AP Japanese Language Unit 1 practice questions
Try 10 multiple-choice questions from Unit 1 here. Pick an answer to see why it's right or wrong, then take the timed test above for a full AP-style set.
Question 1
Source:市民センター広報誌より
シルバー世代のための「いきいき健康プログラム」参加者募集
高齢化が進む中、元気で活動的な毎日を送りませんか。市民センターでは、65歳以上の方を対象とした新しい健康プログラムを開始します。
【プログラム内容】 ・毎週火曜日・木曜日 午前10時~11時30分 ・軽い体操とストレッチ(専門インストラクター指導) ・栄養バランスについての講座(月1回) ・参加者同士の交流会(お茶とお菓子付き)
【特徴】 一人暮らしの高齢者が増えている現状を考え、健康維持だけでなく、地域の仲間づくりも重視しています。医師の健康チェックも定期的に行いますので、安心してご参加いただけます。
【参加費】月額2,000円(教材費・お茶代込み) 【定員】30名(先着順) 【申込期間】11月1日~11月15日 【開始日】12月3日
詳しくは市民センター窓口、またはお電話(03-1234-5678)でお問い合わせください。皆様のご参加をお待ちしております。
What is included in the participation fee for this program?
Materials fee and tea cost
The cost of the doctor's health check
Lunch cost
Transportation cost
Show answer
Answer: (A)
This question checks your understanding of what the monthly fee covers; the passage states the ¥2,000 monthly fee includes materials and tea.
Question 2
A Japanese father describes his weekend routine by stating, "休日は妻に掃除や洗濯を手伝わされています。" Based on this statement, what can be inferred about his role in the household?
He feels obligated to perform household chores under his wife's direction on weekends.
He voluntarily takes the initiative to complete household chores for his wife on weekends.
He makes his wife complete all the household chores by herself during their weekend time.
He and his wife equally divide and happily share the household chores during the weekend.
Show answer
Answer: (A)
The causative-passive 手伝わされています shows the subject is being made to help by someone else—the father implies his wife directs or pressures him to do the cleaning and laundry.
Question 3
An article discussing Japanese demographics states, "少子化がこのまま進むと、将来は単身世帯がさらに増えていくでしょう。" What is the author predicting based on this sentence?
A continuous decrease in birthrates will lead to a larger number of people living entirely alone.
A continuous decrease in birthrates will lead to a larger number of three-generation households.
An increase in single-person households will eventually cause the national birthrate to recover.
An increase in single-person households will eventually cause the elderly population to decline.
Show answer
Answer: (A)
The conditional 〜と plus the progressive 〜ていく links the current decline in birthrate to a future increase in single-person households (単身世帯が増えていく).
Question 4
田中さんは新しいクラスメートに初めて自己紹介をしています。 田中：「はじめまして。田中けんじと申します。よろしくおねがいします。」
In this introduction, Tanaka says 「田中けんじと申します」. What does this phrase explicitly communicate?
Tanaka is humbly stating his own name using a formal self-introduction expression
Tanaka is asking the new classmate to state their name in a polite exchange
Tanaka is respectfully referring to someone else named Kenji Tanaka in the room
Tanaka is expressing gratitude to the classmate for remembering his name already
Show answer
Answer: (A)
Recognizing that 「申します」(もうします) is the humble form of 「言います」reveals that Tanaka is formally and humbly introducing his own name. This is the standard polite self-introduction pattern used when meeting someone for the first time in Japanese social contexts.
Question 5
部活動の練習後、後輩の山田さんが先輩の鈴木さんに話しかけています。 山田：「鈴木先輩、今日はご指導いただきまして、ありがとうございました。おかげさまで、だいぶ上手になれた気がします。」
What does Yamada explicitly express in this statement to Senpai Suzuki?
Gratitude for Suzuki's guidance and acknowledgment of personal improvement during practice
A request for Suzuki to continue providing guidance at the next practice session
An apology to Suzuki for not performing well enough during today's club activity
A complaint to Suzuki that the practice session today was too long and tiring
Show answer
Answer: (A)
「ご指導いただきまして、ありがとうございました」explicitly expresses thanks for receiving instruction, and 「おかげさまで、だいぶ上手になれた気がします」explicitly states that Yamada feels they have improved considerably thanks to Suzuki. Both elements are directly stated in the utterance.
Question 6
新しく引っ越してきた佐藤さんが、隣の家の田村さんに挨拶に来ています。 佐藤：「突然すみません。先日、隣に引っ越してまいりました佐藤と申します。これ、つまらないものですが、どうぞお受け取りください。これからどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。」
What two things does Sato explicitly communicate in this greeting?
That Sato recently moved in next door and is offering a gift while requesting a good neighborly relationship
That Sato is apologizing for making noise during the move and asking Tamura to visit soon
That Sato has lived in the neighborhood for a long time and is introducing a new family member to Tamura
That Sato is returning a borrowed item to Tamura and requesting help with unpacking boxes
Show answer
Answer: (A)
「先日、隣に引っ越してまいりました」explicitly states that Sato moved in recently next door, 「これ、つまらないものですが、どうぞお受け取りください」explicitly offers a gift, and 「これからどうぞよろしくお願いいたします」explicitly requests a good ongoing relationship. All three elements are directly stated.
