Lesson 7 さすが本田君 Practice

Part 1: Choosing the grammar form

いくら言い訳いいわけ　　、失うしなった信頼しんらいはなかなか取りとり戻せもどせない。

Related grammar point 6 説明しせつめいしたところで

いくら言い訳いいわけしたところで、失うしなった信頼しんらいはなかなか取りとり戻せもどせない。

No matter how much you make excuses, lost trust is hard to win back.

1したところへ
「したところへ」means "just when ~ happened," which does not fit the context.
2したところで ✓
Correct. 「したところで」means "even if ~, ...," matching grammar point ⑥ of this lesson: "no matter how much you make excuses, ..."
3にしたところで
「にしたところで」means "even ~ (a case one would expect to be different, but is the same)," so it does not mean "even if one does ~" and does not fit "no matter how much you make excuses, ..."
4にしたら
「にしたら」means "from the standpoint of ~," which does not fit the context.

いざとなったら、この土地とちを売っうって借金しゃっきんを返すかえす　　。

Related grammar point 11 あきらめるまでのことだ

いざとなったら、この土地とちを売っうって借金しゃっきんを返すかえすまでだ。

If it comes down to it, I'll just sell this land and pay off the debt.

1しまつだ
「しまつだ」means "it ends up in the sorry state of ~," mostly used to blame a bad outcome, which does not fit the context.
2ものを
「ものを」means "although ~," with a tone of reproach, which does not fit the context.
3といったらない
「といったらない」emphasizes "extremely ~," which does not fit the context.
4までだ ✓
Correct. 「までだ」means "I can just ~ (and that's all)," matching grammar point ⑪ of this lesson: "I'll just sell the land and pay off the debt."

運動うんどうは健康けんこう維持いじに欠かかかせない。高齢者こうれいしゃに限らかぎらず、若者わかもの　　同じおなじことだ。

Related grammar point 15 カプテック社しゃにしたところで

運動うんどうは健康けんこう維持いじに欠かかかせない。高齢者こうれいしゃに限らかぎらず、若者わかものにしたところで同じおなじことだ。

Exercise is essential for staying healthy. It's not just for the elderly; the same goes for young people.

1にすれば
「にすれば」means "from the standpoint of ~," which does not fit the context of "the same applies."
2にしたところで ✓
Correct. 「にしたところで」means "even ~ (is no exception)," matching grammar point ⑮ of this lesson: "even young people are the same."
3に先立っさきだって
「に先立っさきだって」means "prior to ~," which does not fit the context.
4に対したいして
「に対したいして」means "toward / in contrast to ~," which does not fit the context.

山桜やまざくらは人ひとが　　、春はるになれば咲くさくということを繰り返しくりかえしてきた。

Related grammar point 8 赤字あかじになろうがなるまいが

山桜やまざくらは人ひとが見よみようと見るみるまいと、春はるになれば咲くさくということを繰り返しくりかえしてきた。

Whether or not anyone is watching, the wild cherry keeps repeating the cycle of blooming when spring comes.

1見よみようと見るみるまいと ✓
Correct. 「見よみようと見るみるまいと」means "whether one looks or not," matching grammar point ⑧ of this lesson: "whether or not anyone is watching."
2見るみるなり聞くきくなり
「見るみるなり聞くきくなり」means "by looking or listening (or some such)," which does not fit the context.
3見れみれば見るみるほど
「見れみれば見るみるほど」means "the more you look, the more ~," which does not fit the context.
4見るみるやら聞くきくやら
「見るみるやら聞くきくやら」means "what with all the looking and listening," which does not fit the context.

VIPが訪れおとずれる　　、留学生りゅうがくせいがホームステイに来るくるくらいで、大騒ぎおおさわぎするなよ。

VIPが訪れおとずれるわけじゃあるまいし、留学生りゅうがくせいがホームステイに来るくるくらいで、大騒ぎおおさわぎするなよ。

It's not as if a VIP is visiting. An exchange student is just coming for a homestay, so don't make such a fuss.

