Lesson 3 飯食わぬ女房 Practice
Part 1: Choosing the grammar form
Q1
無理して徹夜なんてしなきゃよかった。早く寝る 、薬を飲む しておけば治ったかもしれない。
Related grammar point 6 掃除なり洗濯なり
無理して徹夜なんてしなきゃよかった。早く寝るなり、薬を飲むなりしておけば治ったかもしれない。
I should never have forced myself to stay up all night. If I had gone to bed early, or taken some medicine, or done something, it might have been fine.
1につけ
"につけ" is normally used in the pattern "〜につけ〜につけ" to mean "whenever ... / whether ... or ...", which does not fit the context here of "doing just one of several options."
2にしろ
"にしろ" means "whether it is ... or ... (either way)," and although it also gives concessive examples, it is not used in a context of concrete advice like "doing something."
3やら
"やら" means "... and ... (listing uncertain, troublesome things)," which does not fit the advice context here of "doing any one of them would have been enough."
4なり ✓
Correct. "AなりBなり" means "A or B, whichever (just pick one to do)," corresponding to grammar point ⑥ of this lesson. "早く寝るなり、薬を飲むなりしておけば" = if I had gone to bed early or taken medicine (done something, anything).
Q2
計算ソフトの使い方を何度も教えているのに、本田君は聞いた 忘れるんだよね。
Related grammar point 16 作るそばから
計算ソフトの使い方を何度も教えているのに、本田君は聞いたそばから忘れるんだよね。
I've taught Honda how to use the calculation software many times, but he forgets it the moment he hears it.
1が早いか
"が早いか" = "almost at the same time as ...," and is normally used to narrate a one-time event, not a repeated, habitual description like "it's like this every time."
2次第
"次第" attaches to the ます-stem ("as soon as ...") or to a noun ("depending on ..."), so it cannot follow the plain past form "聞いた" and does not express a repeated "forget right after hearing."
3そばから ✓
Correct. "そばから" means "B immediately after A (and this happens repeatedly)," corresponding to grammar point ⑯ of this lesson. "聞いたそばから忘れる" = forgetting right after hearing (a recurring phenomenon).
4なり
"なり" refers to something that happens right after a one-time action, and is not used for repeated, habitual descriptions.
Q3
新発売のエコカーは環境への配慮 、価格の面でも皆様にご納得いただけるものとなっております。
新発売のエコカーは環境への配慮はもとより、価格の面でも皆様にご納得いただけるものとなっております。
The newly released eco-friendly car not only takes the environment fully into account but will surely satisfy you in terms of price as well.
1どころか
"どころか" = "far from ..., on the contrary ...," which does not fit the context of this sentence.
2はおろか
"はおろか" = "let alone ..., even ... not," and is normally used in negative contexts, so it does not fit this sentence, which makes a positive evaluation.
3かたがた
"かたがた" = "while ... / on the occasion of ...," which does not fit the context here, and what follows is not a verb of movement.
4はもとより ✓
Correct. "はもとより" = "needless to say ..., (also ...)," so "環境への配慮はもとより、価格の面でも" = needless to say in its consideration for the environment, and also in terms of price (it will satisfy you). This is a related expression learned at the N2 level and is not included in this lesson, but it can be chosen by elimination.
Q4
内容が暴力的であるという親たちの批判 、子どもたちはこの番組を楽しんで見ている。
Related grammar point 2 友達の心配をよそに
内容が暴力的であるという親たちの批判をよそに、子どもたちはこの番組を楽しんで見ている。
Ignoring parents' criticism that the program's content is violent, the children kept watching it with great enjoyment.
1をよそに ✓
Correct. "をよそに" means "ignoring ... / paying no attention to ...," corresponding to grammar point ② of this lesson. "親たちの批判をよそに" = ignoring the parents' criticism.
2を抜きに
"を抜きに" = "leaving ... aside," which does not fit the context of this sentence.
3といえども
"といえども" = "even if it is ...," which does not fit the context of this sentence.
4をもって
"をもって" = "by means of ...," which does not fit the context of this sentence.
