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Osaka Public High School Entrance Examination - English study materials
Osaka Public High School Entrance Examination - English study resources

Osaka Public High School Entrance Examination - English practice questions

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Question 1Listening Comprehension

You hear: "The library is closed on Mondays, but it opens at nine on every other weekday." When can you use the library on Tuesday?

  1. From nine o'clock in the morning Correct answer.
  2. It is closed all day
  3. From eight o'clock in the morning
  4. Only in the afternoon

Explanation

The speaker says the library opens at nine on every weekday except Monday, and Tuesday is one of those weekdays. So on Tuesday the opening time is nine in the morning. The closing time is not mentioned, so no afternoon restriction can be inferred.

Question 2Listening Comprehension

A school announcement says: "Students taking the bus must wait at the north gate, not the south gate, because of road work." Where should bus students wait?

  1. At the south gate
  2. Inside the school office
  3. At the north gate Correct answer.
  4. At the train station

Explanation

The announcement directly names the north gate as the waiting place and explains that the south gate is unavailable because of road work. Listening for the contrast signal "not the south gate" helps you avoid the wrong location. The office and station are never mentioned.

Question 3Listening Comprehension

You hear: "I wanted to join the tennis club, but practice is on the same day as my piano lesson, so I chose the art club instead." Which club did the speaker join?

  1. The tennis club
  2. The art club Correct answer.
  3. No club at all
  4. The piano club

Explanation

The speaker explains a conflict between tennis practice and a piano lesson, then states the result: choosing the art club instead. The word "instead" signals the final decision. Piano is a lesson, not a club, and the speaker did join something.

Question 4Listening Comprehension

A teacher says: "Please bring your textbook on Wednesday, and your notebook on Friday. You do not need both on the same day." What should you bring on Friday?

  1. Nothing
  2. The notebook Correct answer.
  3. The textbook
  4. Both the textbook and the notebook

Explanation

The teacher pairs Wednesday with the textbook and Friday with the notebook, and adds that both are not needed on one day. Matching each day to its item gives the notebook for Friday. The final sentence confirms the two days are separate.

Question 5Listening Comprehension

You hear: "My brother is two years older than me. I am fourteen." How old is the brother?

  1. Fifteen
  2. Fourteen
  3. Twelve
  4. Sixteen Correct answer.

Explanation

The speaker is fourteen, and the brother is two years older, so add two to fourteen. The calculation is simple but requires holding both numbers while listening. Twelve would be younger, and fifteen is only one year more.

Question 6Listening Comprehension

A shop announcement: "The sale ends this Sunday. After that, all prices return to normal." What happens on Monday?

  1. The sale continues
  2. Prices become lower
  3. The shop closes forever
  4. Prices go back to normal Correct answer.

Explanation

The announcement says the sale ends Sunday and prices return to normal afterward. Monday is after Sunday, so normal prices apply. The other choices add information, such as closing forever, that is never stated.

Question 7Listening Comprehension

You hear: "Turn left at the post office, then walk straight past the bank. The museum is on your right." Where is the museum?

  1. On the right after the bank Correct answer.
  2. Next to the post office
  3. Behind the bank
  4. Across from the station

Explanation

The directions place the museum on the right side after you pass the bank. Following the order of landmarks is the key listening skill here. The post office is a turning point, and the station is not mentioned.

Question 8Listening Comprehension

A message says: "I can't meet at three. Let's meet at four thirty instead, at the same place." What time is the new meeting?

  1. Three o'clock
  2. Five o'clock
  3. Four thirty Correct answer.
  4. Four o'clock

Explanation

The speaker cancels three o'clock and proposes four thirty as the replacement time. The phrase "instead" marks the corrected information, which is what you must record. Three is the old time, and four and five are not stated.

Question 9Listening Comprehension

You hear: "The concert was supposed to start at six, but it began forty minutes late." When did the concert begin?

  1. At six o'clock
  2. At seven o'clock
  3. At six forty Correct answer.
  4. At five twenty

Explanation

A forty-minute delay after six o'clock means the concert started at six forty. You must combine the planned time with the length of the delay. Five twenty would be forty minutes earlier, and seven is a full hour late.

