A mental model is a way to think about the world. It is how we respond and make decisions on the things we encounter in daily life. No single model is right for every person, so it’s important to understand what works for you. You need to understand how you perceive the world and what you hold important. Furthermore, different models work for different situations.
The use of cards isn’t recommended when “a user is not directly comparing images or text.” Users of a news website often want to compare news titles especially on the homepage, to get an overview of the current stories and decide which articles they want to explore further.