영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

Exercise does far more than strengthen muscles and the heart; it also produces ①measurable 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 ②strengthens 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 ③better 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 ④raising levels of stress hormones that can interfere with clear thinking. Interestingly, aerobic activities such as running or swimming appear to produce more ⑤pronounced cognitive benefits than purely strength-based training.

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 ___________.

For most of last year, Junho refreshed his social media feed constantly, terrified of missing a party, a trending meme, or gossip among his friends. This restless anxiety, often called FOMO, or the fear of missing out, left him exhausted and strangely unsatisfied even after hours of scrolling. One weekend, his phone battery died during a hiking trip, and, to his surprise, he actually enjoyed the quiet afternoon without notifications interrupting his thoughts. Curious about this unexpected calm, Junho began deleting social apps for a few hours each day, gradually extending the breaks as weeks passed. Instead of dreading what he might be missing, he started noticing small pleasures, such as finishing a book or having an uninterrupted conversation with his family. This shift in attitude reflects ___________.

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 ___________.

Psychologists have long studied a mechanism called the variable reward schedule, in which rewards arrive unpredictably 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 disappointing or thrilling. Consequently, users often refresh their feeds compulsively, hoping the next check will finally bring a satisfying reward. 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 _______________.

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 ___________.

Social media algorithms are designed to keep users engaged by showing them content they are likely to enjoy. (A) As a result, users are gradually exposed to a narrower and narrower range of perspectives over time. (B) This pattern, known as an echo chamber, can eventually lead to greater political polarization within a society. (C) To achieve this goal, the algorithms recommend posts and articles similar to what a user has already liked or shared.

Introducing cobots into a factory requires careful planning to ensure both safety and productivity. (A) Once installed, however, cobots must be closely monitored, since their sensors can occasionally malfunction in noisy or crowded environments. (B) Engineers must first program the robots to recognize the exact boundaries of each worker's movement space. (C) After this initial setup, cobots can be integrated gradually, starting with simple tasks before taking on more complex ones.

Opening most camera apps today reveals a row of filters that can smooth skin, brighten eyes, and reshape a jawline before a photo is even taken, all powered by AI models trained to recognize facial features in real time. (A) Psychologists have grown concerned about a specific consequence of this shift: people increasingly compare their unfiltered reflection in a mirror to a filtered version of themselves seen constantly on a screen. (B) What began as a playful novelty has become a default setting for many users, subtly adjusting nearly every selfie posted online. (C) Some social media platforms have responded by labeling heavily edited photos or banning certain filters that alter body shape.