Lesson 5 就職活動 Practice

Part 1: Choosing the grammar form

彼はかれは、自分じぶんのミスで仕事しごとが遅れおくれたのに、あれこれ言い訳いいわけした　　、結局けっきょく一言ひとことも謝らあやまらなかった。

彼はかれは、自分じぶんのミスで仕事しごとが遅れおくれたのに、あれこれ言い訳いいわけしたあげく、結局けっきょく一言ひとことも謝らあやまらなかった。

The work was delayed because of his own mistake, yet he made all kinds of excuses and in the end did not say a single word of apology.

1にしては
「にしては」means "different from what you would expect from ...," which does not fit the context of a result: "after making excuses, he still did not apologize."
2からには
「からには」means "now that ...," which does not fit a sentence that narrates an outcome after the fact.
3ことなく
「ことなく」means "without doing ...," but he did make excuses, so using「ことなく」(negating the act of making excuses) is contradictory.
4あげく ✓
Correct. 「あげく」means "after ... in the end (a bad result)," matching grammar point ⑨ of this lesson: "after making excuses at length, he still did not apologize."

面接めんせつのチャンス　　もらえれば、私わたしの熱意ねついが伝えつたえられるのに…。

Related grammar point 7 やる気きさえあれば

面接めんせつのチャンスさえもらえれば、私わたしの熱意ねついが伝えつたえられるのに…。

If only I could get one interview opportunity, I could show my enthusiasm...

1ながら
「ながら」means "while doing ...," which does not fit the conditional context of "if only I had an interview opportunity ..."
2に限りかぎり
「に限りかぎり」means "only for ...," which differs in nuance from "as long as there is ... (the one sole condition)."
3さえ ✓
Correct. 「さえ…ば」means "as long as ...," matching grammar point ⑦ of this lesson: "as long as I have an interview opportunity."
4を問わとわず
「を問わとわず」means "regardless of ...," which does not fit the context of "the only condition needed."

本場ほんばのタイ料理りょうりを作っつくってほしいと頼またのまれたが、材料ざいりょうがないので　　。

Related grammar point 8 がんばりようがない

本場ほんばのタイ料理りょうりを作っつくってほしいと頼またのまれたが、材料ざいりょうがないので作りつくりようがない。

I was asked to make an authentic Thai dish, but I don't have the ingredients, so there is no way I can make it.

1作るつくるおそれがある
「作るつくるおそれがある」means "there is a risk that (someone) will make it," which does not fit the context of "can't make it without ingredients."
2作るつくるわけではない
「作るつくるわけではない」means "it's not that (someone) is going to make it," which does not fit the context of "asked to make it but unable to."
3作りつくりようがない ✓
Correct. 「ようがない」means "there is no way to ...," matching grammar point ⑧ of this lesson: "I don't have the ingredients, so there's no way to make it."
4作るつくるものだ
「作るつくるものだ」expresses a general-principle judgment, which does not fit the context of "can't make it."

明日あしたは試験しけんなのに、おなかが痛くいたくて勉強べんきょう　　。

Related grammar point 2 旅行りょこうどころじゃない

明日あしたは試験しけんなのに、おなかが痛くいたくて勉強べんきょうするどころではない。

I have an exam tomorrow, but my stomach hurts so much that I can't study at all.

1するどころではない ✓
Correct. 「どころではない」means "not in a state to do ...," matching grammar point ② of this lesson: "my stomach hurts, so I'm in no state to study."
2するわけではない
「するわけではない」means "it's not that (someone) does ...," which does not fit the cause-and-effect context of "can't do it because of a stomachache."
3することはない
「することはない」means "there's no need to do ...," which does not fit the context of "can't do it because of a stomachache."
4するものではない
「するものではない」means "one should not do ..." (admonition), which does not fit the context of "objectively unable to do it."

ABK社しゃは一流いちりゅう企業きぎょう　　給料きゅうりょうが安くやすくてびっくりした。

ABK社しゃは一流いちりゅう企業きぎょうにしては給料きゅうりょうが安くやすくてびっくりした。

ABK Company is a first-rate firm, yet its salaries are astonishingly low.

1にしては ✓
Correct. 「にしては」means "different from what you would expect from ...," matching grammar point ⑤ of this lesson: "for a first-rate company, the salaries are surprisingly low."
2はもとより
「はもとより」means "not to mention ...," which does not fit the contrasting context of "different from what was expected."
3を問わとわず
「を問わとわず」means "regardless of ...," which does not fit the context of "different from what was expected."
4さえ
「さえ」means "even ..." or "as long as ... (the only condition)," which does not fit the contrasting context of "different from what was expected."

