Lesson 6 研修を終えて Practice
Part 1: Choosing the grammar form
Q1
あんなにたくさん応募はがきを書いたのに1枚も当選しないとは悔しい だ。
Related grammar point 7 うれしい限りです
あんなにたくさん応募はがきを書いたのに1枚も当選しないとは悔しい限りだ。
I wrote so many postcards to enter the drawing and not a single one won. How frustrating.
1至り
「至り」 expresses "extremely ..." and is used in fixed combinations such as 「光栄・感激・恐縮」, not with 「悔しい」.
2あまり
「あまり」 means "because of too much ... (resulting in ...)", which does not fit the sentence structure.
3しまつ
「しまつ」 means "ending up in the state of ...", used for a bad outcome, which does not fit the context.
4限り ✓
Correct. 「限りだ」 means "to feel ... strongly" (point 7 of this lesson): I am extremely frustrated.
Q2
裁判官 者、常に公正な立場で真実を追求することを忘れてはならない。
Related grammar point 6 社員たる者
裁判官たる者、常に公正な立場で真実を追求することを忘れてはならない。
As a judge, one must never forget to pursue the truth from a fair standpoint at all times.
1あっての
「あっての」 means "... exists only because of ...", which does not fit the context.
2たる ✓
Correct. 「たる者」 means "one who is in the position of ..." (point 6 of this lesson): one who is a judge.
3ならではの
「ならではの」 means "unique to ...", which does not fit the context.
4なりの
「なりの」 means "in its own way", which does not fit the context.
Q3
私のデザインが大賞をいただき、 。
Related grammar point 5 感謝の念にたえません
私のデザインが大賞をいただき、喜びにたえません。
My design received the grand prize, and I am overjoyed beyond words.
1喜びにたえません ✓
Correct. 「〜にたえません」 expresses "extremely ..." (point 5 of this lesson): I am truly delighted.
2喜ぶまでもありません
「〜までもない」 means "there is no need to ...", which does not fit the context.
3喜びのいかんです
「〜のいかん」 is not a fixed phrase in this form, so it does not fit the context.
4喜ばないではおきません
「〜ないではおかない」 means "is bound to ...", which does not fit a context expressing pure joy.
Q4
陽ざしは暖かさを増してきたが、早春の 、朝夕はまだ肌寒い。
Related grammar point 4 慣れないこととて
陽ざしは暖かさを増してきたが、早春のこととて、朝夕はまだ肌寒い。
The sunshine is getting warmer, but since it is early spring, the mornings and evenings are still chilly.
1あまり
「あまり」 means "because of too much ...", which does not fit the context.
2うえで
「うえで」 means "in the course of ...; after doing ...", which does not fit the context.
3限りで
「限りで」 means "limited to ...", which does not fit the context.
4こととて ✓
Correct. 「こととて」 means "since it is ..." (point 4 of this lesson): since it is early spring (it is still chilly).
Q5
お休みの わざわざ引っ越しの手伝いに来てくれてありがとう。
Related grammar point 1 お忙しいところを
お休みのところをわざわざ引っ越しの手伝いに来てくれてありがとう。
Thank you for coming all the way to help with my move on your day off.
1すえに
「すえに」 means "after ... (after a lot of effort or trouble)", which does not fit the context.
2くせに
「くせに」 means "even though ..." with a tone of reproach, which does not fit a context of thanks.
3ところを ✓
Correct. 「ところを」 is used as an opening phrase for thanks (point 1 of this lesson): on your day off, you took the trouble to...
4あげく
「あげく」 means "in the end ..." and is mostly used for bad outcomes, which does not fit the context.
Q6
この入口は改修工事のため、今月末日 閉鎖させていただきます。
Related grammar point 3 本日3月31日をもって
この入口は改修工事のため、今月末日をもちまして閉鎖させていただきます。
Due to renovation work, this entrance will be closed as of the end of this month. We appreciate your understanding.
1をもちまして ✓
Correct. 「をもちまして」 means "as of ... (a point in time)" (point 3 of this lesson): it will be closed as of the end of this month.
2によって
「によって」 means "by means of ...; depending on ...", which does not fit a context that states a clear point in time.
3のところを
「のところを」 is an opening phrase for an apology or thanks, which does not fit this context of simply announcing a date.
4にわたって
「にわたって」 means "over the whole range of ...", 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.
Q1
それでは、12★4を閉会いたします。
Related grammar point 3 本日3月31日をもって
それでは、1以上2をもちまして3★本年度の4卒業式を閉会いたします。
Order: 2 → 3 → 1 → 4 ★ = option 1
With that, this year's graduation ceremony is now adjourned.
How the sentence is built
First comes 「以上」, then 「をもちまして」 (point 3 of this lesson, "as of this point"), then 「本年度の」, and finally 「卒業式」. The ★ falls on 「本年度の」.
Q2
年末12★4ございますが、ご了承ください。
Related grammar point 4 慣れないこととて
年末1のこととて2指定時間に3★配達できない4場合もございますが、ご了承ください。
Order: 2 → 3 → 1 → 4 ★ = option 1
It is the end of the year, so there may be cases in which delivery at the specified time is not possible. We ask for your understanding.