Q5
すいかの皮はたいていの人が捨ててしまうが、工夫すれば 。
Related grammar point 4 もらわないでもない
すいかの皮はたいていの人が捨ててしまうが、工夫すれば食べられないでもない。
Most people throw away watermelon rinds, but if you put some thought into it, it's not that they can't be eaten.
1食べられるものではない
"食べられるものではない" = "it is not something that can be eaten," which is the opposite of the context here, "it can be eaten if you put some thought into it."
2食べられないでもない ✓
Correct. "食べられないでもない" means "it is not that it can't be eaten," corresponding to the softened affirmative use of grammar point ④ "ないでもない" in this lesson.
3食べられない
"食べられない" = "cannot eat," which does not fit the contrasting context of "工夫すれば" (if you put some thought into it).
4食べずにはおかない
"食べずにはおかない" = "will not rest until it is eaten," which does not fit the context of this sentence.
Q6
私にとって、彼は学年1位を争うライバル 最高の親友でもありました。
Related grammar point 8 働き者にして美人
私にとって、彼は学年1位を争うライバルにして最高の親友でもありました。
To me, he is both my rival in the race for first place in our year and my best friend.
1にして ✓
Correct. "にして" means "being ... and, at the same time, ...," corresponding to grammar point ⑧ of this lesson. "ライバルにして親友" = both a rival and a close friend.
2にもまして
"にもまして" = "even more than ...," which does not fit the context of this sentence.
3において
"において" = "in ... (a place or field)," which does not fit the context of this sentence.
4に対して
"に対して" = "toward / regarding ...," which does not fit the context of this sentence.
Q7
どろぼう猫は魚屋に入った 、近くにあったサンマをくわえて逃げ出した。
Related grammar point 15 米が炊けるが早いか
どろぼう猫は魚屋に入ったが早いか、近くにあったサンマをくわえて逃げ出した。
The cat that had stolen food slipped into the fish shop, and the moment it did, it grabbed a nearby saury in its mouth and ran off.
1とは
"とは" expresses surprise, which does not fit the context here of simply describing consecutive actions, "as soon as it went in ...".
2が最後
"が最後" = "once ..., (a bad result follows)," which does not match the tone here; this is only the cat's quick movement, not an "irreversible bad result."
3そばから
"そばから" is normally used for repeated actions, which does not match this one-time event.
4が早いか ✓
Correct. "が早いか" means "almost at the same time as ...," corresponding to grammar point ⑮ of this lesson. "魚屋に入るが早いか、逃げ出した" = the moment it went into the fish shop, it ran off with something in its mouth.
Q8
大変申し訳ありませんが、やむを得ぬ事情により、今回は欠席させていただく です。
大変申し訳ありませんが、やむを得ぬ事情により、今回は欠席させていただく次第です。
I am very sorry, but for unavoidable reasons, I have no choice but to be absent this time.
1しまつ
"しまつ" is a critical summing up meaning "ended up with ...," which does not fit the context of this sentence, a formal apology.
2一方
"一方" = "on the other hand," which does not fit the context of this sentence.
3最中
"最中" = "in the middle of ...," which does not fit the context of this sentence.
4次第 ✓
Correct. "次第です" is used to explain the circumstances and reasons of a matter formally, and "欠席させていただく次第です" = an explanation of being absent for a reason (it is the same expression as "次第だ" in grammar point ⑥ of Lesson 2).
Part 2: Building sentences
Put the 4 options into slots 1–4 in order, then pick the one that lands in the ★ slot.
Q1
いくら真夏でも、Tシャツ1枚で12★4だ。
Related grammar point 12 何も食べない人間がいるとは
いくら真夏でも、Tシャツ1枚で1富士山に2登る3★とは4非常識だ。
Order: 4 → 3 → 2 → 1 ★ = option 2
Even in midsummer, going to climb Mt. Fuji wearing only a T-shirt is utterly lacking in common sense.
How the sentence is built
First comes the place plus verb "富士山に登る" (climb Mt. Fuji), then the ★ position takes "とは" (expressing surprise or exasperation), and finally "非常識" (lacking common sense) closes the sentence. This corresponds to grammar point ⑫ "とは" of this lesson.
