Lesson 13 人生の転機 Practice
Part 1: Choosing the grammar form
Q1
プレッシャーで実力が出せなかったとき、自分に負けた気がして、 。
Related grammar point 3 つらくてならなかった
プレッシャーで実力が出せなかったとき、自分に負けた気がして、くやしくてならなかった。
When I can't perform at my best because of pressure, I feel like I've lost to myself, and it is incredibly frustrating.
1くやしいようになっている
くやしいようになっている: 「ようになっている」 expresses an objective change in a function or state, which doesn't fit a context describing emotion.
2くやしかったつもりだ
くやしかったつもりだ: Grammar point ② of this lesson, meaning "to think one has ...", but an emotion itself should not be described as something one "thinks one has".
3くやしくてならなかった ✓
Correct. くやしくてならなかった: Grammar point ③ of this lesson, meaning "extremely ..." — "I was extremely frustrated".
4くやしいおそれがあった
くやしいおそれがあった: 「おそれがある」 expresses an objective prediction of the possibility of danger, which doesn't fit an emotion that has already been felt.
Q2
企画会議で、部長の決定を本当にそれでいいのかと疑問に思い 、聞いていた。
企画会議で、部長の決定を本当にそれでいいのかと疑問に思いつつ、聞いていた。
At the planning meeting, I listened while doubting whether the department head's decision was really the right one.
1つつ ✓
Correct. つつ: Expresses "while doing ..." — "listening while doubting".
2ぬき
ぬき: Grammar point ⑬ of this lesson, meaning "to carry through to the end", which doesn't fit the "while ...ing" context.
3がたくて
がたくて: Grammar point ⑧ of this lesson, meaning "difficult to ...", which doesn't fit the context.
4を込めて
を込めて: Grammar point ⑪ of this lesson, meaning "to do ... with (a feeling)", which doesn't fit the context of "listening with doubt".
Q3
これは苦労して探し回った 、やっと見つけた本なんです。
Related grammar point 6 迷った末
これは苦労して探し回った末に、やっと見つけた本なんです。
This is a book I finally found after searching all over with great difficulty.
1あげく
あげく: Means "in the end ... (with a bad result)", which doesn't fit the positive result of "finally found".
2あまり
あまり: Grammar point ⑩ of this lesson, meaning "because of excessive ... (leading to a bad result)", which doesn't fit the context.
3末に ✓
Correct. 末に: Grammar point ⑥ of this lesson, meaning "after a long time of ... (finally ...)" — "after a hard search, finally found it".
4限り
限り: Means "as long as ...", which doesn't fit the context.
Q4
全力を尽くしてがんばれば、たとえ 後悔はしないだろう。
Related grammar point 7 たとえどんな事情があっても
全力を尽くしてがんばれば、たとえ失敗しても後悔はしないだろう。
If you do your very best, you probably won't regret it even if you fail.
1失敗しなければ
失敗しなければ: Means "if you don't fail". What goes with 「たとえ」 should be a concessive pattern meaning "even if ...", not a conditional.
2失敗したくないので
失敗したくないので: Means "because I don't want to fail", which doesn't fit the concessive pattern that goes with 「たとえ」.
3失敗しても ✓
Correct. 失敗しても: Grammar point ⑦ of this lesson, 「たとえ〜ても」, meaning "even if ..." — "even if I fail, I won't regret it".
4失敗したのに
失敗したのに: Means "even though I failed ...", which doesn't fit the hypothetical context of 「たとえ」.
Q5
彼の理想はわかるが、あまりに現実離れしているので、賛成し 。
Related grammar point 8 許しがたい
彼の理想はわかるが、あまりに現実離れしているので、賛成しがたい。
I understand his ideals, but they are so far removed from reality that I find it hard to agree with them.
1ぬいた
ぬいた: Grammar point ⑬ of this lesson, meaning "carried through to the end", which doesn't fit the context.
2がたい ✓
Correct. がたい: Grammar point ⑧ of this lesson, meaning "hard to do ..." — "hard to agree".
