Arts: 20 TOPIK II reading passages, each with translated sentences and comprehension questions.
📜 Old Letters Brought Back to Life
우리 동네에는 작은 향토 박물관이 하나 있어요.
There is a small local history museum in our neighborhood.
그곳에는 마을 사람들이 오래전에 주고받은 편지가 수백 통 보관되어 있어요.
Hundreds of letters that villagers exchanged long ago are kept there.
하지만 종이가 너무 낡아서 관람객이 직접 만져 볼 수는 없었어요.
But the paper was so old that visitors couldn't touch the letters themselves.
그래서 올해 박물관은 편지를 한 장씩 스캔해서 온라인에 공개하기로 했어요.
So this year the museum decided to scan the letters one by one and put them online.
편지를 디지털로 기록함으로써 원본을 보호하면서도 누구나 읽을 수 있게 된 거예요.
By recording the letters digitally, they protected the originals while letting anyone read them.
공개 후에는 멀리 사는 후손들이 할아버지의 글씨를 찾았다는 연락을 보내오기도 했어요.
After they went online, descendants living far away even wrote in to say they had found their grandfather's handwriting.
작은 박물관이 마을의 기억을 새로운 방식으로 지켜 나가고 있는 셈이에요.
In a way, the small museum is preserving the village's memories in a new way.
What did the museum decide to do this year?
- Scan the letters and publish them online ✓
- Let visitors touch the letters
- Send the letters to another museum
- Collect new letters from the villagers
Why were the letters recorded digitally?
- To throw away all the paper letters
- To reduce the number of visitors
- To share them while protecting the originals ✓
- To sell the letters at a high price
Which of the following matches the text?
- All of the museum's letters are recent
- Descendants found family letters online ✓
- Visitors used to touch the letters freely
- The museum is large, so it has many letters
🎨 Restoring the Market Mural
시장 입구에는 삼십 년 전에 화가들이 그린 커다란 벽화가 있어요.
At the entrance of the market, there is a huge mural that painters made thirty years ago.
이 벽화는 오랫동안 상인들과 손님들에게 사랑을 받아 왔어요.
This mural has long been loved by merchants and customers.
그런데 여름마다 계속된 비와 습기로 말미암아 물감이 벗겨지고 색이 바랬어요.
However, owing to the rain and humidity that continued every summer, the paint peeled and the colors faded.
결국 지난봄 구청은 미술 대학 학생들과 함께 벽화를 복원하기로 했어요.
In the end, last spring the district office decided to restore the mural with art college students.
학생들은 옛 사진을 참고해서 원래 색을 최대한 비슷하게 되살렸어요.
Referring to old photos, the students brought back the original colors as closely as possible.
그리고 다시 손상되지 않도록 표면에 보호제도 꼼꼼히 발랐어요.
They also carefully applied a protective coating to the surface so it wouldn't be damaged again.
새로워진 벽화 앞에서는 요즘 사진을 찍는 사람들이 부쩍 늘었어요.
These days, many more people take photos in front of the renewed mural.
상인들은 시장이 다시 밝아진 것 같다며 무척 기뻐하고 있어요.
The merchants are very happy, saying the market seems bright again.
Why was the mural damaged?
- Merchants put ads over the mural
- Students painted the wrong colors
- People scratched the wall while taking photos
- The paint peeled because of rain and humidity ✓
How did the students bring back the original colors?
- By referring to old photos ✓
- By asking the merchants about the colors
- By meeting the original painters
- By freely choosing new colors
Which of the following matches the text?
- The mural was first painted last year
- The district office erased it and painted a new one
- The merchants dislike the restored mural
- More people visit the mural after the restoration ✓
✍️ A Manuscript Revised All Night
서연 씨는 회사에 다니면서 틈틈이 단편 소설을 써 왔어요.
Seoyeon has been writing short stories in her spare time while working at a company.
올해도 한 신문사의 신춘문예 공모전에 작품을 보냈어요.
This year, too, she sent a work to a newspaper's New Year literary contest.
마감 전날까지 밤을 새우며 원고를 몇 번이나 고쳤건만 이번에도 당선되지 못했어요.
Even though she stayed up all night revising the manuscript again and again until the day before the deadline, she wasn't selected this time either.
발표를 확인한 날, 서연 씨는 한동안 아무것도 쓰고 싶지 않았어요.
On the day she checked the results, Seoyeon didn't feel like writing anything for a while.
그러다 심사평을 읽고 자신의 작품이 마지막까지 논의되었다는 사실을 알게 됐어요.
Then, reading the judges' comments, she learned that her work had been discussed until the very end.
심사 위원은 인물의 감정이 섬세하지만 결말이 급하다고 적었어요.
