Lesson 5 転職 Practice

Part 1: Choosing the grammar form

1個いっこ、2個にこ　　、一度いちどに10個じゅっこもスイカをもらって困っこまってしまった。

1個いっこ、2個にこならまだしも、一度いちどに10個じゅっこもスイカをもらって困っこまってしまった。

One or two would be fine, but receiving ten watermelons all at once left me at a loss.

1ならまだしも ✓
Correct. 「ならまだしも」 means "A would be acceptable, but B is not" (point 5 of this lesson): one or two would be fine, but ten is too many.
2をいいことに
「をいいことに」 means "taking advantage of ... (to do something undesirable)", which does not fit the context.
3といわず
「といわず」 means "whether A or B, all of it", which does not fit this comparison of quantities.
4にかこつけて
「にかこつけて」 means "using ... as a pretext", which does not fit the context.

旅行りょこう中ちゅうのトラブルは、ない　　が、案外あんがいそれがいい思い出おもいでになることもある。

Related grammar point 15 それに越しこしたことはない

旅行りょこう中ちゅうのトラブルは、ないに越しこしたことはないが、案外あんがいそれがいい思い出おもいでになることもある。

Of course it's best not to have any trouble while traveling, but unexpectedly it can sometimes turn into a good memory.

1きらいがある
「きらいがある」 means "tends to ...", which does not fit the context.
2ほかしかたがない
「ほかしかたがない」 is not a valid expression (the usual forms would be 「〜ほかない」 or 「〜よりしかたがない」), so it does not fit.
3にもほどがある
「にもほどがある」 means "... is going too far", which does not fit the idea of "it's best not to have any".
4に越しこしたことはない ✓
Correct. 「に越しこしたことはない」 means "it is best to ..." (point 15 of this lesson): trouble is best avoided, of course.

いくらビタミンが豊富ほうふ　　、毎日まいにちこればかり食べてたべているのはどうかなあ……。

Related grammar point 16 ロボットとはいえ

いくらビタミンが豊富ほうふとはいえ、毎日まいにちこればかり食べてたべているのはどうかなあ……。

However rich in vitamins it may be, I wonder whether it's a good idea to eat only this every day...

1といおうか
「といおうか」 means "whether you call it A or B", which does not fit this concessive context.
2ならいざしらず
「ならいざしらず」 means "if it were ..., that might be one thing, but ...", which does not fit the concession implied by 「いくら」 ("however much").
3とはいえ ✓
Correct. 「とはいえ」 means "although ... (nevertheless ...)" (point 16 of this lesson): although it is rich in vitamins, eating only this every day...
4ならまだしも
「ならまだしも」 means "if it were ..., that would be acceptable", which does not match the concessive turn here very well.

A：なんで社長しゃちょうがあんなこと言ういうのか理解りかいできないよ。
B：それ　　、なんで彼かれが社長しゃちょうなのかが理解りかいできないよ。

A：なんで社長しゃちょうがあんなこと言ういうのか理解りかいできないよ。
B：それ以前いぜんに、なんで彼かれが社長しゃちょうなのかが理解りかいできないよ。

A: I just can't understand why the president would say something like that. B: Never mind that; I can't even understand why he is the president in the first place.

1にひきかえ
「にひきかえ」 means "in contrast to ...", which does not fit the idea of "setting that aside, the more basic problem is ...".
2以前いぜんに ✓
Correct. 「以前いぜんに」 means "a more basic problem that comes before ..." (point 6 of this lesson): "that is secondary; what comes first is ...".
3をいいことに
「をいいことに」 means "taking advantage of ...", which does not fit the context.
4にかこつけて
「にかこつけて」 means "using ... as a pretext", which does not fit the context.

儲けもうけは少ないすくないが、値上げねあげ　　、客きゃくはみんな向こうむこうの店みせに行いってしまう。

儲けもうけは少ないすくないが、値上げねあげしようものなら、客きゃくはみんな向こうむこうの店みせに行いってしまう。

The profit margin is small, but if we raise prices even slightly, all the customers will go to the shop across the street.

