37. 방황하다.

He flunked out in freshman year, then knocked around for 18 months before returning and majoring in drama.

Telecommuting

Telecommuting, also known as telework, is a job condition where employees do not need to commute to work. They can just work from home or from any other place as it is not necessary for them to be physically present at the company’s central place of work. 

In the recent years, a significant increase in the number of teleworkers across the globe was observed. People are asked what they think about telecommuting and they give divided comments about it. 

People who support telecommuting say that it saves people’s money, time and effort. Being able to work from home may mean that they will not be spending on transportation, office clothing and the like. The money they earn from their jobs may be allotted for more important things like housing, family expenses and other bills. 

They add that teleworkers are able to work more efficiently because they are in an environment where they are relaxed and comfortable. Working with others may cause distractions and conflicts. However, if an employee works alone within the comforts of his or her home, the employee can concentrate better and be more productive. 

For some people, telecommuting is a new style of working that does not only allow people save a lot and work more efficiently but it also allows people to spend more time with their family and loved ones. Being able to work from home means employees will still be able to perform other obligations like taking care of children or doing housework. These would not be possible if they work in the office. 

On the other hand, people who oppose telecommuting say it is a big risk not only for employees but also for the employers. Security may be one of the biggest concerns as not all tasks or transactions may be transferred to an employee’s home computer. 

Another is the loss of synergy and teamwork among employees.Since workers stay in their own homes or other places aside from the office, they do not get to consult each other or work together to produce a better output. 

There are people who say that telecommuting require a lot of self-discipline and dedication. Employees who do not possess these qualities may be liabilities for their employers. Supervision and evaluation of work may be easier if all employees stay in the same work place.

36. (끝까지) 기다리다.

A : I don't think it's going to let up soon.

B : You go ahead. I'm going to wait it out.

A : We're in for a big storm. Why don't we have a cup of coffee, and wait this rain out.

B : sounds great.

The World’s Water Problems and the United Nations

According to research, the water crisis being experienced by people is the top global risk based on its impact on the society. It may lead to devastation and even become life threatening. Problems on water such as insufficient water supply, drought and water pollution are not limited to those who live in underdeveloped countries but also those who live in advanced and economically stable areas.

Problems related to water did not exist overnight. They progressed and worsened through time. So in an effort to stop water-related problems, the United Nations made March 22nd World Water Day. It is an annual international event where people from different parts of the world celebrate the importance of water. The main goal of celebrating World Water Day is for people to have an increased appreciation towards water and to make the world realize the severity of water-related problems that humanity has to face.

This year’s highlight for the celebration of World Water Day was, “Water and Sustainable Develop-ment.” The 2015 theme draws the world’s attention to the role that water plays in promoting the well-being of humans and strengthening the economic and environmental systems.

Water is universally needed by human beings for survival however, almost 70 percent of the world’s population do not have access to clean and potable water. Water is used for energy production and other industrial purposes however, it is continually polluted and wasted. These are just some ironies that water experts emphasized in relation to this year’s theme.

Aside from the 2015 theme, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also focused his attention on the aggravating effects of global warming and industrialization to the world’s water supply. In one of his speeches, Mr. Ban said that climate change, the increasing demand of agriculture, industries and cities for water resources and increasing pollution hasten the water crisis. He added that cross-sectoral planning along with polices that cover international and regional levels are the only solutions that may address the problem.

The United Nations says that the celebration of World Water Day will continue in many more years to come. There are a lot of aspects about water that need to be taken into consideration and together with the heads of states and other non-profit organizations, the United Nations will keep finding solutions for water-related problems.

The organization is also calling for the participation of people around the world to support its cause by conserving water and trying to keep water sources clean. It is believed that the problems can be resolved sooner if everyone will work together.

35. 길들이다.

This car is well broken in. It runs better than a new car.

A : Do those shoes feel comfortable?

B : Yes, they do. It took more than a week to get them broken in.

You have to break in the new employees.

Oscars Not Diverse

The Academy Awards has been around since 1929 when it was first held in a private dinner function with 270 attendees. Since then, it has had its moments of glamor and controversy. Amidst the glamorand excitement that surrounds the atmosphere on every Academy Awards night, it has seemed like there is always a catch. Every awards night has become a night where the media watch out for the announcement of the winners, their acceptance speeches, and yes, even the best and the worst dressed celebrities. 

There were rare instances when nominees opted to boycott the event. Some even refused to accept their awards due to various reasons such as discrimination and bias. This 2016, the most recent blow that the Oscars has suffered is the accusation of lack of diversity which is nothing new. Around the time that the nominees were released, African-American actress Jada Pinkett Smith was one of the first celebrities to take note that no African-Americans were nominated this 2016. She further criticized the lack of diversity in the acting category. This year’s event was given an alternative title, “#OscarsSoWhite.” 

Adding more insult to injury, African-American comedian Chris Rock hosted the awards night and confronted the diversity issue head on, promising that he would not shy away from the issue. Before the awards night, people were already on the edge of their seats, anxious to witness how Chris Rock would handle the longstanding issue of lack of diversity in the Academy nominations. He started the night with a feisty monologue that would forever be remembered. 

He mentioned some thought-provoking sentiments by asking rhetorical questions, while still managing to keep the audience entertained by his use of humorous metaphors in between. He also criticized other celebrities who asked him to boycott the event. However, he also made it clear that he understood why actresses like Jada boycotted the awards night. Over the years, he added, African-Americans had other more important protests than not getting nominated for an Oscar. 