3がちだ
がちだ: Means "tends to ...; often ...", which doesn't fit the context.
4かねない
かねない: Means "may possibly (do something bad)", which doesn't fit the context.
Q6
平和への願い 参加者全員で歌を歌った。
Related grammar point 11 気持ちを込めて
平和への願いを込めて参加者全員で歌を歌った。
With a prayer for peace, all the participants sang a song together.
1を問わず
を問わず: Means "regardless of ...", which doesn't fit the context.
2をきっかけに
をきっかけに: Means "using ... as an opportunity", which doesn't fit the context.
3を込めて ✓
Correct. を込めて: Grammar point ⑪ of this lesson, meaning "to do ... with the feeling of ..." — "with a prayer for peace".
4をもとに
をもとに: Means "based on ...", which doesn't fit the context.
Q7
試合会場へのペットボトルの持ち込みが禁止になったのは、 グラウンドに物を投げるファンが増えたからです。
Related grammar point 10 恥ずかしさのあまり
試合会場へのペットボトルの持ち込みが禁止になったのは、興奮のあまりグラウンドに物を投げるファンが増えたからです。
The reason bringing plastic bottles into the stadium has been banned is that the number of fans who, in their excitement, throw things onto the field has increased.
1興奮することなく
興奮することなく: Means "without getting excited", which doesn't fit the context.
2興奮するどころか
興奮するどころか: Means "far from getting excited, ...", which doesn't fit the context.
3興奮するからには
興奮するからには: Means "now that you are excited, you must ...", which doesn't fit the context.
4興奮のあまり ✓
Correct. 興奮のあまり: Grammar point ⑩ of this lesson, meaning "because of excessive ... (leading to a bad result)" — "threw things in their excitement".
Q8
このドキュメンタリーは南極の厳しい自然の中を生き 2匹の犬の物語である。
Related grammar point 13 やりぬくぞ
このドキュメンタリーは南極の厳しい自然の中を生きぬいた2匹の犬の物語である。
This documentary tells the story of two dogs who survived and endured the harsh natural environment of Antarctica.
1ぬいた ✓
Correct. ぬいた: Grammar point ⑬ of this lesson, meaning "carried through to the end" — "lived through the harsh natural environment to the end".
2がたい
がたい: Means "hard to do ...", which doesn't fit the context.
3かねない
かねない: Means "may possibly (do something bad)", which doesn't fit the context.
4得る
得る: Means "can ...; possible to ...", which doesn't 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
彼は12★4パーティーでは人気者だ。
Related grammar point 12 荷物運びもすれば切符も売る
彼は1歌も2歌えば3★ダンスも4できるのでパーティーでは人気者だ。
Order: 4 → 1 → 2 → 3 ★ = option 2
He can both sing and dance, so he is popular at parties.
How the sentence is built
First comes 「歌も」, then 「歌えば」, and the ★ falls on 「ダンスも」, which follows 「歌えば」 (grammar point ⑫ of this lesson, "both ... and ..."). Finally, 「できるので」 closes the phrase. The full sentence: 彼は 歌も 歌えば ダンスも★ できるので パーティーでは人気者だ。
Q2
ぼくが花瓶を割ったとき、お母さんにしかられないように、12★4くれた。
Related grammar point 1 昇進の話はなかったことにする
ぼくが花瓶を割ったとき、お母さんにしかられないように、1お兄ちゃんが2猫が3★割った4ことにしてくれた。
Order: 3 → 2 → 1 → 4 ★ = option 1
When I broke the vase, my older brother covered for me by saying the cat had broken it, so that Mom wouldn't scold me.