1しないものか
「しないものか」 expresses a wish, "can't we ...? / I wish we could ..." (here, "I wish we could raise prices"), which does not fit a context about a bad result of raising prices.
2しようものなら ✓
Correct. 「しようものなら」 means "if ... should happen (a bad result follows)" (point 12 of this lesson): the moment we raise prices, the customers will all leave.
3とはいえ
「とはいえ」 means "although ...", which does not fit a hypothetical context.
4ならまだしも
「ならまだしも」 means "if it were ..., that would be acceptable", which does not fit the context.

マザー・テレサは、貧困ひんこんに苦しくるしむ人々ひとびとを黙っだまって　　のです。

マザー・テレサは、貧困ひんこんに苦しくるしむ人々ひとびとを黙っだまって見てみてはいられなかったのです。

Mother Teresa could not bring herself to silently look on at people suffering from poverty.

1見るみるにもほどがあった
「見るみるにもほどがあった」 is unnatural; 「にもほどがある」 is not used with the simple action of "looking".
2見るみるに越しこしたことはなかった
「見るみるに越しこしたことはなかった」 means "it was best to look", which does not fit the context.
3見てみてはいられなかった ✓
Correct. 「見てみてはいられなかった」 means "she could not just stand by and watch, so she took action", which fits Mother Teresa's conduct.
4見たみたが最後さいごだった
「見たみたが最後さいごだった」 means "once she saw it, that was the end (and ...)", which does not fit the context.

みんなが遠慮えんりょして注意ちゅういしない　　、あの人ひとはいつもここにバイクを止めとめっぱなしにするんですよ。

みんなが遠慮えんりょして注意ちゅういしないのをいいことに、あの人ひとはいつもここにバイクを止めとめっぱなしにするんですよ。

Taking advantage of the fact that everyone holds back and doesn't warn him, that person always leaves his motorbike parked here.

1のをいいことに ✓
Correct. 「のをいいことに」 means "taking advantage of the fact that ... (to do something undesirable)" (point 2 of this lesson): taking advantage of the fact that no one warns him.
2といおうか
「といおうか」 means "whether you call it A or B", which does not fit the context.
3のにもまして
「のにもまして」 means "even more than ...", which does not fit the context.
4ものか
「ものか」 is a rhetorical question expressing strong denial, which does not fit the context.

Part 2: Building sentences

Put the 4 options into slots 1–4 in order, then pick the one that lands in the ★ slot.

昨日きのう買っかったメロンは、12★4が、結構けっこうおいしかった。

昨日きのう買っかったメロンは、1値段ねだんが2値段ねだんだけに3★あまり4期待しきたいしていなかったが、結構けっこうおいしかった。

Order: 4 → 3 → 2 → 1 ★ = option 2

The melon I bought yesterday was inexpensive, so I hadn't expected much of it, but it was actually quite good.

How the sentence is built

First comes 「値段ねだんが」 (the subject), then 「値段ねだんだけに」 (point 8 of this lesson, 「AがAだけに」, "precisely because of the price"), then 「あまり」, and finally 「期待しきたいしていなかった」. The ★ falls on 「あまり」.

テレビでもパソコンでも、12★4よ。

Related grammar point 10 電話でんわに出でたら出でたで

テレビでもパソコンでも、1なかったら2なかったで3★なんとか4なるものだよ。

Order: 2 → 4 → 1 → 3 ★ = option 1

Whether it's a TV or a computer, if you don't have one, you simply don't, and you manage somehow.

How the sentence is built

First comes 「なかったら」, then 「なかったで」 (point 10 of this lesson, 「AたらAたで」, "if you don't have it, then you just don't"), then 「なんとか」, and finally 「なるものだ」. The ★ falls on 「なんとか」.