郊外こうがいに新しくあたらしくできたスーパーに、一度いちど行いってみたいと思っておもっている　　、車くるまがないから、行いきようがない。

郊外こうがいに新しくあたらしくできたスーパーに、一度いちど行いってみたいと思っておもっているものの、車くるまがないから、行いきようがない。

I would like to visit the new supermarket in the suburbs once, but I don't have a car, so I can't go.

1あげく
「あげく」means "after ... in the end (a result)," which does not fit the contrasting context of "I want to go but can't" (「あげく」is followed by a result, not by a lingering feeling such as "still wanting to go").
2とともに
「とともに」means "along with / together with ...," which does not fit the contrasting context.
3にしては
「にしては」means "different from what you would expect from ...," which does not fit the contrasting context.
4ものの ✓
Correct. 「ものの」means "although ..., ...," matching grammar point ③ of this lesson: "I want to go, but I have no car, so I can't."

この本ほんは子どもこどものころ一度いちど読んだよんだ　　、ストーリーも忘れわすれてしまいました。

Related grammar point 1 京都きょうとに行いったきり

この本ほんは子どもこどものころ一度いちど読んだよんだきりで、ストーリーも忘れわすれてしまいました。

I read this book once when I was a child and haven't read it since, so I have forgotten the whole story.

1ことに
「ことに」means "to my ... (an inverted exclamation of feeling)", which does not fit the context of "read it once and never again."
2きりで ✓
Correct. 「きり」means "after ..., it has stayed that way ever since," matching grammar point ① of this lesson: "read it once as a child and never again."
3あげく
「あげく」means "after ... in the end (a result)," which does not fit the continuing state of "not having read it again after reading it once."
4限りかぎり
「限りかぎり」means "as long as ...," which does not fit the context of "after reading it once."

Part 2: Building sentences

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

このあたりは12★4いて、住みすみやすい。

このあたりは1都心としん2にしては3★自然しぜんが4残っのこっていて、住みすみやすい。

Order: 3 → 2 → 1 → 4 ★ = option 1

For a city center, this area has kept a good amount of greenery and is a pleasant place to live.

How the sentence is built

First comes「都心としんにしては」(grammar point ⑤ of this lesson, "for a city center ... unexpectedly"), then「自然しぜんが」followed by「残っのこっていて」. The ★ falls on「自然しぜんが」.

この12★4簡単かんたんに作れつくれます。

Related grammar point 7 やる気きさえあれば

この1鍋なべさえ2あれば3★どんな4料理りょうりでも簡単かんたんに作れつくれます。

Order: 1 → 4 → 3 → 2 ★ = option 3

As long as you have this pot, you can easily make any kind of dish.

How the sentence is built

First comes「鍋なべさえあれば」(grammar point ⑦ of this lesson, "as long as you have this pot"), then「どんな」, which modifies the following「料理りょうりでも」. The ★ falls on「どんな」.

自分じぶんがされて嫌ないやな12★4ではない。

自分じぶんがされて嫌ないやな1ことを2他人たにんに3★する4ものではない。

Order: 2 → 4 → 3 → 1 ★ = option 3

You should not do to others what you would not want others to do to you.

How the sentence is built

First comes「ことを」, completing「自分じぶんがされて嫌ないやなことを」(things you would not want done to you), then「他人たにんに」(to others), then the verb「する」, and finally「もの」, which joins the following「ではない」to form「するものではない」(grammar point ⑩ of this lesson, "one should not ..."). The ★ falls on「する」.

Part 3: Grammar in a passage

引っ越しひっこしのために荷物にもつを整理せいりすることになったが、祖父母そふぼも両親りょうしんも物ものが捨てすてられない性格せいかくで、荷物にもつが山やまのようにある。私たちわたしたち姉妹しまいの子どもこどものときの物ものはもちろん、両親りょうしん、祖父母そふぼの子どもこども時代じだいの教科書きょうかしょまで出でてきた。両親りょうしんは古いふるい荷物にもつの中なかから思い出おもいでの品しなを手にてに取っとってながめ、引っ越しひっこし1　。さんざん昔話むかしばなしをした2　、父ちちはすべて捨てすてないと言い出しいいだした。思い出おもいでの品しなとはいう3　、しまっておく場所ばしょもないので4　。結局けっきょくトラック1杯いっぱい分ぶんの品しなを捨てすてた。父ちちはさびしいかもしれないが、また新しいあたらしい家いえで新しいあたらしい思い出おもいでを作っつくってほしいと思うおもう。

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Related grammar point 2 旅行りょこうどころじゃない

1どころではない ✓
Correct. 「どころではない」means "not in a state to do ...," matching grammar point ② of this lesson: "(absorbed in memories) they were in no state to think about moving."
2さえすればいい
「さえすればいい」means "all that is needed is to ...," which does not fit the context of being absorbed in memories and having no time for the move.
3かねない
「かねない」means "may (lead to a bad result)," which does not fit the context.
4ということだ
「ということだ」expresses hearsay or a conclusion, which does not fit the context.

