영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

Imagine two factories ①**making** the same product: one in a country with strict carbon rules, and one in a country with almost none. The factory facing stricter rules often spends more, which can make its goods pricier than those ②**made** elsewhere. To fix this imbalance, some governments have introduced the carbon border adjustment mechanism, a policy charging imported goods a fee based on how much carbon ③**were released** while producing them. Supporters argue that the system protects domestic industries and ④**pushes** foreign manufacturers toward cleaner methods. However, critics claim it unfairly burdens developing countries, which often lack money to modernize factories quickly. For example, a small exporter in a poorer nation might struggle to pay the added charge, though it contributes little to global emissions. Still, if wealthier nations pair the policy with technical support, it could become a genuinely fair tool for ⑤**cutting** emissions worldwide.

Climate scientists frequently warn about tipping points, thresholds beyond which a small additional change ①triggers a large, often irreversible shift in the climate system. Unlike gradual warming, which unfolds steadily over decades, crossing a tipping point can produce dramatic consequences within a short period. For instance, as Arctic ice melts, it exposes darker ocean water that ②absorb more sunlight than reflective ice, accelerating further melting in a self-reinforcing cycle. Similarly, scientists worry that a major ocean current, which currently ③redistributes heat across the planet, could slow dramatically if enough freshwater from melting glaciers dilutes the surrounding seawater. Once such thresholds are crossed, ④restoring the original balance may become nearly impossible, even if emissions are later reduced. Therefore, researchers argue that preventing these transitions ⑤matters more than merely slowing average temperature increases.

Smart speakers have quietly become a fixture in many households, responding to spoken requests for weather updates, music, or kitchen timers. Behind this ① 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 ② improve by learning 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 ③ perfect. Background noise, overlapping voices, or an unusual sentence structure can cause the assistant to misunderstand a simple request, sometimes with ④ flawless results. Engineers continue to refine these systems, but many admit that truly natural conversation remains one of the hardest ⑤ goals in the entire field of artificial intelligence.

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.

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.

Remote work has moved from a rare privilege to a common practice for millions of employees worldwide. Supporters argue that remote work increases productivity, since employees avoid long commutes and distracting office environments. It also allows companies to hire talented people regardless of where they live, widening the pool of candidates. Critics, however, worry that remote work weakens teamwork and makes it harder for new employees to learn from experienced colleagues. Without regular face-to-face interaction, some workers feel isolated and struggle to build strong professional relationships. For these reasons, many experts suggest that the future of work will likely be ___________, combining flexibility with occasional in-person collaboration.

Many companies now advertise themselves as environmentally responsible, yet a growing number of these claims turn out to be misleading. This practice, known as greenwashing, _______________. A company might launch a recycled-packaging line while continuing to pollute rivers through its main factories, creating a false impression of genuine change. Such tactics deceive well-intentioned consumers who wish to shop responsibly but lack the tools to verify corporate claims. In contrast, truly sustainable businesses publish detailed, independently verified data about their emissions and supply chains, allowing outsiders to check their progress. Therefore, shoppers should look beyond vague labels like green or natural and instead search for recognized certifications, transparent reports, and measurable targets. Without such scrutiny, greenwashing will keep flourishing, undermining public trust and slowing the broader shift toward an economy that truly protects the planet.

Sociologists use the term homophily to describe the tendency of people to form connections with others who share similar backgrounds, opinions, or interests. This principle explains why classmates from the same major often become close friends, while coworkers with shared hobbies naturally gravitate toward one another. Because similarity reduces the effort required to understand another person's perspective, relationships built on shared traits tend to feel comfortable and require less negotiation. However, this same comfort can narrow the range of viewpoints someone encounters, since surrounding oneself with similar people limits exposure to different ideas. Social media platforms intensify this pattern through recommendation algorithms that suggest new friends based on shared interests or similar browsing history. As a result, users often find their online circles becoming increasingly homogeneous, filled with people who think and behave much like themselves. Recognizing this tendency _______________.

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.

Minji spent nearly every evening watching Jimin, an online creator who streamed cooking videos and chatted casually with her viewers. Over several months, Minji began to feel as though she truly knew Jimin, laughing at her jokes and worrying whenever she mentioned having a difficult week. Whenever Jimin responded to a comment, even a simple one, Minji felt a small thrill of connection, as if they were becoming closer friends. One day, Minji excitedly waited outside a fan event, hoping that Jimin would recognize her from the countless messages she had sent. However, Jimin greeted her the same way she greeted every other stranger in line, without any hint of personal recognition. Standing there, Minji slowly realized that ___________.