NE Times Key Words

Seoul Schools Provide Free Lunches

번호 영어 단어 한글 뜻

1 culmination 정점, 성취

2 ambitious 야심 찬
3 initiative 계획

4 gradually 점진적으로

5 expand 확장하다
6 scope 범위

7 cover 포함시키다

8 upperclassman 상급생
9 free of charge 무료로

10 benefit 혜택을 받다

11 annually 매년

12 opponent 반대자

13 put strain on ~에 부담을 주다

14 budget 예산
15 household 가정

16 low-income family 저소득 가구

17 apply for ~을 신청하다

18 lunch voucher 식권

19 embarrassment 민망함, 곤란함

20 assure of ~를 보장하다

21 nutritious 영양가 있는

22 acting mayor 시장 대행

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 Seoul Schools Provide Free Lunches

In March, / the Seoul Metropolitan Government / began offering

free lunches / to all students in elementary, middle, and high

schools. It was / the culmination of an ambitious project / that

began 10 years ago.

The government first started / its free-lunch initiative / at select

elementary schools in 2011. It then gradually expanded / the

scope of the program / to cover all elementary school students

in 2012, / all middle school students in 2014, / and upperclassmen in high school / a few

years later.

This spring semester, / first-year high school students / became the final group / to receive

their school lunches / free of charge. With this last step completed, / about 835,000 students

in 1,348 schools / are now benefiting / from the government’s program.

The cost of providing the school lunches / is between 5,000 won and 5,500 won / per meal.

Overall, / the Seoul government will pay / around 730 billion won annually / to operate the

free school meal program. Some opponents of the initiative / have argued that / this cost

would put too much strain / on the city’s annual budget.

On the other hand, / the program has many supporters, / who say it helps households / with

children of school age / to save money. Also, / low-income families / no longer have to apply

/ for lunch vouchers, / which can cause embarrassment / for some students.

In addition, / education experts say that / all students are assured of having / at least one

nutritious meal per day.

“This is part of our plan / to provide for the basic educational necessities / of the students,”

/ said Seo Jeong-hyeop, / the acting mayor of Seoul.

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 Seoul Schools Provide Free Lunches

(1) In March, / the Seoul Metropolitan Government / began offering free lunches / to all

students in elementary, middle, and high schools.

(2) It was / the culmination of an ambitious project / that began 10 years ago.

(3) The government first started / its free-lunch initiative / at select elementary schools

in 2011.

(4) It then gradually expanded / the scope of the program / to cover all elementary

school students / in 2012, / all middle school students in 2014, / and upperclassmen in

high school / a few years later.

(5) This spring semester, / first-year high school students / became the final group / to

receive their school lunches / free of charge.

(6) With this last step completed, / about 835,000 students in 1,348 schools / are now

benefiting / from the government’s program.

(7) The cost of providing the school lunches / is between 5,000 won and 5,500 won / per

meal.

(8) Overall, / the Seoul government will pay / around 730 billion won annually / to

operate the free school meal program.

(9) Some opponents of the initiative / have argued that / this cost would put too much

strain / on the city’s annual budget.

(10) On the other hand, / the program has many supporters, / who say it helps

households / with children of school age / to save money.

(11) Also, / low-income families / no longer have to apply / for lunch vouchers, / which

can cause embarrassment / for some students.

(12) In addition, / education experts say that / all students are assured of having / at

least one nutritious meal per day.

(13) “This is part of our plan / to provide for the basic educational necessities / of the

students,” / said Seo Jeong-hyeop, / the acting mayor of Seoul.

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