Key facts
- The grammar is the past ending -았/었어요, -고, -아서/어서 and -(으)ㄹ 거예요.
- The glossary lists only words above A1 level.
What you'll learn
- Read ten-sentence Korean passages that are mostly in the past tense.
- Spot the reason and the result in a -아서/어서 sentence.
- Name the question type before you answer it.
- Score at least 12 out of 15 on the questions.
Before you start: you should be able to read Hangul quickly and have done Korean Paragraph Reading for Beginners. If any letter still looks unfamiliar, review how to read Hangul. The set takes about 30 minutes.
What Are Korean Reading Passages with Questions?
Korean reading passages with questions are practice texts of about ten sentences, each followed by multiple-choice questions that check what you understood. At A2, the sentences connect: one gives a reason and the next gives a result. The aim is to read for meaning, not to translate word by word.
These three passages differ from the paragraphs in the previous set in four ways. They are longer (10 sentences, not 5), they use the past tense, they give reasons with -아서/어서, and they ask about meaning, not just facts. The next sections show what is in them.
What Are the Three Passages About?
The three passages cover a weekend trip, a hobby and a shopping day. Each has a different mix of tenses, so you practise recognising the ending, not only the story.
| Passage | Topic | Past sentences | Other forms | Key grammar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trip to the sea | 1 to 10 | none | -았/었어요, -아서/어서, -고 |
| 2 | Cooking class | 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 | present 1, 3, 10; future 9 | -아서/어서, -(으)ㄹ 거예요 |
| 3 | Shopping day | 1 to 8 | future 9, 10 | -고, -지 않았어요, -(으)ㄹ 거예요 |
The past-tense sentences are listed so you can review them separately. This is not a TOPIK exam format. It is a practice set that prepares you for it, and exam-style practice lives under TOPIK reading. Why this level is hard for English speakers comes next.
Why Is This Hard for English Speakers?
Korean past tense is hard for English speakers because the ending depends on the last vowel of the verb, not on a regular -ed. The reason also comes before the result. English says "I came home early because it rained". Korean says 비가 와서 집에 일찍 왔어요, which is "It rained, so I came home early".
Two rules help. First, the vowel rule: a stem whose last vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ takes -았어요, and other stems take -었어요. So 가다 becomes 갔어요, 보다 becomes 봤어요 and 먹다 becomes 먹었어요. Second, the reason rule: -아서/어서 attaches to the stem of the reason clause. The Korean past tense page covers the endings and Korean because grammar covers the reason ending.
Reading a Passage in Three Passes
Use three passes for each passage. Passes stop you from translating each word.
- Pass 1: read for the story. Read silently and do not use the glossary. Try to say who did what.
- Pass 2: read with the glossary. Check only words that blocked a whole sentence. Find every -아서/어서 and ask what the reason is.
- Pass 3: listen and read. Play the audio, read along, then read aloud without the audio.
Passage 1: a Weekend at the Sea
지난 주말에 저는 친구와 바다에 갔어요. 우리는 아침 일곱 시에 기차를 탔어요. 기차는 두 시간 걸렸어요. 바다에 도착해서 먼저 점심을 먹었어요. 생선구이를 먹고 커피를 마셨어요. 날씨가 좋아서 해변을 오래 걸었어요. 사진도 많이 찍었어요. 저녁에는 비가 와서 집에 일찍 왔어요. 많이 걸어서 너무 피곤했어요. 하지만 정말 즐거운 여행이었어요.
| # | Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 지난 주말에 저는 친구와 바다에 갔어요. | Last weekend I went to the sea with a friend. |
| 2 | 우리는 아침 일곱 시에 기차를 탔어요. | We took a train at seven in the morning. |
| 3 | 기차는 두 시간 걸렸어요. | The train took two hours. |
| 4 | 바다에 도착해서 먼저 점심을 먹었어요. | We arrived at the sea and first ate lunch. |
| 5 | 생선구이를 먹고 커피를 마셨어요. | We ate grilled fish and drank coffee. |
| 6 | 날씨가 좋아서 해변을 오래 걸었어요. | The weather was good, so we walked on the beach for a long time. |
| 7 | 사진도 많이 찍었어요. | We also took many photos. |
| 8 | 저녁에는 비가 와서 집에 일찍 왔어요. | It rained in the evening, so we came home early. |
| 9 | 많이 걸어서 너무 피곤했어요. | We walked a lot, so I was very tired. |
| 10 | 하지만 정말 즐거운 여행이었어요. | But it was a really enjoyable trip. |
Glossary: 지난 (last), 도착해서 (arrived and then), 생선구이 (grilled fish), 해변 (beach), 오래 (for a long time), 피곤했어요 (was tired), 즐거운 (enjoyable), 여행 (trip).
Questions.