君きみがイチゴのショートケーキが食べたたべたいと言ういうから、走っはしって買いかいに行いってきたのに、もう12★4よ。

君きみがイチゴのショートケーキが食べたたべたいと言ういうから、走っはしって買いかいに行いってきたのに、もう1いらない2なんて3★わがまま4にもほどがあるよ。

Order: 4 → 2 → 3 → 1 ★ = option 3

You said you wanted a strawberry shortcake, so I ran out to buy it for you, and now you say you don't want it anymore? That is selfish to an extreme.

How the sentence is built

First comes 「いらない」, then 「なんて」, then 「わがまま」, and finally 「にもほどがある」 (point 4 of this lesson, "far too ..."). The ★ falls on 「わがまま」.

Part 3: Grammar in a passage

あーあ、ついに出発しゅっぱつしちゃった。島しまがだんだん小さくちいさくなっていく。はぁ、仕事しごと1　、あんなに遠くとおくまで、砂すなやら土つちやらを取りとりに行いくのか。それも、2　ならまだしも、僕ぼくだけで……。まあ、愚痴ぐちばかり言っていってはいられない。距離きょりが距離きょりだけに誰だれでもいい3　。だから能力のうりょくからいって、一番いちばん優秀ゆうしゅうな僕ぼくが4　んだ。よし、針路しんろとエンジンの確認かくにんだ。どちらも異常ないじょうなし。先輩せんぱいのはやぶささんもかっこよかったなあ。最後さいごは流れ星ながれぼしになって。僕ぼくも、小惑星しょうわくせい探査たんさ、成功せいこうさせてみせるぞ。

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Related grammar point 16 ロボットとはいえ

1とはいえ ✓
Correct. 「とはいえ」 means "although it is ... (nevertheless ...)" (point 16 of this lesson): although it is work, having to go all the way out there is a lot to ask.
2をいいことに
「をいいことに」 means "taking advantage of ...", which does not fit the context.
3以前いぜんに
「以前いぜんに」 means "a more basic problem that comes before ...", which does not fit the context.
4に違いちがいなく
「に違いちがいなく」 means "it must be that ...", which does not fit the concessive context.

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11人ひとり
「1人」 would duplicate the later 「僕ぼくだけで」 ("just me"), so the contrast of 「ならまだしも」 ("A would be acceptable, but B is not") would not hold.
2仲間なかまと一緒いっしょ ✓
Correct. "It would be one thing if I had companions with me, but I'm all alone": 「仲間なかまと一緒いっしょ」 (together with companions) contrasts with 「僕ぼくだけで」 later, which fits the logic of 「ならまだしも」.
3砂すなや土つち
「砂すなや土つち」 is the very thing he is going to collect, so it does not fit a contrast about whether he goes with companions.
4金きんやダイヤモンド
「金きんやダイヤモンド」 (gold and diamonds) does not match the story, in which he is collecting sand and soil samples from an asteroid.

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1というわけだ
「というわけだ」 means "that is to say ...", so it cannot connect with 「誰だれでもいい」 to give the meaning "because the distance is long, we can't just send anybody".
2というわけにはいかない ✓
Correct. 「というわけにはいかない」 means "it can't be said that ...": given the distance, it can't be just anybody. This connects naturally with the following 「だから能力のうりょくからいって、一番いちばん優秀ゆうしゅうな僕ぼくが…」.
3に決まきまっている
「に決まきまっている」 means "surely ...", and saying "surely anybody will do" is the opposite of the next sentence, "so the most capable one is sent".
4に越しこしたことはない
「に越しこしたことはない」 means "it is best to ...", which does not fit the cause-and-effect relationship between the sentences.

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1選ぶえらぶに選べえらべない
「選ぶえらぶに選べえらべない」 means "want to choose but can't", which does not fit the context.
2選んえらんだり選ばえらばれたりする
「選んえらんだり選ばえらばれたりする」 does not make sense in this context.
3選ぶえらぶことは選ぶえらぶ
「選ぶえらぶことは選ぶえらぶ」 means "I do choose, (but ...)", which does not fit the context.
4選ばえらばれるべくして選ばえらばれた ✓
Correct. 「べくして」 means "as was only natural; inevitably" (point 7 of this lesson): "it was only natural that I was chosen", echoing the confident tone of "I, the most capable in terms of ability".

