영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

Exercise does far more than strengthen muscles and the heart; it also produces ① measurable changes within the brain itself. During sustained physical activity, the body releases a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which supports the growth of new neurons and ② strengthens connections between existing ones, particularly in regions associated with memory and learning. Studies comparing physically active students to sedentary peers have repeatedly found that the active group performs ③ better on tests of attention and problem-solving, even when the exercise session ends well before the test begins. Researchers believe that exercise increases blood flow to the brain, delivering oxygen and nutrients more efficiently, while also ④ raising levels of stress hormones that can interfere with clear thinking. Interestingly, aerobic activities such as running or swimming appear to produce more ⑤ pronounced cognitive benefits than purely strength-based training.

In recent years, mental health experts have identified a distinct emotional response to environmental crisis, commonly called eco-anxiety. Eco-anxiety describes persistent worry, grief, or fear triggered by awareness of climate change and its consequences for the future. Although people of all ages can experience it, teenagers and young adults seem especially ①immune, since they anticipate living through decades of worsening conditions. Common symptoms include difficulty sleeping, a sense of ②hopelessness, and guilt over ordinary choices such as travel or diet. For example, some students report feeling ③paralyzed whenever they read alarming climate news, unable to focus on schoolwork or hobbies. However, experts emphasize that eco-anxiety is not a disorder to be eliminated but a ④natural 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 ⑤restore a sense of control and ease overwhelming distress.

A small riverside village had endured severe flooding almost every summer, watching helplessly as rising water damaged homes and destroyed crops year after year. Frustrated residents eventually decided to _______________. Engineers widened the drainage canals surrounding the village, allowing excess rainwater to flow away more efficiently instead of pooling in low-lying streets. Meanwhile, several families whose houses stood in the most vulnerable areas relocated to higher ground, even though leaving their long-time homes was emotionally difficult. The village also installed an early warning system that sent alerts to residents' phones whenever river levels rose dangerously fast. When a powerful storm struck three years later, the new measures proved effective, and the village suffered only minor damage instead of the devastating losses it had previously faced. Their resilience became a model for neighboring communities.

Aerobic exercise strengthens the heart by forcing it to pump larger volumes of blood with each beat. Over weeks of consistent training, the heart gradually enlarges and becomes more efficient, meaning it can deliver the same amount of oxygen to working muscles while beating fewer times per minute. This adaptation explains why _______________. Beyond the heart itself, aerobic activity also builds new capillaries within muscle tissue and improves how cells throughout the body respond to insulin.

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.

Climate change deniers often seem to ignore evidence that contradicts their views, and psychologists have a specific explanation for this behavior. (A) For example, someone whose job depends on fossil fuels may search for reasons to doubt the data, even while insisting that they respect science. (B) This concept, called motivated reasoning, describes how people process information in ways that protect their existing beliefs and lifestyles rather than pursue objective truth. (C) Rather than being a simple failure of intelligence, this pattern reflects a well-documented psychological tendency studied for decades.

Scientists have identified certain gene variants that appear more frequently among elite endurance athletes than among the general population, along with a separate set that seems to favor explosive, power-based sports such as sprinting. (A) However, researchers caution strongly against interpreting these findings as evidence that athletic greatness is simply inherited. (B) One frequently studied variant, for instance, influences the proportion of slow-twitch versus fast-twitch muscle fibers a person naturally develops, a ratio that shapes whether a body leans toward endurance or explosive power. (C) Genetics may set a rough ceiling on an individual's ultimate potential, but where any particular athlete lands within that range depends overwhelmingly on training quality, nutrition, coaching, and sheer determination.

Not all parts of a city experience the same temperature, even when they are located close to one another. (A) Tall buildings packed closely together also block wind, trapping warm air within narrow streets. In contrast, areas with abundant trees and open water naturally stay cooler, since plants release moisture that helps lower surrounding temperatures. (B) 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. (C) On a summer evening, downtown streets often feel noticeably hotter than nearby parks or suburban neighborhoods, even after the sun has set. 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. 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.

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

The key distinction lies entirely in intensity: active recovery is not a second workout in disguise but a deliberately gentle session designed to support, rather than compete with, the body's underlying repair mechanisms. 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. ( ① ) 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. ( ② ) This gentle activity keeps blood circulating through tired muscles, which appears to help clear metabolic byproducts that accumulate during hard exercise more efficiently than complete stillness does. ( ③ ) Some athletes worry that any movement at all will interfere with the repair process. ( ④ ) Research suggests, however, that truly light activity, kept well below the intensity of the original workout, does not meaningfully slow healing and may even reduce the perceived soreness that follows a hard session. ( ⑤ )