영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

Climate scientists frequently warn about tipping points, thresholds beyond which a small additional change ①triggers a large, often irreversible shift in the climate system. Unlike gradual warming, which unfolds steadily over decades, crossing a tipping point can produce dramatic consequences within a short period. For instance, as Arctic ice melts, it exposes darker ocean water that ②absorb more sunlight than reflective ice, accelerating further melting in a self-reinforcing cycle. Similarly, scientists worry that a major ocean current, which currently ③redistributes heat across the planet, could slow dramatically if enough freshwater from melting glaciers dilutes the surrounding seawater. Once such thresholds are crossed, ④restoring the original balance may become nearly impossible, even if emissions are later reduced. Therefore, researchers argue that preventing these transitions ⑤matters more than merely slowing average temperature increases.

Melatonin is a hormone produced by a small gland deep within the brain, and its release follows a remarkably ①unpredictable daily pattern. Levels stay low throughout the bright hours of the day, begin rising in the evening as darkness falls, peak in the middle of the night, and then ②decline again as morning approaches. This rhythm is controlled primarily by light: specialized cells in the eye detect brightness and send signals that either permit or suppress melatonin production, which is why exposure to bright screens late at night can ③delay its release and make falling asleep more difficult. Unlike some hormones that directly cause the body to perform a task, melatonin does not force sleep to occur; instead, it signals to the rest of the body that night has arrived, preparing various systems to shift into a ④lower-energy state. Because of this signaling role, taking melatonin supplements at the wrong time can shift a person's internal clock in the ⑤opposite direction from what was intended.

Many companies now advertise themselves as environmentally responsible, yet a growing number of these claims turn out to be ①misleading. This practice, known as greenwashing, occurs when a business spends more effort marketing its products as eco-friendly than actually reducing environmental harm. A company might launch a recycled-packaging line while continuing to pollute rivers through its main factories, creating a false impression of genuine change. Such tactics ②deceive well-intentioned consumers who wish to shop responsibly but lack the tools to ③verify corporate claims. In contrast, truly sustainable businesses publish detailed, independently verified data about their emissions and supply chains, allowing outsiders to check their progress. Therefore, shoppers should look beyond vague labels like green or natural and instead search for ④recognized certifications, transparent reports, and measurable targets. Without such scrutiny, greenwashing will keep ⑤declining, undermining public trust and slowing the broader shift toward an economy that truly protects the planet.

When people discuss climate change, they often focus only on rising temperatures or melting ice, treating it as a purely scientific issue. However, the concept of climate justice reminds us that the causes and consequences of climate change are distributed ①evenly across the globe. Wealthy, industrialized nations have historically released the ②largest share of greenhouse gases while building their economies, yet developing nations, which contributed comparatively little, frequently suffer the most ③severe droughts and floods. This gap between responsibility and suffering raises a serious ④ethical question that science alone cannot answer. For example, a farming community in a low-income country may lose its entire harvest to an unusual flood, even though its members have never owned a car or flown on a plane. Therefore, tackling climate change requires more than new technology; it demands ⑤fair policies supporting the very communities least responsible for causing the crisis.

A small riverside village had ①endured severe flooding almost every summer, watching helplessly as rising water damaged homes and destroyed crops year after year. Frustrated residents eventually decided to pursue climate adaptation, adjusting their infrastructure and habits to reduce the damage caused by increasingly unpredictable weather. Engineers widened the drainage canals surrounding the village, allowing excess rainwater to flow away more efficiently instead of pooling in low-lying streets. Meanwhile, several families whose houses stood in the most ②vulnerable areas relocated to higher ground, even though leaving their long-time homes was emotionally difficult. The village also installed an early warning system that sent alerts to residents' phones whenever river levels rose dangerously fast. When a powerful storm struck three years later, the new measures proved ③useless, and the village suffered only minor damage instead of the ④devastating losses it had previously faced. Their ⑤resilience became a model for neighboring communities.

A growing number of health apps now track steps, sleep, and heart rate throughout the day, quietly building a detailed picture of a user's physical condition. By comparing this stream of data against patterns drawn from millions of other users, the app's algorithm can flag early warning signs, such as an irregular heartbeat, long before the person experiencing it would have noticed anything unusual. Doctors caution, however, that these apps are designed to detect patterns, not to diagnose illness, and that _______________.

Imagine two factories making the same product: one in a country with strict carbon rules, and one in a country with almost none. The factory facing stricter rules often spends more, which can make its goods pricier than those made elsewhere. To fix this imbalance, some governments have introduced the carbon border adjustment mechanism, a policy charging imported goods a fee based on how much carbon was released while producing them. Supporters argue that the system _______________. However, critics claim it unfairly burdens developing countries, which often lack money to modernize factories quickly. For example, a small exporter in a poorer nation might struggle to pay the added charge, though it contributes little to global emissions. Still, if wealthier nations pair the policy with technical support, it could become a genuinely fair tool for cutting emissions worldwide.

Imagine a cafeteria where a healthy salad sits at eye level while fried snacks rest on a low shelf. Nobody is forbidden from choosing the snacks, yet most people quietly pick the salad instead. This simple technique illustrates a nudge, a concept from behavioral economics _______________. Companies and governments increasingly apply nudges to encourage sustainable consumption. For example, some hotels print reminders on towels stating that most guests reuse them, which persuades new guests to do the same and save water. Similarly, energy bills that compare a household's usage with that of efficient neighbors often lead people to reduce electricity use. Unlike strict regulations or heavy taxes, nudges rely on subtle changes in design rather than force. Critics argue nudges alone cannot solve large environmental problems, but combined with stronger policies, they can meaningfully shift everyday habits toward sustainability.

One reason many consumers hesitate to switch to greener options involves a specific pricing gap that economists have named. (A) This price gap frequently discourages shoppers who support sustainability in principle but cannot justify the additional expense, while wealthier consumers can absorb the premium more easily, which creates unequal participation in green markets. (B) This gap, known as the green premium, describes the extra cost that consumers must pay when they choose an environmentally friendly product over a cheaper, conventional alternative; for example, an electric vehicle or solar-powered appliance often carries a higher price tag than its gasoline-powered or coal-based counterpart, even though it produces fewer emissions. (C) To narrow this gap, governments have introduced subsidies and tax credits that lower upfront costs, and as production scales up and innovation continues, many economists expect the premium to shrink steadily.

주어진 문장: Every rainy season, the water rose a little higher, leaving the villagers increasingly anxious about their future. Mira had lived in a coastal village since birth, watching the tide creep closer to her family's doorstep every year. ( ① ) When the sea finally swallowed the rice paddies that had fed her village for generations, her parents decided that staying was no longer possible. ( ② ) Together with many neighbors, they packed what little they could carry and moved inland, becoming what experts now call climate migrants, people forced to abandon their homes because of rising seas, droughts, or other disasters. ( ③ ) This term, rarely used a decade ago, has become increasingly common as extreme weather displaces communities worldwide. ( ④ ) Mira missed her old house terribly, yet she slowly began to build a new life in the crowded city, learning to adapt just as her ancestors once had. ( ⑤ ) International organizations, however, still struggle to agree on how to protect people like her, since climate migrants are not officially recognized as refugees under current law.