Show the passage with answers and translation

あーあ、ついに出発しゅっぱつしちゃった。島しまがだんだん小さくちいさくなっていく。はぁ、仕事しごと1とはいえ、あんなに遠くとおくまで、砂すなやら土つちやらを取りとりに行いくのか。それも、2仲間なかまと一緒いっしょならまだしも、僕ぼくだけで……。まあ、愚痴ぐちばかり言っていってはいられない。距離きょりが距離きょりだけに誰だれでもいい3というわけにはいかない。だから能力のうりょくからいって、一番いちばん優秀ゆうしゅうな僕ぼくが4選ばえらばれるべくして選ばえらばれたんだ。よし、針路しんろとエンジンの確認かくにんだ。どちらも異常ないじょうなし。先輩せんぱいのはやぶささんもかっこよかったなあ。最後さいごは流れ星ながれぼしになって。僕ぼくも、小惑星しょうわくせい探査たんさ、成功せいこうさせてみせるぞ。

Ahh, we've finally set off. The island is getting smaller and smaller. Sigh, even if it's work, I have to go all the way out there to collect sand and dirt and things like that? And on top of that, it would be one thing if I had companions with me, but I'm all alone... Well, I can't just keep complaining. Given how far the distance is, we can't just send anybody. So, judging by ability, it was only natural that I, the most capable, would be chosen. All right, time to check the course and the engine. Both show no abnormalities. Senpai Hayabusa was cool too. In the end, he became a shooting star. I'll make my asteroid exploration a success too, just watch me.

Part 4: Reading

特にとくに、大きいおおきい組織そしきにおいては、「事ことなかれ主義しゅぎ」が広がひろがるおそれがある。事ことなかれ主義しゅぎとは、トラブルがないことを第一だいいちに考えかんがえる消極的しょうきょくてきな態度たいどである。新しいあたらしいことをやって、失敗しっぱいでもしようものなら、自分じぶんや周囲しゅういの人ひとが責任せきにんを負わおわなければならない。それで、リスクを避けさけたい、責任せきにんを逃れのがれたいといった気持ちきもちが働くはたらく。すると、例えばたとえば、前例ぜんれいのないことや指示しじがないことはしないということが起きおきる。前例ぜんれいがないからと言っていって、部下ぶかのアイデアを全然ぜんぜん認めみとめないという上司じょうしがいれば、トラブルも起きおきないが、成長せいちょうも望めのぞめない。トラブルはないに越しこしたことはないが、それ以前いぜんに、リスクを取らとらないこと自体じたいが組織そしきにとってのリスクなのである。

Show passage translation

Especially in large organizations, there is a risk that a "trouble-avoiding attitude" (「事なかれ主義」) will spread. A trouble-avoiding attitude is a passive stance that puts having no trouble above everything else.

If you try something new and fail, you or the people around you will have to take responsibility. So a desire to avoid risk and escape responsibility comes into play. Then, for example, it happens that people do not do anything that has no precedent or that nobody has instructed them to do.

If there is a boss who, saying "there is no precedent," refuses to accept a subordinate's ideas at all, there will be no trouble, but no growth can be expected either. It is of course best to have no trouble, but even before that, not taking risks is itself a risk for the organization.

部下ぶかのアイデアを全然ぜんぜん認めみとめないという上司じょうしは何のなんの例れいか。

What is the boss who refuses to accept his subordinates' ideas at all an example of?

1失敗しっぱいを恐れおそれない例れい
This is the opposite of the attitude in the text, where people fear failure and want to avoid risk; it is not an example of "not fearing failure".
2消極的しょうきょくてきな態度たいどの例れい ✓
Correct. This is exactly the "trouble-avoiding attitude" defined at the start of the passage: a concrete example of a passive attitude that puts having no trouble first.
3責任せきにんを負おおうとする例れい
This boss is escaping responsibility, not taking it on, so this is the opposite of what is described.
4組織そしきを成長させいちょうさせる例れい
Behaving this way only makes it hard for the organization to grow, which is the opposite of this option.

