Community: 20 TOPIK II reading passages, each with translated sentences and comprehension questions.
❄️ Clearing the Snow Together
우리 골목은 언덕길이라서 눈이 오면 어르신들이 다니기가 무척 위험해요.
Our alley is on a slope, so when it snows it becomes very dangerous for elderly people to walk.
그런데도 몇 년 동안 골목의 눈을 치우는 사람은 거의 없었어요.
Even so, for several years almost nobody cleared the snow from the alley.
다들 자기 집 앞만 신경 쓰고 골목 전체는 누군가 하겠거니 생각했거든요.
Everyone only cared about the front of their own house and assumed someone else would take care of the whole alley.
올겨울 첫눈이 내린 날, 새로 온 통장님이 집집마다 문을 두드렸어요.
On the day of this winter's first snow, the new neighborhood representative knocked on every door.
신기하게도 주민들은 통장님이 같이 치우재야 비로소 삽을 들고 나왔어요.
Curiously, the residents only came out with shovels once the representative suggested clearing it together.
한 시간쯤 지나자 골목 끝까지 길이 훤하게 뚫렸어요.
After about an hour, a clear path had been opened all the way to the end of the alley.
그날 이후로는 눈이 오면 통장님이 부르기 전에 사람들이 먼저 나와요.
Since that day, when it snows, people come out before the representative even calls them.
저는 누군가 먼저 건네는 제안 한마디가 마을을 바꿀 수 있다는 걸 배웠어요.
I learned that a single suggestion from someone who speaks up first can change a neighborhood.
What made the residents come out with shovels?
- The representative suggested clearing it together ✓
- An elderly person fell in the alley
- The district office sent a snow-clearing notice
- The first snow did not stop all day
Why was the snow in the alley not cleared for several years?
- Shoveling was impossible because of the slope
- It had not snowed in that neighborhood
- Everyone thought someone else would do it ✓
- The former representative told them not to
What does the writer most want to say?
- Each person only needs to clear their own front
- A suggestion made first can move neighbors ✓
- The district office should clear alleys
- People should stay in on snowy days
🏢 A Meeting Nobody Could Attend
우리 아파트는 올봄 낡은 놀이터를 고칠지 말지를 두고 주민 회의를 열기로 했어요.
This spring, our apartment complex decided to hold a residents' meeting on whether to repair the old playground.
문제는 관리사무소가 정한 회의 시간이 평일 오전 열 시였다는 점이에요.
The problem was that the meeting time set by the management office was ten o'clock on a weekday morning.
직장인이 대부분인 단지에서 평일 오전에 모이재서야 사람들이 올 수 있을 리가 없었죠.
In a complex where most people work, asking everyone to gather on a weekday morning, there was no way people could come.
실제로 첫 회의에는 열 명도 안 되는 주민만 참석했어요.
In fact, fewer than ten residents attended the first meeting.
그래서 몇몇 주민이 저녁 회의와 온라인 투표를 함께 운영하자고 건의했어요.
So some residents proposed holding an evening meeting together with an online vote.
관리사무소는 처음에 번거롭다며 망설였지만 결국 그 의견을 받아들였어요.
At first the management office hesitated, saying it was a hassle, but in the end it accepted the idea.
두 번째 회의에는 백 가구가 넘게 참여해서 놀이터 공사가 무난히 결정됐어요.
More than a hundred households took part in the second meeting, and the playground repair was approved without trouble.
참여가 적은 이유를 주민의 무관심으로만 볼 수는 없다는 걸 알게 됐어요.
I realized that low participation can't be blamed only on residents' indifference.
Why did so few people attend the first meeting?
- Residents weren't interested in the playground
- Opinions were collected only by online vote
- The office didn't announce the meeting
- It was held when working people couldn't come ✓
What changed for the second meeting?
- An evening meeting plus an online vote ✓
- The meeting moved to 10 a.m. on the weekend
- The office decided the repair by itself
- Fewer than ten residents came
Which of the following matches the text?
- Most residents are retired seniors
- The repair was decided at the first meeting
- Residents had no complaints about the time
- The office finally accepted the residents' proposal ✓
🚌 The New Village Bus
우리 동네는 산비탈에 있어서 지하철역까지 걸어가려면 이십 분이 넘게 걸려요.
Our neighborhood is on a hillside, so walking to the subway station takes more than twenty minutes.
특히 무릎이 불편한 어르신들에게는 장을 보러 가는 일도 큰 부담이었어요.
Especially for elderly people with bad knees, even going grocery shopping was a heavy burden.
주민들이 여러 해 동안 구청에 요청한 끝에 올해 마침내 마을버스 노선이 새로 생겼어요.
After residents had asked the district office for years, a new village bus route was finally created this year.
개통식 날 통장님이 “기사님이 이 동네 토박이랍니다.” 하고 알렸어요.
On opening day, the neighborhood representative announced, “We hear the driver is a born-and-raised local of this neighborhood.”
그 말을 듣자 사람들은 박수를 치며 기사님에게 반갑게 인사를 건넸어요.
