Lesson 8 楽園の萌花 Practice

Part 1: Choosing the grammar form

友人ゆうじんが会社かいしゃをクビになったというから、さぞかし金かねに困っこまっているだろう　　、毎日まいにち外車がいしゃを乗のり回しまわして遊んであそんでいるというのだ。

友人ゆうじんが会社かいしゃをクビになったというから、さぞかし金かねに困っこまっているだろうと思いおもいきや、毎日まいにち外車がいしゃを乗のり回しまわして遊んであそんでいるというのだ。

I heard that my friend was fired from his company, so I figured he must be hard up for money, but he is apparently driving around in an imported car and having fun every day.

1といえども
「といえども」 means "even though ...", which does not fit the context.
2とはいえ
「とはいえ」 means "that said", which does not fit the context.
3というものの
「というものの」 means "although it is said that ..., but ...", which does not fit the context.
4と思いおもいきや ✓
Correct. 「と思いおもいきや」 means "I thought ..., but (unexpectedly) ..." and corresponds to grammar point ⑫ of this lesson: "I thought he must be hard up for money, but he is actually spending lavishly."

大統領だいとうりょうの熱ねつのこもった演説えんぜつが終わおわる　　、会場かいじょうは割れわれんばかりの拍手はくしゅと歓声かんせいに包まつつまれました。

大統領だいとうりょうの熱ねつのこもった演説えんぜつが終わおわるや否いなや、会場かいじょうは割れわれんばかりの拍手はくしゅと歓声かんせいに包まつつまれました。

As soon as the president's passionate speech ended, the hall was filled with thunderous applause and cheers.

1や否いなや ✓
Correct. 「や否いなや」 means "as soon as ..." and corresponds to grammar point ⑩ of this lesson: "as soon as the speech ended ..."
2かたわら
「かたわら」 means "while doing ... (and also) ...", which does not fit the context.
3そばから
「そばから」 means "no sooner than ... (it happens again right away)" and is mostly used for negative situations that keep recurring, so it does not fit the context.
4とあって
「とあって」 means "since it is (a special circumstance) ...", which does not fit the context.

これは、差別さべつや貧困ひんこん　　、一代いちだいで国際的こくさいてきな実業家じつぎょうかとなった男おとこの生涯しょうがいを描いえがいたドキュメンタリーである。

これは、差別さべつや貧困ひんこんをものともせず、一代いちだいで国際的こくさいてきな実業家じつぎょうかとなった男おとこの生涯しょうがいを描いえがいたドキュメンタリーである。

This is a documentary depicting the life of a man who, undaunted by discrimination and poverty, built himself up from nothing into an international businessman.

1を問わとわず
「を問わとわず」 means "regardless of ...", which does not fit the context.
2を皮切かわきりにして
「を皮切かわきりにして」 means "starting with ...", which does not fit the context.
3をものともせず ✓
Correct. 「をものともせず」 means "not being daunted by ..." and corresponds to grammar point ⑦ of this lesson: "undaunted by discrimination and poverty".
4をもとにして
「をもとにして」 means "based on ...", which does not fit the context.

この神社じんじゃの境内けいだいは、桜さくらの名所めいしょとして知らしられる　　、梅雨つゆの季節きせつにはあじさいの花はなも楽したのしめます。

この神社じんじゃの境内けいだいは、桜さくらの名所めいしょとして知らしられる一方いっぽう、梅雨つゆの季節きせつにはあじさいの花はなも楽したのしめます。

The grounds of this shrine are known as a famous spot for cherry blossoms, and in the rainy season you can also enjoy hydrangeas.

1かたがた
「かたがた」 means "while at it; on the occasion of ...", which does not fit the context.
2一方いっぽう ✓
Correct. 「一方」 means "on the one hand ... (and at the same time) ...": "as a famous cherry blossom spot, and at the same time, hydrangeas can be enjoyed in the rainy season".
3かたわら
「かたわら」 means "while doing ... (two things at once)" and is mostly used for a person's activities. Here the subject is a place, and the two things are not actions carried out at the same time, so it does not fit.
4限りかぎり
「限りかぎり」 means "as long as ...", which does not fit the context.

