Life of a North Korean

What is the main idea of the passage?

• A significant part of North Koreans’ early life and education is dedicated to learning about and honoring the leaders of North Korea.

• North Koreans are allowed to choose whether or not they join the various political parties available, but are strongly encouraged.

• The only thing that allows North Koreans to successfully progress through life is money, as most officials demand bribes.

• North Koreans are not forced to honor their leaders, but develop a very real love and respect for all that their leaders provide them.

Which sentence from the text best supports the main idea of the passage?

• “the child learns that he/she owes everything in life to the immeasurably great men from Paektu Mountain: the Great Leader comrade Kim Il Sung, the Great Guide comrade Kim Jong Il, and to the beloved and respected Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un.”

• “Surely, one can bribe a principal so that one’s child may enter the ‘first school,’ but entering is not enough; one is supposed to study as well — and study hard.”

• “The Children’s Union is the first of the organizations the North Korean will be a member of. Other possible organizations are Youth League, the Party, the Women’s Union, a labor union, and the Farmers’ Union.”

• “And, finally, becoming an adult means one gets a right — or in case of North Korea, a duty — to vote, i.e. visit the polling station, take the ballot with the only candidate’s name, bow to the leaders’ portraits, and put the ballot in the box.”

Which statement best describes the introduction of average North Koreans’ lives?

• The author discusses how the way in which North Koreans’ lives are portrayed is entirely inaccurate.

• The author emphasizes that, just like any other country, the experiences of North Koreans are mixed.

• The author shows how the typical experiences of North Koreans include some kind of conflict with the government.

• The author suggests that what most people tend to know about life in North Korea is the abnormal experiences.

How does the oath in paragraph 14 contribute to the author’s explanation of growing up in North Korea?

• It stresses how much children truly love their leaders and the government.

• It emphasizes the loyalty expected from North Koreans, even at a young age.

• It shows how well-educated and read North Koreans are from a young age.

• It suggests that North Korean children don’t understand the contents of the oath.