この人ひとが一番いちばん伝えつたえたいことは何かなにか。

What does the author most want to convey?

1トラブルを起こおこさないことが一番いちばん大事だいじだ。
This is exactly the way of thinking behind the "trouble-avoiding attitude" that the passage criticizes, not the author's own point.
2新しいあたらしいことをやってみるのはリスクがある。
This is just a fact stated in the middle of the passage, not the conclusion the author finally wants to stress.
3リスクや責任せきにんはないほうがいい。
The passage ends by saying 「トラブルはないに越しこしたことはないが、それ以前いぜんに」, meaning that having no trouble is good, but there is a more basic problem beyond that, so the author clearly does not treat "it's best to have no risk or responsibility" as the main point.
4リスクを避けさけてばかりではよくない。 ✓
Correct. The concluding sentence, 「リスクを取らとらないこと自体じたいが組織そしきにとってのリスクなのである」, stresses that always avoiding risk is itself a risk for the organization; in other words, "you must not just keep avoiding risk".

Part 4: Listening

Listen first, then tap an option. The transcript and explanation appear after you answer.

Listen to this sentence first

問その企画きかく書しょ、早くはやく完成さかんせいさせるに越しこしたことはないけど、もう10時じゅうじだよ。

It's best to finish that proposal early, of course, but it's already 10 o'clock, you know.

1じゃあ、あとは明日あしたにします。 ✓
Then I'll do the rest tomorrow.
210時じゅうじに完成かんせいじゃ早すはやすぎますね。
Finishing at 10 would be too early, wouldn't it?
3明日あしたじゃ間に合わまにあわないんですか。
Won't tomorrow be too late?

The speaker uses 「に越しこしたことはない」 (point 15 of this lesson) to hint politely, "Of course it's best to finish it early, but it's already this late," implying "it's time to wrap up; don't push yourself too hard." The most natural response is to pick up on that hint and put off the remaining work: 「じゃあ、あとは明日あしたにします」 ("Then I'll do the rest tomorrow"). ② misreads "it's already 10 o'clock" as "finishing at 10", so the tense and context do not fit; ③, 「明日あしたじゃ間に合わまにあわないんですか」 ("Won't tomorrow be too late?"), questions whether the other person is running out of time, which does not answer the point and fails to grasp the hint that it is time to rest. The answer is 1.

Grammar in this question

〜に越しこしたことはない：It is best to ... (point 15 of this lesson). 「早くはやく完成さかんせいさせるに越しこしたことはない」 gently implies "it's time to call it a day".

Key vocabulary

企画きかく書しょ（きかくしょ） business proposal; plan document

Listen to this sentence first

問忙しさいそがしさにかこつけて、家事かじの分担ぶんたん、さぼらないでよ。

Don't use being busy as an excuse to slack off on your share of the housework.

1暇ひまなんだからしょうがないでしょ。
I'm free anyway, so it can't be helped, right?
2だって、かっこいいでしょう?
Well, isn't it cool?
3でも、ほんとに忙しいいそがしいんだよ。 ✓
But I really am busy.

The speaker uses 「にかこつけて」 (point 19 of this lesson) to accuse, "You're just using being busy as an excuse to slack off." The most natural way to respond to such an accusation is to defend yourself and say that being busy is a fact and not an excuse: 「でも、ほんとに忙しいいそがしいんだよ」 ("But I really am busy"). ①, 「暇ひまなんだからしょうがないでしょ」 ("I'm free, so it can't be helped"), directly contradicts the premise of being "busy" that the speaker is being accused of, so it does not answer the point; ②, 「かっこいいでしょう」 ("Cool, isn't it?"), has nothing to do with being busy or sharing housework. The answer is 3.