熱心ねっしんに講義こうぎを続けつづける教授きょうじゅの耳みみに、　　からともなく静かしずかな寝息ねいきが聞こきこえてきた。

Related grammar point 2 見るみるともなく

熱心ねっしんに講義こうぎを続けつづける教授きょうじゅの耳みみに、どこからともなく静かしずかな寝息ねいきが聞こきこえてきた。

While the professor was lecturing passionately, a quiet sound of someone breathing in their sleep reached his ears from somewhere.

1後ろうしろ
「後ろうしろ」 is a concrete directional noun, and 「後ろうしろからともなく」 is unnatural; it does not match the usage of "interrogative + からともなく".
2何なに
「何」 cannot be followed directly by 「から」 to indicate a place of origin, so it does not fit.
3外そと
「外」 is a concrete directional noun and does not match the usage of "interrogative + ともなく".
4どこ ✓
Correct. 「どこからともなく」 means "from somewhere (unclear where)" and corresponds to the supplementary usage "interrogative + ともなく" under grammar point ② of this lesson.

突然とつぜん契約けいやくを結ぼむすぼうと言っていってくるなんて、私わたしには先方せんぽうの真意しんいがはかり　　んです。

Related grammar point 18 決めきめかねている

突然とつぜん契約けいやくを結ぼむすぼうと言っていってくるなんて、私わたしには先方せんぽうの真意しんいがはかりかねるんです。

They suddenly say they want to sign a contract, and I really can't figure out what the other side truly intends.

1かねない
「かねない」 means "might possibly ... (something bad)", which does not fit the context.
2かねる ✓
Correct. 「かねる」 means "be unable to ..." and corresponds to grammar point ⑱ of this lesson: "I can't figure out the other side's true intentions".
3得るえる
「得るえる」 means "be able to ...", which is the opposite of the context "hard to figure out".
4っぽい
「っぽい」 means "have a tendency toward / feel like ...", which does not fit the context.

この薬くすりを飲むのむようになってからというもの、　　んですよ。

この薬くすりを飲むのむようになってからというもの、ずっと体調たいちょうがいいんですよ。

Ever since I started taking this medicine, my physical condition has been good all along.

1ずっと体調たいちょうがいい ✓
Correct. 「てからというもの」 means "ever since ..., (a change) has continued" and corresponds to grammar point ④ of this lesson: "ever since I started taking the medicine, my condition has been good". The meaning fits the idea of a continuing change.
2突然とつぜん倒れたおれた
「突然とつぜん倒れたおれた」 (suddenly collapsed) is a one-time event, which does not fit the context in which 「からというもの」 emphasizes a continuing state.
3前まえと体調たいちょうが変わかわらない
「前まえと体調たいちょうが変わかわらない」 (my condition is no different from before) means "no change", which contradicts the nuance of change implied by 「からというもの」.
4すぐに退院たいいんした
「すぐに退院たいいんした」 (was discharged right away) is a one-time event, not a continuing state, so it does not fit.

約束やくそくの時間じかんに遅れおくれて、「おそよう」なんて皮肉ひにく　　ことを言わいわれた。

Related grammar point 9 謎なぞめいた言葉ことば

約束やくそくの時間じかんに遅れおくれて、「おそよう」なんて皮肉ひにくめいたことを言わいわれた。

Because I was late, I was told something sarcastic like "Good late-morning" (a pun on おはよう, with おそ meaning "late").

1らしい
「らしい」 means "seem like ...", which does not fit the context of "something with a sarcastic tone".
2気味きみな
「気味きみな」 means "somewhat inclined to ...", and neither its connection nor its nuance fits.
3次第しだいの
「次第しだいの」 means "depending on ...", which does not fit the context.
4めいた ✓
Correct. 「めいた」 means "having a touch of ..." and corresponds to grammar point ⑨ of this lesson: "words with a sarcastic tone".