1わけにはいかないのに
「わけにはいかないのに」means "although one cannot ~," which does not fit the context.
2わりには
「わりには」means "considering that ~, (yet) ...," which does not fit the context.
3わけもなかったのに
「わけもなかったのに」means "although it was not possible ~," which does not fit the context.
4わけじゃあるまいし ✓
Correct. 「わけじゃあるまいし」means "it's not as if ~," matching grammar point ① of this lesson: "it's not as if a VIP is visiting."

A：カラオケ発明はつめいした人ひと、特許とっきょ取らとらなかったんだって？　B：特許とっきょを取っとっていれば、大儲けおおもうけできた　　。

A：カラオケ発明はつめいした人ひと、特許とっきょ取らとらなかったんだって？　B：特許とっきょを取っとっていれば、大儲けおおもうけできたものを。

A: I heard the person who invented karaoke didn't take out a patent? B: If he had patented it, he could have made a fortune, you know.

1ものだ
「ものだ」expresses a general sentiment, "that's how things are," which does not fit the context.
2ものではない
「ものではない」means "one should not ~," which does not fit the context.
3ものを ✓
Correct. 「ものを」means "although ~," with a tone of regret or reproach, matching grammar point ④ of this lesson: "he could have made a fortune, and yet..."
4ものか
「ものか」expresses strong denial, "never ~," which does not fit the context.

トミーさん　　、勝手かってに冷房れいぼうの設定せってい温度おんどを13度じゅうさんどにしちゃうんです。クラスメートはみんな、寒さむがっているのに……。

トミーさんときたら、勝手かってに冷房れいぼうの設定せってい温度おんどを13度じゅうさんどにしちゃうんです。クラスメートはみんな、寒さむがっているのに……。

As for Tommy, he goes and sets the air conditioner to 13 degrees on his own. All the classmates are freezing...

1にすれば
「にすれば」means "from the standpoint of ~," which does not fit the context.
2にしたところで
「にしたところで」means "even ~ (as a case in point), ...," which does not fit the context.
3ときたら ✓
Correct. 「ときたら」means "as for ~ (that person/thing)," with a tone of dissatisfaction, matching grammar point ⑤ of this lesson: "as for Tommy..."
4といっても
「といっても」means "even though one says ~," which does not fit the context.

電車でんしゃの中なかでお年寄りとしよりが立ったっていても、周りまわりの若者わかものはそれを無視しむししてゲームや携帯けいたいに夢中むちゅうだ。嘆かわしいなげかわしい　　。

Related grammar point 12 悔しいくやしいといったらない

電車でんしゃの中なかでお年寄りとしよりが立ったっていても、周りまわりの若者わかものはそれを無視しむししてゲームや携帯けいたいに夢中むちゅうだ。嘆かわしいなげかわしいといったらない。

Even when an elderly person is standing on the train, the young people around ignore them and are absorbed in games and their phones. It is simply deplorable.

1とは言い切れいいきれない
「とは言い切れいいきれない」means "cannot be said for certain that ~," which does not fit the context.
2というものでもない
「というものでもない」means "it isn't necessarily the case that ~," which does not fit the context.
3といったらない ✓
Correct. 「といったらない」emphasizes "extremely ~," matching grammar point ⑫ of this lesson: "it is extremely deplorable."
4というに決まきまっている
「というに決まきまっている」means "is sure to say ~," 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.

テレビドラマの12★4、事件じけんが解決かいけつできるわけがない。

テレビドラマの1刑事けいじ2ではあるまいし3★1時間いちじかん4足らたらずで、事件じけんが解決かいけつできるわけがない。

Order: 2 → 1 → 4 → 3 ★ = option 4

It's not as if he were a detective in a TV drama; there's no way to solve the case in less than an hour.

How the sentence is built

First put「刑事」, then「ではあるまいし」(grammar point ① of this lesson, "it's not as if ~"), with ★ falling on「1時間」, and finally「足らたらずで」. The whole phrase「テレビドラマの刑事けいじではあるまいし、1時間いちじかん足らたらずで」modifies the sentence-final「事件じけんが解決かいけつできるわけがない」.