How the sentence is built
First comes 「のこととて」 (point 4 of this lesson, "since it is the year-end"), then 「指定時間に」, then 「配達できない」, and finally 「場合も」. The ★ falls on 「配達できない」.
Q3
青い空と緑の木々、12★4限りだ。
Related grammar point 7 うれしい限りです
青い空と緑の木々、1高原で2迎える3★朝は4すがすがしい限りだ。
Order: 1 → 2 → 4 → 3 ★ = option 4
Blue sky and green trees; a morning greeted on the highlands is wonderfully refreshing.
How the sentence is built
First comes 「高原で」, then 「迎える」, then 「朝は」, and finally 「すがすがしい」 (point 7 of this lesson, 「限りだ」). The ★ falls on 「朝は」.
Part 3: Grammar in a passage
Blank 1
Related grammar point 1 お忙しいところを
1こととて
「こととて」 means "since ..." and is usually used for the reason in an apology, so it does not fit well as an opening phrase for thanks.
2ところ ✓
Correct. 「ところを」 is used as an opening phrase for thanks or apologies (point 1 of this lesson): even though you are busy, you came all the way.
3というより
「というより」 means "rather than ..., it is more like ...", which does not fit the context.
4限り
「限り」 means "to feel ... strongly", which does not fit an opening phrase of thanks.
Blank 2
Related grammar point 7 うれしい限りです
1しまつ
「しまつ」 means "ending up in the state of ...", used for bad outcomes, which does not fit the idea of being delighted.
2まま
「まま」 means "as it is", which does not fit the context.
3どころ
「どころ」 means "far from ...", which does not fit the context.
4限り ✓
Correct. 「限りだ」 means "to feel ... strongly" (point 7 of this lesson): I am truly delighted.
Blank 3
Related grammar point 3 本日3月31日をもって
1をよそに
「をよそに」 means "in disregard of ...", which does not fit the context.
2を皮切りに
「を皮切りに」 means "starting with ...", which does not fit a context of leaving, an ending rather than a beginning.
3をもちまして ✓
Correct. 「をもちまして」 means "as of ... (a point in time)" (point 3 of this lesson): as of this lecture (the point of departure).
4をおいて
「をおいて」 means "other than ...", which does not fit the context.
Blank 4
1なくてはならないものですが ✓
Correct. "Indispensable to our living" forms a sensible contrast with the following "but on the other hand, it threatens life".
2あってはならないものですが
"Something that should not exist" contradicts the positive statement about "our living".
3必要なこととて
In 「必要なこととて」, 「こととて」 cannot be attached directly after 「必要な」 and then link to the following clause with the meaning "but", so the phrasing is not natural.
4不要なこととて
"Something unnecessary" is completely the opposite of the context.
Show the passage with answers and translation
(Applause) ...Well, there are more people here than usual... (laughter from the audience)
Today, even you alumni have kindly made the effort to come despite your busy schedules, and I am truly delighted.
Um, as of this lecture today, I will be leaving this university, so for the last time I would like to take up the subject of "water" as the conclusion of my 35 years here.
Now, water is indispensable to our living, but on the other hand, it is also something that threatens life. So then...
Part 4: Listening
Listen first, then tap an option. The transcript and explanation appear after you answer.
Q1
Options are printed on the test paper: read them, then listen.
新しい社長が話しています。
問 新しい社長は、まず何をすると言っていますか。
Transcript
えー、本日をもちまして、社長に就任いたしました上田です。我が社は今、経営が厳しい状態です。今は我が社の得意分野に集中し、経営を安定させなければなりません。広げすぎた事業は整理しますが、社員を減らすことは考えていません。大きな変革のこととて、困難が予想されますが、皆様とともに歩めることは心強い限りです。
Um, I am Ueda, who has assumed the presidency as of today. Our company is currently in a state of difficult management. Now we must concentrate on our areas of strength and stabilize our management. We will reorganize the businesses we have overextended, but we are not considering reducing the number of employees. Since this is a major change, difficulties are expected, but being able to walk this road together with all of you gives me great reassurance.
問 新しい社長は、まず何をすると言っていますか。
1社員を集める
2経営を安定させる ✓
3事業を広げる
4社員を減らす
What does the new president say he will do first?
In his speech, President Ueda clearly says 「今は我が社の得意分野に集中し、経営を安定させなければなりません」 ("Now we must concentrate on our areas of strength and stabilize our management"). This is exactly what he says he will do first. ①, "gather the employees", is not mentioned in the speech; ③, he says 「広げすぎた事業は整理します」, which means "organize the overextended businesses", not "expand the business", the exact opposite direction; ④, he clearly says 「社員を減らすことは考えていません」 ("We are not considering reducing the workforce"), which rules out option 4 directly. The answer is 2.
Grammar in this question
〜をもちまして:As of ... (a point in time) (point 3 of this lesson). 「本日をもちまして、社長に就任いたしました」
〜こととて:Since ... (point 4 of this lesson). 「大きな変革のこととて、困難が予想されますが」
〜限りです:To feel ... strongly (point 7 of this lesson). 「皆様とともに歩めることは心強い限りです」
Key vocabulary
就任(しゅうにん) assuming office
得意分野(とくいぶんや) area of strength
変革(へんかく) reform; radical change