영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

Setting a goal such as 'I will study harder' rarely ①leads to meaningful improvement. According to psychologists Edwin Locke and Gary Latham, specific and challenging goals ②produce far better performance than vague or easy ones. This idea, known as goal-setting theory, suggests ③that clear targets direct attention and sustain effort over time. To apply this theory effectively, many educators recommend the SMART framework, which ④require goals to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Because the goal includes a clear number and a deadline, progress becomes easy ⑤to track and evaluate.

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.

ESG management ①refers to a company's efforts to consider Environmental, Social, and Governance factors alongside profit when making business decisions. Investors increasingly rely on ESG ratings to judge whether a company is ②managed responsibly and sustainably over the long term. Recently, however, many corporations have learned to boost their ESG scores without genuinely transforming their operations. Some firms publish glossy reports ③filled with impressive statistics while their actual carbon emissions barely decline, exploiting the fact that ESG evaluation systems still lack consistent global standards. This gap between appearance and substance has led critics to demand stricter, more transparent criteria for ④measuring corporate responsibility. Genuine ESG management, in contrast, requires measurable targets, independent audits, and long-term accountability rather than one-time donations or attractive slogans. Investors who wish to identify truly responsible companies should therefore examine detailed disclosures instead of ⑤trust labels alone.

The framing effect describes how people respond differently to the same information depending on how it is presented, even when the underlying facts remain unchanged. When news outlets describe climate change primarily as a looming ①<u>crisis</u>, filled with images of disasters and warnings of irreversible damage, audiences often react with ②<u>confidence</u> or, paradoxically, with hopeless resignation. In contrast, when the same issue is framed as an ③<u>opportunity</u>, emphasizing innovative technologies and emerging green jobs, readers tend to feel more ④<u>motivated</u> to act and support policy change. Neither framing alone tells the complete story, since climate change genuinely involves both serious risks and promising solutions. Therefore, journalists who rely too heavily on either extreme risk distorting public understanding and discouraging meaningful engagement. A ⑤<u>balanced</u> approach, which honestly presents dangers while highlighting realistic paths forward, is far more likely to sustain long-term public attention and inspire lasting action.

When Mina graduated from college five years ago, she had never even heard the term "data scientist." Everything changed when a small tech startup, which was building an app to predict traffic patterns, hired her to analyze massive amounts of data. Mina quickly discovered that she loved turning raw numbers into insights that helped real people make better decisions. Within two years, ___________, as companies in every industry realized how valuable data could be. Today, Mina leads a team of ten analysts, mentoring young graduates who are drawn to a field that barely existed when she began her own career.

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. 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. However, critics argue that this system often functions as _______________. 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. Moreover, some offset projects would have happened anyway, meaning the credits fund nothing truly additional. 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.

For decades, productivity advice has focused almost entirely on managing time efficiently, yet many experts now argue this approach overlooks something important. This alternative approach, known as energy management, suggests that ___________. Unlike time, which flows at a constant rate, human energy naturally rises and falls in cycles shaped by sleep, food, and mental fatigue. A person who tackles difficult tasks during a low-energy period, for instance, may need two hours to finish what takes thirty minutes at peak energy.

Researchers have long debated why people often behave so differently once they log onto the internet. (A) On the other hand, this same freedom can turn destructive when users hide behind anonymity to attack others without fear of being identified. (B) One explanation lies in the reduced sense of accountability that anonymity and physical distance create, allowing hidden emotions to surface more easily. (C) For instance, someone who feels lonely might open up honestly in an online forum, sharing feelings they would never mention to coworkers.

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.

주어진 문장: This small success, in turn, created enough momentum that stopping suddenly felt more difficult than continuing. Jian wanted to become a reader for years, but every time he picked up a thick novel, he felt overwhelmed and quickly closed it. ( ① ) His cousin, who had read dozens of books that year, told him about something called the two-minute rule. ( ② ) This rule states that a new habit should be shrunk to under two minutes, since a smaller starting point removes the friction that usually stops people from beginning. ( ③ ) Instead of committing to a full chapter each night, Jian promised himself only to open a book and read one page. ( ④ ) Some nights he stopped after that single page, but most nights, once started, he kept reading for twenty or thirty minutes without noticing. ( ⑤ ) Because the initial barrier became so small, sitting down no longer felt like a burden requiring willpower. Within three months, Jian had finished five books, proving that reducing friction can matter more than motivation itself.