- A new student wants to join the swimming class starting this month. Which details about the class schedule are currently confirmed?
Answer: Classes meet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, starting this month.
When listening to announcements in Japanese, pay close attention to time markers like 「今月から」(starting this month), 「これまで通り」(same as before), and 「来月から」(starting next month). These phrases signal when each piece of information takes effect — and mixing them up is exactly the trap this question sets.
The announcement states two separate changes: first, the days change starting this month (今月から) to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday — 「月曜日、水曜日、金曜日」. Second, the time remains 「これまで通り」(unchanged for now), meaning 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM — 「夕方六時から七時半まで」. Combining these two confirmed facts gives you the currently valid schedule: Mon/Wed/Fri, 6:00–7:30 PM. That makes D correct.
A is wrong because the 7:00–8:30 PM time slot is explicitly tied to 「来月から」(next month), not this month. B describes the old schedule — Tuesday and Thursday — which is being replaced this month, so it's no longer current. C correctly identifies the 7:00–8:30 PM time as next month's plan, but incorrectly pairs it with the new days as if that full schedule begins next month; the new days (Mon/Wed/Fri) actually start this month.
A useful strategy: when an announcement mentions multiple changes, mentally create a timeline — past, present (this month), future (next month). Japanese announcements often layer information across time frames, and test questions frequently exploit the gap between what's confirmed now versus what's only planned for later.
- Based on the traffic report, which statement accurately describes current road conditions?
Answer: Chuo Bridge is completely closed due to an accident, and Route 15 between the station and city hall has delays from construction.
When listening to Japanese traffic reports, your goal is to map each road condition to the correct location and status. These reports often contain multiple locations with different problems, so mixing them up is the most common trap.
In this report, two locations are described. For 国道十五号線 (Route 15), the report says 工事のため片側通行 — construction has caused single-lane traffic, meaning the road is partially open but significantly delayed, taking about twice the normal time between 駅前 (the station) and 市役所前 (city hall). For 中央橋 (Chuo Bridge), the report states 事故があり、現在通行止め — there was an accident and the bridge is completely closed. The 迂回路 (detour) is the 北側の旧道 (northern old road), which is currently flowing smoothly. This matches answer D perfectly.
Answer A incorrectly reverses the conditions — it says Chuo Bridge is open (it's not) and that Route 15 near city hall is fully closed (it's only single-lane, not closed). Answer B misplaces the construction delays onto the northern old road, which actually has no congestion at all. Answer C claims Route 15 is fully closed, but 片側通行 means one-lane operation, not a full closure — this is a critical vocabulary distinction. C also wrongly suggests the old road leads to Chuo Bridge, when it is simply a detour away from it.
When processing listening passages with multiple locations, mentally create a quick chart: location → problem → status. This prevents the cross-contamination of details that makes distractors like A, B, and C so tempting.
- A student is preparing for the quiz. Which of the following correctly describes both the scope and the permitted materials?
Answer: Chapters 3 through 5 excluding section 4-4, with only the textbook permitted during the test.
When listening to spoken instructions in Japanese, you need to track multiple details simultaneously — especially exceptions and conditions that modify the main statement. The key phrase here is ただし ("however/note that"), which signals a critical exception coming after the main rule.
The teacher states the quiz covers 第三章から第五章まで (Chapters 3 through 5), but then immediately adds ただし、第四章の最後のセクション、四の四は含みません — meaning section 4-4 is explicitly excluded. For materials, the teacher says it's an オープンブックテスト (open-book test), so the textbook is allowed. However, the conjunction が here signals a contrast: ノートや辞書の使用は認めません — notes AND dictionaries are both prohibited. Answer A correctly captures both the scope (Chapters 3–5 minus section 4-4) and the material rule (textbook only).
Answer B fails on two counts: it ignores the 4-4 exclusion and incorrectly claims notes and dictionaries are permitted. Answer C misreads the scope entirely — the quiz goes through Chapter 5, not just Chapter 4 — and incorrectly includes dictionaries as permitted. Answer D gets the scope right but incorrectly states dictionaries are permitted; the passage explicitly prohibits them alongside notes using the phrase ノートや辞書の使用は認めません.
A useful strategy: whenever you hear ただし or しかし in listening passages, treat what follows as an exception that overrides part of the main statement. These contrast markers are frequently where test-makers hide the detail that separates the correct answer from tempting distractors.
- Based on the conversation, what is the correct itinerary for the business trip?
Answer: One day in Nagoya followed by three days in Osaka, for a total of four days.
When listening to conversations that describe changes to a plan, pay close attention to two things: the updated details (not the original ones) and any sequence markers that indicate order. This question tests both skills.