Question 10Listening Comprehension

A student says: "I studied math for two hours and English for one hour, but I spent three hours on science." Which subject took the most time?

  1. Math and English together
  2. Science Correct answer.
  3. English
  4. Math

Explanation

Comparing the three figures, science took three hours, which is more than two hours for math and one hour for English. Listening for the largest number among several is the task here. Math and English combined equal science, not more.

Question 11Listening Comprehension

You hear: "The train to the airport leaves every twenty minutes. The last one tonight is at ten forty." If you arrive at nine fifty, when is the next train?

  1. At ten o'clock Correct answer.
  2. At nine fifty
  3. At ten forty
  4. At ten ten

Explanation

Trains run every twenty minutes, so after nine forty the next departures are ten o'clock, ten twenty, and ten forty. Since you arrive at nine fifty, the first train you can catch is ten o'clock. Ten forty is the last train, not the next one.

Question 12Listening Comprehension

A girl says: "My father is a doctor, my mother teaches music, and my sister wants to be a nurse like our aunt." Who works in a hospital according to this?

  1. The father and the aunt Correct answer.
  2. The mother and the sister
  3. Only the sister
  4. Only the mother

Explanation

A doctor and a nurse both work in a hospital, and the father is a doctor while the aunt is a nurse. The mother teaches music, and the sister only wants to be a nurse in the future. Distinguishing present jobs from future wishes is essential.

Question 13Listening Comprehension

You hear: "I usually walk to school, but when it rains I take the bus. Today it is raining." How did the speaker get to school today?

  1. On foot
  2. By bicycle
  3. By bus Correct answer.
  4. By train

Explanation

The speaker gives a general habit and a rainy-day exception, then states that today is rainy. Applying the exception to today gives the bus. Walking is only the usual habit, and trains and bicycles are never mentioned.

Question 14Listening Comprehension

A teacher announces: "The essay is due Friday, but if you are absent on Friday, you may hand it in on Monday." A student is absent on Friday. What is the latest day to submit?

  1. Saturday
  2. Thursday
  3. Friday
  4. Monday Correct answer.

Explanation

The rule sets Friday as the deadline with a Monday exception for absent students. Since the student is absent on Friday, the exception applies and Monday is the latest day. Thursday and Saturday are never offered as deadlines.

Question 15Listening Comprehension

You hear: "The new sports center has a pool, a gym, and two tennis courts, but the pool is closed for repairs this week." Which facility can you use this week?

  1. None of the facilities
  2. The gym and the tennis courts Correct answer.
  3. Only the pool
  4. The pool and the gym

Explanation

The pool is unavailable this week because of repairs, leaving the gym and the tennis courts open. The word "but" introduces the restriction, so you must exclude the pool from the list. Options including the pool are therefore wrong.

Question 16Listening Comprehension

A boy says: "I wanted the blue shirt, but it was too small, and the red one was too expensive, so I bought the green one." Why did he buy the green shirt?

  1. It was the cheapest and fit him Correct answer.
  2. It was his favorite color
  3. It was the only shirt in the shop
  4. His friend recommended it

Explanation

The blue shirt failed on size and the red on price, so the green one is the remaining choice that avoided both problems. This is an elimination question: each rejected shirt is ruled out for a stated reason. Nothing about favorite colors, stock, or friends is said.

Question 17Listening Comprehension

You hear: "Ken finished the race in fifty seconds. Yuki was five seconds slower, and Sora was ten seconds faster than Ken." Who finished first?

  1. Yuki
  2. Ken
  3. Yuki and Sora together
  4. Sora Correct answer.

Explanation

A faster time means finishing earlier, so Sora's forty seconds beats Ken's fifty and Yuki's fifty-five. The trap is treating "faster" as a larger number. Comparing all three times shows Sora is first.

Question 18Listening Comprehension

A recorded announcement at a station says: "Passengers for the express train, please go to platform three. The local train to the same destination leaves from platform one five minutes later." Which platform is for the express?

