Tip 1 for “Short texts” questions?

Identify the question type before reading: matching statement (같은 것), topic (무엇에 대한), reason/purpose (쓴 이유, 목적), or a specific question printed above the options.

Tip 2 for “Short texts” questions?

For a specific question: find its keyword in the text and read that sentence and the next one closely — the answer is almost always there.

Tip 3 for “Short texts” questions?

For topic questions: look for the word repeated throughout; wrong options usually share the setting (subway, bank) but not the main point.

Tip 4 for “Short texts” questions?

For purpose/reason questions: focus on the last sentence and request/announcement endings (-아/어 주세요, 알려 드립니다, -(으)려고 합니다); side details are not the purpose.

EPS-TOPIK · Reading · Questions 15–20 · Level 2–3

Short texts

짧은 글 읽고 답하기

Read a short text (3–6 sentences) about work and life in Korea and choose the matching statement, the topic, the reason/purpose, or answer a specific question.

Test tips

Identify the question type before reading: matching statement (같은 것), topic (무엇에 대한), reason/purpose (쓴 이유, 목적), or a specific question printed above the options.
For a specific question: find its keyword in the text and read that sentence and the next one closely — the answer is almost always there.
For topic questions: look for the word repeated throughout; wrong options usually share the setting (subway, bank) but not the main point.
For purpose/reason questions: focus on the last sentence and request/announcement endings (-아/어 주세요, 알려 드립니다, -(으)려고 합니다); side details are not the purpose.
The correct option is usually a paraphrase; wrong ones swap who does it, swap time (처음에는 ↔ 지금은), or flip a negative or a comparison.
Spend 1–1.5 minutes per text; if time runs short, do the items with a specific question first — they are faster to answer.

Signal words and patterns

When you see these in a question, they point to the answer or to a trap.

무엇에 대한 이야기입니까?
쓴 이유 / 목적
-기 때문에
그래서
하지만
처음에는 … 지금은
알려 드립니다
-아/어 주세요
-(으)려고

Worked examples

저는 플라스틱 그릇을 만드는 공장에서 일합니다. 제 일은 기계에서 나온 그릇을 꺼내서 모양을 확인하는 것입니다. 기계에서 막 나온 그릇은 아주 뜨겁기 때문에 두꺼운 장갑을 껴야 합니다. 일이 끝나면 그날 만든 그릇의 수를 작업 일지에 씁니다.

Translation

I work at a factory that makes plastic bowls. My job is to take the bowls out of the machine and check their shape. Bowls that have just come out are very hot, so I must wear thick gloves. When work is over, I write the number of bowls made that day in the work log.

다음 글의 내용과 같은 것을 고르십시오.

Explanation

Method: read the four options first, then compare them with the text one by one. Sentence 3, '뜨겁기 때문에 두꺼운 장갑을 껴야 합니다', means gloves are needed when taking the bowls out: option 3. Option 1 is wrong: the job is '꺼내서 모양을 확인하는 것' (take out and check), not packing. Option 2 is the opposite: the bowls are '아주 뜨겁습니다'. Option 4 is wrong: the log is written '일이 끝나면' (after work), not in the morning. The right option is usually reworded (껴야 합니다 → 필요합니다).

Words in this question · sign in to save words

플라스틱
그릇
꺼내다
확인하다
장갑
작업 일지

Practise now

9 questions in the bank

5 questions per round, each checked immediately with the explanation, translation and key words.