Hearing that, people clapped and greeted the driver warmly.
실제로 기사님은 골목을 훤히 알아서 정류장마다 어르신들을 세심하게 챙겼어요.
And indeed, the driver knew every alley well and looked after the elderly passengers carefully at each stop.
이제 할머니들은 버스를 타고 시장에 다녀오며 기사님과 안부를 나누곤 해요.
Now the grandmothers ride the bus to the market and back, often chatting with the driver along the way.
버스 한 대가 이동 수단을 넘어 이웃을 잇는 통로가 된 셈이에요.
You could say a single bus has become more than transportation: it's a link between neighbors.
What did the representative tell people at the opening?
- That the route will soon end
- That the driver is a local ✓
- That a subway station is coming nearby
- That the driver works for the district office
Why was life hard for elderly residents before the bus?
- The local market closed early in the morning
- The bus driver didn't know the alleys
- The way to the station was long and steep ✓
- The subway station often closed for construction
What is the main idea of this text?
- The village bus connects neighbors ✓
- Hillside areas need new stations
- Residents should set bus routes themselves
- Only locals should be hired as drivers
🎨 The Mural Alley
우리 집 근처에는 한때 빈집이 늘어나 밤마다 어둡고 스산하던 골목이 있었어요.
Near my house there was an alley that, as empty houses increased, had once become dark and eerie every night.
몇 해 전 구청과 주민들이 힘을 모아 그 골목 담벼락에 벽화를 그리기 시작했어요.
A few years ago, the district office and residents joined forces and began painting murals on the alley walls.
지역 미술 동아리가 밑그림을 그리고, 아이들과 어르신들이 함께 색을 칠했어요.
A local art club drew the sketches, and children and seniors painted in the colors together.
지금 그 골목은 동네의 야외 미술관이랄 수 있을 만큼 사람들이 즐겨 찾는 곳이 됐어요.
Now the alley has become such a popular spot that you could call it the neighborhood's open-air art museum.
골목이 밝아지자 방치되던 빈집에도 공방과 작은 책방이 하나둘 들어섰어요.
As the alley brightened up, workshops and small bookstores gradually moved into the neglected empty houses.
하지만 방문객이 늘면서 소음과 쓰레기 때문에 불편을 호소하는 주민도 생겼어요.
However, as visitors increased, some residents began to complain about noise and litter.
그래서 주민들은 저녁 여덟 시 이후에는 조용히 해 달라는 안내판을 함께 세웠어요.
So the residents together put up a sign asking visitors to keep quiet after eight in the evening.
골목을 살린 것도 주민이었듯이, 그 골목을 지키는 것도 결국 주민의 몫이에요.
Just as it was the residents who revived the alley, protecting it is, in the end, up to them as well.
Who painted the murals in the alley?
- An art club together with residents ✓
- District office staff by themselves
- Workshop owners, for a fee
- Visitors, while taking photos
Why did the residents put up a sign?
- Empty houses were increasing again
- The murals had faded a lot
- Visitors were disturbing daily life ✓
- The bookstores stayed open late
Which of the following matches the text?
- The alley is still dark and eerie at night
- Shops opened in empty houses after the change ✓
- Residents banned visitors from coming
- Children drew the sketches alone
🚗 A Double-Parking Mistake
우리 아파트는 주차 공간이 부족해서 저녁이면 이중 주차가 흔한 일이에요.
Our apartment complex doesn't have enough parking, so double parking is common in the evenings.
그래서 관리사무소는 남의 차 앞에 세운 차는 누구나 밀 수 있게 해 두라고 늘 안내해요.
So the management office always reminds us to leave a car parked in front of others so that anyone can push it.
관리사무소에서 사이드 브레이크를 풀어 놓으랬는데 저는 피곤한 나머지 그걸 깜빡 잊었어요.
The management office had told us to leave the parking brake off, but I was so tired that I completely forgot.
다음 날 아침 일곱 시, 출근하려던 이웃이 제 차를 밀지 못해 발을 동동 굴렀어요.
At seven the next morning, a neighbor trying to leave for work couldn't push my car and was stamping his feet in frustration.
결국 경비원 아저씨가 저에게 연락했고 저는 잠옷 차림으로 뛰어 내려갔어요.
In the end, the security guard called me, and I ran downstairs in my pajamas.
이웃은 지각할까 봐 속이 탔을 텐데도 괜찮다며 오히려 저를 달래 주었어요.
The neighbor must have been anxious about being late, yet he said it was fine and even comforted me.
저는 그날 저녁 사과의 뜻으로 작은 과일 상자를 이웃집 문 앞에 두었어요.
That evening, as an apology, I left a small box of fruit in front of his door.
작은 규칙 하나를 어기면 다른 사람의 하루가 흔들릴 수 있다는 걸 실감했어요.
I truly felt that breaking one small rule can throw off someone else's whole day.
Why was the neighbor in trouble that morning?
