N1 Vocabulary · Test 80

抜群 (ばつぐん) means 'outstanding, exceptional, standing out from the rest' — always in a positive sense. When describing grades/scores, it means the grades were remarkably good compared to others. ほかと比べて特に良かった (especially good compared to others) is the correct paraphrase.

• 1ほかと比べて特に下がった means 'dropped especially compared to others.' 抜群 is positive, not a decline.
• 2ほかと比べて特に悪かった means 'especially bad compared to others.' This is the opposite of 抜群.
• 3ほかと比べて特に上がった means 'rose especially compared to others.' While 抜群 does mean 'standing out,' the core meaning is about being exceptionally good, not about a change/rise. This option focuses on an upward trend rather than the state of being outstandingly good.

• 抜群ばつぐん — outstanding, exceptional, standing out from the rest (positive)

バックアップ (back up) in Japanese means 'support, backing, assistance.' The sentence says they started a new business receiving Company A's バックアップ. 支援 (しえん, support/assistance) is the correct paraphrase.

• 1影響 (えいきょう) means 'influence, effect.' Receiving influence is not the same as receiving support.
• 3依頼 (いらい) means 'request, commission.' This is asking someone to do something, not supporting them.
• 4指示 (しじ) means 'instruction, direction, order.' This implies giving orders, not providing support.

• バックアップ — support, backing, assistance
• 支援しえん — support, assistance

仰天 (ぎょうてん) means 'to be astonished, to be greatly surprised.' It is a strong word for shock/surprise. とても驚いた (was very surprised) is the correct paraphrase. The sentence says everyone was astonished hearing his story.

• 2とても喜んだ means 'was very happy/delighted.' 仰天 involves surprise, not joy.
• 3深く感動した means 'was deeply moved/touched.' 仰天 is about astonishment, not emotional inspiration.
• 4深く同情した means 'deeply sympathized.' 仰天 is surprise, not sympathy.

• 仰天ぎょうてん — to be astonished, to be greatly surprised

おおむね（概ね）means 'mostly, generally, for the most part.' In this sentence, 'ご説明の内容はおおむね理解できました' means 'I understood the content of your explanation for the most part.' だいたい（大体）is the closest synonym, meaning 'roughly, mostly, on the whole,' making option 4 correct.

• 1やっと means 'finally, at last' (after difficulty/long wait). It implies a struggle to reach understanding, which does not match the nuance of おおむね.
• 2すこし（少し）means 'a little, slightly.' おおむね implies a large majority, not a small amount.
• 3すぐに means 'immediately, right away,' referring to speed/timing. おおむね has nothing to do with speed.

• おおむね — mostly, generally, for the most part
• だいたい — roughly, mostly, on the whole
• やっと — finally, at last (with difficulty)
• すこし — a little, slightly
• すぐに — immediately, right away

円滑（えんかつ）means 'smooth, smooth-running' and is used as an adverb (円滑に) to describe processes, operations, or proceedings advancing without trouble. Option 2, '手順を改善したら、業務が円滑に進むようになった' ('After improving the procedures, the work began to proceed smoothly'), is the correct usage because 業務が進む (work proceeding) is exactly the kind of process 円滑に modifies.

• 1体力の回復 (recovery of physical strength) is a bodily/medical process, not an operational procedure. 円滑 is not used for physical recovery; 順調（じゅんちょう）would be appropriate here.
• 3瓶のふたが開く (a bottle cap opening) is a physical action. 円滑に describes abstract processes, not physical/mechanical opening. すんなり or スムーズに would fit better.
• 4言語を操る (handling/manipulating languages) is a personal skill/ability. 円滑に is not used to describe individual proficiency; 流暢に（りゅうちょうに）or 自由に would be appropriate.

• 円滑えんかつ — smooth, smooth-running (used for processes/operations)
• 手順てじゅん — procedure, steps
• 業務ぎょうむ — business operations, work

簡素な (かんそな) means 'simple, plain, unadorned,' describing something that lacks unnecessary decoration. シンプルな (simple) is the best paraphrase. The sentence means 'All the furniture in this room had a simple design.'

• 1クールな means 'cool (stylish/trendy).' This conveys a fashionable impression rather than the plain, unadorned quality of 簡素.
• 2モダンな means 'modern.' Modern design refers to a specific style/era, not necessarily simplicity.
• 3ユニークな means 'unique.' Being unique is about originality, not about being plain and simple.

• 簡素かんそ — simple, plain, unadorned (lacking unnecessary decoration)

ひそかに (密かに) means 'secretly, privately, without others knowing.' こっそり also means 'secretly/stealthily' and is the best paraphrase. The sentence means 'I'm secretly preparing for his birthday party with a few friends.'

• 2張り切って means 'with great enthusiasm/zeal.' This describes eagerness, not secrecy.
• 3のんびり means 'in a relaxed/leisurely manner.' This describes pace and mood, not secrecy.
• 4急いで means 'in a hurry.' This describes speed, not secrecy.

• ひそか（密か） — secretly, privately, without others knowing

断念した (だんねんした) means 'gave up/abandoned (a plan or intention).' あきらめた (gave up) is the best paraphrase. The sentence means 'It seems that Takahashi gave up on participating in this year's tournament.'

• 1きめた means 'decided.' Deciding is different from giving up; 断念 implies relinquishing something one had intended to do.
• 3ことわった means 'refused/declined.' Refusing an offer is different from abandoning one's own intention to participate.
• 4のぞんだ means 'hoped for/desired.' This is nearly the opposite of 断念する, which means to give up on something.

• 断念だんねん — giving up, abandoning (a plan or intention one had)

おのずと（おのずと）means 'naturally, spontaneously, of its own accord' — something happens without forced effort. 自然に（しぜんに）'naturally' is the closest synonym. The sentence means: 'If you make an effort, the results will show up naturally.'

• 1だんだん means 'gradually, little by little.' おのずと does not emphasize a gradual process but rather spontaneous/natural occurrence.
• 2はっきり means 'clearly, distinctly.' This describes how something appears, not the manner of arising on its own.
• 4絶対に means 'absolutely, definitely.' This expresses certainty/inevitability, not the nuance of happening by itself.

• おのずと — naturally, spontaneously, of its own accord
• 自然しぜんに — naturally
• だんだん — gradually
• はっきり — clearly
• 絶対ぜったいに — absolutely

免除（めんじょ）means 'exemption, waiver' — being freed from an obligation such as a fee or duty. Option 3 says top entrance-exam performers get their admission fee waived (入学金が免除), which is the correct usage.

• 1If you neglect paying dues for two years, you would be penalized or expelled — not 'exempted' from paying. The cause-effect is illogical for 免除.
• 2A qualification that lapses because you didn't retake the exam would 失効（しっこう）'expire/lapse,' not be 免除 'exempted.'
• 4Gargling prevents a cold — that is 予防（よぼう）'prevention,' not 免除 'exemption.' One cannot be 'exempted' from catching a cold.

• 免除めんじょ — exemption, waiver (from an obligation/fee)
• 滞納たいのう — non-payment, falling behind on payments
• 入学金にゅうがくきん — admission/enrollment fee
• うがい — gargling