A：就職しゅうしょくまだ決まきまってないの？またダメだったらどうする気き？　B：だめなら、12★4よ。心配しんぱいしないで。

Related grammar point 11 あきらめるまでのことだ

A：就職しゅうしょくまだ決まきまってないの？またダメだったらどうする気き？　B：だめなら、1次のつぎの2会社かいしゃを3★受けるうける4までのことだよ。心配しんぱいしないで。

Order: 2 → 3 → 4 → 1 ★ = option 4

A: Haven't you decided on a job yet? What will you do if it doesn't work out again? B: If it doesn't, I'll just apply to the next company. Don't worry.

How the sentence is built

First put「次のつぎの」, which modifies「会社かいしゃを」, then「受けるうける」, with ★ falling on「受けるうける」, and finally「までのことだ」(grammar point ⑪ of this lesson, "I can just ~"), which connects with the already-given「心配しんぱいしないで」at the end.

日本にほんは食料しょくりょう自給率じきゅうりつが低くひくく、代表的だいひょうてきな日本食にほんしょくの一つひとつである12★4でしかない。

Related grammar point 15 カプテック社しゃにしたところで

日本にほんは食料しょくりょう自給率じきゅうりつが低くひくく、代表的だいひょうてきな日本食にほんしょくの一つひとつである1そば2にしたところで3★20%4程度ていどでしかない。

Order: 4 → 3 → 2 → 1 ★ = option 2

Japan's food self-sufficiency rate is low, and even for soba, one of the representative Japanese foods, it is only about 20%.

How the sentence is built

First put「そば」, then「にしたところで」(grammar point ⑮ of this lesson, "even ~"), with ★ falling on「20%」, and finally「程度」, which connects with the already-given「でしかない」at the end.

Part 3: Reading

相談そうだん者しゃ（会社員かいしゃいん、女性じょせい、43歳よんじゅうさんさい）：弟おとうとのことで心配しんぱいしています。私わたしの弟おとうとときたら今年ことし40歳よんじゅっさいになるというのに、「趣味しゅみはレゴ（LEGO）」と公言こうげんしています。母ははは①「子どもこどもじゃあるまいし、またレゴ遊びあそび。」とあきれ、顔かおを見れみれば小言こごとが絶えまたえません。当とうの本人ほんにんは、②「母さんかあさんにはわからないよ。」と言わいわんばかりの顔かおで、複雑ふくざつな立体りったいの創作そうさくに没頭ぼっとうし、食事しょくじの時間じかんだろうが、深夜しんやだろうが、作りつくり続けつづけています。仕事しごとは真面目まじめにやっているようですが、姉あねの私わたしとしては、弟おとうとの体からだも心配しんぱいですし、結婚けっこんもできないのではないかと気がきがかりです。どうしたらよいでしょうか。回答者かいとうしゃ（映画監督えいがかんとく、男性だんせい、65歳ろくじゅうごさい）：レゴはすでに、弟おとうとさんの人生じんせいの一部いちぶであり、創造そうぞうの源みなもとであり、明日あしたへの活力かつりょくとなっているのでしょう。弟おとうとさんは「レゴ・アーティスト」の道みちを進もすすもうとしているのかもしれません。いずれにしても一人前いちにんまえの男性だんせいとして弟おとうとさんを信じしんじてあげるべきではありませんか。

Show passage translation

Person seeking advice (office worker, female, 43):
I am worried about my younger brother. He is about to turn 40 this year, yet he openly declares that his "hobby is LEGO."
My mother is exasperated, saying ① "You're not a child anymore, and you're playing with LEGO again," and she nags him constantly whenever she sees him. My brother himself, with a look that says ② "You wouldn't understand, Mom," is absorbed in creating complicated three-dimensional works, and he keeps building whether it is mealtime or the middle of the night.
He seems to take his job seriously, but as his older sister I worry about his health, and I also worry that he may never be able to marry. What should I do?
Responder (film director, male, 65):
LEGO has probably already become a part of your brother's life, a source of his creativity, and the energy he draws on for tomorrow. Perhaps he is trying to follow the path of a "LEGO artist." In any case, shouldn't you trust him as a fully grown man?