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Related grammar point 9 苦労くろうしたあげく

1ばかりで
「ばかりで」means "nothing but ...," which does not fit the context of "after talking at length about the past (and then reaching a conclusion)."
2くせに
「くせに」means "even though ...," with a tone of blame, which does not fit the context of simply narrating how events unfolded.
3あげく ✓
Correct. 「あげく」means "after ... in the end (a result)," matching grammar point ⑨ of this lesson: "after talking at length about the old days, in the end ..."
4わけではなく
「わけではなく」means "it's not that ...," which does not fit the context of narrating how events unfolded.

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1からには
「からには」means "now that ...," which does not fit the contrasting context of "they are keepsakes, but ..."
2ものの ✓
Correct. 「ものの」means "although ..., ...," matching grammar point ③ of this lesson: "they are keepsakes, but there is no place to put them."
3たびに
「たびに」means "every time ...," which does not fit the contrasting context.
4より
「より」expresses comparison, which does not fit the contrasting context.

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1拾いひろいようがない
「拾いひろいようがない」means "there is no way to pick it up," which does not fit the context of throwing things away while sorting belongings.
2しまわざるを得えない
「しまわざるを得えない」means "have no choice but to put it away," but the passage has just said "there is no place to store them," so this is contradictory.
3捨てすてようがない
「捨てすてようがない」means "there is no way to throw it away," which is the opposite of the conclusion that there's no place to put them and so they must be disposed of.
4捨てすてざるを得えない ✓
Correct. 「ざるを得えない」means "have no choice but to ...," as in "there is no place to store them, so we have no choice but to throw them out."

Show the passage with answers and translation

引っ越しひっこしのために荷物にもつを整理せいりすることになったが、祖父母そふぼも両親りょうしんも物ものが捨てすてられない性格せいかくで、荷物にもつが山やまのようにある。私たちわたしたち姉妹しまいの子どもこどものときの物ものはもちろん、両親りょうしん、祖父母そふぼの子どもこども時代じだいの教科書きょうかしょまで出でてきた。両親りょうしんは古いふるい荷物にもつの中なかから思い出おもいでの品しなを手にてに取っとってながめ、引っ越しひっこし1どころではない。さんざん昔話むかしばなしをした2あげく、父ちちはすべて捨てすてないと言い出しいいだした。思い出おもいでの品しなとはいう3ものの、しまっておく場所ばしょもないので4捨てすてざるを得えない。結局けっきょくトラック1杯いっぱい分ぶんの品しなを捨てすてた。父ちちはさびしいかもしれないが、また新しいあたらしい家いえで新しいあたらしい思い出おもいでを作っつくってほしいと思うおもう。

We had to sort through our belongings because of the move, but my grandparents and my parents are all the type who can't throw things away, so the belongings were piled up like a mountain. Not only things from my sister's and my childhood, but even my parents' and grandparents' schoolbooks from their childhoods turned up.
My parents took keepsakes out of the old belongings and gazed at them again and again, with no time to think about moving. After talking at length about the old days, my father finally started saying that he would not throw anything away. They were keepsakes, yes, but there was no place to store them, so we had no choice but to throw them out. In the end, we threw away a truckload of things. My father may feel lonely, but I hope he will make new memories in the new house.

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.

女の人おんなのひとと男おとこの人ひとが話しはなしています。女の人おんなのひとは何なにが一番いちばん問題もんだいだと思っておもっていますか。

問女の人おんなのひとは何なにが一番いちばん問題もんだいだと思っておもっていますか。

1コンビニなどで新商品しんしょうひんを買うかうこと
21円玉えんだまや5円玉えんだまを使わつかわないこと
3お金おかねを使ったつかったという感覚かんかくがないこと ✓
4使ったつかった金額きんがくをチェックしないこと

What does the woman think is the biggest problem?

The question asks what the woman thinks is "the biggest problem," not a detail mentioned in passing. The several things mentioned in the conversation are only background and are not conclusions drawn by the woman herself. 「コンビニオリジナルの新商品しんしょうひんとかあると、つい…」 is just the man's confession (so option 1 is out). 「財布さいふから1円玉えんだまとか5円玉えんだまとか探ささがさなくてもいい」 is an advantage of electronic payments, not a "problem" (so option 2 is out). 「使ったつかった金額きんがくなんて、チェックしないしね」 merely describes a habit, and it is only at the end that the woman states her real conclusion: 「お金おかねを使ったつかったという感覚かんかくがないのが一番いちばんいけないんだよね」. "Having no sense of having spent money" is what she thinks is the biggest problem (option 4 is out, because "not checking how much was spent" is only a surface symptom, not the root problem she points out). → お金おかねを使ったつかったという感覚かんかくがないこと. The answer is 3.