  1. Platform five
  2. Platform one
  3. Platform three Correct answer.
  4. Platform fifteen

Explanation

The announcement assigns the express to platform three and the local to platform one. Numbers spoken near train names can be confusing, so matching each train to its platform is the key. Five refers to minutes, and fifteen is part of "one five."

Question 19Listening Comprehension

A woman says: "I have lived in Osaka for ten years, but I grew up in Sapporo and moved here when I was twenty." How old is she now?

  1. Twenty
  2. Ten
  3. Thirty Correct answer.
  4. Twenty-five

Explanation

She moved to Osaka at twenty and has lived there ten years, so her current age is thirty. This requires combining the age at moving with the length of stay. Ten is the years lived there and twenty is the moving age.

Question 20Listening Comprehension

You hear: "If it is sunny tomorrow, we will have practice on the field. If it rains, we will meet in the gym at the same time." Tomorrow it rains. Where is practice?

  1. It is cancelled
  2. At the park
  3. On the field
  4. In the gym Correct answer.

Explanation

The speaker gives two conditional plans, one for sun and one for rain. Since tomorrow is rainy, the gym plan applies, and the time stays the same. The field is only for sunny weather, and cancellation is never mentioned.

Question 21Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "The museum is free on the first Sunday of every month, but you still need to reserve a ticket online." What must you do to enter free on that Sunday?

  1. Arrive before noon
  2. Bring a student card
  3. Reserve a ticket online Correct answer.
  4. Pay a small fee at the door

Explanation

Admission is free, but the speaker adds a condition: an online reservation is still required. The word "but" signals that an extra step remains despite the free entry. Fees, student cards, and arrival times are not stated.

Question 22Listening Comprehension

You hear a student say: "I told my friend I would help him with his math homework, but I also promised my sister I would go shopping with her. I called my friend and asked to help him an hour later, then went shopping first." What did the speaker do first?

  1. Went shopping with the sister Correct answer.
  2. Helped the friend with math
  3. Cancelled both plans
  4. Called the sister

Explanation

The speaker rearranged the math help to a later hour and then went shopping first. The order of actions in the retelling is the key: the shopping happened before the delayed help. Cancelling both plans contradicts the story.

Question 23Listening Comprehension

A guide says: "The tour bus leaves at nine. Please be at the meeting point fifteen minutes early, because the bus cannot wait." What time should you arrive at the meeting point?

  1. Nine o'clock
  2. Eight thirty
  3. Eight forty-five Correct answer.
  4. Nine fifteen

Explanation

Fifteen minutes before nine o'clock is eight forty-five, which is the required arrival time. The bus departure is nine, but the instruction is to arrive earlier. Nine fifteen is after departure, and eight thirty is thirty minutes early, not fifteen.

Question 24Listening Comprehension

You hear: "My sister said she would come to my game, but she had to work, so my grandfather came instead. He arrived late but saw the last twenty minutes." Who watched the speaker play?

  1. Nobody watched the game
  2. The grandfather for part of the game Correct answer.
  3. The grandfather for the whole game
  4. The sister for the whole game

Explanation

The sister could not come because of work, and the grandfather came instead but arrived late, seeing only the last twenty minutes. So he watched part of the game. Two details must be combined: who came and how much he saw.

Question 25Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "I used to take the train to work, but since I moved closer to the office, I have been walking. It takes thirty minutes, which is ten minutes longer than the train, but I enjoy it." How long did the train take?

  1. Twenty minutes Correct answer.
  2. Forty minutes
  3. Ten minutes
  4. Thirty minutes

Explanation

Walking takes thirty minutes, and the speaker says this is ten minutes longer than the train, so the train took twenty minutes. The comparison direction matters: the train was shorter, not longer. Ten minutes is the difference, not the train time.

Question 26Listening Comprehension

You hear a school announcement: "The library will close at five today, one hour earlier than usual, because the lights are being repaired." At what time does the library normally close?

  1. Six o'clock Correct answer.
  2. Five o'clock
  3. Seven o'clock
  4. Four o'clock

Explanation

The announcement says today's closing time is five, and that this is one hour earlier than usual. Adding that hour back gives the normal closing time of six. Listeners must reverse the change rather than repeat the time they heard.