The judge wrote that the characters' emotions were delicate but the ending was rushed.
그 말을 읽고 나니 무엇을 고쳐야 할지 오히려 분명해졌어요.
After reading that, it actually became clear what she needed to fix.
서연 씨는 다시 책상 앞에 앉아 결말부터 새로 쓰기 시작했어요.
Seoyeon sat down at her desk again and began rewriting, starting with the ending.
What did the judge say about Seoyeon's work?
- That the characters lacked emotion
- That the ending was too rushed ✓
- That the sentences were too long
- That she should change the title
Why did Seoyeon start writing again?
- She won the contest
- She quit her job
- What to fix had become clear ✓
- The newspaper asked for a manuscript
Which of the following matches the text?
- Her work made it to the final round of judging ✓
- She entered the contest for the first time
- She revised the manuscript after the deadline
- She decided to stop writing fiction
🎸 From the Riverside to the Stage
도윤 씨는 대학 시절부터 주말마다 강변 공원에서 기타를 치며 노래했어요.
From his college days, Doyun played guitar and sang in a riverside park every weekend.
처음에는 발걸음을 멈추는 사람이 거의 없어서 혼자 연주하는 날이 많았어요.
At first, hardly anyone stopped to listen, so on many days he played alone.
그래도 그는 직접 만든 노래를 꾸준히 불렀고, 조금씩 단골 관객이 생겼어요.
Still, he kept singing songs he had written himself, and little by little he gained regular listeners.
어느 날 한 관객이 그의 공연 영상을 인터넷에 올렸는데, 그 영상이 크게 화제가 됐어요.
One day, a listener posted a video of his performance online, and it became a big hit.
그 후 공원에는 그의 노래를 들으려는 사람들이 매주 수백 명씩 모였어요.
After that, hundreds of people gathered in the park every week to hear him sing.
결국 그는 지역 문화 재단의 초청을 받아 시립 공연장 무대에 서기에 이르렀어요.
Eventually, things went so far that a local cultural foundation invited him to stand on the stage of the city concert hall.
공연 날, 그는 강변에서 처음 부른 노래로 무대를 시작했어요.
On the day of the concert, he opened with the first song he had sung by the river.
객석에는 초창기부터 그를 응원해 온 단골 관객들도 앉아 있었어요.
The regulars who had supported him from the very beginning were also sitting in the audience.
What made Doyun's performances widely known?
- A cultural foundation held a show in the park
- A listener posted a video of him online ✓
- Doyun appeared on television
- Doyun sang with a famous singer
What song did Doyun sing first at the city concert hall?
- A famous song requested by the audience
- A new song made for the concert
- The first song he sang by the river ✓
- The last song from the video
Which of the following matches the text?
- Doyun sang only other singers' songs
- Doyun started performing after graduating
- His early fans did not come to the concert hall
- At first, few people listened to Doyun ✓
🍑 Paintings Good Enough to Eat
지난 주말에 하은 씨는 친구와 함께 정물화 특별전에 다녀왔어요.
Last weekend, Haeun went to a special still-life exhibition with a friend.
전시실에는 과일과 빵, 떡 같은 음식을 그린 그림이 가득 걸려 있었어요.
The gallery was full of paintings of food such as fruit, bread and rice cakes.
특히 한 그림 속 복숭아는 껍질의 솜털까지 보일 만큼 섬세하게 그려져 있었어요.
In particular, the peaches in one painting were painted in such detail that you could even see the fuzz on their skin.
복숭아가 어찌나 먹음직한지 친구는 그림 앞에서 배가 고프다며 웃었어요.
The peaches looked so tasty that her friend laughed in front of the painting, saying she was hungry.
해설사는 화가가 같은 과일을 수십 번 관찰하며 빛의 변화를 연구했다고 설명했어요.
The guide explained that the painter observed the same fruit dozens of times to study how the light changed.
그 말을 듣고 나니 그림 속 과일이 단순한 음식이 아니라 시간의 기록처럼 보였어요.
After hearing that, the fruit in the paintings looked less like simple food and more like a record of time.
전시를 보고 나온 두 사람은 근처 시장에서 복숭아를 한 봉지 샀어요.
After leaving the exhibition, the two bought a bag of peaches at a nearby market.
Why did the friend say she was hungry in front of the painting?
- The peaches in the painting looked delicious ✓
- She had come without eating lunch
- There was a smell of food in the gallery
- The guide described how the peaches tasted
According to the guide, how did the painter work?
- By painting quickly from photos
- By eating the fruit while painting
- By observing the same fruit many times ✓
- By painting only from memory
Which of the following matches the text?
