영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

A plastic bag that fully decomposes within months rather than lingering for centuries sounds almost too convenient to be real, yet certain bioplastics on the market ①do exactly that under the right conditions. Unlike conventional plastic, derived almost entirely from petroleum, many bioplastics are ②synthesized from renewable feedstocks such as corn starch or sugarcane, sometimes with the help of bacteria engineered to produce plastic-like polymers as a byproduct of their metabolism. Not every bioplastic biodegrades quickly, however, and some marketed as eco-friendly break down only in industrial composting facilities ③that reach conditions rarely found in a backyard compost heap or the open ocean. Critics point out that growing crops for bioplastic production can compete with food crops for farmland and water, ④complicating the assumption that a biological origin automatically makes a material more sustainable. Researchers are now exploring bioplastics made from agricultural waste and algae instead of dedicated crops, hoping to ⑤sidestepping this competition for land while preserving the benefits that first made bioplastics appealing.

The gig economy, in which people take on short-term or freelance jobs, ①has grown rapidly over the past decade. Digital platforms now connect customers directly with drivers, designers, and writers, ②allowing workers to choose when and how much they work. Businesses, meanwhile, can hire help only when they ③actually need it. For many young people entering the job market, gig work provides valuable flexibility ④that traditional employment rarely allows. However, gig workers often lack benefits such as health insurance, which full-time employees typical ⑤receive.

When engineers design the software that controls a self-driving car, they inevitably face a question that philosophers have debated for ①decades. If a crash becomes unavoidable, should the vehicle protect its own passenger at all costs, or should it be programmed to ②minimize total harm, even if that means steering toward the person inside? Surveys reveal an uncomfortable ③contradiction: most people say a car should be programmed to save the greater number of lives, yet the same people admit they would never buy a vehicle designed to sacrifice its own owner. This gap between the ideal and the personal choice suggests that ethical programming cannot be settled by public opinion alone. Manufacturers, regulators, and philosophers must instead agree on ④transparent rules before autonomous vehicles are ⑤forbidden to make such decisions on the road.

Setting a goal such as 'I will study harder' rarely leads to meaningful improvement. According to psychologists Edwin Locke and Gary Latham, specific and challenging goals produce far better performance than vague or easy ones. This idea, known as goal-setting theory, suggests that ___________. To apply this theory effectively, many educators recommend the SMART framework, which requires goals to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Automation is transforming labor markets more quickly than economists predicted only a decade ago. Factories once staffed by hundreds of workers now rely on robotic arms that assemble products with remarkable precision, and warehouses use automated systems to sort and deliver packages within a few hours. This shift does not simply eliminate jobs; it also creates roles that never existed before. Technicians who maintain robotic equipment are now in high demand, and engineers who design efficient automated systems are highly valued. Companies that invested early in automation often report ___________, since machines handle repetitive tasks while employees focus on creative problem-solving. This transition, however, also raises concerns about workers whose skills quickly become outdated. Policymakers argue that retraining programs are essential to help displaced workers move into emerging fields.

Behavioral economists have long observed that people tend to feel the pain of losing something more intensely than the pleasure of gaining an equivalent amount, a tendency known as loss aversion. Consider an investor who refuses to sell a declining stock, clinging to the hope that its price will eventually recover, even when all available evidence indicates that selling and reinvesting elsewhere would be more rational. As a result, loss aversion frequently pushes individuals toward ___________ rather than toward the outcome that would maximize their overall welfare.

Factories that once employed hundreds of workers on an assembly line now run with a fraction of that staff, as robotic arms handle tasks that used to require human hands. (A) However, critics point out that earlier transitions unfolded over generations, giving workers time to retrain, whereas today's robots are being deployed much faster. (B) Historical evidence offers some comfort: previous waves of automation eventually created new categories of work that no one had predicted. (C) A factory worker displaced this year, therefore, cannot simply wait for a new industry to emerge decades from now.

Military researchers have developed weapons systems capable of identifying and engaging targets without a human pressing the final button. (A) Human rights organizations counter that removing a person from the final decision strips away moral responsibility at the exact moment it matters most. (B) Advocates within defense agencies argue that autonomous systems can react faster than any human operator and may even reduce casualties. (C) Diplomatic negotiations toward an international treaty have repeatedly stalled, partly because military powers disagree on how to define autonomy precisely enough to regulate it.

Mina's career path illustrates how unpredictable the job market can be for graduates entering emerging fields. (A) Soon afterward, however, a small startup building a traffic-prediction app offered her a chance to analyze large sets of data. (B) At first, she struggled to find a position that matched her academic background, since few employers understood the value of her statistical skills. (C) That opportunity transformed her career, leading her eventually to lead a team of analysts mentoring the next generation.

주어진 문장: Still, the risk of falling behind outweighs the discomfort of constant adjustment, most experts say. As technology continues to reshape nearly every profession, the idea of finishing education after graduation has become outdated. ( ① ) Workers who once expected their initial training to last an entire career now find that skills can become obsolete within just a few years. ( ② ) Lifelong learning, therefore, has shifted from being an optional pursuit to a practical necessity for staying competitive in the job market. ( ③ ) Many professionals now take short online courses, attend workshops, or earn new certifications while continuing to work full-time. ( ④ ) Critics argue that constant learning can be exhausting and difficult to balance with personal responsibilities. ( ⑤ ) In a rapidly changing economy, the ability to learn continuously may matter more than any single degree.