N4 Reading · Test 15

The passage states that when the narrator turned 10, their older sister suggested '今年は一人で選んでみる？' (Why don't you try choosing by yourself this year?). The narrator agreed ('うん。') and then went alone to a bookstore and a flower shop to look for a present ('一人で本屋に行ったり、花屋に行ったりしました'). Therefore, the correct answer is option 1: 自分一人で選びました (chose by herself).

• 2This describes what the narrator did BEFORE turning 10 ('毎年、姉と一緒に両親の誕生日プレゼントを選んでいました'), not what happened at age 10.
• 3The passage never says the narrator asked her sister what would be a good gift. The sister only suggested that the narrator try choosing alone.
• 4The passage never says the narrator asked her mother what she wanted. The narrator worried about whether her mother would like it, which implies she did not ask.

• 一人ひとりで — by oneself, alone
• 選えらぶ — to choose, to select
• 一緒いっしょに — together

The passage clearly states: 'スーパーに行って、ハンカチを一枚買いました' (went to the supermarket and bought one handkerchief). It was a handkerchief with a picture of her mother's favorite flowers on it. Therefore, the correct answer is option 4: ハンカチ (handkerchief).

• 1The narrator visited a bookstore (本屋) to look for a present, but the passage never says she bought a book. She ultimately bought a handkerchief at the supermarket.
• 2The narrator visited a flower shop (花屋) to look for a present, but the passage never says she bought flowers. She ultimately bought a handkerchief.
• 3花の絵 (a picture of flowers) is a detail about the handkerchief's design ('花の絵がかいてあるハンカチ'), not the gift itself. The gift was the handkerchief.

• ハンカチ（はんかち） — handkerchief
• 花の絵（はなのえ） — picture/design of flowers
• 一枚いちまい — one (counter for flat objects)

The passage says: '母が喜んでくれるかどうか心配でしたが、母はハンカチを見て「とてもきれいね。ありがとう。」と言いました。わたしはとても安心しました。' The narrator was worried about whether her mother would be happy with the gift, and when her mother saw it and said 'It's very pretty. Thank you,' the narrator felt relieved. The direct cause of feeling 安心しました (relieved) was that her mother was pleased with the present. Therefore, option 3 is correct.

• 1Finding the handkerchief at the supermarket is mentioned, but the relief came from the mother's positive reaction, not from simply finding the item.
• 2The passage says the sister said 'よかったね' and smiled (にこにこしながら), but it does not say the sister praised the gift as 'きれい' (pretty). The mother was the one who said 'とてもきれいね.'
• 4The sister's comment 'よかったね' came AFTER the narrator already felt relieved. The relief was caused by the mother's reaction, not the sister's comment.

• 安心あんしんする — to feel relieved, to feel at ease
• 喜よろこぶ — to be pleased, to be delighted
• 心配しんぱい — worry, concern

The passage opens with 'わたしが、初めて自分が少し大人になったと思ったのは、10歳のときでした。とてもうれしかったことを今でもよく覚えています。' (The first time I thought I had become a little more grown-up was when I was 10. I still remember well how happy I was.) The entire story illustrates this feeling, and the closing line 'もう子どもじゃないと思ったときの思い出です' (A memory of when I felt I was no longer a child) reinforces it. The main point is that the narrator felt happy about feeling a little more grown-up. Therefore, option 3 is correct.

• 1While the narrator did shop alone for the first time, the passage does not emphasize that it was 'とても楽しかった' (very fun). The focus is on feeling grown-up, not on the enjoyment of shopping.
• 2The passage never says the narrator had trouble choosing a present ('なかなか選べなくて、困った'). She went to shops and successfully found a handkerchief.
• 4The narrator was indeed worried about whether her mother would like the gift, but this is a minor detail in the story, not the main point. The overall theme is about feeling grown-up and happy about it.

• 大人おとな — adult, grown-up
• 一番いちばん — most, the best
• 言いいたい — want to say