영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

Anthropologist Robin Dunbar ①proposed a concept now known as Dunbar's number, suggesting that human beings can only maintain about one hundred fifty stable social relationships at any given time. This limit, he argued, comes from the size of the human brain, ②which restricts how many meaningful connections a person can cognitively manage. In contrast, many social media users today have hundreds or even thousands of online friends and followers, a number far ③exceeding what Dunbar's research predicts. However, having numerous digital contacts does not necessarily mean that all of these relationships ④are close or emotionally supportive. Most users, when asked, admit that they interact regularly with only a small fraction of their total followers, while the rest remain ⑤largely unnoticing.

Before making a purchase, most online shoppers now read reviews ①written by previous customers rather than relying solely on advertisements. These reviews, posted by people who have no financial connection to the seller, often ②seem more trustworthy than promotional claims. Research shows that products with a large number of positive reviews ③sell significantly more than those with few or no reviews at all. However, fake reviews written by paid writers or even automated programs ④has become a serious problem, undermining consumer trust. To address this issue, several review platforms have begun ⑤using artificial intelligence to identify suspicious patterns.

The twenty-hour rule proposes that years of practice ①are not needed to become skilled at a new activity. Only about twenty hours of effort are needed to reach a useful level. Unlike theories ②claiming true mastery requires ten thousand hours, this rule targets a more modest goal. According to supporters, practicing any new skill produces the fastest visible improvement, since a beginner ③has room to grow. Someone learning guitar can typically strum simple chords and follow a basic song within twenty hours of ④daily practice. Advocates emphasize that the twenty hours must be deliberate and focused, broken into short daily sessions rather than one long stretch, and ⑤aims at fixing weaknesses rather than repeating what one already knows.

Sociologist Erving Goffman argued that people constantly perform for others, much like actors managing their image on a stage, a concept known as impression management. This idea applies vividly to social media, where users select ①flattering photos and delete posts that might damage their reputation. Such careful curation allows people to present an ②idealized version of themselves that emphasizes achievements while hiding struggles or ordinary moments. However, when this performance becomes constant, a troubling gap can form between one's authentic self and the polished character displayed online. Maintaining that gap requires considerable emotional energy, and studies suggest it often leads to ③anxiety and exhaustion. Furthermore, comparing one's own carefully staged life to others' equally staged posts can ④distort what people believe is normal. Therefore, individuals should recognize that some self-presentation online is inevitable, but they must also ⑤ignore space where imperfection is allowed to remain visible.

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, ①laughing 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 ②reluctantly waited outside a fan event, hoping that Jimin would ③recognize 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 bond she had imagined was entirely ④one-sided, existing only in her own mind. This type of connection, known as a parasocial relationship, can feel remarkably ⑤real despite never being mutual.

Last January, Minji wrote the same resolution she always wrote: study English for an hour every day. By February, she had already quit, just as in previous years. Frustrated, she asked her teacher why her willpower always failed, and learned about a concept called ___________. This idea, developed by psychologists, means forming a specific if-then plan that links a certain situation to a certain action in advance. Instead of vaguely intending to study more, Minji made a precise plan: if she finished dinner, then she would study for thirty minutes.

Many people believe that building a new habit requires strong willpower or motivation. However, psychologist BJ Fogg argues that habits form more easily when a behavior itself becomes simple to perform. His theory, called the Fogg Behavior Model, states that ___________. When motivation is low, the task must be made extremely easy, or it will not happen at all. For instance, a person who wants to exercise daily succeeds more often by committing to one push-up than to a long workout. Fogg calls this idea the law of least effort, since people naturally choose the option requiring the least energy. A student who wants to read more might leave a book open on the desk rather than setting a vague goal. By lowering the required effort, people reduce the ability barrier and make steady action far more achievable.

주어진 문장: This hesitation can appear even in group settings, where a single cautious voice may delay a decision for everyone. Behavioral economists use the term status quo bias to describe a tendency to prefer the present situation over a new alternative, even when the alternative would bring greater benefits. ( ① ) This bias helps explain why many households hesitate to switch to renewable energy, such as installing solar panels on their roofs. ( ② ) Although solar panels can lower electricity bills over time, homeowners often stick with their current power source because it feels safe and requires no immediate effort. ( ③ ) In contrast, switching demands research, upfront cost, and trust in unfamiliar technology, all of which can seem risky compared with doing nothing. ( ④ ) For example, a neighborhood association might repeatedly postpone a vote on shared solar panels, not because the plan is flawed, but because members are reluctant to leave their routine. ( ⑤ ) Therefore, boosting renewable adoption may depend less on proving its advantages and more on designing programs that make the first step feel easy.

주어진 문장: Because the number of likes a post will receive is never guaranteed, every notification carries a small element of suspense. Psychologists have long studied a mechanism called the variable reward schedule, in which rewards arrive unpredictably rather than after every single action. ( ① ) Slot machines famously exploit this principle, and social media notifications operate on strikingly similar logic. ( ② ) When someone posts a photo, they cannot predict exactly when likes will appear, nor how many they will eventually receive. ( ③ ) This uncertainty triggers a small burst of dopamine each time the phone is checked, regardless of whether the result is disappointing or thrilling. ( ④ ) Consequently, users often refresh their feeds compulsively, hoping the next check will finally bring a satisfying reward. ( ⑤ ) What makes this troubling is that technology companies deliberately designed notification systems using insights borrowed from gambling research, rather than stumbling upon them by accident. Such practices raise serious ethical questions about manipulating users' brains for profit. Therefore, people must consciously recognize this hidden mechanism and set firm limits on their checking habits.

주어진 문장: This lack of accountability makes silence feel like a reasonable, even harmless, choice. Social psychologists describe a phenomenon called the bystander effect, in which individuals become less likely to help a victim as the number of witnesses increases. ( ① ) Each observer assumes someone else will step in, and this diffusion of responsibility leaves no one willing to act. ( ② ) Cyberbullying magnifies this problem, since a single humiliating post can be witnessed by thousands of people scattered across the internet rather than a few standing nearby. ( ③ ) Anonymity intensifies the effect further, allowing silent observers to scroll past cruel comments without feeling accountable for their inaction. ( ④ ) Some bystanders even worry that intervening publicly might make them the bully's next target, so they choose to remain silent instead. ( ⑤ ) However, silence signals approval to both the bully and the audience watching the exchange unfold. Experts insist that even a single supportive comment can disrupt this harmful pattern. Therefore, witnesses online must resist staying passive and instead speak up.