- Most of the paintings were landscapes
- The two bought peaches after the exhibition ✓
- Haeun went to the exhibition alone
- The peaches were painted carelessly
🌙 The Art Museum Opens Late on Fridays
시립 미술관이 다음 달부터 매주 금요일 밤 아홉 시까지 문을 연다고 발표했어요.
The city art museum announced that starting next month it will stay open until nine every Friday night.
지금까지는 오후 여섯 시에 문을 닫아서 직장인들은 주말에만 전시를 볼 수 있었어요.
Until now it closed at six in the evening, so office workers could only see exhibitions on weekends.
미술관 측이 석 달 동안 관람객 의견을 조사한 바에 따르면 평일 저녁 관람을 원하는 사람이 가장 많았어요.
According to a three-month survey of visitors by the museum, weekday evening visits were the most requested.
그래서 금요일 저녁에는 입장료를 절반으로 낮추고 작은 음악 공연도 열기로 했어요.
So on Friday evenings, it will cut the admission fee in half and also hold small music performances.
다만 야간에는 어린이 체험실을 운영하지 않으니 가족 관람객은 주의해야 해요.
However, the children's activity room won't be open at night, so families should keep that in mind.
또한 인기 전시는 사람이 몰릴 수 있어서 온라인으로 미리 시간을 예약해야 해요.
Also, popular exhibitions may get crowded, so you need to book a time slot online in advance.
미술관은 이번 변화로 더 많은 시민이 일상에서 예술을 즐기기를 기대하고 있어요.
The museum hopes that with this change more citizens will enjoy art in their daily lives.
Why did the museum decide to stay open late on Fridays?
- There were too few visitors on weekends
- It built a new children's activity room
- It built a new concert hall next door
- Many people wanted weekday evening visits ✓
Which is true about Friday evening visits?
- Admission is half the usual price ✓
- The children's room is available
- All exhibitions can be seen without booking
- It stays open until eleven at night
Which of the following matches the text?
- The museum changed its hours without a survey
- There are no music performances on Friday nights
- Night visits are more convenient for families
- Right now you can't see exhibitions on weekday evenings ✓
🏯 Tickets for the Palace Concert
매년 가을이면 고궁에서 밤에 국악 공연이 열려요.
Every autumn, traditional Korean music concerts are held at night in an old palace.
조명이 비친 전각 앞에서 가야금과 대금 연주를 들을 수 있어서 인기가 아주 많아요.
It is very popular because you can hear the gayageum and daegeum in front of illuminated palace halls.
좌석이 삼백 석밖에 안 되는지라 예매가 시작되면 몇 분 만에 표가 다 팔려요.
Since there are only three hundred seats, the tickets sell out within minutes once booking opens.
준호 씨도 작년에는 예매 시간을 놓쳐서 공연을 보지 못했어요.
Last year, Junho also missed the booking time and couldn't see the concert.
그래서 올해는 알람을 맞춰 두고 예매 시작 십 분 전부터 컴퓨터 앞에 앉아 있었어요.
So this year he set an alarm and sat in front of his computer from ten minutes before booking opened.
다행히 부모님과 함께 볼 표 세 장을 구할 수 있었어요.
Luckily, he was able to get three tickets to go with his parents.
공연 날 밤, 달빛 아래 울리는 대금 소리에 부모님도 한참 동안 말이 없으셨어요.
On the night of the concert, even his parents fell silent for a long time at the sound of the daegeum under the moonlight.
Why do the palace concert tickets sell out quickly?
- The tickets are very cheap
- There aren't many seats ✓
- Only foreigners can book
- The concert is held only once
How did Junho get tickets this year?
- His parents booked for him
- He bought them on site on the day
- He got ready and waited before booking opened ✓
- He reused last year's tickets
Which of the following matches the text?
- Junho couldn't see the concert last year ✓
- The concert is held in the daytime every spring
- Junho went to the concert alone
- His parents chatted throughout the concert
🐅 Grandfather's Folk Paintings
우리 할아버지는 평생 민화를 그리신 화가셨어요.
My grandfather was a painter who made Korean folk paintings all his life.
호랑이와 까치, 모란꽃처럼 옛 그림에 나오는 소재를 즐겨 그리셨어요.
He loved to paint subjects from old paintings, such as tigers, magpies and peonies.
한때 할아버지께 유행하는 그림을 대량으로 그려 달라는 주문이 들어왔어요.
At one point, he received an order to mass-produce paintings in a trendy style.
할아버지는 가난할망정 마음에 없는 그림은 그리지 않겠다며 거절하셨어요.
My grandfather turned it down, saying that even if it meant being poor, he would not paint what he didn't believe in.
그 때문에 가족들은 오랫동안 넉넉하지 않게 살아야 했어요.
