영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

Sociologists use the term homophily ①to 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 ②built on shared traits tend to feel comfortable and require less negotiation. However, this same comfort can narrow the range of viewpoints someone ③encounters, since surrounding oneself with similar people limits exposure to different ideas. Social media platforms intensify this pattern through recommendation algorithms that ④suggest 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 ⑤allow individuals to make deliberate efforts to broaden their social networks.

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.

An echo chamber refers to an online environment where people are mainly exposed to opinions that already ①match their own beliefs. This phenomenon occurs because social media algorithms tend to recommend content similar to what users have previously liked or shared, gradually ②narrowing the range of perspectives they encounter. As a result, individuals inside an echo chamber ③frequently engage with viewpoints that challenge their existing assumptions, which allows their original beliefs to grow increasingly extreme over time. For example, someone who frequently reads articles supporting one political party may begin to see the opposing party as entirely ④unreasonable, having never seriously considered its arguments. Political polarization, a significant issue in many countries today, is often linked to this pattern of ⑤selective exposure.

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 ___________.

A growing number of people are practicing what is now called digital detox, the deliberate decision to stop using smartphones for a set period. Rather than checking notifications every few minutes, participants unplug for a weekend, a week, or sometimes even longer. Numerous studies suggest that this temporary withdrawal produces real benefits for both the mind and the body. First, attention spans fragmented by constant notifications gradually recover, allowing people to concentrate on single tasks for longer stretches. Second, avoiding screens before bedtime improves sleep quality, since blue light emitted by devices is known to disrupt natural sleep cycles. Third, people freed from their phones often rediscover the pleasure of face-to-face conversations that had been replaced by texting. Critics argue that complete disconnection is impractical in a hyperconnected society, yet even brief, regular breaks appear to restore balance. Therefore, _______________.

Communication scholar Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann proposed the spiral of silence theory to explain why certain opinions dominate public discussion while others fade into invisibility. According to this theory, individuals constantly observe their surrounding environment to judge which opinions are widely accepted and which are not. When people sense that their own view belongs to a minority, they often choose to stay silent rather than risk social isolation or criticism. This silence, however, creates a distorted impression that the minority opinion is even rarer than it actually is, discouraging additional supporters from speaking up. Over time, this cycle spirals downward, allowing the dominant opinion to appear increasingly unanimous while dissenting voices disappear from visible conversation. Social media platforms can intensify this spiral, since visibility metrics make popular opinions instantly noticeable while unpopular ones remain hidden. Consequently, some users _______________.

Time-management researchers frequently mention a principle known as Parkinson's Law, which states that ___________. According to this idea, a task that could be finished in one hour will often stretch to fill an entire afternoon if that much time is scheduled for it. Students who set vague deadlines frequently experience this effect, spending extra hours refining a report that was already complete. Employees given a full week for a simple project may also delay meaningful progress until the final days, even though the actual work requires far less effort. This pattern happens partly because people unconsciously adjust their pace to match perceived urgency. Setting shorter, more specific deadlines can counter this tendency, forcing tasks to fit within a tighter and more realistic window. By recognizing how flexible time encourages unnecessary delay, individuals can complete assignments more efficiently without sacrificing quality.

When Minji was in ninth grade, she posted a joking comment mocking a classmate's photo, never imagining anyone would remember it later. Last spring, she applied to join her school's student council, hoping her leadership experience would impress the selection committee. During the interview, however, one teacher mentioned having seen an old, unkind comment under Minji's name while reviewing applicants' profiles. Startled, Minji realized that everything she had ever posted online had quietly accumulated into what is called a digital footprint, a lasting trail of personal data left behind by online activity. Although she deleted the comment immediately, the damage to her reputation had already been done. She understood that digital footprints ___________.

Researchers have long debated why people often behave so differently once they log onto the internet. (A) On the other hand, this same freedom can turn destructive when users hide behind anonymity to attack others without fear of being identified. (B) One explanation lies in the reduced sense of accountability that anonymity and physical distance create, allowing hidden emotions to surface more easily. (C) For instance, someone who feels lonely might open up honestly in an online forum, sharing feelings they would never mention to coworkers.

Job seekers often assume that their closest friends will be the most helpful source of career advice. (A) In fact, studies show that a surprising number of job offers come through acquaintances met only briefly at conferences or previous workplaces. (B) However, close friends usually work in the same field or social circle, so their knowledge of new openings tends to overlap with what the job seeker already knows. (C) This is because such acquaintances belong to different professional circles, giving them access to information that never reaches close friends.