Part 2: Building sentences

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

日本にほんの労働者ろうどうしゃの多くおおくが、周囲しゅういに配慮はいりょするあまり、12★4と考えかんがえてしまう。

Related grammar point 11 小鬼こおにごとき

日本にほんの労働者ろうどうしゃの多くおおくが、周囲しゅういに配慮はいりょするあまり、1たかが2頭痛ずつう3★ごときで4休めやすめないと考えかんがえてしまう。

Order: 3 → 2 → 4 → 1 ★ = option 4

Many workers in Japan, out of excessive consideration for those around them, end up thinking, "I can't take a day off over a mere headache."

How the sentence is built

First comes 「たかが」, then 「頭痛」, the ★ falls on 「ごときで」 (grammar point ⑪ of this lesson, "nothing but ..."), and last comes 「休めやすめない」, which connects to the 「と考えかんがえてしまう」 already given at the end of the sentence.

これからも、皆様みなさまの12★4努めつとめてまいります。

これからも、皆様みなさまの1ご期待きたいに2沿うそう3★べく4サービス向上こうじょうに努めつとめてまいります。

Order: 3 → 2 → 1 → 4 ★ = option 1

From now on, too, in order to live up to everyone's expectations, we will continue to work to improve our service.

How the sentence is built

First comes 「ご期待きたいに」, then 「沿うそう」, the ★ falls on 「べく」 (grammar point ③ of this lesson, "in order to ..."), and last comes 「サービス向上こうじょうに」, which connects to the 「努めつとめてまいります」 already given at the end of the sentence.

これだけ精巧せいこうにできていると、12★4のではないでしょうか。

Related grammar point 18 決めきめかねている

これだけ精巧せいこうにできていると、1どちらが2本物ほんものか3★判断はんだんが4つきかねるのではないでしょうか。

Order: 3 → 1 → 4 → 2 ★ = option 4

When something is made this elaborately, it would probably be hard to even tell which one is the genuine article, wouldn't it?

How the sentence is built

First comes 「どちらが」, then 「本物ほんものか」, the ★ falls on 「判断はんだんが」, and last comes 「つきかねる」 (grammar point ⑱ of this lesson, "be unable to ..."), which connects to the 「のではないでしょうか」 already given at the end of the sentence.

Part 3: Reading

「高校こうこうの講師こうしの口くちがあるんだけど、どうかね。」俺おれが、先輩せんぱいの半年間はんとしかんをかけた実験じっけんデータを誤っあやまって消しけしてしまってからというもの、気まずくきまずくなっていた研究室けんきゅうしつの空気くうきを察さっした教授きょうじゅが、声こえをかけてくれた。教師きょうしなんて、もともと人前ひとまえでしゃべるのが苦手にがてな俺おれが、絶対ぜったいに避けさけたかった職業しょくぎょうだ。しかし、世話せわになった教授きょうじゅにそんな理由りゆうはさすがに言いいいかねた。それに、親元おやもとからの送金そうきんがなくなり、研究けんきゅうのかたわらバイトすれば何とかなんとかなるだろうという見通しみとおしは甘くあまく、食くわんがためには、やむを得えない選択せんたくだった。俺おれは、腹はらをくくった。高校生こうこうせいごときになめられるものか……。深呼吸しんこきゅうして「1－A」のドアを開けあけた。ざわついていた空気くうきが一瞬いっしゅんで静ましずまり、「起立きりつ」という声こえとともにガタガタと椅子いすの音おとが響きひびき、教室きょうしつ中じゅうの紺色こんいろの制服せいふくが立ちたちあがった。教卓きょうたくに進むすすむ俺おれに向かむかって一斉いっせいに注がそそがれる40の視線しせん。こっちを見なみながら、何なにやらささやきあっているやつらもいる。「礼れい」形式的けいしきてきな挨拶あいさつが終わりおわり、全員ぜんいんが着席ちゃくせきすると同時にどうじに、後ろうしろのドアがガラッと開きひらき、ヘルメットを抱えかかえたやつが1人ひとり入はいって来きた。俺おれと目めが合うあうなり、そいつが口くちを開いひらいた。「ね、誰だれ？」さっきどこからともなく響いひびいていたバイクの音おとは、こいつだったのか。

