영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

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

When Mina was a freshman, she often ①spent her allowance within a few days. Her older cousin told her about the marshmallow experiment, a famous study ②in which children could eat one marshmallow immediately or wait for two. Researchers found that children who waited longer ③shown better academic performance and self-control years later. Inspired by the study, Mina began ④saving half of her allowance each week instead of spending it all on snacks. After three months, however, she had saved enough to buy a bicycle she had ⑤wanted for over a year.

Psychologist Leon Festinger introduced social comparison theory, which ①explains that people evaluate their own abilities and opinions by comparing themselves with others. According to this theory, individuals engage in upward comparison when they measure themselves against someone ②who appears more successful, attractive, or accomplished. Social media platforms, filled with carefully edited photos and exaggerated achievements, ③provide endless opportunities for this kind of comparison. For instance, a teenager browsing vacation pictures posted by classmates may begin to feel that her own ordinary life ④are somehow inadequate. Unlike comparing oneself with someone in a similar position, which can sometimes boost confidence, upward comparison frequently ⑤triggers envy, dissatisfaction, and lower self-esteem.

A short nap taken in the early afternoon, often called a power nap, can noticeably sharpen attention and mood without leaving a person ①refreshed afterward. The key lies in timing: naps limited to roughly twenty minutes allow the brain to pass through the ②lightest stages of sleep while avoiding the deeper stages associated with slow-wave activity. If a nap extends much beyond that window, the sleeper risks waking during deep sleep, which produces a ③foggy, disoriented feeling known as sleep inertia that can persist for thirty minutes or more. Laboratory studies comparing napping and non-napping groups have ④repeatedly shown that a brief nap improves reaction time and short-term memory almost as effectively as a full night of extra rest. Interestingly, the benefit appears ⑤strongest when the nap occurs several hours after waking, since this is when the body's natural dip in alertness makes rest most effective.

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

Many teenagers check their social media accounts dozens of times a day, worried that they might miss something important happening among their friends. This anxiety, known as FOMO, or the fear of missing out, arises when people believe that others are enjoying experiences from which they themselves are excluded. For example, a student scrolling through photos of a party she was not invited to may suddenly feel a wave of loneliness and regret, even though the event has already ended. Constantly refreshing feeds to avoid missing such updates, however, makes it difficult to concentrate on schoolwork or conversations happening in the present moment. Moreover, this endless comparison with curated highlights of other people's lives tends to deepen feelings of anxiety rather than relieve them. Therefore, students should learn to ___________.

Jian wanted to become a reader for years, but every time he picked up a thick novel, he felt overwhelmed and quickly closed it. His cousin, who had read dozens of books that year, told him about something called the two-minute rule. This rule states that a new habit should be shrunk to under two minutes, since a smaller starting point ___________. Instead of committing to a full chapter each night, Jian promised himself only to open a book and read one page.

Goal-setting theory has influenced not only classrooms but also workplaces around the world. (A) Many companies now train managers to set specific quarterly targets rather than simply asking employees to 'do their best.' (B) As a result, employees often report clearer priorities and a stronger sense of accomplishment. (C) These targets typically include measurable numbers, such as sales figures or project deadlines.

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.

주어진 문장: This legal gray area affects a rapidly growing portion of the global workforce. As millions of people now earn income through delivery apps and ride-hailing platforms, questions about their legal status have become increasingly urgent. ( ① ) Most platform workers are classified as independent contractors rather than employees, which means they lack access to minimum wage guarantees, paid sick leave, or unemployment insurance. ( ② ) Companies favor this arrangement because it allows them to avoid the costs associated with hiring full employees. ( ③ ) Worker advocates, however, argue that many platform workers depend on these jobs as their primary source of income, much like traditional employees do. ( ④ ) Several countries have recently begun reconsidering their labor laws, proposing new categories that would grant platform workers some employee-like protections. ( ⑤ ) Supporters of these reforms believe fair treatment and flexibility can coexist within the same system.