母親ははおやはどんな気持ちきもちで①「子どもこどもじゃあるまいし、またレゴ遊びあそび。」と言っていっているか。

With what feeling does the mother say ① "You're not a child anymore, and you're playing with LEGO again"?

1子どもこどもではないのに、ずっとレゴ遊びあそびを続けつづけているのは評価ひょうかできる。
The text has no sense of "commendable." The whole line ① is said in an exasperated, reproachful tone, not as an evaluation.
2レゴ遊びあそびは大人おとながするものではないからやめてほしい。 ✓
Correct. 「子どもこどもじゃあるまいし」(grammar point ① of this lesson, "it's not as if you were a child") expresses exactly the reproachful feeling: "you're no longer a child, adults shouldn't play with LEGO, so I want you to stop."
3子どもこどもでも大人おとなでも夢中むちゅうでレゴ遊びあそびをするのは気がきがかりだ。
The text makes no such generalization as "it is worrying for anyone, child or adult, to be absorbed in LEGO." The mother's remark is aimed precisely at the fact that he is an adult and still does it.
4子どもこどもではないから、夜遅くよるおそくまで自由じゆうにレゴ遊びあそびをしてもかまわない。
"Since he's not a child, he can play with LEGO as freely as he likes late into the night" is clearly the opposite of the mother's reproachful tone.

②「母さんかあさんにはわからないよ。」とあるが、母親ははおやに何なにがわからないと思っておもっているか。

Related grammar point 2 言わいわんばかり

The text says ② "You wouldn't understand, Mom." What does the brother think his mother does not understand?

1レゴの世界せかいの魅力みりょく ✓
Correct. The brother has a look of「言わいわんばかり」(grammar point ② of this lesson, unspoken but conveyed by his expression) and is absorbed in his LEGO creations. What he implies is that "Mom doesn't understand the world of LEGO, or the joy and charm of creating it."
2レゴの作りつくり方かた
The text does not suggest the brother thinks his mother doesn't know how to build. ② expresses "not understanding his passion," not the building technique itself.
3今いま何をなにを作っつくっているか
"What he is making now" is not the point of ②. The brother is not hiding what he is building.
4姉あねが心配しんぱいしていること
② is something the brother says to his mother and has nothing to do with the sister's worry.

相談そうだん者しゃは、どんなことを一番いちばん心配しんぱいしているか。

What does the person seeking advice worry about most?

1親子関係おやこかんけいが悪化あっかすること
The text does not mention "a worsening parent-child relationship." The mother merely nags; the relationship has not broken down.
2レゴばかりして働かはたらかないこと
The text clearly says「仕事しごとは真面目まじめにやっているようです」(he seems to take his job seriously), so it is not that he "only plays with LEGO and doesn't work."
3ストレスで自分じぶんが病気びょうきになること
The worry in the text is about the brother, not about "my own" health.
4弟おとうとの健康けんこうや将来しょうらいのこと ✓
Correct. The original text says「弟おとうとの体からだも心配しんぱいですし、結婚けっこんもできないのではないかと気がきがかりです」, which is exactly "worry about the brother's health and future (whether he can marry)."

Part 4: Listening

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

Listen to this sentence first

問 1人ひとりで道みちわかる？送ろおくろうか。

Do you know the way by yourself? Shall I take you there?

1子どもこどもじゃあるまいし、大丈夫だいじょうぶよ。 ✓
I'm not a child, so I'll be fine.
21人ひとりじゃあるまいし、大丈夫だいじょうぶよ。
I'm not alone, so I'll be fine.
3大人おとなじゃあるまいし、大丈夫だいじょうぶよ。
I'm not an adult, so I'll be fine.

The other person worries, "Do you know the way by yourself? Shall I see you there?" The reply should use 「〜じゃあるまいし」 (grammar point ① of this lesson, "it's not as if ~") to convey "No need to worry so much, I'm not a child." 「子どもこどもじゃあるまいし、大丈夫だいじょうぶよ」 means "I'm not a child anymore, I'll be fine," which is logical and declines the unnecessary concern. 2 「1人ひとりじゃあるまいし」 ("it's not as if I were alone") contradicts the facts, since the speaker is in fact alone, so it makes no sense. 3 「大人おとなじゃあるまいし」 ("it's not as if I were an adult") goes the wrong way: to say "no need to worry" you need to stress that you are already an adult / not a child, and saying "I'm not an adult" would admit immaturity, which is illogical. The answer is 1.

