영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

Every July, our school library ①launches a summer reading challenge that invites students to read at least five books before classes begin again in September. Students who ②complete the challenge receive a small prize, but many say the real reward is something else entirely. Without daily homework and tests to worry about, summer gives students rare freedom ③to choose books purely because they sound interesting, not because a teacher assigned them. Librarians notice that students often pick more unusual genres during the challenge, ④including graphic novels, poetry, and nonfiction about hobbies they enjoy. This freedom seems to matter more than the prize itself, since students who only cared about winning tend to quit once the reading feels difficult, while curious readers ⑤keeps going.

Have you ever wondered why some people stay motivated while others give up quickly? The answer often lies in whether they have a clear goal. When people have no specific goal, they usually feel confused about where ①to start, and their interest fades within days. For example, a student who simply decides ②to study harder this year often loses direction because the plan is too vague. In contrast, a student who sets a clear goal, such as raising an English score by ten points, ③knows exactly what to do every day. This clarity creates strong motivation because the brain naturally ④focus on a clear target. A clear goal also makes progress easy to measure, and noticing small improvements keeps people ⑤encouraged to continue.

Jihun made a resolution ①to study English for two hours every day. For the first three days, he studied exactly as planned and ②felt proud of himself. However, on the fourth day, he skipped his study time because he was too exhausted, and within a week, his resolution had disappeared. ③Feeling disappointed, Jihun talked to his older sister about it, and she suggested that he ④try a smaller, more realistic goal instead of a large one. Following her advice, he changed his plan to studying English for only twenty minutes each night, and this small goal felt less overwhelming, so he managed ⑤keeping it every day for a month.

Behavioral economists use the term status quo bias to describe a tendency to prefer the ①present situation over a new alternative, even when the alternative would bring greater benefits. This bias helps explain why many households ②rush to switch to renewable energy, such as installing solar panels on their roofs. Although solar panels can lower electricity bills over time, homeowners often stick with their current power source because it feels ③safe and requires no immediate effort. In contrast, switching demands research, upfront cost, and trust in unfamiliar technology, all of which can seem ④risky compared with doing nothing. For example, a neighborhood association might repeatedly ⑤postpone a vote on shared solar panels, not because the plan is flawed, but because members are reluctant to leave their routine. Therefore, boosting renewable adoption may depend less on proving its advantages and more on designing programs that make the first step feel easy.

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.

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.

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.

Consumers today are bombarded with eco-friendly slogans on almost every product they buy. (A) Behind many of these slogans, however, lies a deceptive practice called greenwashing, in which companies exaggerate their environmental efforts without making real changes. (B) Consumers can avoid being fooled by such tactics by checking for recognized certifications and transparent, independently verified reports rather than trusting catchy labels alone. (C) For instance, a firm may highlight one eco-friendly product line while its factories continue to pollute rivers and emit large amounts of carbon.

Yuna and I decided to set our New Year goals together instead of separately, and our journey had several stages. (A) Thanks to her encouragement, I remembered why I had started, and we both kept going until we reached our goals by spring. (B) At first, we each wrote down our own goal and agreed to text each other every night about our progress. (C) After a couple of weeks, I began to feel tired and wanted to quit, but Yuna noticed my short replies and called me.

주어진 문장: Yet this same tendency also carries a hidden drawback. Sociologists use the term homophily to describe the tendency of people to form connections with others who share similar backgrounds, opinions, or interests. ( ① ) This principle explains why classmates from the same major often become close friends, while coworkers with shared hobbies naturally gravitate toward one another. ( ② ) Because similarity reduces the effort required to understand another person's perspective, relationships built on shared traits tend to feel comfortable and require less negotiation. ( ③ ) However, this same comfort can narrow the range of viewpoints someone encounters, since surrounding oneself with similar people limits exposure to different ideas. ( ④ ) Social media platforms intensify this pattern through recommendation algorithms that suggest new friends based on shared interests or similar browsing history. ( ⑤ ) As a result, users often find their online circles becoming increasingly homogeneous, filled with people who think and behave much like themselves.