Reading (읽기): inference, coherence, and context
The reading domain covers items 18–45 and carries most of the section’s points. Stems are Korean; passages and options are English. It tests inference, coherence, and control of grammar and vocabulary in context.
Item groups and rules
- 18–24: short-passage gist. Purpose, mood change, claim, implied meaning, main idea, topic, title. The correct option must cover the whole passage; a true detail is not enough.
- 25–27: practical information. Chart/table consistency, notice detail, and “not true” checking. Match each option to a line or data point.
- 28–29: grammar and vocabulary. One sentence, one error or one contextual word.
- 30–34: blank inference. The blank usually names the passage’s principle, not a restated fact.
- 35–40: coherence. Irrelevant sentence, ordering, insertion. Follow pronouns, connectives, and repeated concepts.
- 41–45: summary completion and long passage. Both blanks must fit the passage’s logic.
Worked example
Passage: Scientists once assumed that forgetting was a failure of memory. Recent work suggests the opposite: forgetting is an active filter that removes outdated information so new learning can guide behavior. A mind that retained every detail would be paralyzed by irrelevant choices. Blank: Forgetting is best described as ___. Options: A) a passive loss of stored data B) a functional process that supports adaptation C) evidence that memory is unlimited D) a symptom of cognitive decline Reasoning: The passage contrasts the old “failure” view with “active filter” and “guide behavior.” The blank asks for the revised definition. A and D restate the old view; C is unsupported. B matches “active filter” and “supports adaptation.”
Traps
- Choosing a true detail that does not answer the stem.
- Ignoring pronouns and connectives in insertion/ordering items.
- Taking a vocabulary word in its most common sense rather than its contextual sense.
- Missing qualifiers (all, only, before) in “not true” items.