Nuances of ～どころではない


In this multiple-choice grammar question:

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    （　　）、この本を読むどころではなかった。
    
    A. 来客があって
    B. 字が小さくて
    C. 眼鏡がなくて
    
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Why does (A) sound more appropriate here than the other choices? I feel like I
am missing a nuance with ~どころではない. These all seem like equally valid
circumstances that make reading not possible in this situation.

Source: 新完全マスター：文法（N2）




どころではない is used when you have some _other_ thing to worry about and cannot
focus your attention to what you want to or are supposed to be doing. Of the
three options, only (A) involves such an external distraction, namely a guest.
Small letters and missing glasses in (B) and (C), on the other hand, are very
much part of the reading itself.

Having said that, though, (B) and (C) are not totally wrong. They may make
sense if the smallness of the letters distracts you so much that you cannot
focus on the content of the book, or if you are too busy looking for your
glasses to sit and enjoy the book to begin with.

I would say the best choice is still (A), though.




どころではない is used when you have some _other_ thing to worry about and cannot
focus your attention to what you want to or are supposed to be doing. Of the
three options, only (A) involves such an external distraction, namely a guest.
Small letters and missing glasses in (B) and (C), on the other hand, are very
much part of the reading itself.

Having said that, though, (B) and (C) are not totally wrong. They may make
sense if the smallness of the letters distracts you so much that you cannot
focus on the content of the book, or if you are too busy looking for your
glasses to sit and enjoy the book to begin with.

I would say the best choice is still (A), though.