- The security guard didn't answer
- His own car had broken down
- There were no empty spaces at all
- He couldn't push the writer's car away ✓
Why did the writer leave a box of fruit?
- To apologize to the neighbor ✓
- He heard the neighbor liked fruit
- To thank the security guard
- The management office told him to
What does the writer most want to say?
- Double parking should be illegal
- People should not drive to work
- Car keys should be left with the guard
- Even small rules matter for neighbors ✓
🔑 Inspection Before Moving In
저는 지난가을 새로 지은 공공 임대 아파트에 당첨되어 이사를 준비했어요.
Last fall, I was selected for a newly built public rental apartment and got ready to move.
이사 날짜를 잡으려는데 입주 전에 반드시 사전 점검을 받아야 한다더군요.
When I tried to set a moving date, I was told I had to have a pre-move-in inspection first.
점검에서는 벽지나 창틀, 수도처럼 새집의 하자를 꼼꼼하게 확인해요.
The inspection carefully checks the new home for defects in things like the wallpaper, window frames and plumbing.
게다가 관리사무소가 짐을 넣으래야 넣을 수 있어서 이삿짐 차도 마음대로 부를 수 없었어요.
On top of that, I could only bring my things in once the management office told me to, so I couldn't book a moving truck freely either.
처음에는 절차가 너무 까다롭게 느껴져서 조금 답답했어요.
At first the procedure felt too strict, and I was a little frustrated.
그런데 점검 날 욕실 배수구에서 물이 새는 것을 발견해서 미리 고칠 수 있었어요.
But on inspection day we found water leaking from the bathroom drain, so it could be fixed in advance.
짐을 먼저 들여놓았다면 가구를 다 빼고 공사를 해야 했을 거예요.
If I had moved my things in first, all the furniture would have had to come out for the repairs.
번거로운 절차에도 다 이유가 있다는 걸 그때 처음 깨달았어요.
That was when I first realized that even troublesome procedures exist for a reason.
Why couldn't the writer book a moving truck freely?
- Heavy rain was forecast for moving day
- Moving in needed the office's go-ahead ✓
- Renting a truck was too expensive
- He hadn't yet been selected for the apartment
What problem was found at the inspection?
- A window frame was cracked
- The living-room wallpaper was torn
- The bathroom drain was leaking ✓
- The front door wouldn't lock
What is the main idea of this text?
- Tedious procedures have good reasons ✓
- New homes don't need inspections
- It's best to move as soon as possible
- Rental procedures should be simple
🌳 Rules for the New Park
우리 동네에 새로 생긴 근린공원은 잔디밭이 넓어서 개장 전부터 기대가 컸어요.
The new neighborhood park had a wide lawn, so expectations were high even before it opened.
그런데 막상 문을 열자 입구에 금지 사항이 빼곡하게 적힌 안내판이 서 있었어요.
But when it actually opened, there was a sign at the entrance packed with prohibitions.
공놀이도, 자전거도, 잔디밭 출입도 금지여서 할 수 있는 게 거의 없었죠.
Ball games, bicycles and even walking on the lawn were banned, so there was almost nothing you could do.
한 학부모는 “아이들보고 벤치에만 앉아 있으래서야 공원에 올 이유가 있겠어요?” 하고 말했어요.
One parent said, “If you tell kids to just sit on the benches, what reason would they have to come to the park?”
비슷한 의견이 이어지자 구청은 주민 설문을 거쳐 규칙을 다시 정하기로 했어요.
As similar opinions kept coming, the district office decided to survey residents and set the rules again.
그 결과 잔디밭 일부를 공놀이 구역으로 나누고, 이용 시간을 정해 소음도 줄였어요.
As a result, part of the lawn was set aside for ball games, and usage hours were set to reduce noise as well.
요즘은 주말마다 아이들이 공을 차고 어르신들은 그늘에서 그 모습을 지켜봐요.
These days, every weekend children kick balls while seniors watch them from the shade.
규칙은 공간을 지키기 위해 필요하지만, 쓰는 사람을 잊어서는 안 된다고 생각해요.
I think rules are needed to protect a space, but they should never forget the people who use it.
Why did the parent complain?
- There were too few benches
- There was almost nothing to do in the park ✓
- The lawn was too small to play on
- The park opened later than planned
How did the district office change the rules?
- It removed every prohibition at once
- It let only seniors onto the lawn
- It made part of the lawn a ball-game area ✓
- It built a new path for bicycles
What does the writer most want to say?
- Parks are best for resting quietly
- Kids should play at schoolyards instead
- Signs should be big and at the entrance
- Rules should consider the people using a space ✓
🌀 Before the Typhoon
큰 태풍이 온다는 예보가 나오자 우리 아파트에도 긴장감이 돌기 시작했어요.
When the forecast said a big typhoon was coming, tension began to spread through our apartment complex too.
관리사무소는 방송으로 베란다 화분을 치우고 창문을 단단히 잠그라고 여러 번 안내했어요.
The management office announced several times over the speakers that we should clear flowerpots off our balconies and lock our windows tightly.
