Reading 48–50 Purpose, Blank, and Writer's Attitude Set

Reading · Hardest

Most test-takers run out of time here — plan your time budget assuming you'll guess.

Items 48–50 are the last set in the reading test: one public-register passage (a petition, contributed article, notice, etc.) carries three questions — purpose (48), a blank (49), and attitude (50). In the actual exam, most of your time is usually already gone by the time you reach this set, so there's often no time even to skim, let alone read closely. The three items test different skills. Item 48 (purpose) asks why the whole passage was written — to inform, to protest or request, or to notify — and this can usually be judged from the first paragraph alone. Item 49 (blank), like the item-44 type, asks about the logical connection in context, but the vocabulary is harder because it's mixed with formal expressions typical of public-register writing. Item 50 (attitude) is similar to item 46, but because it's a public-register text, emotion tends to be expressed even more sparingly, so you need the ability to read between the lines. Because all three items share a single passage, settling the background and purpose from the first paragraph noticeably speeds up solving the other two. Conversely, trying to read closely from the start makes it quite likely you won't finish all three in time. As the strategy guide emphasizes, if your goal is Level 3, it's better to build your time budget around this section assuming you'll 'guess' rather than 'solve' it. That said, identifying the purpose (item 48) has a real chance of being secured from the first paragraph alone, so if you have any time left, try item 48 first.

Purpose, Blank, and Writer's Attitude Set

• ~을/를 알려 드립니다 — An expression used to officially convey information or news.
• ~을/를 요청드립니다 — Used to politely ask the other party to take some action.
• ~아/어 주시기 바랍니다 — Used to politely request or urge the other party to do something.
• ~에 대해 문의드립니다 — Used to formally ask about something you want to know.
• ~을/를 건의합니다 — Used to formally propose an opinion for changing something for the better.
• ~에 대해 다시 한번 검토해 주시기를 바랍니다 — Used to ask that an already-made decision be reconsidered.
• 이에 항의하는 바입니다 — Used to formally state opposition to something felt to be unfair.
• ~고자 이 글을 씁니다 — Used to state the purpose of the writing directly at the opening.
• ~을/를 참고하시기 바랍니다 — Used to ask the reader to note and check some information.
• ~을/를 양해해 주시기 바랍니다 — Used to ask for understanding regarding an inconvenience or error.
• ~에 감사드립니다 — Used to formally express thanks for the other party's cooperation or consideration.
• ~기를 촉구합니다 — Used to strongly demand that some measure be carried out promptly.

• The background and purpose of the writing, revealed in the first paragraph
• The exact relationship carried by formal connective expressions ('그러나', '다만', '따라서')
• The restrained, indirect tone typical of public-register writing, which expresses emotion sparingly

• First settle why this passage was written (its purpose) from the first paragraph.
• Grasp the logical relationship between the sentences before and after the blank, and choose the matching connective.
• Find where the writer requests or points something out across the whole passage, and judge the attitude from that.
• If you're short on time, secure at least the purpose item (48) first.

• Trying to read closely through all three items in order and failing to finish in time.
• Reading the restrained language of public-register writing too literally and mistaking the attitude as neutral.

This is a section where your time plan should assume you'll guess from the start. Still, try item 48 (purpose) first, since it has a real chance of being secured from the first paragraph alone.