1.

Korea in Retrospect – Hyojong

[Comprehension Check]

1)When did the King Hyojong’s reign?

2)Why Hyojong went to Qing and when did he come back to Joseon?

3)Why didn’t Song Siyeol agree to Hyojong’s northern conquest plan?

[Discussion Questions]

1)What do you think did Hyojong feel when he saw his father’s humiliation to Hong Tiji?

2)Who is right between Hyojong and Song Siyeol? Why do you think so?

2.World Features – Comey Scandal

[Comprehension Check]

1) What was the scandal Trump got involved with?

2) What information did Trump divulge to Russian government?

3) Why did Trump fire the FBI Director James Comey?

[Discussion Questions]

1) Do you think that the alleged accusations that Trump is facing are all true?

2) Do you think Trump should undergo an impeachment trial?

3.Hot News – Book of the Month

[Comprehension Check]

1. When was the social background of the novel, Grape of Wrath?

2. Please described the lives of fruit pickers during the transition to California.

3. Did Tom and his family find what they had dreamed in California?

[Discussion Questions]

1) As the author of Grape of Wrath depicted in the book, do you think the human life is really
transience?

2) Please explain a little bit about the Great Depression.

4.Perspective – Are Today’s Music Festivals Only For The Rich?

[Comprehension Check]

1. Why recently music festival has been criticized?

2. Besides the price hike, what are the problems of famous music festival?

3. What’s the name of music festival that contributed to countercultural movement in America?

[Discussion Questions]

1)Which one is the most famous music festival in Korea?

2)Do you agree with the reporter’s opinions regarding the price hike, commercialism and material
indulgence of music festival?

5. Arts – Divine Classic Works of Art

[Comprehension Check]

1) Why is Parthenon considered the greatest surviving relic?

2) Why was The Winged Victory of Samothrace build?

3) Where can you find The Vénus de Milo, a statue of Aphrodite?

[Discussion Questions]

1) Why is Parthenon part of World Heritage sites in Greece?

2) Why do you think Greeks were lovers of Art and admirers of gods?

6. World on the Move – Marathoners Race Up Lotte World Tower’s 2,917 Stairs

[Comprehension Check]

1) Who were the participants of Lotte World Tower International Sky run?

2) How much is the total prize given to the top three winners?

3) Why did firefighters, police officers and local government officials participate in this event?

[Discussion Questions]

1) Why do you think the slogan “Beautiful challenge for a heartwarming world is being used in the
event?

2) Why do they need to raise funds? Explain in detail.

7. World Matters- Presidential Performance

[Comprehension Check]

1) Who replaced Michael Flynn as National Security adviser?

2) When did North Korea launch the intermediate-range ballistic missile?

3) Why did Trump visit military medical center in Maryland?

[Discussion Questions]

1)What do you think about Donald Trump’s performance during his 100 days in office?

2)Do you think Trump made the right decision to ban entry of refugees and immigrants from Muslim
nations to the U.S.? Why or why not?

8. Newsfeed- Macron Is France’s New President

[Comprehension Check]

1) Where did the people gather waving French and European flags?

2) How did Macron began his political career?

3) What happened in April 2016?

[Discussion Questions]

1) What does Macron means to his victory speech “Everyone told us that it would be impossible but they
did not know France.”

2) Do you think Emmanuel Macron can be one of the greatest Presidents in France despite his young age?
Why or why not?

9. Explore the Idea- The Ransomware Attacks

[Comprehension Check]

1) How did the cybersecurity analyst stopped the virus from spreading?

2) Based on the article, what are some precautions that individual users can do to protect their
computers?

3) Where was the virus created? What was Forbes and Reuters suspicion about it?
[Discussion Questions]

1) Is it important to distinguish the different types of cyberattacks? How should we do it?

2) What is the role of government in securing cyberspace?

10. The IT World of Tomorrow- Unexplained Noises of the Ocean

[Comprehension Check]

1) What is the method that we can do to observe ocean activity?

2) What is the The Bloop and what did some geologists say about the phenomenon?

3) What are the noises that have been picked up throughout the various regions in the world?

[Discussion Questions]

1) Do you think oceanography and marine biology can help people uncover the truth behind the noises
in the ocean?

2) What do you think of the phenomenon in Baffin Island, Canada? Is it something usual or unusual
based on their studies?

