영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

Psychologists have long studied a mechanism called the variable reward schedule, in which rewards arrive ①predictably rather than after every single action. Slot machines famously exploit this principle, and social media notifications operate on strikingly similar logic. When someone posts a photo, they cannot predict exactly when likes will appear, nor how many they will eventually receive. This uncertainty triggers a small burst of dopamine each time the phone is checked, regardless of whether the result is ②disappointing or thrilling. Consequently, users often refresh their feeds ③compulsively, hoping the next check will finally bring a satisfying reward. What makes this troubling is that technology companies ④deliberately designed notification systems using insights borrowed from gambling research, rather than stumbling upon them by accident. Such practices raise serious ethical questions about ⑤manipulating users' brains for profit.

Choice architecture refers to how decisions are designed. It determines which option is automatically selected unless a person chooses otherwise, known as the default option. Research consistently shows that ___________, even when changing it takes only seconds. Organ donation is a well-known example. Countries where citizens are automatically registered as donors unless they opt out show much higher donation rates than opt-in countries. Retirement savings programs show a similar pattern, since employees automatically enrolled in a pension plan rarely cancel it. Voluntary sign-ups, in contrast, often delay indefinitely. Critics argue that default options can be manipulated to benefit companies rather than individuals, so transparency about how defaults are chosen becomes essential. Still, supporters insist that because some default must always exist, it should support people's own long-term interests rather than mere institutional convenience.

Influencer marketing has become one of the most powerful tools that companies use to reach young consumers. Unlike traditional advertisements, which often feel distant and impersonal, posts created by influencers seem more like advice from a trusted friend. This sense of closeness, built through years of sharing daily life online, makes followers more willing to trust product recommendations than ordinary commercials. For example, a skincare brand promoted by a popular lifestyle influencer can sell out within hours simply because her audience believes her opinions are honest. However, this trust can be exploited when influencers promote products they have never actually tried. As a result, several countries now require influencers to clearly disclose paid partnerships before posting sponsored content. Consumers are becoming more cautious, checking whether reviews are sponsored before making a purchase. In the end, influencer marketing ___________.

Psychologist Roy Baumeister proposed a concept called ego depletion theory, which suggests that ___________. According to this theory, every act of self-control, from resisting a snack to concentrating on difficult homework, draws from the same limited mental resource. As this resource becomes depleted throughout the day, later decisions require more effort and are more likely to fail. For instance, someone who exercises discipline avoiding distractions all morning may struggle to resist checking a phone by evening. Likewise, dieters report that self-control weakens sharply at night, after hours of resisting food. Some researchers argue that short breaks, adequate sleep, and blood sugar levels can help restore this depleted resource. Although later studies have questioned how strong this effect is, the theory still offers a useful framework for understanding why willpower seems to fade throughout a long day.

Generation Z, typically defined as those born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, approaches shopping quite differently from previous generations. Having grown up with smartphones and social media, they research products extensively online before making even small purchases. Unlike older generations, who often valued brand loyalty above all else, many members of Generation Z prioritize a company's values, switching brands easily if one no longer matches their beliefs. They also tend to favor secondhand and resale platforms, viewing sustainability as an important factor rather than an afterthought. Peer recommendations shared through short videos frequently carry more weight than traditional celebrity endorsements. Businesses that fail to adapt to these preferences risk losing an entire generation of potential customers. Consequently, many companies now ___________.

Psychologists who study daily behavior describe habits through a model called the cue-routine-reward loop. This theory explains that every habit begins with a cue, a signal that tells the brain to start an automatic behavior. The brain then performs a routine, which is the action itself, whether physical or mental. Finally, the brain receives a reward, a positive feeling that makes it want to repeat the same behavior. For example, a notification sound can act as a cue that leads a student to check a phone, and the relief from boredom becomes the reward. Similarly, opening a refrigerator out of habit rather than hunger shows how a routine can run without conscious thought. Because this loop operates automatically, breaking a bad habit requires ___________. Understanding this structure helps people redesign daily patterns more effectively than relying on willpower alone.

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 ___________.

The subscription economy refers to a business model in which consumers pay a recurring fee to access goods or services rather than owning them outright. This model has expanded rapidly beyond entertainment platforms into areas such as clothing, food, and even transportation. One major reason for this growth is ___________, since subscribers no longer need to make repeated purchasing decisions once they sign up. Another reason is that companies benefit from predictable revenue, which allows them to plan production and marketing more efficiently than with one-time sales. However, some critics argue that subscriptions encourage people to pay for services they barely use, quietly draining their monthly budgets.

The clothing industry has become one of the largest contributors to environmental pollution worldwide. (A) Fast fashion refers to cheap, trendy clothing produced quickly and replaced almost as fast as it is bought. Because these garments are designed to be worn only a few times, huge amounts of fabric end up in landfills every year, and the dyeing process pollutes rivers near factories. (B) For example, some companies collect old clothes, break down the fibers, and weave them into new fabric, while others let customers rent outfits for special occasions rather than buying garments they will barely wear. These approaches keep resources circulating within the system longer, reducing demand for raw materials. Therefore, shifting from a throwaway habit toward a circular one may be essential for making the fashion industry sustainable. (C) In contrast, a growing number of brands are turning toward the circular economy, an economic model in which materials are reused, repaired, or recycled instead of being thrown away after a single use.

주어진 문장: Slowly, though, she began to question whether all of these possessions truly made her life better. Jina used to fill her apartment with items she rarely used, believing that owning more things would make her happier. ( ① ) After moving twice within a single year, she grew exhausted from packing boxes filled with clothes she had never worn and gadgets she had forgotten she owned. ( ② ) Frustrated, she decided to try a minimalist lifestyle, keeping only objects that served a clear purpose or brought her genuine joy. ( ③ ) At first, friends questioned why she was giving away perfectly good furniture and clothing. ( ④ ) Gradually, however, she noticed that her small apartment felt calmer and easier to manage. ( ⑤ ) She also realized that she spent significantly less money once she stopped buying things impulsively to fill emotional gaps.