Grammar in this question

〜じゃあるまいし：It's not as if ~ (grammar point ① of this lesson). 「子どもこどもじゃあるまいし」.

Key vocabulary

送るおくる（おくる） to see (someone) off, to escort

Listen to this sentence first

問わあ、新しいあたらしい機械きかいね。使いつかい方かた、教えおしえてほしいなあ。

Wow, a new machine. I wish someone would teach me how to use it.

1え？使いつかい方かたを教えおしえたいの？
Huh? You want to teach how to use it?
2でも、教えおしえたかったよねえ。
But I did want to teach you before, didn't I?
3教えおしえたところで、忘れわすれるんじゃないの？ ✓
Even if I taught you, wouldn't you just forget?

The other person says "I wish someone would teach me how to use it," hinting that they want to be taught. The most natural reply uses 「〜たところで」 (grammar point ⑥ of this lesson, "even if ~, it's no use") with a slightly teasing or resigned tone: "Even if I taught you, you'd just forget, wouldn't you?" 「教えおしえたところで、忘れわすれるんじゃないの？」. 1 「教えおしえたいの？」 mixes up the roles: it asks whether the other person wants to teach, when what they actually said is that they want to be taught, so it does not answer what was said. 2 「教えおしえたかったよねえ」 uses the past tense "wanted to teach," which does not match the tense or context of the request the other person is making now. The answer is 3.

Grammar in this question

〜たところで：Even if ~, it's no use (grammar point ⑥ of this lesson). 「教えおしえたところで、忘れわすれるんじゃないの」.

Key vocabulary

機械きかい（きかい） machine

Listen to this sentence first

問うちの会社かいしゃときたら、まったくもう〜。

As for my company, honestly...

1え？何時なんじに来きたの？
Huh? What time did you come?
2へえ、よかったね。
Oh, that's nice.
3え？どうしたの？ ✓
Huh? What happened?

The other person uses 「〜ときたら」 (grammar point ⑤ of this lesson, "as for ~") plus「まったくもう〜」, clearly in a tone of grumbling and trailing off. The most natural reply is to ask with concern what happened: 「え？どうしたの？」. 1 「何時なんじに来きたの」 mistakes「ときたら」("as for ~") for a pun on「来きた」("came"), which completely misreads what the other person means. 2 「よかったね」 ("that's nice") is the opposite of a grumbling tone and does not answer what was said. The answer is 3.

Grammar in this question

〜ときたら：As for ~ (grammar point ⑤ of this lesson, with a tone of dissatisfaction). 「うちの会社かいしゃときたら」.

Key vocabulary

まったく really, honestly (expressing exasperation or dissatisfaction)

Listen to this sentence first

問この雪ゆきじゃ会社かいしゃへ行いこうにも行いけないよ。

With this snow, I can't get to the office even if I want to.

1じゃあ、休んやすんだら？ ✓
Then why don't you take the day off?
2うん、行いこう。
Yeah, let's go.
3え？行いけた？
Huh? Were you able to go?

The other person uses 「〜（よ）うにも〜ない」 (grammar point ⑬ of this lesson, "even if I want to ~, I can't") to say "even if I wanted to go to the company, I can't," giving a reason for not being able to go and hinting that they intend to stay home. The most natural reply goes along with that premise and offers a suggestion: 「じゃあ、休んやすんだら？」 ("Then why not take the day off?"). 2 「うん、行いこう」 ("Yeah, let's go") directly contradicts the premise that they can't go. 3 「行いけた？」 uses the past tense "were you able to go?", which does not match the present state of 「行いけない」 ("can't go") that the other person stated. The answer is 1.

Grammar in this question

〜（よ）うにも〜ない：Even if I want to ~, I can't (grammar point ⑬ of this lesson). 「行いこうにも行いけない」.

Key vocabulary

雪ゆき（ゆき） snow

Back to Lesson 7 study page · Back to TRY!N1