영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

In a classic experiment inspired by Keynes's beauty contest analogy, participants choose a number between zero and one hundred, and the winner is whoever selects the number closest to two-thirds of the average of all guesses ①submitted. A perfectly rational player, ②assuming every other participant reasons with unlimited depth, would conclude the equilibrium number is zero, since reasoning about others' reasoning collapses the average toward that single point. In practice, however, actual guesses rarely converge on zero; most participants stop reasoning after a round or two of imagining what others might guess, ③producing average guesses that cluster between twenty and thirty-five. This gap between theoretical equilibrium and observed behavior reveals that human reasoning is bounded, ④capable of anticipating a few steps ahead but rarely capable of iterating the process indefinitely. Economists use this game as a diagnostic tool, since the number a person submits ⑤reveal how many levels of strategic thinking that person is willing to perform.

The job market has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Many tasks once done entirely by humans are now shared with machines and computer programs. As a result, some traditional jobs have slowly ①appeared, while entirely new positions have emerged to replace them. Workers who once relied on a single skill for their whole career now often need to learn new tools. A graphic designer today must ②understand digital software that did not exist twenty years ago. Adapting to these changes can feel ③stressful, but experts note that workers who stay flexible and keep learning tend to ④succeed regardless of which industry they choose. The ability to adapt may be more valuable than any single specific ⑤skill.

Many people believe that building a new habit requires strong willpower or motivation. However, psychologist BJ Fogg argues that habits form more ①easily when a behavior itself becomes simple to perform. His theory, called the Fogg Behavior Model, states that a behavior happens only when motivation, ability, and a prompt occur together. When motivation is ②low, the model suggests, the task must be made extremely ③difficult, 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 ④least 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 ⑤achievable.

Have you ever noticed that a ①finished task keeps returning to your mind long after you stopped working? This phenomenon was first noticed by psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik, who saw that waiters remembered ②unpaid orders better than paid ones. Her observation led to what is now called the Zeigarnik effect: people remember ③incomplete tasks more vividly than completed ones. According to this theory, the mind maintains mental tension until a task reaches ④closure, keeping the unfinished task active in memory. Once the task is completed, the tension is ⑤released, and the mind lets go of the details.

Companies argue that this approach benefits consumers by showing advertisements that are more ①relevant to their actual interests rather than random, generic promotions. However, many critics contend that this level of tracking raises serious concerns about privacy, since users rarely understand how ②extensively their behavior is being monitored. Furthermore, personalized advertising can trap users in a narrow bubble, ③limiting their exposure to alternatives. Supporters counter that consumers who dislike targeted ads can simply adjust their privacy settings, though ④few people actually take the time to do so. Given these competing concerns, policymakers must strike a ⑤careless balance between allowing innovation and protecting individual privacy rights.

Limited-edition products are goods that are released in small quantities for a short period of time. Many companies use this strategy because ___________. When consumers believe that a product will disappear soon, they often feel pressured to buy it immediately rather than wait. For instance, a sneaker company that releases only a few thousand pairs of a special design can generate long lines outside stores overnight. This excitement is intensified by social media, where people proudly share photos of items that others could not obtain. However, this psychological pressure can lead to purchases that are driven by fear rather than genuine need. As a result, some shoppers later regret spending money on products they rarely use afterward.

Attitudes toward buying used goods have changed dramatically over the past decade. (A) As a result, secondhand shopping has shed much of the stigma it once carried among younger consumers. (B) In the past, purchasing used items was often seen as a sign of financial hardship rather than a deliberate choice. (C) Today, many young shoppers proudly describe their secondhand purchases as smart, sustainable decisions.

Imagine two factories making the same product: one in a country with strict carbon rules, and one in a country with almost none. (A) However, critics claim it unfairly burdens developing countries, which often lack money to modernize factories quickly. For example, a small exporter in a poorer nation might struggle to pay the added charge, though it contributes little to global emissions. Still, if wealthier nations pair the policy with technical support, it could become a genuinely fair tool for cutting emissions worldwide. (B) Supporters argue that the system protects domestic industries and pushes foreign manufacturers toward cleaner methods. (C) The factory facing stricter rules often spends more, which can make its goods pricier than those made elsewhere. To fix this imbalance, some governments have introduced the carbon border adjustment mechanism, a policy charging imported goods a fee based on how much carbon was released while producing them.

This small difference in preparation determines whether an item can be reused or simply thrown away as waste. Sorting your trash correctly is one of the simplest habits that protect our environment. ① When you separate paper, plastic, glass, and cans, recycling centers can process each material more efficiently. ② For example, plastic bottles should be rinsed and have their caps removed before being thrown away. Paper soaked with food or oil, however, cannot be recycled and must go into general waste. ③ Sorting garbage is similar to organizing a closet, where each type of clothing has its own shelf. If items are mixed together carelessly, finding what you need later becomes difficult. ④ Likewise, mixing recyclables with ordinary trash makes the whole recycling process complicated. Many students believe that sorting trash takes too much time, but it actually requires only a few extra seconds. ⑤ Therefore, learning these basic rules now helps you build a habit that benefits your entire community.

This reveals an uncomfortable truth about the underlying business model itself. Social media platforms rarely show users a neutral stream of information. ( ① ) Instead, recommendation algorithms are optimized to maximize engagement, and content that provokes strong emotion tends to hold attention longer than balanced reporting ever could. ( ② ) Researchers describe this as a distorted mirror: the platform reflects not society as it truly is, but a version shaped by whatever keeps people scrolling. ( ③ ) Some platforms have experimented with reducing the visibility of outrage-driven content. ( ④ ) Yet these experiments consistently saw user engagement drop. ( ⑤ )