영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

Communication scholar Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann proposed the spiral of silence theory to explain why certain opinions dominate public discussion while others fade into invisibility. According to this theory, individuals constantly ②observe their surrounding environment to judge which opinions are widely accepted and which are not. When people sense that their own view belongs to a minority, they often choose ③to stay silent rather than risk social isolation or criticism. This silence, however, creates a distorted impression that the minority opinion is even rarer than it actually is, ①discouraged additional supporters from speaking up. Over time, this cycle spirals downward, allowing the dominant opinion ④to appear increasingly unanimous while dissenting voices disappear from visible conversation. Social media platforms can intensify this spiral, since visibility metrics make popular opinions instantly noticeable while unpopular ones ⑤remain hidden.

A growing number of people are practicing what is now called digital detox, the deliberate decision ①to stop using smartphones for a set period. Rather than checking notifications every few minutes, participants unplug for a weekend, a week, or sometimes even longer. Numerous studies suggest that this temporary withdrawal ②produce real benefits for both the mind and the body. First, attention spans ③fragmented by constant notifications gradually recover, allowing people to concentrate on single tasks for longer stretches. Second, avoiding screens before bedtime improves sleep quality, since blue light ④emitted by devices is known to disrupt natural sleep cycles. Third, people freed from their phones often rediscover the pleasure of face-to-face conversations ⑤that had been replaced by texting.

An echo chamber refers to an online environment where people are mainly ①exposed to opinions that already match their own beliefs. This phenomenon occurs because social media algorithms tend to ②recommending content similar to what users have previously liked or shared, gradually narrowing the range of perspectives they encounter. As a result, individuals inside an echo chamber rarely engage with viewpoints ③that challenge their existing assumptions, which allows their original beliefs to grow increasingly extreme over time. For example, someone who frequently reads articles supporting one political party may begin to see the opposing party as entirely unreasonable, ④having never seriously considered its arguments. Political polarization, a significant issue in many countries today, is often ⑤linked to this pattern of selective exposure.

Many people feel a sudden wave of anxiety when their smartphone battery is nearly dead or they have ①left it at home. This intense discomfort, known as nomophobia, is short for "no-mobile-phone phobia," a term ②describing the fear of losing connection to one's phone. Researchers explain that this fear develops because smartphones have become tightly linked to social belonging; missing a notification can feel like ③be cut off from friends. For example, some students check their phones dozens of times an hour, even during class, just to confirm nothing important ④has been missed. Recognizing nomophobia as a real psychological pattern ⑤is the first step toward a healthier relationship with technology.

Internet activist Eli Pariser introduced the term filter bubble to describe a phenomenon created by online algorithms. Social media platforms and search engines constantly track which links users click and how long they linger on certain posts. Based on this data, algorithms predict what each individual is most likely to enjoy and quietly prioritize similar content in future results. As a result, two people who type the same search query can receive strikingly different results, each tailored to personal history. This automatic filtering happens silently, without users ever deciding to limit what they see. Consequently, many people gradually lose access to viewpoints that challenge their existing beliefs, even though they never intended to avoid them. Pariser warned that this invisible curation could weaken democratic debate by narrowing public discussion. Therefore, some experts argue that platforms should reveal how content is filtered, _______________.

Psychologists have long studied a mechanism called the variable reward schedule, in which rewards arrive unpredictably rather than after every single action. Slot machines famously exploit this principle, and social media notifications operate on strikingly similar logic. When someone posts a photo, they cannot predict exactly when likes will appear, nor how many they will eventually receive. This uncertainty triggers a small burst of dopamine each time the phone is checked, regardless of whether the result is disappointing or thrilling. Consequently, users often refresh their feeds compulsively, hoping the next check will finally bring a satisfying reward. What makes this troubling is that technology companies deliberately designed notification systems using insights borrowed from gambling research, rather than stumbling upon them by accident. Such practices raise serious ethical questions about manipulating users' brains for profit. Therefore, people must _______________.

Sociologist Mark Granovetter introduced an idea that seems contradictory at first glance, known as the strength of weak ties. According to this theory, people who see each other only occasionally, called weak ties, often provide more valuable information than close friends or family members, who are considered strong ties. This happens because strong ties tend to share the same social circles and, therefore, already possess similar knowledge. Weak ties, in contrast, move within different networks, which allows them to introduce ideas or opportunities that would otherwise remain unknown. For example, a former classmate rarely contacted might mention a job opening unavailable through one's immediate circle. Social media platforms have made maintaining such connections remarkably easier, letting users keep hundreds of loose acquaintances active without frequent face-to-face meetings. Consequently, these platforms _______________.

주어진 문장: After all, ignoring proven facts might seem like an irrational thing to do. When people encounter solid scientific evidence about climate change, we might expect them to accept it without hesitation. ( ① ) However, many individuals still dismiss or downplay such evidence, and psychologists explain this pattern through a concept called motivated reasoning. ( ② ) Motivated reasoning refers to the tendency to process information in a way that protects one's existing beliefs, identity, or lifestyle rather than to pursue objective truth. ( ③ ) For example, a person whose livelihood depends on the fossil fuel industry may unconsciously search for reasons to doubt climate data, even while claiming to value scientific accuracy. ( ④ ) This happens because accepting uncomfortable facts can threaten a person's sense of self or demand costly lifestyle changes. ( ⑤ ) Therefore, simply presenting more data rarely persuades a committed skeptic. Instead, experts suggest connecting climate information to values the person already holds, such as family safety or economic stability, so that acceptance feels natural rather than threatening.

주어진 문장: In short, Fogg's model reminds us that ease of action, not sheer willpower, drives lasting behavior change. Many people believe that building a new habit requires strong willpower or motivation. ( ① ) However, psychologist BJ Fogg argues that habits form more easily when a behavior itself becomes simple to perform. ( ② ) His theory, called the Fogg Behavior Model, states that a behavior happens only when motivation, ability, and a prompt occur together. When motivation is low, the task must be made extremely easy, or it will not happen at all. ( ③ ) 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. ( ④ ) 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. ( ⑤ )

주어진 문장: This lack of accountability makes silence feel like a reasonable, even harmless, choice. Social psychologists describe a phenomenon called the bystander effect, in which individuals become less likely to help a victim as the number of witnesses increases. ( ① ) Each observer assumes someone else will step in, and this diffusion of responsibility leaves no one willing to act. ( ② ) Cyberbullying magnifies this problem, since a single humiliating post can be witnessed by thousands of people scattered across the internet rather than a few standing nearby. ( ③ ) Anonymity intensifies the effect further, allowing silent observers to scroll past cruel comments without feeling accountable for their inaction. ( ④ ) Some bystanders even worry that intervening publicly might make them the bully's next target, so they choose to remain silent instead. ( ⑤ ) However, silence signals approval to both the bully and the audience watching the exchange unfold. Experts insist that even a single supportive comment can disrupt this harmful pattern. Therefore, witnesses online must resist staying passive and instead speak up.