Question 27Listening Comprehension

A boy says: "I get up at six thirty on weekdays, but on Sundays I sleep for one more hour." What time does he get up on Sundays?

  1. Five thirty
  2. Six thirty
  3. Seven thirty Correct answer.
  4. Eight thirty

Explanation

His weekday wake-up time is six thirty, and on Sundays he sleeps one hour longer. One hour after six thirty is seven thirty. The task is to add the stated extra hour to the stated base time.

Question 28Listening Comprehension

You hear: "The gym is next to the science building. The science building is behind the main gate, and the cafeteria is in front of the main gate." Where is the gym?

  1. Next to the cafeteria
  2. In front of the main gate
  3. Inside the main gate, beside the science building Correct answer.
  4. Behind the science building

Explanation

The gym is next to the science building, and the science building stands behind the main gate, so the gym is inside the gate beside that building. The cafeteria is on the opposite side of the gate, so it cannot be next to the gym. Combining the two location clues is needed to answer.

Question 29Listening Comprehension

A recorded message says: "Thank you for calling Sakura Books. We open at ten in the morning and close at eight in the evening. On the third Monday of each month we close at five for staff training." Today is the third Monday and it is four in the afternoon. What can you do?

  1. Wait until ten tomorrow morning, because the store is closed all day
  2. Shop now, because the store stays open until eight as usual
  3. Shop now, because the store is open until five today Correct answer.
  4. Come back after eight this evening, when the store reopens

Explanation

On the third Monday the closing time moves from eight to five, and it is currently four, so the store is still open for one more hour. The special closing time overrides the usual eight o'clock closing. The other choices ignore either the day or the current time.

Question 30Listening Comprehension

You hear a girl say: "My brother took the bus to the station, but I rode my bicycle, and my mother drove the car because she had too many bags." Who used the car?

  1. The girl
  2. Nobody, because the car was not used
  3. The mother Correct answer.
  4. The brother

Explanation

The speaker assigns one means of transport to each person: the brother took the bus, the girl rode a bicycle, and the mother drove because of her bags. The car therefore belongs to the mother. Matching each person to an action is the key skill here.

Question 31Listening Comprehension

A teacher says: "The report must be typed. You may use a computer at home or in the computer room, but the computer room is closed on Wednesday afternoon." A student plans to type the report at school on Wednesday afternoon. What should the teacher tell her?

  1. She must come on Wednesday morning instead, since the room is open only then
  2. She can use the computer room as usual
  3. She may hand in a handwritten report instead
  4. She should use a computer at home or come to the computer room at another time Correct answer.

Explanation

The computer room is unavailable on Wednesday afternoon, so typing there at that time is impossible. The teacher's rule offers two routes: a home computer or the computer room at a different time. Handwriting is ruled out because the report must be typed.

Question 32Listening Comprehension

You hear: "The baseball game starts at one. It takes thirty minutes to walk to the stadium, but the line at the ticket gate is usually long, so please arrive forty minutes before the start." If a student follows this advice, when should he arrive?

  1. One o'clock
  2. One forty
  3. Twelve twenty Correct answer.
  4. Twelve thirty

Explanation

The advice is to arrive forty minutes before the one o'clock start, which is twelve twenty. The thirty-minute walk is separate information about when to leave, not when to arrive. Choosing between the two numbers is the point of the question.

Question 33Listening Comprehension

A woman says: "I ordered a salad and my friend ordered soup. The waiter brought two salads by mistake, so I kept mine and my friend sent hers back." What did the friend finally eat?

  1. Both salad and soup
  2. A salad
  3. Nothing
  4. Soup Correct answer.

Explanation

The friend originally ordered soup, received a salad by mistake, and sent it back, so the correct dish, soup, would be brought. The speaker kept the salad, which belongs to her alone. Tracking each person's order separately prevents confusion.

Question 34Listening Comprehension

You hear a student say: "I have club activities on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and I go to cram school on Tuesday and Thursday. I practice the piano only on Saturday." On which day does she have neither club activities nor cram school?