- (detail) What time did they take the train? (a) 6:00 (b) 7:00 (c) 8:00
- (detail) How long did the train ride take? (a) one hour (b) two hours (c) three hours
- (main idea) What is the passage about? (a) a weekend trip to the sea (b) a train timetable (c) a lunch menu
- (vocabulary) In sentence 9, 피곤했어요 means: (a) was hungry (b) was tired (c) was happy
- (inference) How did the writer most likely get home? (a) by train (b) by plane (c) on foot
Passage 2: a Cooking Hobby
제 취미는 요리예요. 지난달에 요리 수업을 시작했어요. 수업은 매주 토요일 오후에 있어요. 처음에는 김밥을 만들었어요. 김밥이 어려워서 시간이 많이 걸렸어요. 하지만 선생님과 같이 만들어서 재미있었어요. 집에 가서 가족에게 김밥을 줬어요. 가족도 맛있게 먹었어요. 다음 주에는 불고기를 만들 거예요. 저는 요리를 배워서 정말 행복해요.
| # | Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 제 취미는 요리예요. | My hobby is cooking. |
| 2 | 지난달에 요리 수업을 시작했어요. | Last month I started a cooking class. |
| 3 | 수업은 매주 토요일 오후에 있어요. | The class is every Saturday afternoon. |
| 4 | 처음에는 김밥을 만들었어요. | At first we made gimbap. |
| 5 | 김밥이 어려워서 시간이 많이 걸렸어요. | Gimbap was difficult, so it took a lot of time. |
| 6 | 하지만 선생님과 같이 만들어서 재미있었어요. | But making it with the teacher was fun. |
| 7 | 집에 가서 가족에게 김밥을 줬어요. | I went home and gave gimbap to my family. |
| 8 | 가족도 맛있게 먹었어요. | My family also ate it with enjoyment. |
| 9 | 다음 주에는 불고기를 만들 거예요. | Next week we will make bulgogi. |
| 10 | 저는 요리를 배워서 정말 행복해요. | I am really happy because I am learning to cook. |
Glossary: 취미 (hobby), 지난달 (last month), 시작했어요 (started), 처음 (first time), 어려워서 (because it was difficult), 줬어요 (gave), 불고기 (bulgogi), 배워서 (because I learn), 행복해요 (am happy).
Questions.
- (detail) When is the class? (a) Saturday afternoon (b) Sunday morning (c) Friday evening
- (detail) What did the class make first? (a) bulgogi (b) gimbap (c) noodles
- (main idea) What is the passage about? (a) a cooking class the writer enjoys (b) a restaurant review (c) a family trip
- (vocabulary) In sentence 6, 재미있었어요 means: (a) was boring (b) was fun (c) was hard
- (inference) The writer is probably: (a) a cooking beginner (b) a chef (c) a teacher
Passage 3: a Shopping Day
어제는 시간이 있어서 시장에 갔어요. 시장에는 사람이 정말 많았어요. 저는 먼저 사과와 딸기를 샀어요. 사과가 싸서 열 개를 샀어요. 그리고 신발 가게에서 운동화도 봤어요. 운동화가 너무 비싸서 사지 않았어요. 점심에는 떡볶이를 먹고 친구를 만났어요. 친구와 같이 커피를 마셨어요. 내일은 시장에 갈 거예요. 그때 운동화를 살 거예요.
| # | Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 어제는 시간이 있어서 시장에 갔어요. | Yesterday I had time, so I went to the market. |
| 2 | 시장에는 사람이 정말 많았어요. | There were really many people at the market. |
| 3 | 저는 먼저 사과와 딸기를 샀어요. | First I bought apples and strawberries. |
| 4 | 사과가 싸서 열 개를 샀어요. | The apples were cheap, so I bought ten. |
| 5 | 그리고 신발 가게에서 운동화도 봤어요. | And I also looked at sneakers at a shoe store. |
| 6 | 운동화가 너무 비싸서 사지 않았어요. | The sneakers were too expensive, so I did not buy them. |
| 7 | 점심에는 떡볶이를 먹고 친구를 만났어요. | For lunch I ate tteokbokki and met a friend. |
| 8 | 친구와 같이 커피를 마셨어요. | I drank coffee with my friend. |
| 9 | 내일은 시장에 갈 거예요. | Tomorrow I will go to the market. |
| 10 | 그때 운동화를 살 거예요. | I will buy the sneakers then. |
Glossary: 시장 (market), 사과 (apple), 딸기 (strawberry), 싸서 (because it was cheap), 신발 가게 (shoe store), 운동화 (sneakers), 비싸서 (because it was expensive), 떡볶이 (tteokbokki), 그때 (then).
Questions.
- (detail) What did the writer buy first? (a) apples and strawberries (b) sneakers (c) coffee
- (detail) How many apples did the writer buy? (a) five (b) ten (c) twenty
- (main idea) What is the passage about? (a) a day at the market with a plan to return (b) a cooking lesson (c) a train trip
- (vocabulary) In sentence 6, 비싸서 means: (a) because it was cheap (b) because it was expensive (c) because it was old
- (inference) When will the writer probably buy the sneakers? (a) yesterday (b) tomorrow (c) next year
How Are the Questions Built?