저녁 무렵 할머니께서는 윗집에 사는 대학생이 걱정된다며 저를 부르셨어요.
Toward evening, my grandmother called me over, saying she was worried about the college student living upstairs.
할머니는 “그 학생보고 창문을 꼭 닫으래라.” 하시며 테이프까지 챙겨 주셨어요.
Saying, “Go tell that student to make sure to shut the windows,” she even handed me some tape to take.
윗집에 올라가 보니 학생은 태풍 소식을 전혀 모르고 창문을 활짝 열어 두고 있었어요.
When I went upstairs, the student had no idea about the typhoon and had left his windows wide open.
우리는 함께 창문을 닫고 베란다에 있던 화분도 안으로 들여놓았어요.
Together we closed the windows and brought the flowerpots on the balcony inside.
그날 밤 바람은 무섭게 불었지만 다행히 우리 동에는 큰 피해가 없었어요.
That night the wind blew fiercely, but fortunately our building suffered no major damage.
재난 안내만큼이나 이웃이 서로 챙기는 마음이 소중하다는 걸 느꼈어요.
I felt that neighbors looking out for each other is just as precious as official disaster warnings.
What did the grandmother ask the writer to do?
- Tell the student upstairs to shut his windows ✓
- Ask the office about the typhoon
- Bring the student to her home
- Go buy tape at the store
What can we learn about the student upstairs?
- He locked his windows after the broadcast
- He had already brought his plants in
- He didn't know a typhoon was coming ✓
- He kept in close touch with the grandmother
Which of the following matches the text?
- The office gave no typhoon warning
- The writer's building had no major damage ✓
- The grandmother went upstairs herself
- The typhoon forecast turned out wrong
🧺 Trash at the Riverside Park
여름밤이면 강변 공원은 더위를 피해 나온 사람들로 늦게까지 북적여요.
On summer nights, the riverside park stays crowded until late with people escaping the heat.
문제는 사람들이 떠난 자리에 음식 포장지와 빈 병이 잔뜩 남는다는 점이에요.
The problem is that food wrappers and empty bottles pile up wherever people have left.
공원 곳곳에는 쓰레기를 봉투에 담아 가져가 달라는 현수막이 걸려 있어요.
All around the park hang banners asking people to put their trash in bags and take it home.
하지만 쓰레기를 봉투에 담으래도 그냥 두고 가는 사람이 적지 않아요.
But even though they're told to bag their trash, quite a few people just leave it behind.
그래서 올해 구청은 입구에서 쓰레기봉투를 나눠 주고 분리 배출함도 늘렸어요.
So this year the district office began handing out trash bags at the entrance and added more recycling bins.
봉투를 직접 손에 받은 사람들은 신기하게도 자기 쓰레기를 훨씬 잘 챙겨 갔어요.
Interestingly, people who were handed a bag in person took their own trash with them much more reliably.
덕분에 아침마다 공원을 청소하는 분들의 수고도 눈에 띄게 줄었다고 해요.
Thanks to this, the work of the people who clean the park every morning has reportedly decreased noticeably.
말로만 부탁하기보다 행동하기 쉽게 도와주는 방법이 더 효과적일 때가 많아요.
Making it easy for people to act often works better than just asking them with words.
What did the district office start doing this year?
- Hanging banners for the first time
- Closing the park early at night
- Fining people who left trash
- Handing out trash bags at the entrance ✓
Why did the cleaners' work decrease?
- People took their own trash home ✓
- Far fewer people visited the park
- More cleaners were hired
- Food was banned from the park
What does the writer most want to say?
- Banners should be made bigger
- Riverside parks shouldn't be used at night
- Trash is the cleaners' responsibility
- Making action easy is effective ✓
🎫 Volunteering at the District Office
저는 평일 오전마다 구청 민원실에서 어르신 안내 봉사를 하고 있어요.
Every weekday morning, I volunteer at the district office's civil service center, helping elderly visitors.
민원실 입구에는 무인 발급기와 번호표 기계가 나란히 있어서 처음 오신 분들은 자주 헷갈려하세요.
At the entrance, a self-service document kiosk and a queue-ticket machine stand side by side, so first-time visitors often get confused.
지난주에는 한 할아버지가 직원의 설명을 듣고도 한참 동안 입구를 서성이셨어요.
Last week, an elderly man kept pacing around the entrance for a long time, even after a staff member had explained things to him.
할아버지는 저에게 다가와 “번호표는 어디서 뽑으랍니까?” 하고 공손하게 물으셨어요.
He came up to me and asked politely, “Where was it they said I should take a number?”
저는 기계 앞까지 함께 가서 버튼 누르는 방법을 천천히 알려 드렸어요.
I went with him to the machine and slowly showed him which button to press.
할아버지는 두 기계의 모양이 비슷해서 설명을 듣고도 어느 쪽인지 헷갈리셨다고 하셨어요.
He said the two machines looked so alike that even after hearing the explanation, he couldn't tell which was which.