Show passage translation

"There's an opening for a high school lecturer. What do you think?"
Ever since I accidentally deleted the experiment data my senior colleague had spent half a year collecting, the atmosphere in the lab had been awkward, and the professor, sensing it, spoke to me about this.
Teaching was a profession that I, who am bad at speaking in front of people to begin with, had wanted to avoid at all costs. But I really couldn't give such a reason to the professor who had looked after me so well. Besides, the money from my family had stopped coming, and my expectation that I could somehow get by working part-time alongside my research had proved too optimistic; in order to put food on the table, it was an unavoidable choice.
I steeled myself. I'm not going to let mere high school kids look down on me...
I took a deep breath and opened the door of Class "1-A".
The noisy room fell silent in an instant, and with the call "Stand," the clatter of chairs echoed, and the navy-blue uniforms filling the classroom all rose to their feet.
Forty pairs of eyes were fixed on me all at once as I walked up to the lectern. Some of them were whispering to each other about something while looking my way.
"Bow."
The formal greeting ended, and just as everyone was taking their seats, the back door slid open with a bang and one kid came in carrying a helmet. The moment our eyes met, he opened his mouth.
"Hey, who are you?"
So the sound of a motorcycle that had been echoing from somewhere earlier was this guy.

「俺おれ」が教師きょうしになったのはなぜか。

Why did "I" become a teacher?

1高校生こうこうせいが好きすきだから
The text never says that "I" like high school students; on the contrary, it states clearly that this was 「絶対ぜったいに避けさけたかった職業しょくぎょうだ」 (a profession I had wanted to avoid at all costs).
2研究室けんきゅうしつが嫌にいやになったから
「研究室けんきゅうしつが嫌にいやになった」 is inaccurate. The reason the atmosphere in the lab became awkward was that "I" had ruined my senior colleague's experiment data, not that "I" had simply grown tired of the lab.
3生活せいかつが苦しかくるしかったから ✓
Correct. The text says 「親元おやもとからの送金そうきんがなくなり」 and 「食くわんがためには、やむを得えない選択せんたくだった」 (the money from home stopped coming, and it was an unavoidable choice in order to eat), which shows that he was driven by financial hardship.
4先輩せんぱいにお世話せわになっているから
What the text mentions is that the 「教授」 (professor) helped by offering the job, not a 「先輩」 (senior colleague), so the person in this option does not match.

クラスの生徒せいとたちの「俺おれ」に対するたいする態度たいどとして最ももっとも適当てきとうなものは何かなにか。

What is the most appropriate description of the class students' attitude toward "I"?

1尊敬そんけい
The text contains no depiction of the students showing "respect" for the new teacher; they are merely whispering with curiosity.
2興味きょうみ ✓
Correct. Both 「こっちを見なみながら、何なにやらささやきあっているやつらもいる」 and the fact that the student who arrives late on a motorcycle asks straight out 「ね、誰だれ？」 as soon as he comes in show the students' curiosity/interest in the new teacher, rather than respect or indifference.
3親切しんせつ
The text contains no depiction of the students behaving in a "kind" way toward "I".
4無関心むかんしん
「無関心」 (indifference) clearly contradicts the descriptions of the students whispering and staring at the new teacher, and of the late student asking straight out who he is. The students are obviously very interested in the new teacher.

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.

学校がっこうの説明会せつめいかいで先生せんせいが話しはなしています。

問学校がっこうへの問い合わせといあわせが増えふえたのはなぜですか。

1すしを食べたたべたい人ひとが多いおおいから
2フランス語ごに自信じしんがあるから
3テレビの番組ばんぐみで紹介しょうかいされたから ✓
4料理りょうりの勉強べんきょうができるから

Why have inquiries to the school increased?