The questions come in four types, in the same order in every passage: two detail, one main idea, one vocabulary and one inference. Naming the type before you answer tells you where to look.
| Type | What it asks | Where to look | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detail | A fact in one sentence | One line, matching a number or name | Question 1 |
| Main idea | What the whole text is about | The first and last sentences | Question 3 |
| Vocabulary in context | A word's meaning from the sentence | The word and its neighbours | Question 4 |
| Inference | Something likely but not stated | Two or more lines together | Question 5 |
The inference question has no sentence that answers it directly. The writer takes a train there in passage 1, so home by train is likely, though not written.
After a Wrong Answer
After a wrong answer, find the sentence that proves the right one and read it aloud. Then write one line saying why you chose the wrong option. The reason sorts the mistake into three groups.
- Misread detail: you missed a number or a name. Read that sentence once more.
- Unknown word: a glossary word blocked you. Add it to a list and review it tomorrow.
- Tense or reason confusion: you mixed up past, future or the reason clause. Check the ending: -았/었 is past, -(으)ㄹ 거예요 is future, -아서/어서 gives a reason.
Mistakes in the third group matter most, because they mean the grammar did not become automatic. Treat three misses in a row there as a reason to review the Korean past tense page.
Worked Example: 지난 주말에 친구와 영화를 봤어요
Take this sentence and read it one chunk at a time.
- 지난 주말에: last weekend. 에 marks the time.
- 친구와: with a friend. 와 follows the vowel-final 친구.
- 영화를: a movie, with 를 marking the object.
- 봤어요: saw. The stem 보 ends in ㅗ, so the past ending is 았어요, and 보 + 았 contracts to 봤.
지난 주말에 친구와 영화를 봤어요.
jinan jumare chinguwa yeonghwareul bwasseoyo
Last weekend I watched a movie with a friend.
비가 와서 집에 일찍 왔어요.
biga waseo jibe iljjik wasseoyo
It rained, so I came home early.
내일은 시장에 갈 거예요.
naeireun sijange gal geoyeyo
Tomorrow I will go to the market.
The same chunking works on a reason sentence. In 비가 와서 집에 일찍 왔어요, the reason is 비가 와서 (it rained) and the result is 집에 일찍 왔어요 (I came home early).
Common Mistakes with These Passages
Learners often make four mistakes.
| Learners often assume | Actually | Because |
|---|---|---|
| -아서/어서 always means "because" | It can also mean "and then" | 도착해서 and 가서 show sequence, not reason |
| The past ending is always -었어요 | After ㅏ and ㅗ it is -았어요 | The vowel decides |
| The reason comes after the result | The reason comes first | Korean puts the cause clause first |
| -(으)ㄹ 거예요 is the past | It is the future or a plan | -ㄹ 거예요 looks forward |
The second use of -아서/어서 is important at A2. In 바다에 도착해서 먼저 점심을 먹었어요, the idea is "we arrived and then had lunch". Look at the two verbs: if the first happens before the second, it is sequence.
Practice and Answer Key
Answer all 15 questions above, then check. Score 12 or more to move on.
Answers
- Passage 1: 1 (b), 2 (b), 3 (a), 4 (b), 5 (a).
- Passage 2: 6 (a), 7 (b), 8 (a), 9 (b), 10 (a).
- Passage 3: 11 (a), 12 (b), 13 (a), 14 (b), 15 (b).
Check your question types too. If you missed three or more inference or vocabulary questions, reread the passage a third time and look at the neighbours of each unknown word. A score of 12 or more means this set is done.
Where to Go Next
Move on to Graded Korean Stories, where longer texts add plot. The reading strategies page shows how to read faster. For exam-style practice, see TOPIK reading. The earlier set is Korean Paragraph Reading for Beginners, and the section page is Beginner Reading.
This page is limited to three A2 passages. It does not teach the full past tense, it does not cover exam strategy, and the questions use English options. Korean reading passages with questions work best as a set you repeat after a week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A2 Reading Like in Korean?
A2 reading uses the past tense, reasons with -아서/어서, and texts of about ten sentences. Sentences are still short, but they connect: one gives a reason and the next gives a result. You are expected to follow the thread without translating each word. Most words are everyday ones, with a few new nouns per text.
Are These Passages Like TOPIK Reading?
No. These passages are practice texts with labelled question types, a glossary and audio. TOPIK reading uses unlabelled questions, answer options in Korean, no glossary and a strict time limit. This set builds the comprehension skill that TOPIK later tests. Exam-style practice is covered separately under TOPIK reading.
How Should I Use the Glossary?
Read each passage once without it. Then use the glossary only for words that blocked your understanding of a whole sentence. Every glossary here lists words above A1, so a word that is missing is one you already studied. After a second read, close the glossary and try the questions.
Is It Okay to Guess Words?
Yes. Guessing from context is the main A2 reading skill, and the vocabulary question in each passage trains it. Guess from the particles and verb around the word, then check the glossary. Mark guesses you got wrong, because those words are the ones most worth reviewing after the questions.
