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.

Retailers frequently rely on sales events to boost short-term revenue, but the psychology behind these promotions is more complex than simple discounting. When a price is crossed out and replaced with a lower number, consumers instinctively ①perceive the new price as a bargain. This technique, ②known as anchoring, shapes how shoppers judge value by comparing prices rather than evaluating a product on its own merits. Limited-time sales further intensify this effect, since a ticking clock ③encourage rushed decisions that leave little room for careful comparison. Retailers also use phrases such as "while supplies last" to suggest scarcity, even when inventory ④remains plentiful. Over time, frequent sales can actually train customers ⑤to wait for discounts rather than buy at full price.

Online advertising algorithms analyze enormous amounts of user data ①to determine which products a person is most likely to purchase. Every click, search, and pause while scrolling provides information that these systems use ②to refine future advertisements. Supporters argue that this level of precision benefits consumers by ③reducing exposure to irrelevant advertisements and highlighting products they genuinely need. Critics, however, worry that constant exposure to tailored ads can encourage unnecessary spending, since algorithms ④is specifically designed to identify and exploit individual weaknesses. Greater transparency, many experts argue, would allow consumers ⑤to make more informed decisions about their own online behavior.

Self-driving technology is advancing rapidly, and its impact on the transportation industry ①is becoming increasingly visible. Companies are testing autonomous trucks ②that can travel long distances without human drivers, potentially transforming how goods move across countries. Millions of professional drivers worry about ③lose their jobs as automation spreads through the industry. Experts predict that certain driving jobs, particularly long-distance trucking, may ④shrink significantly within the next two decades. New roles are also emerging, including remote vehicle operators who monitor fleets of autonomous trucks and technicians ⑤who maintain the complex sensors these vehicles depend on.

Sociologists use the term homophily to describe the tendency of people to form connections with others who share ①different backgrounds, opinions, or interests. This principle explains why classmates from the same major often become close friends, while coworkers with shared hobbies naturally gravitate toward one another. Because similarity reduces the effort required to understand another person's perspective, relationships built on shared traits tend to feel ②comfortable and require less negotiation. However, this same comfort can ③narrow the range of viewpoints someone encounters, since surrounding oneself with similar people limits exposure to different ideas. Social media platforms intensify this pattern through recommendation algorithms that suggest new friends based on shared interests or similar browsing history. As a result, users often find their online circles becoming increasingly ④homogeneous, filled with people who think and behave much like themselves. Recognizing this tendency allows individuals to make ⑤deliberate efforts to broaden their social networks.

Jian wanted to become a reader for years, but every time he picked up a thick novel, he felt ①overwhelmed and quickly closed it. His cousin, who had read dozens of books that year, told him about something called the two-minute rule. This rule states that a new habit should be shrunk to under two minutes, since a smaller starting point ②strengthens the friction that usually stops people from beginning. Some nights he stopped after that single page, but most nights, once started, he kept reading for twenty or thirty minutes without ③noticing. Because the initial barrier became so small, sitting down no longer felt like a ④burden requiring willpower. Within three months, Jian had finished five books, proving that reducing friction can matter more than ⑤motivation itself.

When Minji was in ninth grade, she posted a joking comment mocking a classmate's photo, never imagining anyone would remember it later. Last spring, she applied to join her school's student council, hoping her leadership experience would impress the selection committee. During the interview, however, one teacher mentioned having seen an old, unkind comment under Minji's name while reviewing applicants' profiles. Startled, Minji realized that everything she had ever posted online had quietly accumulated into what is called a digital footprint, a lasting trail of personal data left behind by online activity. Although she deleted the comment immediately, the damage to her reputation had already been done. She understood that digital footprints ___________.

Many people believe that a new habit becomes automatic after only twenty-one days, but researchers who examined real behavior found a different number. This project, called the 66-day habit formation study, tracked volunteers who tried to adopt a new daily habit, like drinking water with lunch. Researchers measured how automatic each action felt over time and found that habits needed ___________. Yet the actual time varied widely, ranging from about eighteen days for simple habits to over two hundred days for difficult ones. This wide range explains why the popular twenty-one-day claim, though easy to remember, rarely matches real experience.

Psychologists have long studied how people determine their own worth by looking at those around them. (A) Festinger's theory explains this tendency, showing that individuals often compare themselves with others to evaluate their own abilities and opinions. (B) When people compare themselves with someone who seems more accomplished, a process called upward comparison, they often experience envy and lower self-esteem. (C) Social media intensifies this effect by constantly presenting curated images of other people's seemingly perfect lives.

Not long ago, Junho felt he needed to check his phone every few minutes just to keep up with his friends. (A) During this unplanned break from his phone, he was surprised to discover that he actually felt calmer rather than anxious. (B) Encouraged by this experience, he began setting aside phone-free hours on purpose, gradually growing comfortable with being offline. (C) This constant checking left him drained, until one day his phone battery died unexpectedly during a trip.