In the end, he capped his monologue on a serious note that what African-Americans really want is to get more acting opportunities. His stand became clearer in his sentiment that Leonardo DiCaprio gets a great part every year, while African-American actors do not. However, some netizens criticized Chris Rock for only speaking in behalf of African-Americans while other races were not nominated as well. Nevertheless, many people thought that what he did was brave and brilliant.

34. 습관적이다/습관적인

A : Why do you do that?

B : Force of habit makes me do it.

A : We bought you a washing machine, so why do you still wash everything by hand?

B : Force of habit, I suppose, dear.

Smoking is habit-forming. So it's best not to start.

Meat and Korean Food Culture

Korean cuisine is known to be made with a variety of ingredients. Kimchi taking an important part, many Korean dishes form Korea’s unique food culture. Although there are also several kinds of dishes made with meat, Korean cuisine generally has the image of using a lot of vegetables and agricultural products. Some dishes gain attention as health food especially from people in the western world that enjoy much meat and other greasy dishes. 

However, this does not mean Koreans don’t really like eating meat.It is true that there is an increase in the number of people who try torefrain from eating beef, pork and poultry for health and physical fitness reasons, but meat is still preferred by the majority of Koreans. 

According to a recent survey, grilled meat in restaurants is the most favored dish by Koreans when eating outside their homes. It is easy to find meat restaurants in every neighborhood around cities in the nation. Many people prefer having beef for celebrations and special occasions while pork is much preferred for rather casual gatherings with friends and families. 

Grilled pork belly and marinated grilled spare ribs are popular dishes served in company get togethers in Korea. 

These days, aside from the usual kinds of meat that people eat, lamb is gaining more popularity among meat lovers. Many Koreans had difficulties in getting familiar with eating the meat from sheep because of its unique smell and toughness. While mutton had such limitations, lamb meat dishes that can be easily found these days is known to be tender with no strong smell, so there is an increase of lamb enthusiasts in Korea, reports say. In Seoul, there are some casual eating places selling dishes made with lamb meat and these places are getting more and more popular among young people. 

Lamb is known as healthy meat with low calorie and fat content, and with much protein and minerals good for the body. Especially since this year is the Year of the Sheep, interest on eating lamb dishes is increasing. Reflecting this new trend, it is now easy to find lamb sold along with beef and pork in the fresh meat section of large supermarkets. 

The growing demand for lamb leads to an increase of lamb import from overseas, mostly from Australia and New Zealand. Experts predict that since tariffs on lamb will decrease and eventually beabolished, the amount of lamb imported from Oceania will keep increasing in the coming years. 

With the growth of economy and improvement of living standards, eating meat has become almost a necessity in Koreans’ meal plans. The growing interest in lamb is expected to diversify the taste of many Koreans who are used to having dishes made with traditional beef and pork, adding a new part in food culture.

33. (우연히) ~버릇이 붙다.

My son is nervous and loud, and my daughter is picking up his way.

My little boy is picking up his brother's way.

A New Reality

Virtual reality, also known as immersive multimedia or computer-simulated reality, is a make-believe environment based on the real world or a fictional world. A person who uses this media is allowed to interact in a certain world in which a person’s senses including sight, touch, hearing, and smell are stimulated to create sensoryexperiences. This technology continues to grow because of different experiences that it brings to a user without the expense of convenience. It also takes advantage of people’s constant need to feel awed and stimulated in new and different ways.

3D cinema is perhaps the most accessible virtual reality technology that people could get their hands on. Other than that, we often see the use of virtual realities in the science-fiction (sci-fi) genre. In some films and TV shows, virtual realities are used in distant future settings like the movie “Avatar,” or plots that feature spies and government intelligence like “Mission Impossible.”

Many people, however, do not realize that the use of virtual realities is actually happening around us. In fact, virtual realities are making their way into different fields other than entertainment and military.Many IT companies are working on their own virtual reality technologies to avoid being left behind.

There are a variety of ways people could experience virtual reality. People could enjoy through their computer screens or through High Definition Virtual Reality (HDVR) special stereoscopic displays. Stereoscopic displays allow creation and enhancement of depth perception, the visual ability of humans to perceive the world in three dimensons (3D), also referred to as depth sensation when it comes to animals. Stereoscopic displays have additional features that make it possible for users to enjoy real-life sounds through earphones or speakers.

Other devices that are more advanced now have an ability to sendtactile information which is technically referred to as force feedback. Force feedback uses haptic communication that is transmitted from a device to the user by applying forces, vibrations, or motions. This ability enhances virtual experiences in medical, gaming, and military applications. Aside from experiencing lifelike environments, people who are in different places may also communicate with each other through “telepresence” and “telexistence.” Telepresence gives anillusion that a person is physically present in a communication event. In contrast, telexistence gives an illusion that a person is in a different place.

Besides the popularity of virtual reality in military and entertainment, many people see its usefulness in education and training because of the benefits it could bring to diverse learners. Although it is not a change that is widely welcomed, many people see the future of education alongside the evolution of virtual reality. 

There is also little doubt that even common people would be able to have access to the various forms of virtual realities in the near future. Many people, especially techie ones, look forward to this breakthrough in technology.