Q2
スケートを教えてほしいって彼女に言われたんだけど、実は俺、12★4さえできないんだ。どうしよう……。
Related grammar point 9 食べ物はおろか一滴の水すら口にしなかった
スケートを教えてほしいって彼女に言われたんだけど、実は俺、1滑ること2はおろか3★氷の上に4立つことさえできないんだ。どうしよう……。
Order: 2 → 4 → 3 → 1 ★ = option 3
She asked me to teach her how to skate, but the truth is, I can't even stand on the ice, let alone skate. What should I do...
How the sentence is built
First comes "滑ることはおろか" (let alone skating), which sets up the baseline of the concession, then "氷の上に" at the ★ position, and finally "立つこと" plus "さえできない" (can't even stand on the ice). This corresponds to grammar point ⑨ "はおろか" of this lesson.
Q3
毎晩、壁の中から奇妙な音がする。安いから借りたけど、12★4あるらしいんだ。
Related grammar point 3 俺なりに
毎晩、壁の中から奇妙な音がする。安いから借りたけど、1この部屋が2安いのには3★それなりの4理由があるらしいんだ。
Order: 2 → 1 → 4 → 3 ★ = option 4
Every night a strange sound comes from inside the wall. I rented the room because it was cheap, but there seems to be a reason why this room is cheap.
How the sentence is built
First comes the subject "この部屋が", then "安いのには" (as for why it is cheap), then "それなりの" (a corresponding / fitting) at the ★ position, and finally "理由が" plus "あるらしい" (there seems to be a reason) closes the sentence. This corresponds to the noun form "それなりの" of grammar point ③ "なりに" of this lesson.
Part 3: Reading
Show passage translation
"Hey, look at that clock over there. It's already 5 o'clock. The minute your break started at 2, you dashed out and vanished... You went out and never came back; it was 3:30, then 4:00, and you still weren't back... A small shop like ours is hard pressed even when one person is missing, you understand that, right?
Look, there you go again! You're always like this, fiddling with your phone while I'm still talking to you... Let me see that!"
"Ah!"
"'Big brother, thanks for earlier.' What's this?"
"I'm sorry. Actually, my younger brother had a motorbike accident, so I went to the hospital."
"Then you should have called, or at least told the other part-timers. ... Well, all right, I hope he recovers soon."
Q1
誰が誰に対して怒っているか。
Who is angry at whom?
1店長がアルバイト店員に ✓
Correct. From expressions such as "うちみたいな小さな店" (a small shop like ours) and "他のアルバイトに言っておくなり" (telling the other part-timers), we can tell the speaker is the shop manager, scolding a part-time employee who left without permission and has been slow to return.
2客がアルバイト店員に
There is no sign in the passage that any "customer" appears; the whole passage is a store manager scolding an employee.
3店長が客に
The speaker is indeed the shop manager, but the person being scolded is not a customer: he is an employee who took a break and is expected to come back to work (the manager refers to "the other part-timers").
4新人店員が先輩の店員に
There is no clue in the passage that the speaker is a "new employee" or that the other person is a "senior colleague," so this does not fit the situation.
Q2
この人が怒っている理由は何か。
What is the reason this person is angry?
1相手が休憩時間が終わっても戻らなかったから ✓
Correct. "2時の休憩に入るが早いか、飛び出したっきりで……出てったが最後、3時半になっても、4時になっても帰ってこない": the break time had long since ended, yet the employee still had not returned, which is the direct reason the manager is angry.
2相手が休憩時間に帰宅して戻ってこなかったから
The passage does not say the other person "went home"; it only says "飛び出した" (dashed out), with no clear destination.
3相手が携帯電話で話しているから
Fiddling with the phone (ケータイいじって) is just another complaint the manager noticed (mentioned in passing while scolding), and is not the core of "the reason for being angry."
4相手が遅れた理由をまだ言わないから
The manager did not know the reason until he took the phone and read the message, but what makes him angry is that the employee has not come back for so long, not that no explanation has been given yet, so this does not fit.
