영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

Carbon neutrality refers to a state in which the amount of greenhouse gases a country or company releases into the atmosphere is ①balanced by the amount it removes, resulting in zero net emissions. Achieving this goal typically requires several sequential stages rather than a single sudden action. First, organizations attempt to ②reduce emissions directly by replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power. Next, they ③improve efficiency throughout their operations, minimizing the energy wasted during production and transportation. Only after these direct measures have been ④maximized do most organizations turn to offsetting, which involves funding projects like reforestation or carbon capture to compensate for emissions that cannot yet be eliminated. Critics argue, however, that some companies exploit offsetting too early, using it to avoid making genuine reductions. Therefore, experts insist that a ⑤flawed roadmap must always prioritize actual emission cuts before relying on compensation.

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.

Many students set a New Year goal to build a new habit. However, most people give up within two weeks because the habit still feels ①easy. Researchers found that, on average, a new habit takes about sixty-six days to feel automatic. During the first few weeks, your brain still treats the activity as something ②new, so you must rely on willpower. Around the middle of this period, the behavior becomes ③easier because your brain starts to expect it at a certain time each day. By the end, you no longer need to force yourself, since the action feels ④natural and comfortable. This is why experts suggest repeating a small action every day, rather than aiming for a perfect performance ⑤right away.

Psychologists who study daily behavior describe habits through a model called the cue-routine-reward loop. This theory explains that every habit ①begins with a cue, a signal that tells the brain to start an ②automatic behavior. The brain then performs a routine, which is the action itself, whether physical or mental. Finally, the brain receives a reward, a ③negative feeling that makes it want to ④repeat the same behavior. For example, a notification sound can act as a cue that leads a student to check a phone, and the relief from boredom becomes the reward. Similarly, opening a refrigerator out of habit rather than hunger shows how a routine can run almost without ⑤conscious thought. Because this loop operates automatically, breaking a bad habit requires changing the routine while keeping the same cue and reward. Understanding this structure helps people redesign daily patterns more effectively than relying on willpower alone.

A striking proportion of individual investors believe their own stock-picking ability to be above average, a statistical impossibility given that only half of any population can genuinely outperform the rest. This tendency, known as overconfidence bias, leads investors to trade more frequently than a more cautious assessment of their own skill would justify. Paradoxically, then, the very confidence that motivates investors to act decisively often undermines the outcomes they are trying to achieve, since ___________ frequently produces worse results than a more modest, diversified strategy.

Facing a shortage of caregivers and a rapidly aging population, several countries have begun deploying robots designed to remind elderly residents to take medication and offer simple conversation. Early trials show that many residents report reduced loneliness, particularly when a robot's presence allows a human staff member to spend more time with each patient. Critics, however, worry that _______________, especially in facilities already struggling with tight budgets.

A weekend camping trip promises fresh air and a break from screens, but the same wilderness that makes camping appealing also removes many of the safety nets people rely on without noticing, such as nearby hospitals or cell phone signal. (A) Experienced campers also stress the importance of checking a weather forecast before leaving, since a clear evening sky offers no guarantee against a sudden storm later that night. (B) One of the most overlooked risks is setting up a tent too close to a campfire, since a sudden gust of wind can carry a spark onto dry fabric faster than anyone expects. (C) Food storage is another area where casual habits create danger: leaving snacks inside a tent, rather than in a sealed container away from the sleeping area, can attract wildlife looking for food.

There are a few simple strategies that make writing a personal statement easier. (A) Second, use specific examples instead of vague statements, since details make a story more convincing. (B) First, explain what each experience taught you rather than simply listing your achievements. (C) Finally, always proofread carefully, since small errors can distract readers from an otherwise strong statement.

The framing effect becomes especially consequential in public health communication, where the stakes of a misunderstood message can be severe. (A) Campaigns that frame vaccination as an opportunity to protect ninety-five percent of recipients from a disease tend to generate calm, sustained interest, since the message emphasizes what individuals stand to gain. (B) By contrast, campaigns that frame the same behavior negatively, warning that failure to act will result in a specific number of preventable illnesses, tend to provoke stronger short-term compliance, though sometimes at the cost of inducing anxiety rather than genuine understanding. (C) Public health officials must therefore weigh not only whether a message is factually accurate but also whether its emotional framing serves the audience's long-term well-being.

The city operates free cooling centers to help residents cope with extreme summer heat. (A) Most locations are open from nine in the morning until six in the evening, seven days a week. (B) These centers, located in community halls and libraries, offer air-conditioned spaces free of charge. (C) Since there is no cost and no reservation is required, residents are encouraged to visit whenever needed.