영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

Sociologist Mark Granovetter introduced an idea that seems contradictory at first glance, known as the strength of weak ties. According to this theory, people who see each other only occasionally, called weak ties, often ①provide more valuable information than close friends or family members, who are considered strong ties. This happens because strong ties tend to share the same social circles and, therefore, already possess similar knowledge. Weak ties, in contrast, move within different networks, which ②allows them to introduce ideas or opportunities that would otherwise remain unknown. For example, a former classmate rarely contacted might mention a job opening unavailable through one's immediate circle. Social media platforms have made maintaining such connections remarkably easier, letting users ③keeping hundreds of loose acquaintances active without frequent face-to-face meetings. Consequently, these platforms function as efficient channels through which weak ties continue ④delivering fresh opportunities that close relationships simply cannot ⑤offer.

Elite athletes rarely walk up to a free throw line or a golf ball without first performing a highly specific sequence of movements, a habit sports psychologists call a pre-performance routine. Far from being mere superstition, this consistent sequence serves a genuine cognitive purpose: repeating the same physical and mental steps before every attempt narrows an athlete's focus away from distracting thoughts and toward the specific technical cues needed to execute the skill correctly. Researchers have found that athletes who follow a consistent routine tend to show more stable performance under pressure than those who approach each attempt differently, because _______________. For this reason, coaches now actively teach young athletes to develop and rehearse individualized routines rather than treating them as personal quirks.

Smart speakers have quietly become a fixture in many households, responding to spoken requests for weather updates, music, or kitchen timers. Because these assistants improve by learning from millions of interactions, they gradually become better at recognizing regional accents and casual phrasing that once confused them. Still, _______________. Engineers continue to refine these systems, but many admit that truly natural conversation remains one of the hardest goals in the entire field of artificial intelligence.

Consumers today increasingly consider more than just price when deciding what to buy. (A) For example, many shoppers now research a company's labor practices before purchasing its products. (B) This growing awareness reflects a shift toward what is often called value-based consumption. (C) As a result, companies face increasing pressure to operate more responsibly and transparently.

Sales events are far more psychologically calculated than they first appear. (A) A crossed-out original price, for instance, makes the discounted price seem like an exceptional deal, regardless of whether it truly is one. (B) Retailers rely on specific visual and verbal cues to make shoppers feel they are getting exceptional value. (C) Combined with phrases suggesting limited availability, these cues push customers toward faster, less deliberate purchasing decisions.

This dopamine-driven cycle explains why so many people check their phones dozens of times throughout the day without even realizing it. (A) Neuroscientists have found that the anticipation of a possible reward, not the reward itself, produces the strongest dopamine response in the brain. (B) In other words, the brief moment of waiting to see how many likes a post receives can feel more exciting than the actual number that appears. (C) Because this anticipation is so powerful, technology designers intentionally build delays and randomness into how notifications are delivered.

The Zeigarnik effect has practical applications beyond the classroom and the restaurant industry. (A) This same tension applies to everyday tasks, since starting a small step can create a similar pull toward finishing. (B) Advertisers, for example, often design commercials that end abruptly, leaving viewers curious about the outcome. (C) For this reason, productivity experts often recommend beginning a task immediately, even for just a few minutes, rather than postponing it.

주어진 문장: Interestingly, this principle was first observed in government offices, where paperwork seemed to multiply regardless of actual workload. Time-management researchers frequently mention a principle known as Parkinson's Law, which states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. ( ① ) According to this idea, a task that could be finished in one hour will often stretch to fill an entire afternoon if that much time is scheduled for it. ( ② ) Students who set vague deadlines frequently experience this effect, spending extra hours refining a report that was already complete. ( ③ ) Employees given a full week for a simple project may also delay meaningful progress until the final days, even though the actual work requires far less effort. ( ④ ) This pattern happens partly because people unconsciously adjust their pace to match perceived urgency. ( ⑤ ) Setting shorter, more specific deadlines can counter this tendency, forcing tasks to fit within a tighter and more realistic window. By recognizing how flexible time encourages unnecessary delay, individuals can complete assignments more efficiently without sacrificing quality.

주어진 문장: This heightened sensitivity can manifest in a variety of noticeable ways. In recent years, mental health experts have identified a distinct emotional response to environmental crisis, commonly called eco-anxiety. ( ① ) Eco-anxiety describes persistent worry, grief, or fear triggered by awareness of climate change and its consequences for the future. ( ② ) Although people of all ages can experience it, teenagers and young adults seem especially vulnerable, since they anticipate living through decades of worsening conditions. ( ③ ) Common symptoms include difficulty sleeping, a sense of hopelessness, and guilt over ordinary choices such as travel or diet. ( ④ ) For example, some students report feeling paralyzed whenever they read alarming climate news, unable to focus on schoolwork or hobbies. ( ⑤ ) However, experts emphasize that eco-anxiety is not a disorder to be eliminated but a natural reaction that can be channeled productively. Rather than avoiding the topic, young people are encouraged to join community projects, since taking constructive action tends to restore a sense of control and ease overwhelming distress.

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.