The conversation reveals three key facts. First, the trip to Osaka was extended from two days to three days. Second, a one-day stop in Nagoya was added, bringing the total to four days. Third, when asked when Nagoya comes, the speaker says 「大阪の前に行きます」— "we go before Osaka." This clearly places Nagoya first, followed by Osaka. That gives you: one day in Nagoya, then three days in Osaka, four days total — which is exactly answer A.
Answer B reverses the order, putting Osaka before Nagoya. The phrase 「大阪の前に」directly contradicts this — 前 (まえ) means "before," so Nagoya comes before Osaka, not after.
Answer C incorrectly splits the trip as two days each. This ignores the update that Osaka was extended to three days and misassigns time to Nagoya.
Answer D gets the order right (Nagoya first, then Osaka) but uses the original two-day figure for Osaka rather than the corrected three days. This is a classic trap — the conversation explicitly states 「一日延びて三日間になりました」(it was extended by one day, becoming three days).
A good strategy: when a passage describes a change (変わった), mentally discard the old information and only retain the updated version. Don't let the original numbers linger in your head.
- Based on the conversation, which statement correctly describes Mr. Green's accommodation arrangement?
Answer: Mr. Green will stay in a twin room on the first night and move to a double room on the second night, both at the same rate.
When listening to hotel conversations in Japanese, pay close attention to time expressions and conditional phrases — they often signal a sequence of events that determines the correct arrangement.
In this conversation, the front desk staff explains that the reserved double room is 満室 (fully occupied) 本日 (today), so they offer a twin room as a substitute at the same rate. The critical line is: 「明日はダブルルームが空きますので、明日からはご希望のお部屋にご移動いただけます」 — "Starting tomorrow, a double room will become available, so you can move to your preferred room." This clearly describes a two-phase stay: twin room on night one, double room on night two, with equal pricing throughout. That makes C the correct answer.
A is a tempting trap because it correctly identifies the twin room and same-rate details, but it ignores the key phrase 明日から ("from tomorrow"), which confirms a double room does become available during Mr. Green's stay — so the twin is not for both nights.
B is incorrect because Mr. Green is not waiting for a double room tonight — he is being placed in a twin room tonight, not a double. The staff never mentions a delay for check-in.
D reverses the sequence entirely. Mr. Green starts in the twin room and moves to the double — not the other way around. Mixing up the order of rooms is a classic listening trap.
When tackling Japanese listening questions, always track time markers like 本日、明日、and から — they're the backbone of any schedule or sequence being described.
- Based on the conversation, at what time did the speaker arrive at the party?
Answer: At 7:50 PM, which was ten minutes before the party's scheduled end time of 8:00 PM.
When a conversation involves multiple time-related details, your job is to carefully track the sequence of events and do any small calculations before jumping to a conclusion. Here, the key exchange is at the end: the speaker says the party was scheduled to end at 8:00 PM, and they arrived ten minutes before that scheduled end time.
8:00 PM−10 min=7:50 PM
That makes B correct — the speaker arrived at 7:50 PM, just before the party was wrapping up, which explains why they said 「着いた時にはもう終わりかけてた」("when I arrived, it was already almost over").
A is a trap that combines real details — the thirty-minute train wait and the bus — but misreads the arrival time. The journey taking over an hour is background context, not a clock calculation. C flips the math: "十分前" (ten minutes before) becomes ten minutes after in this distractor, a classic sign-error mistake. Be careful — 「前」means "before," not "after." D assumes "almost over" means exactly 8:00 PM, but the speaker explicitly says they arrived ten minutes before the end, not at the end itself. Phrases like 「終わりかけてた」describe a feeling or impression, not a precise timestamp.
As a study tip: in Japanese listening comprehension, words like 「前」(before), 「後」(after), 「ごろ」(around), and 「予定」(scheduled) are precision signals. Always pause on these words and calculate carefully before choosing your answer. - A student wants to work on decorations inside a classroom for the cultural festival. Based on the announcement, when is the earliest they can begin, and on which day?
Answer: At 8:30 AM on Thursday, since the preparation day moved to Thursday and classroom work begins at 8:30 AM.
When listening to school announcements in Japanese, you need to track multiple pieces of information simultaneously: schedule changes, locations, and times. This question tests whether you can correctly combine all three details rather than latching onto just one.
The announcement states two critical things: (1) the preparation day has been moved from Friday to Thursday due to rain, and (2) classroom work (教室での作業) can begin at 8:30 AM (午前八時半), while the gymnasium opens at 10:00 AM. A student doing indoor decoration work in a classroom on the rescheduled day can therefore start at 8:30 AM on Thursday — making C the correct answer.
Choice A is wrong because the 10:00 AM time applies specifically to gymnasium use (体育館の使用), not all preparation activities. Classroom work has its own earlier start time. Choice B is a dangerous trap — it assumes the original Friday schedule still applies for indoor work, but the announcement clearly states the entire preparation day shifts to Thursday. There is no Friday session mentioned. Choice D combines two errors: it wrongly applies the gymnasium's 10:00 AM time to classroom work, and it incorrectly assumes Friday remains relevant, confusing the outdoor activity note (which says outdoor decisions are made day-of) with the overall schedule.
