N2 Vocabulary · Test 99

The reading せいべつ corresponds to 性別 (せい・べつ). 性 means 'sex/gender/nature,' 別 means 'distinction/category.' Together 性別 means 'gender' or 'sex.' The phrase 性別にとらわれることなく means 'without being constrained by gender,' which fits the context perfectly.

• 1性列 uses 列(れつ) meaning 'row/line' instead of 別(べつ) meaning 'distinction.' 列 is read れつ, not べつ, so the reading does not match.
• 2性例 uses 例(れい) meaning 'example' instead of 別(べつ). 例 is read れい, not べつ, so the reading does not match.
• 4性分 uses 分(ぶん/ふん) meaning 'portion/nature/disposition.' While 性分 is a real word meaning 'innate disposition,' it is read しょうぶん, not せいべつ, so neither the reading nor the meaning fits.

• 性別せいべつ — gender; sex
• とらわれる（捉われる） — to be bound by; to be constrained by

The reading しんしゅつ corresponds to 進出 (しん・しゅつ). 進 means 'advance/progress,' 出 means 'go out/emerge.' 進出 means 'advancing into' or 'making inroads into (a field/society).' 社会に進出する女性 means 'women advancing into society,' which fits the context of increasing female participation in the workforce.

• 1新出(しんしゅつ) means 'newly appearing' (used for new vocabulary words in textbooks, etc.). While the reading matches, it does not fit the context of women entering society.
• 2侵出 is not a standard Japanese compound word. 侵(しん) means 'invade,' but 侵出 is not used in this or most contexts.
• 3浸出 is not a standard compound word in this context. 浸(しん) means 'soak/permeate,' and 浸出 is not a commonly used word meaning 'advancing into society.'

• 進出しんしゅつ — advancing into; making inroads into (a field, society, etc.)
• 進出しんしゅつする — to advance into (a field/society)

The reading ふえて corresponds to 増えて, the te-form of 増える (ふえる), meaning 'to increase.' 増えてきた means 'have increased' (with きた indicating a continuing trend up to now). This fits the context: the number of women advancing into society has increased.

• 1加えて(くわえて) is the te-form of 加える 'to add (something to something).' The reading くわえる does not match ふえる, and the meaning 'to add' implies intentional addition rather than a natural increase in number.
• 3富えて is not a standard te-form. The verb 富む(とむ) means 'to be rich/wealthy,' but its te-form would be 富んで(とんで), not 富えて. The reading とむ does not match ふえる.
• 4豊えて is not a standard verb form. The adjective 豊か(ゆたか) means 'abundant/wealthy,' but there is no verb 豊える. This is a non-existent form designed to look plausible.

• 増ふえる — to increase (in number/amount)
• 増ふえてきた — have been increasing (trend up to now)

The reading せいのう corresponds to 性能 (せい・のう). 性 means 'nature/property,' 能 means 'ability/capability.' 性能 means 'performance' or 'capability,' commonly used for machines and devices. 機械の性能が高度化してくる means 'as the performance of machines becomes more advanced,' which fits perfectly.

• 1製能 is not a standard compound word. 製(せい) means 'manufacture/make,' but 製能 is not a real word in Japanese.
• 3精脳 uses 脳(のう) meaning 'brain' instead of 能(のう) meaning 'ability.' 精脳 is not a standard compound word. While the reading せいのう matches, the kanji combination is invalid.
• 4制脳 uses 制(せい) meaning 'control' and 脳(のう) meaning 'brain.' 制脳 is not a standard compound word. The correct second kanji is 能 'ability,' not 脳 'brain.'

• 性能せいのう — performance; capability (of a machine/device)
• 高度化こうどか — becoming more advanced/sophisticated

The reading たえず corresponds to 絶えず (たえず). 絶える means 'to cease/interrupt,' and 絶えず is its adverbial form meaning 'constantly' or 'without ceasing.' 絶えず勉強を続けなければならない means 'must continue studying constantly,' which fits the context of needing to keep up with advancing technology.

• 1多えず is not a standard Japanese word. 多い(おおい) means 'many,' but there is no adverbial form 多えず. The reading たえず does not match おおい.
• 2堪えず(たえず) would be the negative form of 堪える(こらえる/たえる) meaning 'to endure/tolerate,' giving 'cannot endure.' While the reading たえず matches, the meaning 'unable to endure studying' does not fit the context of needing to continually study.
• 3耐えず(たえず) is the negative form of 耐える(たえる) meaning 'to withstand/endure,' giving 'cannot withstand.' Like option 2, the reading matches but the meaning 'unable to endure' does not fit the context. The sentence requires the meaning 'constantly,' not 'unable to endure.'

• 絶たえず — constantly; ceaselessly; without interruption
• 絶たえる — to cease; to be interrupted; to die out
• 使つかいこなす — to master (the use of); to use skillfully

続出 (ぞくしゅつ) means 'appearing one after another' or 'occurring in succession,' typically used for negative or unexpected events/people appearing in rapid succession within a short period. Option 2, '暑さのせいで気分が悪くなる人が続出した' (People feeling sick from the heat appeared one after another), is the correct usage — multiple people falling ill one after another in a short span is exactly the kind of situation 続出 describes.

• 1満員電車から乗客が続出してきた describes passengers physically exiting a crowded train one by one. 続出 is not used for people simply coming out or leaving in sequence; it describes events or occurrences (often problems) happening in rapid succession. For people exiting, you would use 次々と降りた or 続々と降りた instead.
• 3最近は、天気の悪い日が続出している describes bad-weather days continuing over a broad period ('最近'). 続出 implies a sudden burst of occurrences happening in a relatively short, concentrated timeframe, not an ongoing seasonal trend. For weather continuing day after day, 続く or 続いている is appropriate.
• 4薬で治ったと思っていた風邪が続出した is nonsensical — a cold that was already cured cannot 'keep appearing.' 続出 requires new instances occurring one after another, not something recurring after being resolved.

• 続出ぞくしゅつ — appearing one after another; occurring in succession (usually of negative/unexpected events)

外見 (がいけん) means 'outward appearance' — how a person or thing looks from the outside, often contrasted with inner reality (内面). Option 1, '人を外見で判断するのはよくないことだ' (It is not good to judge people by their outward appearance), is the textbook usage of this word, pairing naturally with 人 and 判断する.

• 2窓の外見をペンキで白く塗った treats 外見 as if it means 'exterior surface.' 外見 refers to overall outward appearance/impression, not a physical surface to be painted. For the outside surface of a window, 外側 (そとがわ) or 外面 (がいめん) would be correct.
• 3月の外見はでこぼこしている describes the physical surface texture of the moon. 外見 refers to how something looks as an overall impression, not its surface features. For the surface of the moon, 表面 (ひょうめん) is the appropriate word.
• 4母は怒っている外見だった uses 外見 to describe an emotional state. 外見 refers to physical/visual appearance, not to someone's emotional condition or demeanor. For describing how someone looks emotionally, 様子 (ようす) or 様 (さま) is appropriate.

• 外見がいけん — outward appearance; external appearance (contrasted with 内面, inner nature)