Writing 52 Filling in a Blank in an Expository Text

Writing · Easy–Medium

One sentence each — the best return on study time.

Item 52 asks you to write one sentence that fits a blank in an expository (informational) text. It's paired with item 51 — 10 points each, 20 points combined — and since you only need to judge the form of a single sentence, it's one of the most efficient sections on the whole test. Instead of the actual written-response format, this site reworks it into four-option multiple choice: pick the sentence pattern that fits the blank. The sentence patterns that show up in expository texts fall into two broad groups. One is reversal expressions used to partly overturn what the previous sentence said — things like '그렇다고 ~는 것은 아니다' ('that doesn't mean...') and '~만 ~하는 것은 아니다' ('not all... just because...'). The other is expressions that explain a natural result or purpose, like '~게 된다' ('comes to...'), '~도록 한다' ('so that...'), '~을 수 있게 된다' ('becomes able to...'). If you first work out the relationship between the sentences before and after the blank — reversal, or result/purpose — the pattern that has to go there is almost automatically decided. This unit uses three different expository topics — caffeine and focus, sleep and memory, fine dust and masks — to practice both pattern groups. The wrong options reuse the same three point-losing factors as item 51 — a missing final ending, a mismatched honorific level, and a wrong particle. Since an expository text is written from start to finish in the plain written style ('-ㄴ다/-다'), a single trace of casual speech or spoken style gives it away instantly. Like item 51, item 52 is a spot you can lock down for sure with a short amount of study. Once you have learned just a few sentence patterns properly, you can narrow down the answer without reading the passage closely.

Filling in a Blank in an Expository Text

• 반전(그렇다고) — Used to partly overturn part of what came before. '그렇다고' is short for '그렇게 한다고 해서' ('just because... does that'), and what follows is a result different from what you'd expect.
• 반전(제한) — '~만 ~는 것은 아니다' means the condition isn't limited to just one thing. It can be swapped for '~라고 해서 다 ~는 것은 아니다' with the same meaning.
• 결과 — Used to explain a natural result or change. The subject becomes that way on its own, so don't confuse it with the causative expression '-시키다'.
• 목적·의도 — Used to explain a deliberate measure taken to bring about some state. It's followed by '한다' to close the sentence.
• 가능·능력 변화 — Used to explain a change to being able to do something you couldn't do before.
• 정의 — A fixed expression used to explain the meaning of a term. It appears often at the start of an expository text.
• 예시 — Used to back up something said earlier with a concrete example.
• 대조 — Used to show a contrast between two things being compared. It links two clauses or sentences of equal weight.
• 인과(부연 설명) — Used to add the reason for the previous sentence afterward. It's a connecting expression that starts a new sentence.
• 첨가 — Used to add new information to what came before.

• A signal word that reverses the previous sentence ('그렇다고', '오히려')
• Context indicating result or purpose ('~해서', '~기 위해')
• The written-style ending (-ㄴ다/-다) that runs through the entire expository text

• First judge the relationship between the sentence before and after the blank — is it reversal, or result/purpose?
• Bring to mind the pattern that fits that relationship (reversal, or result/purpose) first
• Among the four options, rule out any whose final ending isn't complete
• Among what's left, do a final check of the written style and particle agreement

• Confusing the reversal pattern with the result pattern and picking an option with the opposite meaning
• Letting an option pass just because its meaning is right, even though it ends in casual or spoken style

Item 52 is a spot where reading just the relationship between the sentences before and after the blank almost automatically decides the pattern. Memorize the reversal and result pattern sets and you can lock it down without mistakes.