Đề ôn thi Đề thi vào lớp 10 Trường Phổ thông Năng khiếu môn Tiếng Anh - Mã đề PTNK-10

A comet is often called a 'cosmic snowball.' It is a celestial body composed of ice, rock, and dust that travels in a long, elliptical orbit around the sun. When a comet is far from the sun, in the cold, outer regions of the solar system, it is just a frozen, dark nucleus, often only a few kilometers wide. It remains inactive and invisible for most of its journey, waiting for its distant approach to our star.

The comet (21) __________ on its long journey towards the sun, pulled by gravity. As it moves closer, the sun's powerful radiation begins to heat its surface. This causes the ice to sublimate, changing directly from a solid into a gas. This process releases the dust trapped within the ice, and the comet slowly awakens. From Earth, it (22) __________ look like a faint, fuzzy star at this stage.

This released gas and dust form a glowing cloud around the nucleus called a coma, which can grow to be hundreds of thousands of kilometers wide. The solar wind, a stream of particles from the sun, pushes this material away from the nucleus. The tail becomes (23) __________ and more visible as the comet gets closer to the sun. Interestingly, a comet's tail always points away from the sun, regardless of the direction the comet is traveling.

Not until a comet nears the sun does its most dramatic transformation occur. At its closest point, the comet is at its most active and its brightest. The appearance of a bright comet in the night sky is an unforgettable sight. After passing the sun, it begins its long, slow journey back towards the outer solar system, gradually cooling and fading from view.

(24) __________, the comet returns to its frozen state, a silent traveler in the dark. While some comets have short orbits and return every few years, others take thousands of years to complete their cycle. Each trip wears the comet down, as it loses ice and dust. Eventually, after many journeys, it may break apart or simply fade away, its spectacular journey finally over.

The global fight against plastic pollution has brought many single-use items under scrutiny, with the plastic straw emerging as a potent symbol. Across continents, "skip the straw" campaigns have gained immense popularity, turning this small item into a representation of our disposable culture. As cafes worldwide increasingly phase them out, a critical question arises: is this focus on plastic straws truly making a significant environmental difference, or does it merely scratch the surface of a deeper problem? [I]

This global shift is highly visible in Vietnam, directly impacting daily routines for many young people. Popular cafe chains, like The Coffee House, have embraced the movement, introducing paper or reusable straw alternatives, often in response to government encouragement such as Directive No. 33/CT-TTg on plastic waste management. [II]

Proponents of straw bans often highlight their undeniable impact on marine life. Their small size makes them easily ingestible by sea turtles, fish, and birds, leading to internal injuries. Their light weight allows them to be carried by wind and water far from their source, accumulating on beaches and in oceans. Banning straws is seen as an accessible first step for consumers and businesses, raising public awareness about single-use plastics and encouraging mindful consumption.

However, critics argue the focus on straws is largely "plastic theater," diverting attention from more significant pollution sources. Straws constitute less than 1% of the estimated 8 million tons of plastic entering oceans annually. Far larger culprits include discarded fishing gear, industrial plastic pellets, and ubiquitous plastic packaging. Moreover, alternatives aren't always perfect; paper straws can disintegrate, and reusable options might have their own environmental footprints. [III]

Ultimately, the "war on plastic straws" represents a complex issue. While symbolic and effective in raising public consciousness, it is merely a microcosm of the much larger challenge of plastic waste. For young people, witnessing these changes daily offers a unique opportunity to think critically. [IV] Are these efforts sufficient, or do we need more comprehensive solutions? Your daily choices are a start, but understanding the broader context and advocating for systemic changes are crucial steps towards a truly sustainable future.