうそう) means 'competition'.
質問 (しつもん) means 'question'.
28. どんな<u>手段</u>があるか考えてみた。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
手段 (しゅだん) means 'means' or 'method'. やり方 (やりかた) means 'way of doing' or 'method', which is the closest meaning.
Why other options are incorrect:
連絡 (れんらく) means 'contact'.
楽しみ (たのしみ) means 'enjoyment'.
理由 (りゆう) means 'reason'.
29. リーさんは日本語が<u>ぺらぺら</u>です。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
ぺらぺら (perapera) is an onomatopoeic word meaning 'fluent' (in speaking a language). Therefore, 上手に話せます (can speak skillfully) is the closest meaning.
Why other options are incorrect:
This means 'cannot write much' and is unrelated to ぺらぺら.
This means 'can write skillfully' and refers to writing, not speaking.
This means 'cannot speak much' and is the opposite of ぺらぺら.
30. その歌手は<u>ようやく</u>有名になった。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
ようやく (youyaku) means 'finally' or 'at last', often after a long wait or effort. やっと (yatto) has a very similar meaning, emphasizing that something was achieved with difficulty or after a long time.
Why other options are incorrect:
とても (totemo) means 'very'.
なぜか (nazeka) means 'for some reason'.
やっぱり (yappari) means 'as expected' or 'after all'.
問題5: つぎ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. 建築
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
建築 (けんちく) refers to the construction or building of structures like buildings, bridges, etc. Option 4 correctly uses it for a library being built.
Why other options are incorrect:
建築 is used for buildings, not for paintings (絵). For paintings, 描かれた (drawn) or 制作された (produced) would be appropriate.
建築 is used for buildings, not for manufacturing cars (自動車). 製造 (seizō) or 生産 (seisan) would be appropriate.
建築 is used for physical structures, not for abstract concepts like 'environment' (環境). 構築 (kōchiku) or 整備 (seibi) would be more appropriate for creating an environment.
32. 埋める
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
埋める (うめる) means 'to bury' or 'to fill (a hole)'. Option 2 correctly uses it for burying garbage in a hole in the garden.
Why other options are incorrect:
埋める is incorrect for buttons. 留める (tomeru) 'to button up' or かける (kakeru) 'to fasten' would be correct.
埋める is incorrect for planting trees. 植える (ueru) 'to plant' would be correct.
埋める is incorrect for putting items into a box. 詰める (tsumeru) 'to pack' or 入れる (ireru) 'to put in' would be correct.
33. 重大
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
重大 (じゅうだい) means 'serious', 'important', or 'grave'. Option 2 correctly uses it to describe a serious problem found in a computer, which would lead to a recall.
Why other options are incorrect:
重大 is not typically used with 苦労 (kurō: hardship). 大変な苦労 (taihen na kurō: great hardship) would be more natural.
重大 is not typically used with 時間 (jikan: time). 貴重な時間 (kichō na jikan: valuable time) would be more natural.
重大 is not typically used with 思い出 (omoide: memory). 大切な思い出 (taisetsu na omoide: important memory) or 素晴らしい思い出 (subarashii omoide: wonderful memory) would be more natural.
34. 延期
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
延期 (えんき) means 'postponement' or 'delay' (of an event or deadline). Option 1 correctly uses it for postponing a match due to a typhoon.
Why other options are incorrect:
延期 is for events/deadlines, not for personal departure time. 遅らせた (okuraseta) 'delayed' or ずらした (zurashita) 'shifted' would be more appropriate.
延期 is not used for extending study time. 長く (nagaku) 'longer' or 延長して (enchō shite) 'extended' would be more appropriate.
延期 is for postponing, not for extending duration. 延長しないでください (enchō shinaide kudasai) 'please don't extend' would be more appropriate.
35. 知り合う
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
知り合う (しりあう) means 'to get to know (someone)'. Option 3 correctly uses it to describe meeting and getting to know someone at a travel destination.
Why other options are incorrect:
知り合う is about getting to know someone. If someone didn't recognize you, 気づかなかった (kizukanakatta) 'didn't notice' or 分からなかった (wakaranakatta) 'didn't recognize' would be more appropriate.
知り合う is for people. For learning information, 知った (shitta) 'learned' or 分かった (wakatta) 'understood' would be more appropriate.
知り合う is for people. For understanding how to use a machine, 理解して (rikai shite) 'understand' or 使い方を覚えて (tsukaikata o oboete) 'learn how to use' would be more appropriate.