Grammar in this question

〜ものの：Although ..., ... (grammar point ③ of this lesson). 「気をきをつけなくちゃと思うおもうものの…つい」.

〜からなあ：Because ..., you know (colloquial, explaining a reason). 「財布さいふから出さださないからなあ」.

Key vocabulary

利用りよう金額きんがく（りようきんがく） amount used

無駄遣いむだづかい（むだづかい） wasteful spending; squandering

感覚かんかく（かんかく） feeling; sense

Transcript

F ねえ、この間あいだ、電子でんしマネーの利用りよう金額きんがくをチェックしたら、前まえより増えふえててびっくりしちゃった。
Hey, the other day I checked how much I'd been using electronic payments, and I was shocked to find it was more than before.
M 僕ぼくも…無駄遣いむだづかいは気をきをつけなくちゃと思うおもうものの、コンビニオリジナルの新商品しんしょうひんとかあると、つい…。
Me too... I think I should be careful not to waste money, but when there's some new convenience-store original product, I just can't help it...
F うん、あまり考えかんがえないで買っかっちゃうよね。
Yeah, you end up buying things without thinking much, don't you?
M 便利べんりだしね。財布さいふから1円玉えんだまとか5円玉えんだまとか探ささがさなくてもいいし。
It's convenient, after all. You don't have to dig around your wallet for 1-yen and 5-yen coins either.
F そうだけど、知らしらないうちにお金おかねを使っつかっちゃうのってまずいよね。
True, but spending money without realizing it isn't good, is it?
M うん。電子でんしマネーだと、お金おかねを直接ちょくせつ財布さいふから出さださないからなあ。使ったつかった金額きんがくなんて、チェックしないしね。
Right. With electronic money, you don't take the cash directly out of your wallet. And you never check how much you've spent.
F そうそう。お金おかねを使ったつかったという感覚かんかくがないのが一番いちばんいけないんだよね。気をきをつけなきゃね。
Exactly. The worst thing is not having the feeling that you've spent money. We'd better be careful.

Listen to this sentence first

問お昼ひる、一緒にいっしょに食べたべに行いかない？

Want to go have lunch together?

1え？行いくところがないの？
Huh? Do you have nowhere to go?
2ごめん、それどころじゃないんだ。 ✓
Sorry, I'm in no position to do that right now.
3じゃ、ゆっくり食べてたべてね。
Then take your time eating.

The other person invites you with 「お昼ひる、一緒にいっしょに食べたべに行いかない？」. If you cannot go because you are too busy, the most natural reply is to explain your current state: it is not a matter of whether you are free, but that you have no room for that at all, which corresponds to 「それどころじゃないんだ」 (grammar point ② of this lesson,「どころじゃない」). 1「行いくところがないの？」confuses「どころ」with the similar-sounding「ところ」(place) and asks whether the other person has nowhere to go, which does not answer the invitation. 3「じゃ、ゆっくり食べてたべてね」("Then enjoy your lunch") could only follow after you had already declined; as a direct reply to the invitation it neither accepts nor declines, so「じゃ」has nothing to connect to. The answer is 2.

Grammar in this question

〜どころじゃない：In no state to ... (grammar point ② of this lesson). 「それどころじゃないんだ」.

Listen to this sentence first

問君きみ、こんなレポートじゃ、直しなおしようがないよ。

You know, with a report like this, there's no way to fix it.

1ええ、直しなおしようがないでしょう。
Yes, there's no way to fix it, is there?
2じゃ、部長ぶちょう、直しなおしましょうよ。
Then, Department Head, let's fix it together.
3すみません。もう一度いちど書いかいてきます。 ✓
I'm sorry. I'll write it again.

The other person criticizes with 「こんなレポートじゃ、直しなおしようがないよ」 (grammar point ⑧ of this lesson,「ようがない」: there's no way to fix it, implying "it's so poorly written that it would be better to rewrite it"). The most natural reply is to apologize and say you will start over: 「すみません。もう一度いちど書いかいてきます」. 1「ええ、直しなおしようがないでしょう」treats the criticism as if you also agreed that "it can't be fixed," which sounds like going along with "it's hopeless" without any statement about making amends. That is impolite and illogical. 2「じゃ、部長、直しなおしましょうよ」shifts the responsibility for revising the report onto the department head who is speaking, which is both off topic and impolite. The answer is 3.

Grammar in this question

〜ようがない：There is no way to ... (grammar point ⑧ of this lesson). 「直しなおしようがない」.

Key vocabulary

レポート report

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