South Korean Test Takers Gather as Infection Rates Grow

More than half a million South Koreans sat for the annual national college entrance examinations on Thursday.

Rules meant to stop the spread of the coronavirus added pressure to the eight-hour event. In Asia's fourth-largest economy, the test has an important effect on a person's life. Success on the test may lead to getting one of a limited number of jobs in a competitive society.

The yearly examination, called "Suneung," or the College Scholastic¹ Ability Test, is important in a country concerned with education. Jobs, social standing² and even marriage possibilities can depend on which university a person attends.

New testing ways

This year's test-takers did not face the delays and problems that student faced during last year's exams. But COVID-19 measures have changed how students take the test.

Students had their temperatures taken before entering classrooms, and those with high temperatures had to go to separate testing areas. The Education Ministry³ said that at least 173 people who appeared to have the coronavirus or who had to be separated from others will take the test at hospitals or separate exam centers.

"I couldn't go to private institutes, study rooms, nor school properly due to coronavirus," said 17-year-old Ahn Jeong-min. "Still, I'm vaccinated⁴, and everyone will wear face masks and use partitions during the exam, so I think I can take the exam well, feeling comfortable rather than much concern."

The education ministry reports that more than 509,000 students in their final year of high school, graduates and others have signed up to take the exam. The big test is held at 1,251 places nationwide.

Thursday morning saw traditional efforts made by all of society to help the test-takers. The country's financial markets opened an hour later than usual to ease traffic. Air traffic, both military and commercial, was grounded for part of the day.

"We're doing our part to keep distractions⁶ down so you can keep your scores up!" tweeted U.S. Forces-Korea.

Pandemic measures meant louder traditions to express good wishes to the test-takers were missing. Outside schools in Seoul, there was none of the usual cheering by high school students, praying parents or friends who usually beat drums and hand out sweets.

Pandemic continues

Thursday, South Korea reported its biggest daily jump in coronavirus infections since the start of the pandemic. There are growing concerns about a more infectious version of the virus called the Delta⁷ variant⁸.

The 3,292 new cases reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Thursday marked the second straight day with over 3,000 cases. The agency said 29 patients died in the past 24 hours. That means a total of 3,187 people have died since the beginning of the pandemic last year while 506 others were in serious condition.

South Korean schools have been using a mixture of online and in-person classes.

Seo Kwang-sun is a mother of a test-taker in Seoul. She said, "(Students) weren't given proper classes (because of COVID-19) and I often saw my child worrying much and struggling."

Return to classrooms is planned

The Education Ministry had planned a full return to classrooms starting next week. The aim is to help reduce missed education time and to support the government's virus planning.

Officials eased social distancing rules starting this month. The move was the first step toward returning to normal. The new rules permit larger social gatherings⁹ and longer indoor eating hours at restaurants. Officials noted¹⁰ concerns about the pandemic's effects on the economy. They expressed hope that improving vaccination¹¹ rates would keep hospitalizations and deaths down even if the virus continues to spread.

But there has been a rise in serious cases and deaths among older people who rejected vaccines¹² or who have less resistance to the virus. Some are asking whether the decision to loosen virus restrictions¹³ comes too soon.

Lee Eu-gene, a mother who said she had an older child take the test last year, said her son sitting for the exam this year seemed to be better off because schools had more in-person learning.

"He studied in this situation, so it's in the mother's heart that I hope he will get good results and happily expand his future," she said.

Words in This Story

mask – n. a face covering

due to –prep. because of something; thanks to something

partition – n. a wall or screen that separates one area from another

distraction⁵ –n. something that makes it difficult to think or pay attention

proper –adj. correct; right for a purpose

1 scholastic   

adj.学校的，学院的，学术上的

参考例句：

• There was a careful avoidance of the sensitive topic in the scholastic circles.学术界小心地避开那个敏感的话题。
• This would do harm to students' scholastic performance in the long run.这将对学生未来的学习成绩有害。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

5 distraction   

n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐

参考例句：

• Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。
• Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。

6 distractions   

n.使人分心的事[人]( distraction的名词复数 )；娱乐，消遣；心烦意乱；精神错乱

参考例句：

• I find it hard to work at home because there are too many distractions. 我发觉在家里工作很难，因为使人分心的事太多。
• There are too many distractions here to work properly. 这里叫人分心的事太多，使人无法好好工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

8 variant   

adj.不同的，变异的；n.变体，异体

参考例句：

• We give professional suggestions according to variant tanning stages for each customer.我们针对每位顾客不同的日晒阶段，提供强度适合的晒黑建议。
• In a variant of this approach,the tests are data- driven.这个方法的一个变种，是数据驱动的测试。

9 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

10 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

11 vaccination   

n.接种疫苗，种痘

参考例句：

• Vaccination is a preventive against smallpox.种痘是预防天花的方法。
• Doctors suggest getting a tetanus vaccination every ten years.医生建议每十年注射一次破伤风疫苗。

12 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

13 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制