  1. Monday
  2. Tuesday
  3. Thursday
  4. Saturday Correct answer.

Explanation

Club days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and cram school days are Tuesday and Thursday, so those five weekdays are all busy. Saturday is left for piano practice, which is neither club nor cram school. Listing the occupied days and finding the gap gives the answer.

Question 35Listening Comprehension

A station announcement says: "The eight fifteen train to Namba will leave from platform two instead of platform four. The eight twenty-five train to Namba will leave from platform four as usual." A passenger wants the eight fifteen train. Where should she go?

  1. Platform two Correct answer.
  2. Platform eight
  3. Platform four
  4. Platform fifteen

Explanation

The change applies only to the eight fifteen train, which now departs from platform two. Platform four is still used by the later eight twenty-five train, so a careless listener may pick it. The numbers eight fifteen and eight twenty-five are the trap.

Question 36Listening Comprehension

You hear: "Ken is taller than Yuki. Sora is taller than Ken, but shorter than Mei." Who is the tallest?

  1. Sora
  2. Yuki
  3. Ken
  4. Mei Correct answer.

Explanation

The statements form a chain from shortest to tallest: Yuki, then Ken, then Sora, then Mei. Since Mei is taller than Sora, who is taller than Ken, Mei is the tallest of all four. Building the order step by step avoids mixing up the middle positions.

Question 37Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "The festival was planned for Saturday, but because of the typhoon it was moved to the following Sunday, and the fireworks, which were scheduled for seven, will now start at eight." When will the fireworks start?

  1. Sunday at seven
  2. Sunday at eight Correct answer.
  3. Saturday at seven
  4. Saturday at eight

Explanation

Two changes are announced: the day moves to Sunday and the fireworks time moves to eight. Both changes must be applied together, giving Sunday at eight. Options that keep either the old day or the old time are only partly updated.

Question 38Listening Comprehension

You hear a teacher say: "If you finish the worksheet before noon, you may leave early. If you finish it after noon, you must stay until three, but you may go home as soon as it is checked." A student finishes at twelve thirty and the worksheet is checked at one. When may he go home?

  1. The next day
  2. At noon
  3. At one o'clock Correct answer.
  4. At three o'clock

Explanation

Finishing after noon places the student in the second rule, which allows leaving as soon as the work is checked. The check happens at one, so one o'clock is the earliest possible departure. Three is only the latest limit, not a fixed leaving time.

Question 39Listening Comprehension

A boy says: "My sister borrowed my umbrella yesterday and left it at school, so I had to walk home in the rain." Why did the boy get wet?

  1. It started raining after he got home
  2. He lent his umbrella to a friend at school
  3. His sister took his umbrella and did not bring it back Correct answer.
  4. He forgot to bring his umbrella

Explanation

The sister borrowed the umbrella and left it at school, so it was not available when the boy went home. The cause is the missing umbrella, not forgetfulness by the boy. The chain of events must be followed to the final result.

Question 40Listening Comprehension

You hear a guide say: "The bus tour takes two hours. We stop for thirty minutes at the castle, and the rest of the time is spent riding." How long is the group on the bus, not counting the stop?

  1. One hour
  2. Two and a half hours
  3. Thirty minutes
  4. One and a half hours Correct answer.

Explanation

The whole tour lasts two hours and includes a thirty-minute stop, so the riding time is two hours minus thirty minutes, or one and a half hours. The question asks only for the time on the bus, so the stop must be subtracted.

Question 41Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "Kenji looked at the clock on the classroom wall. It was 4:15 p.m. He had promised his mother he would be home by five, and the walk took thirty minutes. He put his books in his bag slowly and said goodbye to the teacher." What does the passage suggest about Kenji's feelings?

  1. He is worried about being late. Correct answer.
  2. He is angry with his teacher.
  3. He has forgotten his promise.
  4. He is excited about the walk home.

Explanation

The numbers in the passage are the key: leaving at 4:15 with a thirty-minute walk means arriving at about 4:45, leaving little spare time before five. His slow packing and careful goodbye show he is thinking about the deadline, which points to worry rather than anger or excitement.