저는 그날 두 기계에 큰 안내판을 달아 달라는 건의서를 민원실에 냈어요.
That day I submitted a suggestion to the office asking them to put large signs on the two machines.
한 달 뒤 번호표 기계 위에 큼직한 안내판이 붙는 것을 보고 무척 뿌듯했어요.
A month later, I felt really proud when I saw a large sign put up above the queue-ticket machine.
Why was the elderly man pacing around the entrance?
- No staff member had explained anything
- He couldn't find where to take a number ✓
- The self-service kiosk was broken
- He was waiting for the writer to come
Why did the writer submit a suggestion?
- There were too few volunteers
- The ticket machine was far from the door
- The two machines confused seniors ✓
- Staff were unkind to seniors
Which of the following matches the text?
- A big sign was added after the suggestion ✓
- The writer is a district office employee
- The man got papers from the kiosk
- The man made the sign himself
🧒 Care After School
맞벌이를 하는 제 언니는 초등학교 삼 학년 딸의 방학을 앞두고 걱정이 많았어요.
My older sister, who works full-time just like her husband, was very worried as her third-grade daughter's school vacation approached.
방학이 되면 학교 돌봄 교실이 오후 한 시에 끝나기 때문이에요.
That's because during vacation, the school's after-school care program ends at one in the afternoon.
어린아이에게 저녁까지 혼자 집에 있으랄 수도 없고 학원을 여러 곳 보내기도 부담스러웠죠.
She couldn't very well tell a young child to stay home alone until evening, and sending her to several private academies was a burden too.
그러다 이웃의 소개로 주민센터 이 층에 있는 지역 아동센터를 알게 됐어요.
Then, through a neighbor, she learned about the local children's center on the second floor of the community center.
그곳에서는 선생님들이 숙제를 봐 주고 간식도 주며 저녁 일곱 시까지 아이들을 돌봐 줘요.
There, teachers help with homework, give snacks, and look after the children until seven in the evening.
조카는 처음에 낯설어했지만 곧 또래 친구들을 사귀어 센터에 가는 날을 기다리게 됐어요.
My niece felt shy at first, but she soon made friends her age and began looking forward to going to the center.
언니는 비용 부담이 적은 데다 집에서도 가까워서 마음을 놓았다고 해요.
My sister says she felt relieved because it didn't cost much and was close to home.
이런 공공 돌봄 시설이 더 많아진다면 부모들의 짐도 훨씬 가벼워질 거예요.
If there were more public childcare facilities like this, parents' burdens would become much lighter.
Why was the sister worried before the vacation?
- Her daughter refused to go to academies
- School care ends early during vacation ✓
- Her daughter had no friends at school
- The community center closed for vacation
Why did the niece start looking forward to the center?
- She got a present there every day
- The center was inside her school
- She made friends her age there ✓
- She didn't have to do homework there
What is the main idea of this text?
- Kids should attend academies in vacation
- Grade-schoolers can stay home alone
- One parent should quit working
- There should be more public childcare ✓
🚇 Hold the Handrail
지하철역 에스컬레이터를 타면 손잡이를 꼭 잡으란 안내 방송이 계속 흘러나와요.
When you ride an escalator at a subway station, an announcement telling you to hold the handrail plays over and over.
저는 솔직히 그 방송을 배경 음악처럼 흘려듣곤 했어요.
Honestly, I used to tune it out like background music.
그런데 지난달 출근길에 제 앞에 서 있던 할머니가 갑자기 중심을 잃고 휘청거리셨어요.
But last month on my way to work, an elderly woman standing in front of me suddenly lost her balance and staggered.
다행히 할머니 뒤에 있던 학생이 재빨리 부축해서 크게 다치지는 않으셨어요.
Fortunately, a student right behind her quickly caught her, so she wasn't badly hurt.
할머니는 두 손에 짐을 들고 있어서 손잡이를 잡지 못하셨다고 해요.
She said she hadn't been able to hold the handrail because she was carrying bags in both hands.
역무원은 짐이 많을 때는 엘리베이터를 이용하는 편이 더 안전하다고 설명했어요.
A station employee explained that when you have a lot of bags, it's safer to use the elevator.
그날 이후 저는 그 방송이 누군가를 지키기 위한 당부라는 걸 새삼 느끼게 됐어요.
Since that day, I've come to feel anew that the announcement is a request meant to protect someone.
이제는 에스컬레이터에 오르면 저도 모르게 손잡이부터 잡게 돼요.
Now, whenever I step onto an escalator, I grab the handrail first without even thinking.
Why did the elderly woman lose her balance?
- Her bags kept her from holding the rail ✓
- The student behind her pushed her
- The escalator suddenly stopped
- The announcement startled her
What did the station employee recommend?
- Walk up the escalator
- Avoid the station at rush hour
- Use the elevator when carrying a lot ✓
- He'd make the announcement louder
Which of the following matches the text?
- The woman fell and was badly hurt
- The writer used to ignore the announcement ✓
- The writer quickly caught the woman
- The station had no elevator
☀️ A Cooling Shelter in the Heat Wave
폭염 특보가 내려지면 뉴스에서는 한낮에는 바깥 활동을 삼가라고 당부해요.