Because of that, the family had to live without much money for a long time.
그런데 할아버지가 돌아가신 뒤, 그분의 그림들이 지역 미술관 특별전에서 소개되었어요.
But after my grandfather passed away, his paintings were featured in a special exhibition at a local art museum.
전시장에서 관람객들은 한 획 한 획에 담긴 정성에 감탄했어요.
At the exhibition, visitors admired the care put into every single brushstroke.
그제야 저는 할아버지가 지키려던 것이 무엇이었는지 조금 알 것 같았어요.
Only then did I feel I understood a little of what my grandfather had tried to protect.
Why did the grandfather refuse the order?
- The price offered was too low
- He didn't want to paint what he didn't believe in ✓
- He didn't know how to paint tigers
- He was too ill to paint
What happened to the paintings after he passed away?
- The family sold them all
- They were repainted in a trendy style
- They were shown in a museum's special exhibition ✓
- They were stored away and no one saw them
What does the writer most want to say?
- A painter succeeds only by earning a lot
- Trendy paintings are loved for longer
- He should have given up painting for his family
- I came to see the value of the care he kept ✓
🏺 Moving the Celadon Vase
박물관 학예사인 유진 씨는 지난주에 아주 긴장되는 일을 맡았어요.
Last week, Yujin, a museum curator, took on a very nerve-racking task.
고려 시대 청자 한 점을 새 전시실로 옮기는 일이었어요.
It was moving a celadon piece from the Goryeo period to a new gallery.
이 청자는 표면에 가는 금이 있어서 작은 충격에도 손상될 수 있었어요.
This celadon had fine cracks on its surface, so even a small shock could damage it.
유진 씨와 동료들은 청자가 흔들릴세라 특수 상자 안에 부드러운 솜을 빈틈없이 채웠어요.
For fear that the celadon might shake, Yujin and her colleagues packed soft cotton tightly inside a special box.
운반하는 동안에도 모두 숨을 죽이고 한 걸음씩 천천히 움직였어요.
While carrying it, everyone held their breath and moved slowly, one step at a time.
새 진열장에 청자를 올려놓은 뒤에야 유진 씨는 비로소 크게 숨을 내쉴 수 있었어요.
Only after placing the celadon in the new display case could Yujin finally take a deep breath.
다음 날 전시실을 찾은 관람객들은 은은한 푸른빛에 오랫동안 눈을 떼지 못했어요.
The next day, visitors to the gallery couldn't take their eyes off its soft blue-green glow for a long time.
What task did Yujin take on?
- Moving the celadon to a new gallery ✓
- Repairing the cracked celadon
- Building a new display case herself
- Explaining the celadon to visitors
Why did they fill the box with cotton?
- They feared its color would change
- The box was too light, so they added weight
- They feared it would shake and be damaged ✓
- They feared visitors would touch it
Which of the following matches the text?
- Yujin moved the celadon by herself
- The celadon had fine cracks on its surface ✓
- The celadon chipped a little during the move
- Visitors showed no interest in the celadon
🖼️ The Friend Who Explained Everything
지난 토요일에 현우 씨는 친구 태민 씨와 추상화 전시회에 갔어요.
Last Saturday, Hyunwoo went to an abstract art exhibition with his friend Taemin.
태민 씨는 입구에서부터 자기가 미술에 대해 잘 안다며 앞장섰어요.
From the entrance, Taemin took the lead, saying he knew a lot about art.
그런데 작품을 설명한답시고 어려운 용어만 늘어놓아서 현우 씨는 오히려 더 헷갈렸어요.
But under the pretext of explaining the works, he just rattled off difficult jargon, and Hyunwoo got even more confused.
게다가 목소리가 커서 주변 관람객들이 몇 번이나 뒤를 돌아봤어요.
On top of that, he was so loud that the visitors around them turned to look several times.
결국 현우 씨는 혼자 오디오 가이드를 빌려서 천천히 작품을 감상했어요.
In the end, Hyunwoo rented an audio guide on his own and enjoyed the works slowly.
오디오 가이드는 화가가 어린 시절 바다에서 느낀 감정을 색으로 표현했다고 쉽게 설명해 줬어요.
The audio guide explained in simple terms that the painter had expressed in color the feelings he had by the sea as a child.
전시장을 나오며 현우 씨는 작품을 이해하는 데 어려운 말이 꼭 필요하지는 않다고 생각했어요.
Leaving the exhibition, Hyunwoo thought that you don't necessarily need difficult words to understand art.
Why did Hyunwoo get more confused?
- The audio guide was too long
- The lighting in the hall was too dim
- The labels were in a foreign language
- Taemin used only difficult jargon ✓
How did Hyunwoo end up viewing the works?
