Lesson 11 ラーメンの紹介 Practice
Part 1: Choosing the grammar form
Q1
私の町は気候が温暖な 、海の幸も山の幸も豊富で暮らしやすい。
Related grammar point 3 工夫ができる上に
私の町は気候が温暖な上に、海の幸も山の幸も豊富で暮らしやすい。
Our town has a mild climate, and it is also rich in seafood and mountain produce, so it is a good place to live.
1のに
のに: expresses contrast, "even though ..."; this does not fit the context of adding one point to another in this sentence.
2上は
上は: means "since ..., one must ..."; this does not fit the context.
3以上
以上: means "since ..."; this does not fit the context.
4上に ✓
Correct. 上に: Lesson point ③; it means "not only ... but also ...": "the climate is mild, and on top of that seafood and mountain produce are abundant".
Q2
食べ物を売る店は、どんな店 衛生管理をきちんとしなければならない。
Related grammar point 7 スープにしろ具にしろ
食べ物を売る店は、どんな店にしろ衛生管理をきちんとしなければならない。
Shops that sell food must maintain good hygiene, whichever kind of shop they are.
1にしては
にしては: means "for ... (surprisingly)"; this does not fit the context.
2にしろ ✓
Correct. にしろ: Lesson point ⑦; it means "whether ... or ..., either way": "whichever kind of food shop it is".
3につけ
につけ: means "every time ..."; this does not fit the context.
4ばかりか
ばかりか: means "not only ... but also ..."; this does not fit the context.
Q3
このりんごは生産者の皆さんが自慢する 、味も香りも抜群ですね。
Related grammar point 6 人気店だけあって
このりんごは生産者の皆さんが自慢するだけあって、味も香りも抜群ですね。
These apples are what the growers take pride in, and it shows: both the flavor and the aroma are outstanding.
1にしても
にしても: means "even if ..."; this does not fit the context.
2といっても
といっても: means "although ... (it is said)"; this does not fit the causal context of "as one would expect" in this sentence.
3だけあって ✓
Correct. だけあって: Lesson point ⑥; it means "as you would expect from ...": "as you'd expect of what the growers take pride in".
4上に
上に: means "not only ... but also ..."; this does not fit the context of "as you would expect".
Q4
被災地でボランティアをした 、たった1日だけですから…。
Related grammar point 4 ラーメンといっても
被災地でボランティアをしたといっても、たった1日だけですから…。
I did volunteer work in a disaster area, but it was only for one day...
1ばかりでなく
ばかりでなく: means "not only ... but also ..."; this does not fit the context.
2というのに
というのに: means "even though ..."; this does not fit the context.
3というより
というより: means "rather than ... it is more like ..."; this does not fit the context.
4といっても ✓
Correct. といっても: Lesson point ④; it means "although ... (in reality that is not the case)": "I did volunteer work, but actually it was only one day".
Q5
普通の社員 私の意見など、経営陣は聞いてくれないと思うんです。
Related grammar point 2 空腹を満たすものにすぎなかった
普通の社員にすぎない私の意見など、経営陣は聞いてくれないと思うんです。
I am just an ordinary employee, so I don't think management would listen to the opinions of someone like me.
1に限る
「に限る」: Lesson point ⑤; it means "... is best", and "me, for whom an ordinary employee is best" makes no sense.
2にすぎない ✓
Correct. 「にすぎない」: Lesson point ②; it means "is merely ...". 「普通の社員にすぎない私」 = "me, who am merely an ordinary employee", which explains why the speaker feels management would not listen to their opinion because they have little standing.
3にしても
「にしても」: Lesson point ⑦, 「にしろ/にしても/にせよ」, means "even if ...". "Even an ordinary employee" introduces a concession, but the point of this sentence is "I am merely an ordinary employee", so it does not fit the context.
4といっても
「といっても」: Lesson point ④; it means "although ... (in reality the degree is not that high)". "Although I'm an ordinary employee" does not fit the context of saying one has little standing.
Q6
外国語を勉強するならその国に留学する と私は思う。
Related grammar point 5 ラーメンはしょうゆに限る
外国語を勉強するならその国に留学するに限ると私は思う。
I think that if you want to learn a foreign language, studying abroad in that country is the best way.
1に限る ✓
Correct. に限る: Lesson point ⑤; it means "... is best": "If you want to learn a foreign language, studying in that country is best."
2にほかならない
にほかならない: Lesson point ①; it means "it is nothing other than ..."; this does not fit the evaluative context of "... is best".
3にすぎない
にすぎない: means "it is merely ..."; this does not fit the context.
4ばかりだ
ばかりだ: means "nothing but ...; only getting ..."; this 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
IT企業12★4ではありません。
Related grammar point 4 ラーメンといっても
IT企業1といっても2社員は3★理系出身者4ばかりではありません。
Order: 2 → 1 → 3 → 4 ★ = option 3
Although it is an IT company, not all of the employees come from science backgrounds.