How the sentence is built
First comes 「お兄ちゃんが」, then 「猫が」, and the ★ falls on 「割った」, which follows 「猫が」. Finally, 「ことにして」 (grammar point ① of this lesson, "to pretend that ...") closes the phrase. The full sentence: ぼくが花瓶を割ったとき、お母さんにしかられないように、 お兄ちゃんが 猫が 割った★ ことにして くれた。
Q3
健康の12★4でも、栄養のバランスが取れていないことがある。
Related grammar point 2 がんばったつもりだった
健康の1ため2食べ物に3★気をつけている4つもりでも、栄養のバランスが取れていないことがある。
Order: 2 → 4 → 1 → 3 ★ = option 1
Even if you think you are watching what you eat for the sake of your health, there can still be cases where your nutritional balance is off.
How the sentence is built
First comes 「ため」, then 「食べ物に」, and the ★ falls on 「気をつけている」, which follows 「食べ物に」. Finally, 「つもり」 (grammar point ② of this lesson, "to think one has ...") closes the phrase. The full sentence: 健康の ため 食べ物に 気をつけている★ つもり でも、栄養のバランスが取れていないことがある。
Part 3: Grammar in a passage
Blank 1
1がたく
がたく: Grammar point ⑧ of this lesson, meaning "hard to ...", which doesn't fit the context.
2つつ ✓
Correct. つつ: Means "while doing ..." — "walked while looking after Lily".
3ぬいて
ぬいて: Grammar point ⑬ of this lesson, meaning "to carry through to the end", which doesn't fit the context.
4らしく
らしく: Means "like ...; in a manner befitting ...", which doesn't fit the context.
Blank 2
Related grammar point 12 荷物運びもすれば切符も売る
1が
が: This is just the particle 「が」, which doesn't fit the parallel pattern of 「散歩も…寝るのも」.
2さえ
さえ: Means "even ...", which doesn't fit the context.
3も ✓
Correct. も: Grammar point ⑫ of this lesson, 「N+も+Vば/N+も」 — "whether walking or sleeping, they were together".
4で
で: This is just the particle 「で」, which doesn't fit the context.
Blank 3
Related grammar point 4 できるものなら
1ことから
ことから: Means "because of the fact that ...", which doesn't fit the context.
2ことに
ことに: Means "it is ... that ..." (expressing the speaker's feeling), which doesn't fit the context.
3ものの
ものの: Means "although ..., ...", which doesn't fit the context.
4ものなら ✓
Correct. ものなら: Grammar point ④ of this lesson, meaning "if it were possible ..." — "if at all possible, I'd like to let these two dogs stay together forever".
Blank 4
Related grammar point 7 たとえどんな事情があっても
1たとえ ✓
Correct. たとえ: Grammar point ⑦ of this lesson, 「たとえ〜ても」, meaning "even if ..." — "no matter what happens ...".
2もし
もし: Means "if" and normally goes with a conditional sentence. It fits less well than 「たとえ」 with a concessive pattern like 「どんなことがあっても」.
3いくら
いくら: 「いくら〜ても」 is also concessive, but it emphasizes degree, so it is less natural than 「たとえ」 for the general sense of "under any circumstances" here.
4それから
それから: Means "and then", which doesn't fit the context.
Show the passage with answers and translation
Lily lost her sight when she was a puppy because of an eye disease. For Lily's sake, Madison took on the role of "guide dog" and walked along, always looking after Lily. The two dogs did everything together, whether walking or sleeping. Their owner, who had warmly watched over the pair, had to leave them at an animal shelter because of family circumstances. "If at all possible, I'd like to let these two stay together forever," thought the shelter staff, and they began searching for a new owner. When the story was reported, many viewers sent in comments such as "No matter what happens, please don't separate the two of them." Among them were even people who volunteered to become their new owner. The two dogs will no doubt soon find a home where they can spend the rest of their lives and begin living happily.
Part 4: Listening
Listen first, then tap an option. The transcript and explanation appear after you answer.
Q1
Nothing is printed on the test paper: choose by listening alone.
