영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

Smart speakers have quietly become a fixture in many households, ①responding to spoken requests for weather updates, music, or kitchen timers. Behind this simple exchange lies a complex process: the device converts sound waves into text, interprets the meaning using language models, and then generates a spoken reply, all within a second or two. Because these assistants improve by ②learning from millions of interactions, they gradually become better at recognizing regional accents and casual phrasing that once confused them. Still, the technology remains far from perfect. Background noise, overlapping voices, or an unusual sentence structure can cause the assistant ③misunderstanding a simple request, sometimes with amusing results. Engineers continue to refine these systems, but many admit that truly natural conversation, the kind ④that flows without repeated commands or awkward pauses, ⑤remains one of the hardest goals in the entire field of artificial intelligence.

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.

Social psychologists describe a phenomenon called the bystander effect, in which individuals become less likely ①helping a victim as the number of witnesses increases. Each observer assumes someone else will step in, and this diffusion of responsibility leaves no one ②willing to act. Cyberbullying magnifies this problem, since a single humiliating post can be witnessed by thousands of people ③scattered across the internet rather than a few standing nearby. Anonymity intensifies the effect further, allowing silent observers ④to scroll past cruel comments without feeling accountable for their inaction. Some bystanders even worry that intervening publicly might make them the bully's next target, so they choose ⑤to remain silent instead.

Limited-edition products are goods that are released in small quantities for a ①short period of time. Many companies use this strategy because scarcity naturally ②decreases how much people desire an item. When consumers believe that a product will disappear soon, they often feel ③pressured to buy it immediately rather than wait. This excitement is ④intensified by social media, where people proudly share photos of items that others could not obtain. As a result, some shoppers later ⑤regret spending money on products they rarely use afterward.

Sociologist Erving Goffman argued that people constantly perform for others, much like actors managing their image on a stage, a concept known as impression management. This idea applies vividly to social media, where users select flattering photos and delete posts that might damage their reputation. Such careful curation allows people to present an idealized version of themselves that emphasizes achievements while hiding struggles or ordinary moments. However, when this performance becomes constant, a troubling gap can form between one's authentic self and the polished character displayed online. Maintaining that gap requires considerable emotional energy, and studies suggest it often leads to anxiety and exhaustion. Furthermore, comparing one's own carefully staged life to others' equally staged posts can distort what people believe is normal. Therefore, _______________.

Influencer marketing has become one of the most powerful tools that companies use to reach young consumers. Unlike traditional advertisements, which often feel distant and impersonal, posts created by influencers seem more like advice from a trusted friend. This sense of closeness, built through years of sharing daily life online, makes followers more willing to trust product recommendations than ordinary commercials. For example, a skincare brand promoted by a popular lifestyle influencer can sell out within hours simply because her audience believes her opinions are honest. However, this trust can be exploited when influencers promote products they have never actually tried. As a result, several countries now require influencers to clearly disclose paid partnerships before posting sponsored content. Consumers are becoming more cautious, checking whether reviews are sponsored before making a purchase. In the end, influencer marketing ___________.

Value-based consumption refers to the practice of spending money on products or experiences that align with a person's personal beliefs, even if cheaper alternatives exist. Rather than simply seeking the lowest price, value-conscious consumers consider factors such as labor conditions, environmental impact, and community benefit before making a purchase. Some critics dismiss 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 sacrifice; 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 transparency and responsibility. Ultimately, value-based consumption suggests that ___________.

주어진 문장: Even a short break from checking their phones can trigger a nagging sense of unease. Many teenagers check their social media accounts dozens of times a day, worried that they might miss something important happening among their friends. ( ① ) This anxiety, known as FOMO, or the fear of missing out, arises when people believe that others are enjoying experiences from which they themselves are excluded. ( ② ) For example, a student scrolling through photos of a party she was not invited to may suddenly feel a wave of loneliness and regret, even though the event has already ended. ( ③ ) Constantly refreshing feeds to avoid missing such updates, however, makes it difficult to concentrate on schoolwork or conversations happening in the present moment. ( ④ ) Moreover, this endless comparison with curated highlights of other people's lives tends to deepen feelings of anxiety rather than relieve them. ( ⑤ ) Therefore, students should learn to limit their social media use and focus more attention on the relationships and activities directly in front of them.

주어진 문장: This concern reflects a deeper fear about what makes art meaningful in the first place. Artificial intelligence has begun to play a surprising role in creative industries once thought to be uniquely human. ( ① ) Programs can now compose music, generate paintings, and even draft short stories within seconds. ( ② ) Some artists welcome this technology, using AI tools to explore new styles or overcome creative blocks that once took weeks to resolve. ( ③ ) Others, however, argue that AI-generated art lacks the emotional depth that comes from genuine human experience. ( ④ ) Despite this debate, most experts agree that AI is unlikely to fully replace artists anytime soon. ( ⑤ ) Instead, it functions best as a collaborative tool, helping creators experiment faster while leaving final artistic decisions to humans.

주어진 문장: At first glance, this seems to suggest that Dunbar's theory no longer applies in the digital age. Anthropologist Robin Dunbar proposed a concept now known as Dunbar's number, suggesting that human beings can only maintain about one hundred fifty stable social relationships at any given time. ( ① ) This limit, he argued, comes from the size of the human brain, which restricts how many meaningful connections a person can cognitively manage. ( ② ) In contrast, many social media users today have hundreds or even thousands of online friends and followers, a number far exceeding what Dunbar's research predicts. ( ③ ) However, having numerous digital contacts does not necessarily mean that all of these relationships are close or emotionally supportive. ( ④ ) Most users, when asked, admit that they interact regularly with only a small fraction of their total followers, while the rest remain largely unnoticed. ( ⑤ ) Therefore, Dunbar's number reminds us that genuine, lasting relationships require consistent effort and attention, something that a large online network alone cannot provide.