How the sentence is built
First connect 「といっても」 (lesson point ④, "although ..."), then 「社員は」; the ★ falls on 「理系出身者」 after 「社員は」, and the sentence ends with 「ばかり」. Full sentence: IT企業 といっても 社員は 理系出身者★ ばかり ではありません。
Q2
彼女は今12★4テレビにも出ている。
Related grammar point 6 人気店だけあって
彼女は今1注目の2バイオリニスト3★だけあって4よくテレビにも出ている。
Order: 3 → 2 → 4 → 1 ★ = option 4
She is a violinist who is attracting a lot of attention now, and as you'd expect, she often appears on TV.
How the sentence is built
First connect 「注目の」 and 「バイオリニスト」 to form the noun phrase "a violinist attracting attention"; the ★ falls on 「だけあって」 after 「バイオリニスト」 (lesson point ⑥, "as you'd expect from ..."), and the sentence ends with 「よく」. Full sentence: 彼女は今 注目の バイオリニスト だけあって★ よく テレビにも出ている。
Q3
若年化する青少年犯罪の防止策は12★4問題だ。
若年化する青少年犯罪の防止策は1学校2ばかりでなく3★社会全体で4考えるべき問題だ。
Order: 2 → 1 → 3 → 4 ★ = option 3
Measures to prevent juvenile crime, which is becoming a problem at ever younger ages, are an issue that should be considered not only by schools but by society as a whole.
How the sentence is built
First connect 「学校」, then 「ばかりでなく」; the ★ falls on 「社会全体で」 after 「ばかりでなく」, and the sentence ends with 「考えるべき」. Full sentence: 若年化する青少年犯罪の防止策は 学校 ばかりでなく 社会全体で★ 考えるべき 問題だ。
Q4
宇宙から地球を見ると、国境など地図上に12★4と実感する。
Related grammar point 2 空腹を満たすものにすぎなかった
宇宙から地球を見ると、国境など地図上に1書かれた2単なる3★線4にすぎないと実感する。
Order: 2 → 3 → 4 → 1 ★ = option 4
When you look at the Earth from space, you truly feel that a national border is nothing more than a line drawn on a map.
How the sentence is built
First connect 「書かれた」, then 「単なる」; the ★ falls on 「線」 after 「単なる」, and the sentence ends with 「にすぎない」 (lesson point ②, "is merely ..."). Full sentence: 宇宙から地球を見ると、国境など地図上に 書かれた 単なる 線★ にすぎない と実感する。
Part 3: Reading
Show passage translation
The other day I took part in a training session held by a corporate consulting firm. Right at the start of the session, candy was suddenly handed out. True, this training was related to the confectionery industry, there were many women participants, and the timing was just the "snack time" when one gets a little hungry. But I had come to the training in a serious frame of mind, and I thought that adults shouldn't really be eating things like candy or chocolate in a setting like this, so I felt somewhat displeased.
Looking at the other participants, not only the women but the men were eating too. Encouraged by the organizers, I reluctantly put a piece of candy into my mouth. As a result, my tired, foggy head suddenly cleared. Looking around, perhaps because the tension of meeting for the first time had eased, people who didn't know each other had already begun chatting amicably.
Seeing this, I understood why this training session handed out "snacks." As you would expect from the training of a corporate consulting firm that has been the talk of the town lately, they use "snacks" very effectively, I thought.
Q1
企業コンサルティングの会社は研修でどうして「おやつ」を出すのだと筆者は考えましたか。
Why does the author think the corporate consulting firm hands out "snacks" during the training?
1お腹が空く時間に行われるから
「お腹が空く時間に行われるから」 is only a surface coincidence the author noticed at first (the timing matched); it is not the real reason the author came to understand later.
2甘いものが好きな女性の参加者が多いから
「甘いものが好きな女性の参加者が多いから」 The text does mention many women participants, but this is just background; the author later saw men eating too, which shows this is not the real reason.
3体にも心にもいい効果があるから ✓
Correct. The author experienced for themselves that after eating the candy 「疲れてボーッとしていた頭がすっきりした」 (the tired, foggy head cleared), and also saw that 「知らない人同士が和やかに話を始めている」 (strangers had begun chatting amicably and the atmosphere had become friendly). This is exactly the 「体にも心にもいい効果」 (good effect on both body and mind), and it is the real reason the author finally understood.
4お菓子業界の宣伝の意味もある研修だから
「お菓子業界の宣伝の意味もある研修だから」 The beginning of the text mentions that the training was related to the confectionery industry, but this is only background about the training's theme and not the reason the author finally figured out for "why snacks were handed out".
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.
女子学生が大学の入学試験の面接について先生に相談しています。女子学生が一番心配なのは何ですか。
問 女子学生が一番心配なのは何ですか。
Transcript
M:明日の面接、大丈夫だよね。
F:先生、自信がないです。本番は全部忘れてしまいそうで。それに人気校だけに、競争率も高いし。
M:そうだね。でも、競争率が高いといっても、あなたは入れるだけの実力があるじゃない。
F:先生、もし練習と違う質問をされたら、どうしたらいいですか。それが一番心配で…。
M:失敗を恐れず、堂々とあなたの考えを言いなさい。自信がなさそうなのは一番いけないよ。
F:はい、わかりました。今から気持ちを切り替えます。
M:The interview tomorrow will be fine, right?