- By renting an audio guide ✓
- By listening to Taemin
- By asking other visitors
- He left without really looking
What can we learn about Hyunwoo's view from this text?
- Only experts can understand abstract art
- You should explain loudly in a museum
- Audio guides are too difficult
- Difficult words aren't necessary to appreciate art ✓
✒️ Ten Years with a Brush
수아 씨는 십 년째 동네 문화 센터에서 서예를 배우고 있어요.
Sua has been learning calligraphy at the neighborhood cultural center for ten years.
처음 붓을 잡았을 때는 선 하나도 똑바로 긋지 못해서 속상했어요.
When she first held a brush, she was upset because she couldn't draw even one straight line.
그때 선생님은 매일 조금씩 쓰노라면 언젠가 붓이 손에 익을 거라고 말씀하셨어요.
Back then, her teacher told her that if she kept writing a little every day, the brush would one day feel natural in her hand.
수아 씨는 그 말을 믿고 바쁜 날에도 하루에 한 장씩 꼭 글씨를 썼어요.
Believing those words, Sua wrote at least one sheet a day, even on busy days.
몇 년이 지나자 선이 차츰 부드러워지고 글자에 자기만의 느낌이 생겼어요.
After a few years, her lines gradually softened and her characters took on a feel of their own.
올봄에는 처음으로 시민 서예전에 작품을 출품해서 입선했어요.
This spring, she entered a work in the citizens' calligraphy exhibition for the first time and was selected.
수아 씨는 이제 초보 수강생들에게 자신이 들었던 그 말을 그대로 전해 주고 있어요.
Now Sua passes on those very words she once heard to beginner students.
What did the teacher tell Sua?
- That straight lines don't matter
- That writing daily would make the brush feel natural ✓
- That painting is easier than calligraphy
- That she must write ten sheets a day
Why did Sua's handwriting change?
- She bought an expensive new brush
- She won a big prize at the exhibition
- She practiced steadily for a long time ✓
- The teacher wrote for her
Which of the following matches the text?
- Sua gives advice to beginner students ✓
- Sua had good handwriting from the start
- Sua skipped practice on busy days
- Sua has entered the exhibition many times
🎻 After the Orchestra Audition
재원 씨는 시민 오케스트라의 바이올린 단원 오디션에 지원했어요.
Jaewon applied for an audition as a violinist in a community orchestra.
석 달 동안 매일 저녁 퇴근 후에 지정곡을 연습했어요.
For three months, he practiced the set piece every evening after work.
그런데 오디션 당일, 긴장한 나머지 중간 부분에서 음을 두 번이나 놓쳤어요.
But on the day of the audition, he was so nervous that he missed notes twice in the middle section.
결과는 불합격이었고, 재원 씨는 며칠 동안 연습이 부족했다고 자책했어요.
He didn't pass, and for several days Jaewon blamed himself for not practicing enough.
그러다 심사를 맡았던 지휘자에게서 짧은 편지를 받았어요.
Then he received a short letter from the conductor who had judged the audition.
지휘자는 이번에는 자리가 하나뿐이었다며, 그의 소리에는 따뜻함이 있다고 적었어요.
The conductor wrote that there had been only one spot this time, and that his sound had warmth.
재원 씨는 하루 더 연습했던들 결과가 크게 달라지지 않았을 거라는 걸 깨달았어요.
Jaewon realized that even if he had practiced one more day, the result would not have been very different.
그 후 그는 실수에 매달리기보다 자신만의 소리를 키우는 데 집중하기로 했어요.
After that, he decided to focus on developing his own sound rather than dwelling on his mistakes.
What mistake did Jaewon make at the audition?
- He played a piece that wasn't assigned
- He missed notes in the middle section ✓
- He arrived late for the audition
- A violin string broke while he played
What did Jaewon realize after reading the conductor's letter?
- He will surely pass the next audition
- He definitely failed from lack of practice
- More practice would have given a similar result ✓
- Another instrument suits him better
Which of the following matches the text?
- Jaewon passed this audition
- Jaewon practiced only on weekends
- Several people were chosen this time
- The conductor praised Jaewon's sound ✓
🎭 The Last Run at the Small Theater
대학로 골목에 있는 한 소극장이 올겨울 문을 닫게 되었어요.
A small theater in an alley of Daehangno is going to close this winter.
건물 임대료가 크게 오르면서 더 이상 운영을 이어 갈 수 없었기 때문이에요.
It's because the building's rent went up so much that they could no longer keep it running.
극단 대표인 나래 씨는 마지막 작품만큼은 제대로 무대에 올리고 싶었어요.