Question 42Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "The sign at the entrance said, 'Please do not feed the deer.' However, many visitors ignore it because the deer look hungry and approach people for food." What is the main reason visitors feed the deer, according to the passage?

  1. The sign is difficult to read.
  2. The deer appear hungry and come close to people. Correct answer.
  3. The park staff ask visitors to feed them.
  4. There are too many deer in the park.

Explanation

The passage links the behavior to a stated cause with the word 'because': visitors ignore the sign since the deer look hungry and approach people. The other details are not given as reasons in the text.

Question 43Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "Last summer, Yuki joined the school brass band. At first she could not play a single note on the trumpet. By December, she was playing solos in concerts." Which word best describes the change in Yuki's ability?

  1. sudden
  2. gradual Correct answer.
  3. accidental
  4. temporary

Explanation

The passage shows a change over several months, from being unable to play a note to performing solos. A change that happens step by step over time is best described as gradual.

Question 44Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "The library will close early on Friday for cleaning. Books borrowed on Friday can be returned on Monday without a late fee." What can a student do on Friday without paying a fee?

  1. Ask the staff to clean the books.
  2. Enter the library after it closes.
  3. Borrow books and return them on Monday. Correct answer.
  4. Keep a book for a month.

Explanation

The passage states that books borrowed on Friday may be returned on Monday with no late fee. This is the only action the text permits without charge.

Question 45Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "Hana: 'Did you finish the science report?' Sora: 'I wrote the introduction, but I still need the results section.'" What does Sora mean?

  1. The report was lost.
  2. The report has not been started.
  3. The report is partly finished. Correct answer.
  4. The report is completely finished.

Explanation

Sora says one part is written but another part is still needed, so the work is only partly done. The contrast word 'but' signals that something remains.

Question 46Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "The town festival was cancelled last year because of heavy rain. This year the organizers have prepared a large indoor hall in case the weather is bad again." Why did the organizers prepare an indoor hall?

  1. To sell more tickets
  2. To protect visitors from bad weather Correct answer.
  3. To store the festival food
  4. To hold a concert at night

Explanation

The passage connects the new plan to last year's rain cancellation. Preparing an indoor space 'in case the weather is bad' shows the organizers want to protect the festival from weather problems.

Question 47Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "Taro always checks the weather forecast before his cycling trips. He packs a rain jacket even when the forecast says 'sunny.'" What does this tell us about Taro?

  1. He dislikes cycling in summer.
  2. He does not trust the forecast at all.
  3. He likes buying jackets.
  4. He prepares carefully for possible changes. Correct answer.

Explanation

Checking the forecast and packing a jacket even for sunny days shows careful preparation for unexpected changes. The passage does not suggest he rejects the forecast completely.

Question 48Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "The new station will open next spring. Until then, passengers should continue to use the south bus stop." What are passengers told to do before the station opens?

  1. Take a different train line.
  2. Buy tickets in advance.
  3. Wait at the new station.
  4. Use the south bus stop. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage gives a direct instruction for the period before the opening: passengers should keep using the south bus stop. The other options are not mentioned.

Question 49Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "Mei: 'The museum was free today.' Jun: 'Really? I thought it cost 500 yen.' Mei: 'It is free on the first Sunday of every month.'" Why was the museum free for Mei?

  1. She is a student.
  2. The museum was closing down.
  3. She received a gift ticket.
  4. She went on a special free day. Correct answer.

Explanation

Mei explains that the museum is free on the first Sunday of each month, which is why she did not pay. The passage gives this schedule as the reason, not her status or a gift.

Question 50Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "Although the recipe said to bake the cake for thirty minutes, Emi checked it after twenty. The center was still soft, so she left it in the oven for another ten minutes." How long did the cake stay in the oven in total?

  1. twenty minutes
  2. ten minutes
  3. forty minutes
  4. thirty minutes Correct answer.

Explanation

Emi first baked the cake for twenty minutes, then added another ten minutes. Twenty plus ten equals thirty minutes, which matches the total baking time.