JLPT Context-Specific Vocabulary 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: At a job orientation, the HR manager says '試用期間は3ヶ月です.' What does '試用期間' refer to?
- Vacation days during the first year
- Probationary/trial period (Correct answer)
- Training program duration
- Contract renewal window
Correct answer: Probationary/trial period
'試用期間' (shiyō kikan) is the probationary period during which a new employee's performance is evaluated.
Question 2: A bank teller asks '通帳はお持ちですか.' What item is the teller inquiring about?
- A credit card
- A passport
- A bankbook/passbook (Correct answer)
- An ATM card
Correct answer: A bankbook/passbook
'通帳' (tsūchō) is a Japanese bank passbook where transactions are physically recorded.
Question 3: In a contract, the clause '甲は乙に対して' uses '甲' and '乙.' These terms represent:
- Buyer and seller specifically
- The first party and second party respectively (Correct answer)
- The lender and borrower specifically
- The employer and employee specifically
Correct answer: The first party and second party respectively
'甲' (kō) and '乙' (otsu) are generic legal placeholders meaning 'Party A' and 'Party B' respectively in Japanese contracts.
Question 4: A gym instructor announces '本日のレッスンは定員に達しました.' What does this mean for late arrivals?
- The lesson has been cancelled today
- The class is full, no more spots available (Correct answer)
- The lesson starts late today
- Beginners must register first
Correct answer: The class is full, no more spots available
'定員に達する' means 'to reach capacity/maximum number,' indicating the class is completely full.
Question 5: A newspaper headline reads '内閣改造が行われた.' In political reporting, '内閣改造' refers to:
- A new election being called
- A cabinet reshuffle (Correct answer)
- Constitutional amendment
- Parliamentary dissolution
Correct answer: A cabinet reshuffle
'内閣改造' (naikaku kaizō) specifically means a cabinet reshuffle where the prime minister reassigns ministerial posts.
Question 6: In cooking instructions, '弱火でじっくり煮込む' tells the cook to:
- Boil rapidly over high heat
- Simmer slowly over low heat (Correct answer)
- Stir-fry quickly over medium heat
- Steam without stirring
Correct answer: Simmer slowly over low heat
'弱火' means 'low/weak flame' and 'じっくり煮込む' means 'to simmer thoroughly and slowly.'
Question 7: A travel agency brochure describes a trip as '現地集合・現地解散.' What does this arrangement mean for travelers?
- The guide meets you at the airport only
- Meet and disperse at the destination independently (Correct answer)
- Group transportation is provided throughout
- Hotel checkout handled by the agency
Correct answer: Meet and disperse at the destination independently
'現地集合' means 'meet at the site' and '現地解散' means 'disperse at the site,' so travelers arrange their own transportation to and from the destination.
JLPT Context-Specific Vocabulary 5
At a job orientation, the HR manager says '試用期間は3ヶ月です.' What does '試用期間' refer to?