영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

Carbon neutrality refers to a state in which the amount of greenhouse gases a country or company releases into the atmosphere is ①balanced by the amount it removes, resulting in zero net emissions. Achieving this goal typically requires several sequential stages rather than a single sudden action. First, organizations attempt to ②reduce emissions directly by replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power. Next, they ③improve efficiency throughout their operations, minimizing the energy wasted during production and transportation. Only after these direct measures have been ④maximized do most organizations turn to offsetting, which involves funding projects like reforestation or carbon capture to compensate for emissions that cannot yet be eliminated. Critics argue, however, that some companies exploit offsetting too early, using it to avoid making genuine reductions. Therefore, experts insist that a ⑤flawed roadmap must always prioritize actual emission cuts before relying on compensation.

Minji had tried for years to build a bedtime reading habit but always ①forgot once under the blanket. During summer, she found a method called habit stacking. It means attaching a new habit to an existing one so it acts as a reminder. Her existing habit was brushing her teeth every night, so she decided to place her book ②far from her toothbrush. After brushing her teeth, she would pick up the book, letting one action trigger the next. Within two weeks, opening the book after brushing felt almost ③automatic, requiring no conscious effort. She realized habit stacking worked best when the new habit was ④small and the existing habit was stable and predictable. By the end of summer, both habits felt like ⑤steady parts of her routine, requiring no reminders.

Have you ever noticed that an unfinished task keeps returning to your mind long after you stopped working? This phenomenon was first noticed by psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik, who saw that waiters remembered unpaid orders better than paid ones. Her observation led to what is now called the Zeigarnik effect: ___________. According to this theory, the mind maintains mental tension until a task reaches closure, keeping the unfinished task active in memory.

Climate scientists frequently warn about tipping points, _______________. 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 absorbs more sunlight than reflective ice, accelerating further melting in a self-reinforcing cycle. Similarly, scientists worry that a major ocean current, which currently redistributes heat across the planet, could slow dramatically if enough freshwater from melting glaciers dilutes the surrounding seawater. Once such thresholds are crossed, restoring the original balance may become nearly impossible, even if emissions are later reduced. Therefore, researchers argue that preventing these transitions matters more than merely slowing average temperature increases. Identifying how close each system stands to its threshold remains one of the most urgent challenges in climate research.

The subscription economy refers to a business model in which consumers pay a recurring fee to access goods or services rather than owning them outright. This model has expanded rapidly beyond entertainment platforms into areas such as clothing, food, and even transportation. One major reason for this growth is ___________, since subscribers no longer need to make repeated purchasing decisions once they sign up. Another reason is that companies benefit from predictable revenue, which allows them to plan production and marketing more efficiently than with one-time sales. However, some critics argue that subscriptions encourage people to pay for services they barely use, quietly draining their monthly budgets.

Behavioral economists use the term temporal discounting to describe how people undervalue future rewards simply because those rewards are not immediate. This tendency explains why a student might choose to watch videos tonight rather than study for an exam that remains several weeks away, even though studying offers a greater long-term benefit. A distant reward, no matter how valuable, feels psychologically smaller than a small reward available right now. This bias contributes to procrastination, since future consequences rarely feel urgent enough to motivate immediate action. To counter this tendency, students should convert distant goals into smaller, near-term milestones that feel more emotionally real. Setting weekly checkpoints rather than a final deadline can make future benefits feel closer and more concrete. Teachers and parents should provide immediate, meaningful feedback, since ___________.

After an especially demanding training session, the instinct to collapse onto a couch and remain motionless is understandable, yet exercise physiologists increasingly recommend the opposite approach. Active recovery involves performing low-intensity movement, such as a light jog, an easy swim, or a gentle bike ride, on days following intense exertion rather than resting completely, since _______________. Some athletes worry that any movement at all will interfere with the repair process, but research suggests that truly light activity does not meaningfully slow healing and may even reduce the perceived soreness that follows a hard session.

Smartphones, tablets, and computer screens all emit a significant amount of blue light, a short-wavelength light that our eyes are especially sensitive to. During the day, exposure to blue light from the sun helps keep us alert and mentally sharp, which is generally beneficial. At night, however, the same wavelength can interfere with the body's natural preparation for sleep. Specialized cells in the retina detect blue light and send signals to the brain's internal clock, which results in _______________. Studies have found that people who scroll through their phones in bed before sleeping take longer to fall asleep and experience lighter, more easily disrupted sleep than those who avoid screens. Some devices now offer a night mode that shifts the display toward warmer tones, reducing blue light output in the evening. While this feature may help slightly, sleep researchers generally recommend limiting screen use altogether in the hour before bedtime for the best results.

Insomnia is rarely caused by a single factor; it usually emerges from an interaction between psychological stress and physiological arousal that keeps the body from settling into sleep. (A) At the same time, the body's stress response system can become chronically activated, releasing hormones such as cortisol that keep heart rate and body temperature elevated at night, both of which interfere with the natural drop in arousal needed to fall asleep. (B) Poor sleep habits, including irregular bedtimes and excessive screen use before bed, can further weaken the body's internal signals for sleep onset. Because these psychological and physiological factors reinforce one another, effective treatment for chronic insomnia addresses both the racing mind and the underlying pattern of physical tension, rather than relying on medication alone. (C) A common trigger is what researchers call cognitive hyperarousal, in which the mind continues to race with worries about work, relationships, or even the inability to sleep itself, creating a frustrating cycle where anxiety about insomnia becomes a cause of insomnia.

This constant, individualized adjustment is what makes the technology feel so different from a standard workbook. Adaptive learning apps promise something no traditional classroom can easily offer: a lesson plan that adjusts itself to each individual student in real time. ( ① ) As a student answers practice questions, the app tracks which concepts are mastered and which remain shaky, then quietly reshuffles the next set of problems to target the weaker areas. ( ② ) Early studies suggest that this personalized pacing can help struggling students catch up faster than a one-size-fits-all worksheet ever could. ( ③ ) However, critics caution that an app cannot replace the encouragement, humor, and flexibility a human teacher brings to a lesson, especially when a student is frustrated rather than simply behind. ( ④ ) There is also a subtler concern: students who grow used to instant, algorithm-generated feedback may struggle later with the slower, more ambiguous kind of feedback that real-world tasks and mentors typically provide. ( ⑤ )