F:Teacher, I don't have confidence. I feel like I'll forget everything I practiced at the real interview. And it's a popular school, so the competition rate is high, too.
M:True. But even if the competition rate is high, you have the ability to get in, don't you?
F:Teacher, what should I do if I'm asked a question different from the ones in practice? That's what I'm most worried about...
M:Don't be afraid of failing; just state your own thoughts boldly. Looking unconfident is the worst thing you can do.
F:Yes, I understand. I'll go and get myself into the right frame of mind now.
問 女子学生が一番心配なのは何ですか。
1希望の大学は競争率が高いこと
2試験のとき、練習したことを全部忘れること
3練習をしなかったこと
4練習と違う質問をされること ✓
What is the female student most worried about?
The question asks "What is the female student most worried about?" Early in the conversation, the student does mention two worrying things: 「本番は全部忘れてしまいそうで」 (afraid she will forget everything at the real interview; eliminates 2) and 「競争率も高いし」 (the competition rate is high; eliminates 1). But both are merely passing remarks of general anxiety, and the teacher simply reassures her with 「あなたは入れるだけの実力があるじゃない」 without pursuing them. The real point is the question the student then raises on her own: 「もし練習と違う質問をされたら、どうしたらいいですか。それが一番心配で…」. She states herself that this is what worries her most, and it points to "being asked a question different from the practice." 「練習をしなかったこと」 is not mentioned at all; she has clearly been practicing (eliminates 3). → 練習と違う質問をされること. The answer is 4.
Grammar in this question
〜だけに:(Related usage of lesson point ⑥) Precisely because ... (all the more). 「人気校だけに、競争率も高い」 = precisely because it is a popular school, the competition rate is high too.
〜といっても:(Lesson point ④) Although ... (not necessarily so in reality). 「競争率が高いといっても」 = even though the competition rate is high.
Key vocabulary
面接(めんせつ) interview
競争率(きょうそうりつ) competition ratio (number of applicants per place)
堂々と(どうどうと) boldly; with confidence
Q2
Options are printed on the test paper: read them, then listen.
両親が子どもの将来について話しています。お父さんはどう思っていますか。
問 お父さんはどう思っていますか。
Transcript
F:隆、プロ野球選手になりたいんだって。
M:いいじゃないか。何か問題でもあるのか。
F:だって。あなただって、プロ野球選手になれなかったじゃない。
M:けがしたからなあ。
F:私はあなたみたいに学校の先生になってほしいのよ。
M:確かにおれも高校の教師になってよかったと思うよ。
F:そうだよね。その上、野球部の監督もやっているし…。いい人生じゃない。
M:隆にもすすめたい気がするけど、隆はまだ高校2年だろ。野球選手にしろ、教師にしろ、自分の人生だ。まあ、今から夢を捨てることはないと思うよ。
F:Takashi says he wants to become a professional baseball player.
M:That's fine, isn't it? Is there some problem?
F:What are you saying? You yourself didn't make it as a professional baseball player either.
M:That's because I got injured.
F:I want him to become a school teacher like you.
M:To be honest, I also think becoming a high school teacher was a good thing.
F:Right. And you're also the coach of the baseball club on top of that... It's a good life, isn't it?
M:I'd like to recommend that path to him too, but Takashi is only in his second year of high school. Whether he becomes a baseball player or a teacher, it's his own life. Well, I don't think there's any need to give up his dream right now.
問 お父さんはどう思っていますか。
1高校の先生になってほしいと思っている
2自分で決めてほしいと思っている ✓
3野球部の監督になってほしいと思っている
4プロ野球の選手になるのに反対している
What does the father think?
The question asks "What does the father think?" The mother clearly states her own hope: 「私はあなたみたいに学校の先生になってほしいのよ」. This is the mother's thinking, not the father's (eliminates 1 and 3; "becoming a teacher" and "becoming the baseball club coach" are both examples the mother raises to show the path she wants her son to take). The father only goes along with what she says, 「確かにおれも高校の教師になってよかったと思うよ」, and does not say that this is his own expectation for his son. The father's real attitude is in the last remark: 「野球選手にしろ、教師にしろ、自分の人生だ。まあ、今から夢を捨てることはないと思うよ」. Whether he becomes a baseball player or a teacher, lesson point ⑦, 「にしろ〜にしろ」, means "either way", and it is Takashi's own life; there is no need to give up his dream now. This shows the father is not against his son becoming a professional baseball player (eliminates 4), but respects his son's own choice. → 自分で決めてほしいと思っている. The answer is 2.
Grammar in this question
〜にしろ〜にしろ:(Lesson point ⑦) Whether ... or ..., either way ... 「野球選手にしろ、教師にしろ、自分の人生だ」 = whether he becomes a baseball player or a teacher, it is his own life.
Key vocabulary
監督(かんとく) coach; manager
夢を捨てる(ゆめをすてる) to give up a dream