Part 4: Listening
Listen first, then tap an option. The transcript and explanation appear after you answer.
Listen first, then choose answers question by question. After answering, open the transcript to replay each line.
ラジオから子ども向けの昔話が流れています。
Q1
問 昔話の中で柿の種はどのように移動しましたか。
1猿が落とした⇒道に落ちていた⇒蟹が拾った
2道に落ちていた⇒蟹が拾った⇒猿がもらった
3道に落ちていた⇒猿が拾った⇒蟹がもらった ✓
4蟹が落とした⇒道に落ちていた⇒猿が拾った
How did the persimmon seed change hands in the story?
In the story, the monkey and the crab were out for a walk together when a rice ball was lying on the road, and the crab picked up the rice ball first. The monkey could not find another rice ball and only picked up a persimmon seed that had been lying by the roadside. Later the monkey traded the persimmon seed for the crab's rice ball, which means the persimmon seed ended up in the crab's hands. → The order is 「道に落ちていた(the persimmon seed was originally lying by the road)⇒猿が拾った(the monkey picked it up)⇒蟹がもらった(the crab received it later in the trade)」. Answer 3.
Grammar in this question
〜が早いか:Almost at the same time as ... (grammar point ⑮ of this lesson). "見つけるが早いか拾いあげた" = the moment it found it, it picked it up.
〜はおろか:Let alone ..., not even ... (grammar point ⑨ of this lesson). "おむすびはおろか、ご飯粒すら落ちていない" = there was not even a grain of rice lying there, let alone a rice ball.
Key vocabulary
拾いあげる pick up
取りかえる exchange
Q2
問 男の子は猿についてどう思っていますか。
1うそつきだと思っている。
2自己中心的だと思っている。
3頭がいいと思っている。 ✓
4楽天的だと思っている。
What does the boy think of the monkey in the story?
After listening to the story, the boy (M2) says, "やっぱり猿は賢いね。柿の種を植えることを考えるなんて", meaning he thinks the monkey was clever to come up with the idea of trading for the rice ball with a seed that could later bear fruit. The girl (F), on the other hand, feels sorry for the crab and thinks the monkey 「自分のことしか考えてないよね」 (is only thinking about itself); this is F's opinion, not the boy's. → The boy thinks the monkey is 頭がいい (smart). Answer 3.
Key vocabulary
賢い clever
だます deceive
Transcript
M1 ある日、猿と蟹が散歩をしていると、おいしそうなおむすびが一つ落ちていた。
One day, when a monkey and a crab were out for a walk together, a delicious-looking rice ball was lying on the road.
M1 蟹はおむすびを見つけるが早いか、自慢の大きなはさみでさっと拾いあげた。
The moment the crab spotted the rice ball, it quickly picked it up with its proud big claws.
M1 それを見た猿は、もう一つ落ちていないか、一生懸命探しながら歩いたが、おむすびはおろか、ご飯粒すら落ちていない。
Seeing this, the monkey searched desperately for another rice ball, but there was not even a single grain of rice, let alone a rice ball.
M1 結局、猿が拾ったのは、固くて小さな柿の種が一つだけだった。猿は、少し考えてこう言った。
In the end, all the monkey found was a small, hard persimmon seed. The monkey thought for a moment and said,
M1 「ねえねえ、蟹さん。そのおむすびと、この柿の種を取りかえてあげるよ。
"Hey, Crab, how about I trade you this persimmon seed for that rice ball?
M1 おむすびは、食べてしまったら、もうおしまいだろう?でも柿の種は、植えれば、そのうち芽が出て木になるから、柿の実がなったら、いくらでも食べられるよ」
If you eat the rice ball, it's gone, isn't it? But if you plant a persimmon seed, sooner or later it will sprout and grow into a tree, and once it bears persimmons, you can eat as many as you like."
M1 蟹は、それもそうだと思い、おむすびと柿の種を取りかえた。猿は、蟹からおむすびをもらうなり、あっという間にむしゃむしゃと食べてしまった。
The crab thought this made sense and exchanged the rice ball for the persimmon seed. The moment the monkey got the rice ball from the crab, it devoured the whole thing in no time.