Narae, the head of the theater company, wanted to at least stage the final production properly.
단원들도 적자를 보는 한이 있더라도 약속한 공연 기간을 모두 채우자고 뜻을 모았어요.
The members also agreed to complete the entire promised run, even if it meant losing money.
소식을 들은 관객들은 표를 사는 것은 물론이고 무대 소품까지 기부해 주었어요.
Audiences who heard the news not only bought tickets but even donated stage props.
한 달 동안 이어진 공연은 거의 매회 객석이 가득 찼어요.
During the month-long run, almost every show was sold out.
마지막 날 커튼콜에서 배우와 관객은 한참 동안 서로에게 박수를 보냈어요.
At the curtain call on the last day, the actors and the audience applauded each other for a long time.
Why is the small theater closing?
- The rent went up a lot ✓
- Hardly any audience came
- All the actors left
- The building is being rebuilt
What did the members decide?
- To raise ticket prices to cut losses
- To cut the run in half
- To finish the full run even at a loss ✓
- To move to another theater
Which of the following matches the text?
- Few people came to the final show
- Audience members donated stage props ✓
- The theater closed this spring
- Narae canceled the final production
📚 A Picture Book Author at the Library
오늘 아침 친구 은비 씨에게서 반가운 소식을 들었어요.
This morning I heard some good news from my friend Eunbi.
다음 주 토요일에 구립 도서관에서 제가 좋아하는 그림책 작가의 강연이 있대요.
She says there's a talk by my favorite picture book author at the district library next Saturday.
강연은 무료지만 자리가 오십 석뿐이라서 벌써 신청한 사람이 많대요.
The talk is free, but there are only fifty seats, so she says many people have already signed up.
저는 바로 도서관 홈페이지에 들어가서 이름을 올렸어요.
I immediately went to the library website and signed up.
그 작가의 책은 제가 어릴 때 엄마가 밤마다 읽어 주시던 책이에요.
That author's book is the one my mom used to read to me every night when I was little.
강연이 끝난 뒤에는 작은 사인회도 있대요.
I heard there will also be a small book signing after the talk.
저는 그 낡은 그림책을 가방에 넣어 가서 엄마 이름을 넣어 사인을 받을 생각이에요.
I plan to bring that worn-out picture book in my bag and have it signed with my mom's name in it.
What news did Eunbi pass on?
- The author published a new picture book
- The library will close next week
- The library is giving away picture books
- The author will give a talk at the library ✓
Why did the writer sign up in a hurry?
- Seats are few and many have signed up ✓
- The fee will go up soon
- Eunbi asked her to sign up for her
- The deadline is today
Which of the following matches the text?
- You have to pay to attend the talk
- She will buy a new book to get signed
- There is no signing after the talk
- Her mom read that author's book to her ✓
📖 Poetry Nights at the Bookstore
우리 동네 골목에는 시집만 파는 작은 서점이 있어요.
In an alley in our neighborhood, there's a small bookstore that sells only poetry books.
주인 아주머니 말씀으로는 다음 달부터 매주 목요일 저녁에 시 낭독회를 연대요.
According to the owner, she's going to hold poetry readings every Thursday evening starting next month.
손님이 좋아하는 시를 한 편씩 골라 와서 직접 소리 내어 읽는 모임이래요.
She says it's a gathering where customers each bring a poem they like and read it aloud themselves.
아주머니는 요즘 사람들이 시를 눈으로만 읽고 귀로는 잘 듣지 않는다고 아쉬워하셨어요.
She regretted that these days people only read poems with their eyes and rarely listen to them.
시는 소리 내어 읽을 때 리듬과 숨결이 살아난다는 게 아주머니의 생각이에요.
She believes that a poem's rhythm and breath come alive when it is read aloud.
저는 부끄러움이 많아서 사람들 앞에서 읽는 것이 조금 걱정돼요.
I'm quite shy, so I'm a little worried about reading in front of people.
그래도 첫 모임에는 제가 가장 좋아하는 짧은 시 한 편을 골라 가려고 해요.
Still, for the first gathering, I plan to pick my favorite short poem and bring it.
What kind of gathering is the reading?
- A poet reading their own poems
- Reading favorite poems aloud yourself ✓
- Selling new poetry books cheaply
- Customers writing poems together
What did the owner regret?
- Few customers come to the store
- Poetry books are too expensive
- People rarely listen to poems ✓
- She has no time on Thursday evenings
Which of the following matches the text?
- The writer will bring a poem to the first gathering ✓
- The readings are on Saturday afternoons
- The writer enjoys reading in front of people
- The store mainly sells novels
🎤 The Musical Comes to Town
지방의 작은 도시에 사는 다은 씨는 뮤지컬을 무척 좋아해요.