Study tip: In Japanese listening comprehension, announcements often layer a general rule with exceptions or sub-rules (like different times for different spaces). Always ask yourself: which rule applies to the specific situation in the question? Don't apply a detail that belongs to a different category.
- According to the message, if Ms. Sato wants to keep her appointment with Dr. Nakamura, which option should she choose?
Answer: Tuesday at 2:00 PM, since Dr. Nakamura will be available later that same day and can see her then.
When listening to phone messages in Japanese, pay close attention to details that apply conditions or exceptions to the options being offered — these are the key to answering inference questions correctly.
In this message, the receptionist explains that Dr. Nakamura (中村先生) cannot come due to an urgent matter (急用で来られなくなりました) and offers two rescheduling options: Tuesday at 2:00 PM or Thursday at 10:00 AM. The critical detail comes at the end: 「木曜日は別の先生が担当になります」— "On Thursday, a different doctor will be in charge." This means Thursday's slot does not involve Dr. Nakamura. By process of elimination, if Ms. Sato wants to see Dr. Nakamura specifically, Tuesday at 2:00 PM is the only option where he is available, making B the correct answer.
A is a trap for students who misread the question. Tuesday at 11:00 AM was the original appointment, but the entire point of the message is that this time no longer works — Dr. Nakamura is unavailable. Calling back cannot restore a cancelled slot. C correctly identifies that Thursday involves a different doctor, but incorrectly concludes this helps Ms. Sato keep her appointment with Dr. Nakamura — it actually rules Thursday out. D assumes both new options include Dr. Nakamura, which directly contradicts the message's closing statement about Thursday.
As a study tip: in Japanese listening passages, the final sentence often contains the most important condition or exception. Train yourself to stay focused until the very last word — that's frequently where the answer hides.
- According to the voicemail, what has changed about tomorrow's meeting?
Answer: The meeting location changed to the large conference room on the fifth floor, but the time remains at 2:00 PM.
When listening to a voicemail about schedule changes, your job is to track what changed versus what stayed the same — a common trap in Japanese listening comprehension questions.
In the message, 山田 clearly states: 「場所が変わりました」("the location has changed"). The original plan was 「三階の会議室」(third-floor conference room), but it moved to 「五階の大会議室」(large conference room on the fifth floor). Immediately after, he clarifies 「時間は同じで、午後二時から」— the time is the same, 2:00 PM. This makes B the correct answer: the location changed to the fifth-floor large conference room, while the time remains at 2:00 PM.
A is a trap for students who misread 「時間は同じ」— the time did not change. The message explicitly says time is unchanged. C reverses the direction of the location change entirely — the meeting moved from the third floor to the fifth floor, not the other way around. C also mentions an extra attendee (鈴木部長), which is true but irrelevant to what changed about the location — and crucially, C gets the floor direction backwards. D is doubly wrong: it claims the time changed to 2:00 PM (it was always 2:00 PM) and also reverses the floor numbers.
A useful strategy: in Japanese listening tasks about changes (変更), always listen for the contrast pattern 「最初は〜でしたが、〜になりました」("originally it was X, but it became Y"). This structure signals exactly what shifted and what didn't.
- A customer with a point card wants to buy wine during the time sale. Which statement best describes what will happen?
Answer: The wine will not be discounted and no additional points will be earned, since alcohol is listed as excluded from today's sale.
When listening to Japanese store announcements, pay close attention to exception clauses — phrases like 「なお」(by the way/note that) and 「対象外」(excluded/not applicable) that carve out specific exceptions to general rules. Missing these qualifiers is one of the most common mistakes on listening comprehension questions.
In this announcement, the key sentence is 「本日はお酒類はセール対象外となっております」— "today, alcoholic beverages are excluded from the sale." The word 「お酒類」refers to all alcohol, which includes wine. Since the entire sale framework — both the 二割引き (20% discount) and the additional point bonus (五パーセントのポイント) — is introduced as part of "today's time sale," the exclusion of alcohol removes the wine from all sale benefits. This makes C the correct answer: no discount and no extra points.
Choice A is wrong because it ignores the 「対象外」clause entirely — a classic trap for students who catch the general rule but miss the exception. Choice B is a tempting distractor because it tries to separate the point benefit from the discount, but the announcement doesn't make that distinction; both benefits fall under the sale umbrella that alcohol is excluded from. Choice D similarly invents a rule — that only the discount is excluded while points still apply — which is not supported anywhere in the passage.
Your study tip: whenever you hear 「なお」or 「ただし」in Japanese announcements or instructions, treat it as a red flag — an exception or additional condition is coming that will likely be the focus of a test question.
