Listening

Infer the purpose of an action

Seemile Easy TOPIK I · listening · pp. 80–82

Understand the task

A reason-for-action question asks what caused an earlier choice. A long conversation can also mention what someone enjoys now and what they plan next. Those later facts are tempting distractors. Build a short timeline and attach the reason to the specific action named in the question.

Link the action to the reason or goal expressed later in the exchange. Pay special attention to (으)려고 and cause expressions.

How to solve this question type

Underline the action in the question: starting a hobby, joining a class or making something may each have a different reason.
Listen for cause markers -아서/어서, -기 때문에 and -아/어야 해서 near the explanation of that action.
Separate the original reason from the present result. ‘It is now my hobby’ does not automatically explain why I first learned it.

Grammar and expressions

V-(으)ㄴ 적이 있다

Describe a past experience; it does not by itself give the reason for another event.

화가 역할을 한 적이 있어요.

I once played the role of a painter.

V-게 되다

Describe coming to do something or a change in circumstances.

그림을 배우게 됐어요.

I came to learn painting.

V-기로 하다

Express a decision or agreement, commonly in the past form -기로 했어요.

전시회를 하기로 했어요.

We decided to hold an exhibition.

Vocabulary for this type

이유: reason
역할: role
배우다: to learn
시작하다: to begin
전시회: exhibition
직접: personally or directly

A worked example

영화에서 화가 역할을 해서 그림을 배웠어요. 지금은 취미로 그려요.

I learned painting because I played a painter in a film. Now I paint as a hobby.

The original cause is the film role.
Painting as a hobby describes the current situation, after learning began.
A planned exhibition is a later event; it should not replace the reason for starting.

Try it yourself

Practice 1

오늘 왜 이렇게 일찍 나왔어요? 아홉 시 기차를 타야 해서 일찍 나왔어요.

Why did you leave so early today? I left early because I have to catch the nine o’clock train.

Why did the person leave early?

아침을 먹으려고
친구를 만나려고
기차를 타려고
버스를 기다리려고

Answer and explanation

3. 기차를 타려고

아홉 시 기차를 타야 해서 tells you the reason for leaving early.

No breakfast plan is mentioned.
The speaker does not say that they are going to meet a friend.
기차를 타야 해서 gives catching the train as the reason for leaving early.
The train, not waiting for a bus, is the stated reason.

Review your reasoning

Option 1: No breakfast plan is mentioned.
Option 2: The speaker does not say that they are going to meet a friend.
Option 3: 기차를 타야 해서 gives catching the train as the reason for leaving early.
Option 4: The train, not waiting for a bus, is the stated reason.

Try the question again with the explanation closed. Identify the exact phrase that supports the answer, then explain which detail makes each other option unsuitable.