Question 7
高校の文化祭の準備中に、クラス委員の中村さんがクラスメートに話しています。 中村：「みなさん、文化祭まであと三日しかありません。今日は、大道具チームは体育館で作業をお願いします。小道具チームは教室に残って、ポスターの仕上げをしてください。それぞれの役割をしっかり果たして、クラス全員で最高の劇を作り上げましょう。」
According to Nakamura's announcement, which team is explicitly assigned to work in the gymnasium today?
The large props team (大道具チーム) is explicitly assigned to work in the gymnasium today
The small props team (小道具チーム) is explicitly assigned to work in the gymnasium today
All class members are explicitly told to gather in the gymnasium for a full rehearsal today
The poster-finishing team is explicitly sent to the gymnasium to display completed artwork today
Show answer
Answer: (A)
「大道具チームは体育館で作業をお願いします」explicitly and directly assigns the large props team (大道具チーム) to the gymnasium (体育館). This is a straightforward recognition of explicit information stated without ambiguity in the announcement.
Question 8
Read the following exchange between two high school students:
「田中さん、文化祭の準備、どう？」 「うん、台本はもう書き終わったんだけど、セットをまだ作ってないし、ポスターのデザインも全然できてないんだよね。みんなで分担してるんだけど、なかなか進まなくて。」 「そっか。何か手伝えることある？」 「本当に？じゃあ、ポスターお願いできる？絵が得意だって聞いたから。」
According to Tanaka, which task has already been completed for the cultural festival?
Writing the script for the class performance
Building the stage sets for the performance
Designing the promotional posters for the event
Dividing up roles among all the classmates
Show answer
Answer: (A)
Tanaka explicitly states 「台本はもう書き終わった」, meaning the script has already been finished. Identifying this specific completed detail requires reading past the list of unfinished tasks that follow.
Question 9
Read the following message posted on a neighborhood association (町内会) bulletin board:
「来月の地域清掃は10月15日（土）の午前9時から行います。参加できる方はお名前を下の用紙に書いてください。道具はこちらで用意しますので、動きやすい服装でお越しください。なお、当日は雨天の場合、翌週の22日に延期となります。ご不明な点は山田会長までお問い合わせください。」
Which detail does the notice provide about the neighborhood cleanup event?
Participants should wear comfortable clothes because tools will be provided
Participants must bring their own cleaning tools from home
The event will be canceled entirely if it rains on October 15th
Participants should contact the neighborhood association to register by phone
Show answer
Answer: (A)
The notice states 「道具はこちらで用意します」 (tools will be prepared) and 「動きやすい服装でお越しください」 (please come in comfortable clothing). Synthesizing these two supporting details together reveals what participants need to know about preparation.
Question 10
Read the following excerpt from a letter written by a Japanese high school student to a host family before an exchange program:
「はじめまして。来月からお世話になる山本さくらと申します。私は東京の公立高校に通っており、吹奏楽部でフルートを担当しています。部活では先輩から厳しく指導していただき、おかげさまで去年の大会で金賞をいただくことができました。ホームステイ中は、できるだけご家族のルールに従い、ご迷惑をおかけしないよう努めます。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。」
Which detail in the letter supports the inference that Sakura values the guidance she has received from her upperclassmen in the club?
She credits the strict instruction from seniors as a reason for winning a gold award
She mentions that she plays the flute as the lead instrument in her school band
She promises to follow the host family's rules and avoid causing inconvenience
She introduces herself using humble language appropriate for a first meeting
Show answer
Answer: (A)
Sakura writes 「先輩から厳しく指導していただき、おかげさまで去年の大会で金賞をいただくことができました」, directly linking the seniors' guidance to the award outcome. The expression おかげさまで signals gratitude and attribution, allowing the reader to infer she values that mentorship.
What's on the AP Japanese Language Unit 1 practice test
The standard version takes about 54 minutes and follows the timing and directions of the AP exam, sized to one unit:
- 20 Multiple Choice Questions (24 minutes)
- 1 FRQ – FRQ 3 – Story Narration (15 minutes)
- 1 FRQ – FRQ 4 – Email Response (15 minutes)
Questions are drawn from 533 multiple-choice questions and 40 FRQs written for Unit 1, Families and Communities.
Practice AP Japanese Language Unit 1 FRQs
Answer the unit's free-response questions one at a time and get a score on every part.
- FRQ 3 – Story Narration (20 questions)
- FRQ 4 – Email Response (20 questions)
Review Unit 1 before you start
- 1.1 Community Activities | 地域社会の活動
- 1.2 Family Relationships | 家族関係
- 1.3 Social Interactions and Relationships | 社会的交流と人間関係
- 1.4 Urban and Rural Communities | 都市と田舎のコミュニティ