Daeun, who lives in a small provincial city, loves musicals.
하지만 큰 공연은 대부분 서울에서만 열려서 보러 가기가 쉽지 않았어요.
But most big shows were held only in Seoul, so it wasn't easy to go see them.
어느 날 동생이 “언니, 그 뮤지컬이 다음 달에 우리 시민 회관에 온대.”라고 외쳤어요.
One day her younger sister shouted, “Sis, they say that musical is coming to our civic hall next month.”
전국을 도는 순회공연 일정에 처음으로 이 도시가 포함되었다는 거예요.
Apparently, the city had been included in the nationwide touring schedule for the first time.
두 사람은 예매 첫날 아침 일찍 일어나 가장 좋은 자리를 구했어요.
On the first day of booking, the two got up early and got the best seats.
공연 날 시민 회관은 교복을 입은 학생부터 어르신들까지 관객으로 가득했어요.
On the day of the show, the civic hall was packed with an audience ranging from students in uniform to seniors.
다은 씨는 멀리 가지 않고도 좋은 공연을 볼 수 있다는 것이 무엇보다 기뻤어요.
Above all, Daeun was happy that she could see a great show without traveling far.
What news did the younger sister share?
- The musical is sold out
- The musical will be staged at the civic hall ✓
- A new musical is opening in Seoul
- The civic hall is starting construction
Why was it hard for Daeun to see musicals before?
- Tickets were too expensive
- Her sister disliked musicals
- Big shows were mostly held in Seoul ✓
- The civic hall had too few seats
Which of the following matches the text?
- Daeun lives in Seoul
- They could only get seats at the back
- The city had hosted the tour before
- People of all ages came to the show ✓
🏛️ My First Day as a Museum Guide
소희 씨는 은퇴 후 역사 박물관에서 자원봉사 해설사로 활동하기 시작했어요.
After retiring, Sohui started working as a volunteer guide at a history museum.
석 달 동안 교육을 받으며 유물마다 설명할 내용을 공책에 꼼꼼히 정리했어요.
During three months of training, she carefully wrote down in a notebook what to explain about each artifact.
첫 해설을 마친 날, 한 관람객이 설명을 정말 잘한다고 칭찬했어요.
On the day she finished her first tour, a visitor praised her for explaining really well.
소희 씨는 쑥스럽게 웃으며 “잘하긴요. 아직 공책 없이는 못 해요.”라고 대답했어요.
Sohui smiled shyly and replied, “Oh, not at all. I still can't do it without my notebook.”
하지만 그 관람객은 공책보다 소희 씨의 따뜻한 말투가 더 기억에 남는다고 했어요.
But the visitor said that what stayed with him was not the notebook but Sohui's warm way of speaking.
그 말에 힘을 얻은 소희 씨는 요즘 유물에 얽힌 옛이야기를 더 찾아 공부하고 있어요.
Encouraged by those words, Sohui is now looking up and studying more old stories behind the artifacts.
다음 달에는 어린이 관람객을 위한 해설도 맡게 되었어요.
Next month, she will also be in charge of tours for young visitors.
How did Sohui prepare her tours?
- She organized her notes in a notebook ✓
- She recorded other guides
- She took artifacts home to study
- She collected visitors' questions in advance
Why did Sohui say “Oh, not at all”?
- She couldn't hear the visitor well
- The tour was too easy to be fun
- She was answering modestly to praise ✓
- She thought the visitor was wrong
Which of the following matches the text?
- Sohui is paid a salary by the museum
- Sohui will guide children next month ✓
- Sohui started guiding without training
- The visitor remembered her notebook most
🪕 The Gayageum Lesson
성민 씨는 반년 전부터 전통 악기인 가야금을 배우고 있어요.
Seongmin has been learning the gayageum, a traditional instrument, for half a year.
처음에는 신기하고 재미있어서 매일 집에서 삼십 분씩 연습했어요.
At first it was new and fun, so he practiced at home for thirty minutes every day.
하지만 회사 일이 바빠지면서 연습하는 날이 점점 줄어들었어요.
But as work got busier, the days he practiced became fewer and fewer.
지난 수업에서 선생님이 “매일 연습한다면서 왜 지난주 부분이 그대로예요?”라고 웃으며 물으셨어요.
In the last lesson, the teacher asked with a smile, “Didn't you say you practice every day? Why is last week's part the same?”
성민 씨는 얼굴이 빨개져서 요즘 거의 연습하지 못했다고 솔직하게 말씀드렸어요.
Seongmin turned red and honestly admitted that he had hardly practiced lately.
선생님은 길게 하지 않아도 되니 하루 십 분이라도 줄을 만져 보라고 조언하셨어요.