M2 やっぱり猿は賢いね。柿の種を植えることを考えるなんて。
The monkey really is clever, isn't it? To think of planting the persimmon seed.
F 蟹がかわいそう。だまされちゃったんだね。
Poor crab. It got tricked.
M2 ちっともかわいそうじゃないよ。柿ができればたくさん食べられるじゃないか。
Not poor at all. If the persimmons grow, the crab can eat a lot of them.
F そうかなあ。蟹だっておなかがすいてたんだよ、きっと。猿は自分のことしか考えてないよね。柿の種なんていつ芽が出るかわからないよ。
Is that so? The crab must have been hungry then, too. The monkey was only thinking about itself. Who knows when the persimmon seed would even sprout.
Q1
Listen to this sentence first
問 きのうの試合見た?まさかあんなところで逆転されるとはなあ……。
Did you watch yesterday's game? I never thought they'd be beaten on a comeback at a time like that...
1ほんと、予想できなかったよ。 ✓
I know, I really didn't see it coming.
2ほんと、予想通りだったね。
I know, it went just as expected.
3ほんと、予想できたよ。
I know, I could have predicted it.
The speaker uses "まさか〜とはなあ" (corresponding to grammar point ⑫ "とは" of this lesson) to express surprise at an unexpected result: they never imagined the game would be turned around in that situation, and their tone carries surprise and helplessness. The reply should echo this feeling of "I never expected it." 2 "予想通りだったね" (it was just as expected) contradicts "まさか" (never expected); 3 "予想できたよ" (I could have predicted it) is likewise the opposite of the tone of "まさか." → ほんと、予想できなかったよ. Answer 1.
Grammar in this question
まさか〜とは:Never expected that ... (a common collocation of grammar point ⑫ of this lesson).
Key vocabulary
逆転 comeback (reversal of the score)
Q2
Listen to this sentence first
問 おい!一体いつまでかかってるんだ!遅すぎるぞ。
Hey! How long is this going to take! You're far too slow.
1はい、もちろん明日までかかります。
Yes, of course, it will take until tomorrow.
2いいえ、私なりにやってしまったんです。
No, I've already finished it in my own way.
3すみません。自分なりに頑張っているんですが……。 ✓
I'm sorry. I'm already doing my best in my own way, but...
The other person is criticizing you for being "too slow," so the proper response is to apologize first and then say that you are already working hard (echoing grammar point ③ "なりに" of this lesson = "in one's own way, to the best of one's ability"). 1 "もちろん明日までかかります" sounds blunt, as if talking back, and is not an appropriate response; 2 "私なりにやってしまったんです" uses a past-completed tone implying it is already finished, which contradicts the situation of still being pressed to hurry. → すみません。自分なりに頑張っているんですが……. Answer 3.
Grammar in this question
〜なりに:To a degree that suits ... (grammar point ③ of this lesson). "自分なりに頑張っている" = working hard in one's own way.
Key vocabulary
遅すぎる too slow, too sluggish
Q3
Listen to this sentence first
問 え?!薔薇?そんな漢字、日本人ですら書けないよ。
What?! 薔薇? Even Japanese people can't write that kanji, you know.
1そんなに難しい字なんですか。 ✓
Is it such a difficult character?
2外国人なら書けますね。
Foreigners can write it, can't they?
3日本人しか書けないんですね。
So only Japanese people can write it, I see.
The other person uses "日本人ですら書けない" (corresponding to grammar point ⑩ "すら" of this lesson) to stress that even Japanese people, who should be the ones most likely to know it, cannot write it, implying that the character is extremely hard to write. An appropriate response follows this idea of "it's that hard." 2 "外国人なら書けますね" runs against the logic of the previous sentence (if even Japanese people can't, foreigners surely can't); 3 "日本人しか書けないんですね" reverses the meaning of "すら" ("すら" means "not even ...," not "only ..."). → そんなに難しい字なんですか. Answer 1.
Grammar in this question
〜ですら:Even ... (grammar point ⑩ of this lesson).
Key vocabulary
薔薇(ばら) rose