영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

When Mina was a freshman, she often ①spent her allowance within a few days. Her older cousin told her about the marshmallow experiment, a famous study ②in which children could eat one marshmallow immediately or wait for two. Researchers found that children who waited longer ③shown better academic performance and self-control years later. Inspired by the study, Mina began ④saving half of her allowance each week instead of spending it all on snacks. After three months, however, she had saved enough to buy a bicycle she had ⑤wanted for over a year.

Some critics ①dismiss this approach as impractical, arguing that most people cannot afford to prioritize ethics over affordability in daily life. However, supporters point out that value-based spending does not require constant ②sacrifice; it often means buying fewer, higher-quality items rather than accumulating cheap goods that wear out quickly. This shift also encourages companies to improve their practices, since consumer demand increasingly rewards ③transparency and responsibility. For example, a clothing brand that openly shares its supply chain information may attract ④disloyal customers willing to pay slightly more. Ultimately, value-based consumption suggests that spending money is not merely an economic act but also a ⑤reflection of personal values.

Many people believe that building a new habit requires strong willpower or motivation. However, psychologist BJ Fogg argues that habits form more easily when a behavior itself becomes simple to perform. His theory, called the Fogg Behavior Model, states that ___________. When motivation is low, the task must be made extremely easy, or it will not happen at all. For instance, a person who wants to exercise daily succeeds more often by committing to one push-up than to a long workout. Fogg calls this idea the law of least effort, since people naturally choose the option requiring the least energy. A student who wants to read more might leave a book open on the desk rather than setting a vague goal. By lowering the required effort, people reduce the ability barrier and make steady action far more achievable.

Limited-edition products are goods that are released in small quantities for a short period of time. Many companies use this strategy because ___________. When consumers believe that a product will disappear soon, they often feel pressured to buy it immediately rather than wait. For instance, a sneaker company that releases only a few thousand pairs of a special design can generate long lines outside stores overnight. This excitement is intensified by social media, where people proudly share photos of items that others could not obtain. However, this psychological pressure can lead to purchases that are driven by fear rather than genuine need. As a result, some shoppers later regret spending money on products they rarely use afterward.

Smart speakers have quietly become a fixture in many households, responding to spoken requests for weather updates, music, or kitchen timers. (A) Still, the technology remains far from perfect, since background noise, overlapping voices, or an unusual sentence structure can cause the assistant to misunderstand a simple request. (B) Because these assistants improve by learning from millions of interactions, they gradually become better at recognizing regional accents and casual phrasing that once confused them. (C) Behind this simple exchange lies a complex process: the device converts sound waves into text, interprets the meaning, and then generates a spoken reply, all within a second or two.

The Zeigarnik effect has practical applications beyond the classroom and the restaurant industry. (A) This same tension applies to everyday tasks, since starting a small step can create a similar pull toward finishing. (B) Advertisers, for example, often design commercials that end abruptly, leaving viewers curious about the outcome. (C) For this reason, productivity experts often recommend beginning a task immediately, even for just a few minutes, rather than postponing it.

The classification of platform workers has become one of the most debated issues in modern labor law. (A) For this reason, companies generally prefer classifying these workers as independent contractors rather than full employees. (B) Being classified this way, however, means workers miss out on protections such as minimum wage and paid leave. (C) Employee status requires companies to provide benefits and follow strict labor regulations, which increases operating costs.

Goal-setting theory has influenced not only classrooms but also workplaces around the world. (A) Many companies now train managers to set specific quarterly targets rather than simply asking employees to 'do their best.' (B) As a result, employees often report clearer priorities and a stronger sense of accomplishment. (C) These targets typically include measurable numbers, such as sales figures or project deadlines.

Many countries and companies today have adopted the goal of carbon neutrality, aiming to balance the greenhouse gases they emit with the amount they remove from the atmosphere. (A) Achieving this goal typically requires several sequential stages rather than a single sudden action; first, organizations attempt to reduce emissions directly by replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power. (B) Critics argue, however, that some companies exploit offsetting too early, using it to avoid making genuine reductions, so experts insist that a credible roadmap must always prioritize actual emission cuts before relying on compensation. (C) Next, they improve efficiency throughout their operations, minimizing the energy wasted during production and transportation, and only after these measures have been maximized do most organizations turn to offsetting, funding outside projects such as reforestation.

Researchers have long debated why people often behave so differently once they log onto the internet. (A) On the other hand, this same freedom can turn destructive when users hide behind anonymity to attack others without fear of being identified. (B) One explanation lies in the reduced sense of accountability that anonymity and physical distance create, allowing hidden emotions to surface more easily. (C) For instance, someone who feels lonely might open up honestly in an online forum, sharing feelings they would never mention to coworkers.