When a heat wave warning is issued, the news urges people to avoid outdoor activities in the middle of the day.
전문가들은 가장 더운 시간에는 외출을 참으라지만 모두가 그렇게 할 수 있는 것은 아니에요.
Experts tell us to hold off on going out during the hottest hours, but not everyone is able to do that.
에어컨이 없는 좁은 방에 사는 어르신들에게는 집 안이 오히려 더 위험할 때도 있어요.
For elderly people living in small rooms without air conditioning, staying indoors can sometimes be even more dangerous.
그래서 여러 지역에서는 주민센터나 경로당을 무더위 쉼터로 열어 두고 있어요.
That's why many areas keep community centers and senior centers open as cooling shelters.
우리 동네 쉼터에서는 시원한 물과 함께 간단한 건강 상태 확인도 해 줘요.
At the shelter in our neighborhood, they provide cold water and also do simple health checks.
하지만 쉼터가 있다는 사실을 모르는 어르신이 여전히 많다고 해요.
But reportedly, many elderly people still don't know the shelters exist.
그래서 저는 올여름 동네 봉사단과 함께 홀로 사는 어르신 댁을 찾아가 쉼터를 알려 드렸어요.
So this summer, I visited elderly people living alone with a neighborhood volunteer group and told them about the shelter.
폭염을 이겨 내려면 개인의 조심과 함께 이웃의 관심이 꼭 필요하다고 생각해요.
I think that to get through a heat wave, we need not only personal caution but also neighbors' attention.
Why can staying indoors be more dangerous for some seniors?
- Their homes are far from the center
- They go out too often at midday
- They skip health checks at shelters
- They live in small rooms without AC ✓
What did the writer do this summer?
- Visited seniors to tell them about shelters ✓
- Installed an AC at the senior center
- Opened a new cooling shelter himself
- Went on the news to warn about heat
What does the writer most want to say?
- Never go outside in summer
- All seniors should live in shelters
- Heat warnings are issued too often
- Beating heat waves needs neighbors' care too ✓
🧯 The Fire Drill
지난주 우리 아파트에서 소방서와 함께하는 화재 대피 훈련이 열렸어요.
Last week, our apartment complex held a fire evacuation drill together with the fire station.
예전에는 훈련 방송이 나와도 집에 그냥 있는 주민이 많았는데 이번에는 달랐어요.
In the past, many residents just stayed home even when the drill was announced, but this time was different.
얼마 전 옆 동네 아파트에서 불이 났다는 소식을 듣고 다들 마음이 쓰였거든요.
That's because everyone had been uneasy since hearing that a fire had broken out in an apartment building in the next neighborhood.
계단 앞에서 줄을 서 있는데 새로 이사 온 이웃이 “연기가 나면 젖은 수건으로 코와 입을 막으라죠?” 하고 물었어요.
While we were lined up at the stairs, a neighbor who had just moved in asked, “They say to cover your nose and mouth with a wet towel if there's smoke, right?”
옆에 있던 소방관은 맞다고 하면서 몸을 낮추고 벽을 짚으며 이동해야 한다고 덧붙였어요.
A firefighter standing nearby said that was right and added that you should keep low and move along with a hand on the wall.
또 불이 났을 때는 엘리베이터를 절대 타지 말고 계단으로 대피해야 한다고 강조했어요.
He also stressed that in a fire you must never take the elevator and should evacuate by the stairs.
훈련이 끝난 뒤 저는 우리 집 소화기의 위치와 사용법도 다시 확인했어요.
After the drill, I also checked again where our fire extinguisher was and how to use it.
머리로만 알던 것도 몸으로 직접 해 봐야 위급할 때 떠오른다는 걸 느꼈어요.
I realized that even things you know in your head only come back to you in an emergency if you have actually practiced them.
What did the new neighbor want to confirm?
- What time the drill would start
- How to cover your nose and mouth in smoke ✓
- Where the building's extinguisher was
- Whether the elevator could be used in the drill
Why did so many residents take part in this drill?
- Participants were promised gifts
- Firefighters came door to door
- They had heard of a fire nearby ✓
- Skipping it meant paying a fine
What does the writer most want to say?
- Safety rules stick only when you practice them ✓
- The elevator is the fastest way out in a fire
- Only firefighters need to do drills
- Extinguishers are safer kept outside the home
🚧 Fixing the Pothole
우리 집 앞 이차선 도로에는 지난봄부터 깊게 파인 구멍이 하나 있었어요.
Since last spring, there had been a deep pothole in the two-lane road in front of our house.
비가 오면 물이 고여 구멍이 잘 보이지 않아서 자전거가 넘어질 뻔한 일도 여러 번 있었죠.
When it rained, water filled it so it was hard to see, and bicycles nearly fell over there several times.
몇몇 주민이 따로 민원을 넣었지만 답변만 오고 공사는 좀처럼 시작되지 않았어요.
