영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

Mira had lived in a coastal village since birth, watching the tide creep closer to her family's doorstep every year. When the sea finally ①swallowed the rice paddies that had fed her village for generations, her parents decided that staying was no longer possible. Together with many neighbors, they packed what little they could carry and moved inland, becoming what experts now call climate migrants, people forced to ②abandon their homes because of rising seas, droughts, or other disasters. This term, rarely used a decade ago, has become increasingly ③common as extreme weather displaces communities worldwide. 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. International organizations, however, still ④manage to agree on how to protect people like her, since climate migrants are not officially ⑤recognized as refugees under current law.

When people encounter solid scientific evidence about climate change, we might expect them to accept it without hesitation. However, many individuals still dismiss or downplay such evidence, and psychologists explain this pattern through a concept called motivated reasoning. Motivated reasoning refers to _______________. 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. This happens because accepting uncomfortable facts can threaten a person's sense of self or demand costly lifestyle changes. 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.

Melatonin is a hormone produced by a small gland deep within the brain, and its release follows a remarkably predictable daily pattern. (A) 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 delay its release and make falling asleep more difficult. (B) 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 decline again as morning approaches. (C) 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 lower-energy state. Because of this signaling role, taking melatonin supplements at the wrong time can shift a person's internal clock in the opposite direction from what was intended.

A smart thermostat that learns a family's daily rhythm can lower the temperature automatically before everyone wakes up cold, while smart lights that follow a resident's schedule no longer need to be switched on and off by hand. (A) These small conveniences rest on a shared foundation: sensors collect data about temperature, motion, and light throughout the home, and an algorithm gradually learns which settings match each household's actual habits. (B) Over months of use, the system becomes noticeably better at anticipating needs, often adjusting settings moments before a resident would have reached for a switch. (C) Yet convenience comes with a trade-off that many households overlook, since a detailed record of daily habits is quietly being stored somewhere beyond their immediate control.

Consumers today are bombarded with eco-friendly slogans on almost every product they buy. (A) Behind many of these slogans, however, lies a deceptive practice called greenwashing, in which companies exaggerate their environmental efforts without making real changes. (B) Consumers can avoid being fooled by such tactics by checking for recognized certifications and transparent, independently verified reports rather than trusting catchy labels alone. (C) For instance, a firm may highlight one eco-friendly product line while its factories continue to pollute rivers and emit large amounts of carbon.

주어진 문장: This small change in placement, researchers found, was enough to shift eating habits without anyone noticing. Imagine a cafeteria where a healthy salad sits at eye level while fried snacks rest on a low shelf. ( ① ) Nobody is forbidden from choosing the snacks, yet most people quietly pick the salad instead. ( ② ) This simple technique illustrates a nudge, a concept from behavioral economics that gently guides people toward better choices without restricting their freedom. ( ③ ) Companies and governments increasingly apply nudges to encourage sustainable consumption. ( ④ ) 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. ( ⑤ ) 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.

주어진 문장: This is precisely why scientists treat these thresholds with such urgency, rather than viewing them as distant, abstract possibilities. Climate scientists frequently warn about tipping points, thresholds beyond which a small additional change triggers a large, often irreversible shift in the climate system. ( ① ) Unlike gradual warming, which unfolds steadily over decades, crossing a tipping point can produce dramatic consequences within a short period. ( ② ) 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. ( ③ ) 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. ( ④ ) Once such thresholds are crossed, restoring the original balance may become nearly impossible, even if emissions are later reduced. ( ⑤ ) 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.

주어진 문장: Some researchers even suggest that painting rooftops white could further help reflect sunlight away from buildings. On a summer evening, downtown streets often feel noticeably hotter than nearby parks or suburban neighborhoods, even after the sun has set. ( ① ) This phenomenon, known as the urban heat island effect, occurs when cities retain more heat than surrounding rural areas because of their dense concentration of asphalt, concrete, and buildings. ( ② ) Unlike soil or vegetation, which absorb and release heat gradually, these man-made surfaces absorb sunlight during the day and slowly radiate it back at night, preventing temperatures from cooling. ( ③ ) Tall buildings packed closely together also block wind, trapping warm air within narrow streets. ( ④ ) In contrast, areas with abundant trees and open water naturally stay cooler, since plants release moisture that helps lower surrounding temperatures. To reduce this effect, many cities have begun installing rooftop gardens and expanding public parks, hoping that additional greenery will absorb less heat than pavement does. ( ⑤ )

Some athletes, in fact, experience excessive fatigue at altitude that undermines the very training they hoped to complete. Athletes preparing for major endurance events sometimes train for weeks at high altitude, where the air contains less oxygen than at sea level, in hopes of gaining a physiological edge once they return to compete at lower elevations. ( ① ) In this thin air, the body responds by producing more red blood cells, which carry oxygen more efficiently through the bloodstream to working muscles. ( ② ) When these athletes return to sea level, where oxygen is more abundant, their blood retains this elevated capacity for a limited period, potentially translating into improved endurance performance. ( ③ ) However, the benefits of altitude training are far from guaranteed, since individual athletes respond quite differently to the same conditions. ( ④ ) Many elite programs therefore follow a strategy known as live high, train low, in which athletes sleep at altitude to stimulate blood adaptations but perform intense workouts at lower elevation to maintain quality and intensity. ( ⑤ )

주어진 문장: In other words, the promised environmental benefit is far less certain than it first appears. To compensate for their carbon emissions, many individuals and companies now purchase carbon offsets, financial credits that fund projects such as planting trees or building renewable energy plants. ( ① ) The idea is appealing: paying for an equivalent amount of carbon to be absorbed elsewhere should cancel out the harm caused by activities like flying. ( ② ) However, critics argue that this system often functions as a convenient excuse for postponing genuine emission cuts rather than achieving them. ( ③ ) For example, a newly planted forest may take decades to absorb the promised carbon, and it could later burn down or be cut, erasing any benefit. ( ④ ) Moreover, some offset projects would have happened anyway, meaning the credits fund nothing truly additional. ( ⑤ ) Therefore, relying heavily on offsets allows businesses to maintain harmful practices while appearing responsible. Experts insist that offsetting should complement, not replace, direct reductions in fossil fuel use if the strategy is to remain credible.