The teacher advised him that he didn't need long sessions, just to touch the strings for even ten minutes a day.
그 후로 성민 씨는 잠들기 전에 짧게라도 꼭 가야금을 연주하고 있어요.
Since then, Seongmin always plays the gayageum before going to bed, even if only briefly.
Why did the teacher ask Seongmin that?
- Seongmin came late to class
- Seongmin learned a new piece too fast
- A string on his gayageum broke
- His playing hadn't changed since last week ✓
What advice did the teacher give Seongmin?
- To practice every day, even briefly ✓
- To cut back on work
- To take a break from lessons
- To practice an hour a day
Which of the following matches the text?
- Seongmin has studied for three years
- Seongmin quit his job to focus on the gayageum
- The teacher got very angry at him
- Seongmin now plays before going to bed ✓
💡 The Friend Who Said Modern Art Was Boring
윤호 씨는 원래 현대 미술이 어렵고 지루하다고 말하던 사람이었어요.
Yunho used to be someone who said modern art was difficult and boring.
그런데 지난달 가영 씨를 따라 빛과 소리를 이용한 설치 미술 전시에 가게 되었어요.
But last month he ended up following Gayoung to an installation art exhibition that used light and sound.
어두운 방 안에서 관람객이 움직일 때마다 벽의 빛과 소리가 바뀌는 작품이었어요.
It was a work in a dark room where the light and sound on the walls changed every time a visitor moved.
윤호 씨는 그 방에서 한참 동안 나오지 않고 이리저리 걸어 다녔어요.
Yunho didn't come out of that room for a long time and kept walking around.
이번 주말에 윤호 씨가 그 전시를 또 보러 가자고 하자 가영 씨는 “현대 미술은 지루하다며?” 하고 놀렸어요.
When he suggested going to see the exhibition again this weekend, Gayoung teased him, “I thought you said modern art was boring?”
윤호 씨는 눈으로 보는 그림이 아니라 몸으로 겪는 작품이라서 전혀 다르게 느껴졌다고 대답했어요.
Yunho replied that it felt completely different because it was a work you experience with your body, not a picture you look at.
가영 씨는 작품 하나가 사람의 생각을 이렇게 바꿀 수 있다는 것이 신기했어요.
Gayoung found it amazing that a single work could change someone's mind like that.
What kind of work did Yunho experience?
- A huge abstract painting on the wall
- One where light and sound change as you move ✓
- One where visitors paint themselves
- A film shown in a dark room
Why did Gayoung tease Yunho?
- He got lost in the exhibition
- He explained the work wrongly
- His actions didn't match what he had said ✓
- He lost the exhibition tickets
Which of the following matches the text?
- The exhibition changed Yunho's mind ✓
- Yunho always liked modern art
- Yunho went to the exhibition alone
- Yunho left the room right away
🎪 Rain and the Puppet Festival
이번 주말에 강변 공원에서 어린이 인형극 축제가 열려요.
This weekend, a children's puppet theater festival is being held in the riverside park.
승우 씨는 여섯 살 딸과 함께 축제에 가기로 오래전부터 약속했어요.
Seungwoo promised his six-year-old daughter long ago that they would go to the festival together.
그런데 토요일에 비가 많이 온다는데, 승우 씨는 야외 공연이 제대로 열릴지 걱정돼요.
But they say it will rain a lot on Saturday, so he's worried whether the outdoor shows will go ahead.
축제 홈페이지를 확인해 보니 비가 오면 공연 장소가 근처 문화 회관으로 바뀐다고 해요.
Checking the festival website, he found that if it rains, the venue will move to a nearby cultural center.
다만 실내 공연장은 좌석이 적어서 미리 입장권을 신청해야 한대요.
However, the indoor hall has fewer seats, so they say you have to apply for tickets in advance.
승우 씨는 혹시 몰라 서둘러 입장권 두 장을 신청해 두었어요.
Just in case, Seungwoo hurried to apply for two tickets.
딸은 벌써 좋아하는 토끼 인형을 안고 축제 날만 기다리고 있어요.
His daughter is already hugging her favorite stuffed rabbit and counting down to the festival.
What is Seungwoo worried about?
- His daughter being scared of puppets
- The outdoor shows being canceled by rain ✓
- The festival being too far from home
- The tickets being too expensive
Why did Seungwoo apply for tickets in advance?
- Outdoor shows require tickets
- His daughter's friends are coming too
- The indoor hall has few seats ✓
- The festival isn't held on Sunday
Which of the following matches the text?
- The festival is an event for adults
- Seungwoo plans to go alone
- The venue won't change even if it rains
- If it rains, shows move to the cultural center ✓