The teacher states the reason clearly: 「先日、テレビで取り上げとりあげていただいてからというもの、問い合わせといあわせもこれまでの5倍以上ばいいじょうに増えふえ」 (grammar point ④ of this lesson, 「〜てからというもの」: ever since we were featured on TV the other day, inquiries have increased to more than five times what they were). 1 "Many people want to eat sushi" has no basis in the passage. 2 "Confident about French" is the woman's own situation and has nothing to do with why the school's inquiries increased. 4 "Can study cooking" is a selling point of the school's course itself, not the direct cause of the change that inquiries increased (問い合わせが増えた). → テレビの番組ばんぐみで紹介しょうかいされたから. The answer is 3.

Grammar in this question

〜てからというもの：Ever since ... (and it has continued) (grammar point ④ of this lesson). 「テレビで取り上げとりあげていただいてからというもの」.

Key vocabulary

職人しょくにん（しょくにん） craftsman; artisan

修業しゅぎょう（しゅぎょう） training; apprenticeship

問い合わせといあわせ（といあわせ） inquiry

問男おとこの人ひとがこの専門学校せんもんがっこうの勉強べんきょうに不安ふあんを持っもっているのはどんなことですか。

1大学だいがくと専門学校せんもんがっこうの勉強べんきょうの両立りょうりつが難しいむずかしいこと
2生なまの魚さかなが調理ちょうりできないこと
3勉強べんきょうの期間きかんが短いみじかいこと ✓
4フランス語ごができないこと

What is the man anxious about regarding studying at this vocational school?

The first anxiety the man voices is 「今までいままで何年なんねんも修業しゅぎょうが必要ひつようだったのが、本当ほんとうに1年いちねんで大丈夫だいじょうぶかな」, that is, "it used to take years of training, so is one year of study really enough?" He is worried that the study period is too short. His later remark 「君、料理りょうりしたことないんじゃない？生なまの魚さかなとか触れるふれるの？」 questions whether the woman herself can manage it; it is not anxiety about the study at this school itself. 1 "Difficulty balancing university and vocational school" comes from the school's introduction about current university students; it is not the man's worry. 2 "Can't prepare raw fish" is his doubt about the woman herself, not anxiety about the school's study. 4 "Can't speak French" is contradicted by the conversation: the woman says she is rather confident about her French, and the man only remarks that she would have to study the language if she went abroad. → 勉強べんきょうの期間きかんが短いみじかいこと. The answer is 3.

Grammar in this question

〜んじゃない？：Isn't it that ...? (a casual rhetorical question that gently points out something about the other person). 「料理りょうりしたことないんじゃない？」.

Key vocabulary

両立りょうりつ（りょうりつ） balancing both; compatibility

調理ちょうり（ちょうり） cooking; preparation of food

Transcript

F 本日ほんじつは、当校とうこうの説明会せつめいかいにご参加さんかいただきありがとうございます。当校とうこうは、寿司すし職人しょくにんを育成いくせいする調理ちょうり専門学校せんもんがっこうです。先日せんじつ、テレビで取り上げとりあげていただいてからというもの、問い合わせといあわせもこれまでの5倍以上ばいいじょうに増えふえ、うれしい悲鳴ひめいをあげております。
Thank you all for attending our school's information session today. Our school is a culinary vocational school that trains sushi chefs. Since we were featured on TV the other day, inquiries have increased to more than five times what they were before, and we are happily overwhelmed.
F 寿司すし職人しょくにんは、今やいまや、海外かいがいでも将来性しょうらいせい抜群ばつぐんの職業しょくぎょうとして注目ちゅうもくされておりますが、特にとくにヨーロッパでは本物ほんものの寿司すしを握れにぎれる職人しょくにんが圧倒的あっとうてきに不足ふそくしています。これは、昔むかしながらの修業しゅぎょうでは、一人前いちにんまえになるのに10年じゅうねん以上いじょうかかることもあったからです。
Sushi chefs are now attracting attention overseas as a profession with outstanding prospects, and in Europe in particular there is an overwhelming shortage of chefs who can make authentic sushi. This is because, under the traditional way of training, it could sometimes take ten years or more to become fully qualified.
F そこで当校とうこうでは、1年間いちねんかんで本格的ほんかくてきな寿司すし職人しょくにんを養成ようせいするコースを作りつくりました。現役げんえきの学生がくせいさんでも大学だいがくへ通うかようかたわら、技術ぎじゅつを習得しゅうとくするべくがんばっている方かたもいらっしゃいます。
So our school has created a course that trains full-fledged sushi chefs in one year. There are even current university students who attend university while working hard to master the skills.
F よさそうじゃない？1年いちねんで職人しょくにんになれるし、外国がいこくで働くはたらくチャンスもありそうだし……。
Sounds good, doesn't it? You can become a chef in a year, and there seems to be a chance to work abroad, too...
M 今までいままで何年なんねんも修業しゅぎょうが必要ひつようだったのが、本当ほんとうに1年いちねんで大丈夫だいじょうぶかな。
It used to require years of training, so is one year really going to be all right?
F コースもちゃんとしているみたいだし、大丈夫だいじょうぶよ。
The course looks properly run, so it'll be fine.
M そうかなあ。でもねえ……。あ、っていうか、君きみ、料理りょうりしたことないんじゃない？生なまの魚さかなとか触れるふれるの？それに、外国がいこく行くいくんだったら、言葉ことばもやらないと……。
Do you think so? But, you know... Oh, come to think of it, you've never cooked, have you? Could you even touch raw fish? And if you're going abroad, you'd have to study the language, too...
F うーん、魚さかなかあ。フランス語ごにはちょっと自信じしんあるんだけどなあ。
Hmm, fish, huh... I am rather confident about my French, though.