A few residents filed complaints individually, but they only got replies, and the repairs never seemed to start.
그러자 옆집 아저씨가 “서명을 모아서 구청보고 그 구멍부터 막으라자.” 하고 말씀하셨어요.
Then the man next door said, “Let's collect signatures and tell the district office to fill that hole first.”
우리는 일주일 동안 이웃 쉰 명의 서명을 받아 사진과 함께 구청에 제출했어요.
Over one week, we collected signatures from fifty neighbors and submitted them to the district office along with photos.
여러 사람이 한목소리를 내자 구청은 곧바로 현장을 확인하고 보수 일정을 알려 왔어요.
Once many people spoke with one voice, the district office promptly inspected the site and let us know the repair schedule.
두 주 뒤 도로는 말끔하게 포장되었고 아이들도 안심하고 자전거를 타게 됐어요.
Two weeks later, the road was neatly repaved, and children could ride their bikes without worry.
혼자서는 작게 들리던 목소리도 함께 모이면 무게가 달라진다는 걸 배웠어요.
I learned that voices that sound small alone carry a different weight when they come together.
What did the man next door propose?
- Fill the hole themselves
- Collect signatures and demand repairs together ✓
- Stop riding bikes for a while
- Each file a complaint again separately
Why did the district office act right away?
- A child on a bike was badly hurt
- Heavy rain made the road collapse
- Many residents demanded it together ✓
- A district officer lived in the area
Which of the following matches the text?
- Repairs began before the petition
- The pothole first appeared this fall
- The office refused the demand in the end
- Residents submitted photos with the signatures ✓
📖 Construction Noise at the Library
시험을 앞두고 저는 매일 구립 도서관 열람실에서 공부하고 있었어요.
With exams coming up, I was studying every day in the reading room of the district library.
그런데 도서관 일 층에서 리모델링 공사가 시작되어 드릴 소리가 하루 종일 울렸어요.
But renovation work started on the library's first floor, and the sound of drills echoed all day long.
열람실 벽에는 여전히 조용히 해 달라는 안내문이 붙어 있었어요.
Meanwhile, a notice asking for silence was still posted on the reading room wall.
한 학생은 참다못해 “조용히 책을 읽으라면서 왜 시험 기간에 공사를 해요?” 하고 사서에게 따졌어요.
Unable to bear it, one student confronted the librarian: “You tell us to read quietly, so why are you doing construction during exam season?”
사서는 미리 알리지 못해 죄송하다며 공사 일정을 확인해 보겠다고 했어요.
The librarian apologized for not notifying people in advance and said he would look into the construction schedule.
며칠 뒤 도서관은 시끄러운 작업을 휴관일과 저녁 시간으로 옮기겠다고 공지했어요.
A few days later, the library announced it would move the noisy work to closing days and evening hours.
또 공사가 끝날 때까지 가까운 주민센터 회의실을 임시 열람실로 열어 주었어요.
It also opened a meeting room at the nearby community center as a temporary reading room until the construction ended.
불만을 정확하게 전하면 공공 기관도 충분히 달라질 수 있다는 걸 느꼈어요.
I felt that if you express a complaint clearly, even public institutions can change.
Why did the student complain to the librarian?
- Construction was loud during exams ✓
- There were no free seats
- The notice had fallen off the wall
- The library suddenly closed
Which was one of the library's solutions?
- Postponing all work until after exams
- Building a soundproof wall
- Moving noisy work to closing days ✓
- Handing out earplugs to students
What does the writer most want to say?
- It's better to study at home during exams
- Clear complaints can lead to change ✓
- Never argue in a library
- Public institutions ignore residents
📝 Registering a New Address
동생이 대학 근처 원룸으로 이사한 뒤 처음으로 혼자 전입 신고를 하러 갔어요.
After moving into a studio near his university, my younger brother went to register his new address on his own for the first time.
요즘은 온라인으로도 할 수 있지만 동생은 확정일자도 함께 받으려고 주민센터를 찾았어요.
These days you can do it online too, but he went to the community center because he also wanted to get an official date stamp on his lease.
동생이 출발하기 전에 저는 신분증과 임대차 계약서를 꼭 챙기라고 일러 주었어요.
Before he left, I reminded him to be sure to bring his ID and his lease contract.
한 시간쯤 뒤 전화가 오자 저는 “직원이 신청서에 뭘 적으라디?” 하고 먼저 물었어요.
When he called about an hour later, the first thing I asked was, “So what did the clerk tell you to write on the form?”
동생은 새 주소와 세대주 이름만 적으면 된다고 해서 금방 끝났다고 했어요.
He said he'd been told he only needed to write his new address and the head of household's name, so it was over quickly.
게다가 계약서에 확정일자 도장까지 받아서 보증금을 지킬 준비도 마쳤대요.
What's more, he got the date stamp on his lease, so he had also taken the steps to protect his deposit.
전화를 끊으며 저는 동생이 어느새 어른이 다 됐다는 생각이 들었어요.