Grammar in this question

〜にかこつけて：Using ... as a pretext (point 19 of this lesson). 「忙しさいそがしさにかこつけて、家事かじの分担ぶんたん、さぼらないでよ」 accuses the other person of using "being busy" as a shield.

Key vocabulary

分担ぶんたん（ぶんたん） sharing out (tasks or duties)

Listen to this sentence first

問あ〜、下手へただなあ。見ちみちゃられない。それ、ちょっと貸しかして。

Ugh, you're so clumsy. I can't stand watching this. Here, let me borrow that for a second.

1そう、手伝ってつだってあげるよ。
Yes, I'll help you.
2えっ、手伝ってつだってくれるの? ✓
Oh, you'll help me?
3じゃあ、私わたしが借りかりてみるね。
Then I'll try borrowing it.

The speaker says "I can't stand watching this" (the spoken form 「見てみてられない」 of 「にたえない」, point 11 of this lesson) and then asks "let me borrow that," which is actually an offer to help by taking the thing over. When someone volunteers to take over, the most natural reaction is to check in surprise and delight: 「えっ、手伝ってつだってくれるの?」 ("Oh, you'll help me?"). ①, 「そう、手伝ってつだってあげるよ」 ("Yes, I'll help you"), gets it backwards, as if the listener were the one offering to help; ③, 「私わたしが借りかりてみるね」 ("Then I'll try borrowing it"), misreads 「貸しかして」 ("lend it to me") as meaning the listener will go and borrow something, reversing the roles. The answer is 2.

Grammar in this question

〜にたえない（見てみてられない）：Too awful to watch or bear (point 11 of this lesson). 「見ちみちゃられない」 is a contracted spoken form of 「見てみていられない」 and has the same sense as 「見るみるにたえない」.

Listen to this sentence first

問うわっ、この部屋へや、汚きたないにもほどがあるんじゃないの?

Whoa, isn't this room way too dirty?

1昨日きのう掃除そうじしたからね。
Because I cleaned it yesterday.
2部屋へやならあるけど。
There is a room, though.
3日曜にちように掃除そうじするよ。 ✓
I'll clean it on Sunday.

The speaker uses 「にもほどがある」 (point 4 of this lesson) to criticize, "This room is way too dirty." ①, 「昨日きのう掃除そうじしたからね」 ("Because I cleaned it yesterday"), contradicts the obvious fact that the room is dirty and makes no sense; ② hears 「部屋」 as a plain noun and does not answer the point. In response to such criticism, the most natural reply is to admit the situation and state your plan: 「日曜にちように掃除そうじするよ」 ("I'll clean it on Sunday"). The answer is 3.

Grammar in this question

〜にもほどがある：Far too ... (point 4 of this lesson). 「汚きたないにもほどがある」 criticizes the room for being excessively dirty.

Listen to this sentence first

問ここの桜さくら、満開まんかいまであと1週間いっしゅうかんといったところかな。

I'd say the cherry blossoms here are about a week away from full bloom.

1ああ、満開まんかいになったところですか。
Oh, have they just reached full bloom?
2まだ、1か月いっかげつもあるんですか。
Is it still a whole month away?
3じゃあ、お花見はなみは来週らいしゅうの日曜日にちようびぐらいかな。 ✓
Then maybe cherry blossom viewing will be around next Sunday.

The speaker uses 「といったところだ」 (point 17 of this lesson) to guess, "It'll probably be about a week until full bloom." ① misreads "another week to go" as "it has just bloomed fully", a tense error; ② mishears 「1週間」 (one week) as 「1か月いっかげつ」 (one month), a quantity error. The most natural reply takes the information "about a week more" and proposes a specific time for flower viewing: 「じゃあ、お花見はなみは来週らいしゅうの日曜日にちようびぐらいかな」 ("Then maybe cherry blossom viewing will be around next Sunday"). The answer is 3.

Grammar in this question

〜といったところだ：Roughly that much (point 17 of this lesson). 「あと1週間いっしゅうかんといったところ」 estimates roughly how much time is still needed.

Key vocabulary

満開まんかい（まんかい） full bloom

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