映画監督がテレビで話しています。
Transcript
F:監督、今度の映画は、どんな感じなんですか。
M:人生をあきらめないでって言いたいんです。たとえどんなに辛いことがあっても、がんばればいいこともあるんだって伝えられればと思うんです。
F:そうですか。
M:前半は主人公に同情しつつ見ていただいて、後半からはミステリーもあれば、アクション場面も出てくるようなスピード感のある展開をお楽しみいただけると思います。
F:そうですか。公開が楽しみですね。ありがとうございました。
F: Director, what is your new film like?
M: What I want to say is, "Don't give up on life." I'd like to convey that no matter how painful things get, if you keep trying, good things can happen.
F: I see.
M: In the first half, I hope you'll watch with sympathy for the protagonist, and from the second half on, I think you'll enjoy a fast-paced story with both mystery and action scenes.
F: I see. I'm looking forward to the release. Thank you very much.
問 監督が観客に伝えたいメッセージは何だと言っていますか。
1人生をあきらめないこと ✓
2主人公がつらい人生を送っていること
3ミステリーの犯人さがしを楽しむこと
4アクションにスピード感があること
What does the director say is the message he wants to convey to the audience?
The question asks, "What is the message the director wants to convey to the audience?" Later in the talk the director does mention that the film has 「ミステリーもあれば、アクション場面も出てくる」, but that only introduces the genre and highlights of the film, not the core message he wants to convey (rules out 3 and 4). 「主人公に同情しつつ見ていただいて」 is about the frame of mind he hopes viewers will watch in, not the message itself (rules out 2). What the director truly wants to say is the line he states clearly at the very beginning: 「人生をあきらめないでって言いたいんです。たとえどんなに辛いことがあっても、がんばればいいこともあるんだって伝えられればと思うんです」 — don't give up on life. → 人生をあきらめないこと. The answer is 1.
Grammar in this question
たとえ〜ても:(Grammar point ⑦ of this lesson) Even if ... 「たとえどんなに辛いことがあっても」 = no matter how painful things get.
〜つつ:While ... 「同情しつつ見ていただいて」 = watching while sympathizing.
Key vocabulary
監督(かんとく) director
公開(こうかい) release, public showing
Q1
Listen to this sentence first
問 今の話、聞かなかったことにして。
Pretend you didn't hear what I just said.
1はい、ちゃんと聞きました。
Yes, I heard it clearly.
2じゃあ、誰にも言わないよ。 ✓
Then I won't tell anyone.
3え?知らなかったんですか。
What? You didn't know?
The other person says 「今の話、聞かなかったことにして」 — grammar point ① of this lesson, 「ことにする」, "Pretend you didn't hear what I just said"; this is a request to keep it secret. The most natural reply is to promise not to tell anyone: 「じゃあ、誰にも言わないよ」. 1 「はい、ちゃんと聞きました」 — the other person wants you to "pretend you didn't hear", so answering this way flatly refuses the request and misses the point; 3 「え?知らなかったんですか」 — this misreads "pretend you didn't hear" as the other person really not knowing, completely distorting the meaning of 「ことにする」. The answer is 2.
Grammar in this question
〜ことにする:(Grammar point ① of this lesson) To pretend that ... 「聞かなかったことにして」 = pretend you didn't hear it.
Q2
Listen to this sentence first
問 これでちゃんとやったつもりなの?
Do you really think you did this properly?
1ありがとうございます。
Thank you.
2結構です。
No thanks, that's enough.
3すみません。 ✓
I'm sorry.
The other person says 「これでちゃんとやったつもりなの?」 — grammar point ② of this lesson, 「つもり」, "You think you did this properly?", which carries a tone of doubt and criticism, implying the work wasn't good enough. In the face of such criticism, the most natural and basically polite reaction is to apologize: 「すみません」. 1 「ありがとうございます」 mistakes the criticism for praise, completely misreading the other person's tone; 2 「結構です」 ("No thank you / that's enough") is used to politely decline an offer or to say you are satisfied, which doesn't fit the reaction expected after being criticized. The answer is 3.
Grammar in this question
〜つもり:(Grammar point ② of this lesson) To think one has ... 「やったつもりなの?」 = you think you did it properly?