As I hung up, it struck me that my little brother had become a grown-up before I knew it.
어렵게만 느껴지던 행정 절차도 한 번 해 보면 생각보다 간단할 때가 많아요.
Administrative procedures that seem difficult are often simpler than you expect once you actually do them.
Why did the brother go to the community center in person?
- He had no idea how to do it online
- To get a new ID card
- To write a new lease contract
- To also get the official date stamp ✓
What did the writer ask first on the phone?
- What the clerk said to write on the form ✓
- How much the studio's rent was
- Which building the center was in
- Whether he had remembered his ID
Which of the following matches the text?
- The writer went to the center with him
- The brother left his lease at home
- Registration can only be done online
- The registration was finished quickly ✓
🛋️ Throwing Away an Old Sofa
이사를 앞두고 저는 십 년 넘게 쓴 낡은 소파를 버리기로 했어요.
Before moving, I decided to throw away an old sofa I had used for more than ten years.
그런데 소파처럼 큰 물건은 일반 쓰레기처럼 아무 때나 내놓을 수 없더라고요.
But it turned out that big items like a sofa can't just be put out anytime like regular trash.
마침 주민센터에 다녀온 남편이 “대형 폐기물 신고를 하고 스티커를 붙이라데.” 하고 알려 줬어요.
My husband, who happened to have just been to the community center, told me, “They said to report it as bulky waste and put a sticker on it.”
요즘은 구청 누리집이나 앱으로도 신고하고 수수료를 낼 수 있다고 해요.
These days, you can apparently also report it and pay the fee through the district office's website or app.
저는 온라인으로 신고한 뒤 신고 번호를 적은 종이를 소파에 붙여 두었어요.
After reporting it online, I stuck a piece of paper with the report number on the sofa.
약속한 날 아침에 수거 차량이 와서 소파를 흔적도 없이 가져갔어요.
On the morning of the scheduled day, the collection truck came and took the sofa away without a trace.
신고 없이 몰래 버리면 과태료를 물 수 있다는 사실도 그때 알게 됐어요.
That was also when I learned that you can be fined for dumping it secretly without reporting it.
버리는 일에도 절차가 있다는 게 번거롭지만 동네를 깨끗하게 지키는 방법인 것 같아요.
Having a procedure even for throwing things away is a hassle, but I think it's a way to keep the neighborhood clean.
What must you do to throw away a sofa?
- Put it out anytime with regular trash
- Report it as bulky waste and pay a fee ✓
- Carry it to the community center
- Ask the neighbors if they want it first
Where did the husband learn how to dispose of it?
- On the district office website
- From the collection truck driver
- At the community center ✓
- From a moving company worker
Which of the following matches the text?
- Dumping without reporting can bring a fine ✓
- The writer gave the sofa to a neighbor
- Bulky waste can't be reported online
- The sofa was collected a month later
🚰 The Water Goes Off Tomorrow
퇴근해서 집에 오니 아파트 게시판에 단수 안내문이 새로 붙어 있었어요.
When I got home from work, a new notice about a water outage had been posted on the apartment bulletin board.
낡은 수도관을 바꾸는 공사 때문에 내일 오전 아홉 시부터 여섯 시간 동안 물이 끊긴다는 내용이었어요.
It said the water would be cut off for six hours from nine the next morning because of work to replace old water pipes.
엘리베이터에서 만난 옆집 할머니는 그 소식을 전혀 못 들으셨다며 놀라셨어요.
The elderly woman next door, whom I met in the elevator, was surprised and said she hadn't heard the news at all.
저는 “관리실에서 오늘 밤에 욕조와 큰 통에 물을 미리 받아 두라던데요.” 하고 말씀드렸어요.
I told her, “The management office said we should fill the bathtub and some big containers with water tonight.”
할머니는 혼자서는 무거운 물통을 옮기기 어렵다며 난처한 표정을 지으셨어요.
She looked troubled, saying it was hard for her to move heavy water containers by herself.
그래서 저는 그날 밤 할머니 댁에 가서 물통 세 개를 가득 채워 드렸어요.
So that night I went to her home and filled three water containers to the brim for her.
다음 날 공사는 예정보다 한 시간 일찍 끝났고, 할머니는 떡을 들고 고맙다며 찾아오셨어요.
The next day, the work finished an hour earlier than planned, and she came by with rice cakes to thank me.
안내문 한 장도 이웃과 나누면 누군가에게는 큰 도움이 될 수 있어요.
Even a single notice, when shared with a neighbor, can be a big help to someone.
Why was the water cut off?
- The building's water tank broke
- Old water pipes were being replaced ✓
- A summer drought caused a shortage
- Residents had stored too much water
Why did the writer go to the elderly woman's home?
- She asked him to read the notice to her
- She offered to share rice cakes
- She had trouble moving water containers ✓
- Her own water pipe had broken first
What is the main idea of this text?
- Water work is better done at night
- Seniors never store water in advance
- The office should post notices earlier
- Sharing information with neighbors helps a lot ✓