Listen to this sentence first

問もしもし、試験しけんの結果けっかを教えおしえていただきたいんですが……。

Hello, I would like you to tell me my exam results...

1電話でんわでお答えこたえいただきます。
Please answer by phone.
2電話でんわでお答えこたえしたまでです。
I only answered by phone.
3電話でんわではお答えこたえしかねます。 ✓
I'm afraid I cannot answer by phone.

When someone asks about exam results over the phone, the organization normally cannot tell them directly by phone because of its rules, and the most appropriate and gentle way to decline is to use 「〜かねる」 (grammar point ⑱ of this lesson, "be unable to ...", a formal, softened refusal): 「電話でんわではお答えこたえしかねます」. 1 「電話でんわでお答えこたえいただきます」 ("You will answer by phone") reverses the roles: it is the caller who wants to ask for the results, not the one being asked to answer. 2 「電話でんわでお答えこたえしたまでです」 (grammar point ⑥ of this lesson, "I only answered by phone") is in the past tense and means "I have already answered", which does not fit a refusal in the present situation. The answer is 3.

Grammar in this question

〜かねる：Be unable to ... (grammar point ⑱ of this lesson, a formal and softened refusal). 「お答えこたえしかねます」.

Key vocabulary

結果けっか（けっか） result

Listen to this sentence first

問いやあ、春はるめいてきたね〜。

Oh, it's really starting to feel like spring, isn't it?

1ほんと、コートいらないね。 ✓
True, we don't even need coats.
2もう、春はるも終わりおわりかあ。
Spring is already almost over, huh.
3そろそろ、セーター用意しよういしなきゃ。
I'd better get a sweater ready soon.

The speaker says 「春はるめいてきたね」 (grammar point ⑨ of this lesson, 「〜めく」: it's starting to feel like spring), meaning the weather is warming up from winter and taking on a hint of spring (not yet fully spring). The most natural reply describes a concrete sense of the weather getting warmer: 「ほんと、コートいらないね」 ("True, we don't even need coats"). 2 「春はるも終わりおわりかあ」 ("Spring is already ending") treats it as if spring had been here for a long time, which is the opposite of what 「春はるめく」 expresses, namely "just beginning to show signs of spring". 3 「セーター用意しよういしなきゃ」 ("I need to get a sweater ready") is completely the wrong direction: sweaters are for keeping warm in winter, and there is no need to prepare one when the weather is getting warmer. The answer is 1.

Grammar in this question

〜めく：Starting to feel like ... (grammar point ⑨ of this lesson). 「春はるめいてきたね」.

Key vocabulary

コート coat; overcoat

セーター sweater

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