11. In Spotlight- PIXAR 30 Years of Animation

[Comprehension Check]

1) What is the current subsidiary of The Walt Disney?

2) What are the numerous awards won by the studio?

3) Explain what John Lasseter said, " The art challenges the technology, and technology inspires the art".

[Discussion Questions]

1) Why do you think Pixar animation movies have become popular?

2) The Walt Disney Company has created a lot of world-renowned animated films, what do you think is
their best animation movie by far?

12. Know Right Now- Chemical Attacks in Syria

[Comprehension Check]

1) What reason did the US intelligence agencies give on why the Syrian government attacked Khan
Sheikhoun?
2) What chemical substance was found in the bio-medical samples collected from the victims of the
attack?

3) How did U.S. President Trump respond to the situation?

[Discussion Questions]

1) Which step do you believe is better and more workable - that of the U.N. Secretary General or of U.S.
President Trump?

2) What is your reaction on the suspected chemical attack made by the Syrian government to its people
killing more than 80 people especially women and children?

13. Health- Will Genome Editing Finally Provide a Cure?

[Comprehension Check]

1) What technology is being developed as an answer for HIV/AIDS and a host of other diseases still
considered incurable?

2) Why is HIV a particularly unique virus?

3) How is HIV transmitted and how many people die every year from this disease?

[Discussion Questions]

1) What steps and precautions does your country take to prevent (if not cure) HIV/AIDS virus from
infecting other people?

2) Based on the article, do you think scientists can successfully find a cure for HIV/AIDS?

14. Celebrity Tracks- Pretty Woman

[Comprehension Check]

1) What were the achievements of Julia Roberts since she became an actress?

2) How many times was Julia Roberts named People Magazine's "Most Beautiful Woman"?

3) What movies of Julia Roberts won for her three Golden Globe awards?

[Discussion Questions]

1) Why do you think Julia Roberts was named the most beautiful woman?

2) What is your opinion on Julia Roberts’ Academy Award for Best Actress in Erin Brockovich?

15. Special Report- The Rise of the Emoji

[Comprehension Check]

1) How were Emoji expressions being created before the rise of the emoji stickers?

2) Where did Emoji originate and how did it evolve in the text messaging activity?
3) What are the popular emojis in South Korea?

[Discussion Questions]

1) Would you be willing to join the international Emojicon conference? Why or why not?

2) Why is emoji helpful in expressing ideas?

16. Career Exploration- Optometrist

[Comprehension Check]

1) What is the difference between the job of an optometrist and an optician?

2) What kind of education should a person attain to become an optometrist?

3) How does one become a licensed optometrist or optician?

[Discussion Questions]

1) As the optician mentioned in the article, women don’t tend to do this job. Do you think that men are
better opticians than women?

2) Do you think being an optician is one of the most difficult jobs? Why or why not?

17. Controversial Issues- Is It Right to Protest a Government You Don’t Believe in?

[Comprehension Check]

1) What kind of protests do people take against a government they are dissatisfied with and would want
to change?

2) Who are the precedents and examples of a peaceful, non-violent protests?

3) What happened in Cuba when its people made violent protests against their government?

18. Entertainment- Psy Returns

[Comprehension Check]

1) Who were the prominent people that imitated the iconic ‘Gangnam Style’ dance moves?

2) When did Psy debut his first full-length album?

3) Where did Psy filmed his latest music video?

[Discussion Questions]

1) Why do you think "Gangnam style" became so famous all over the world?

2) Do you like Psy's music genre? Why or why not?

19. Beyond The Window- Islands: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

[Comprehension Check]

1) When did the earthquake strike Pakistan?

2) Why is it called the "Earthquake Island"?

3) According to NASA's Earth Observing - 1 satellite, what are the mixtures of the new island?

[Discussion Questions]

1) What do you think is the reason of the sudden collapsed of the “Earthquake Island”?

2) Would you be willing to be part of the “Earthquake Island” research? Why or why not?

20. Sports Warriors- The End of the Cleveland Browns Curse?

[Comprehension Check]

1) Who was Browns ‘once in a lifetime player’?

2) How many teams did Browns compete before they were able to select college players?

3) How many years does Cleveland Browns have been absent from the playoffs?

[Discussion Questions]

1) What do you think of Garret’s philosophy on winning?

2) Do you think Browns can finally end their playoff drought this season?