Đề ôn thi Đề thi vào lớp 10 Trường THPT Chuyên KHXH môn Tiếng Anh - Mã đề KHXH-154

Many think of quicksand as a deadly trap from movies, where a person sinks completely. However, the reality is less dramatic. Quicksand is not a special soil; it is ordinary sand saturated with water. Because of its properties, you (35) __________ sink completely in it, no matter how much you struggle.

Normally, sand particles are packed together, creating friction that supports weight. When water saturates the sand, often from an underground source, it flows between the particles. This water greatly reduces the (36) __________ between the sand particles. The sand loses its ability to support weight and behaves more like a (37) __________.

The science behind why you float is related to density. Quicksand is a mixture of sand and water, making it much heavier than just water. In fact, your body is less (38) __________ than quicksand, so you will float. (39) __________ means you will only sink to about your waist.

The real danger, therefore, is not sinking but becoming stuck. The dense mixture creates strong suction around your limbs. (40) __________ does panicking make the situation worse, but it also wastes precious energy. Trying to pull a leg out quickly requires the same force needed to lift a small car.

If you are ever in quicksand, stay calm. Avoid sudden movements and (41) __________ your weight over a larger area by leaning back. Move your legs slowly to let water flow around them, reducing the suction. (42) __________, while quicksand is real, it is not the fatal trap movies show.

You send a carefully crafted message to your best friend, asking about their day. A few minutes later, you see it: the 'Đã xem' or 'Seen' notification appears below your text. You wait, but no reply comes. Immediately, your mind starts racing. Are they angry? Did you say something wrong? This feeling, often called 'read receipt anxiety,' is a common experience for teenagers in Vietnam and around the world who use popular messaging apps like Zalo and Messenger. It has changed the way we think about communication.

However, the story behind a seen message is often less dramatic than we imagine. There are many practical reasons for a delayed reply. Your friend might be in class, at a family dinner, or driving. Sometimes, a message requires a thoughtful answer, and the person needs time to compose a proper response instead of sending a quick, careless one. Not every non-reply is a sign of being ignored; sometimes, it's a deliberate choice to ensure the quality of the conversation later on. Understanding these possibilities is the first step to reducing texting stress.

The psychological impact of these digital communication tools can be significant. When we don't get an instant reply, our brains can interpret it as social rejection. This can lead to feelings of anxiety, self-doubt, and even paranoia, as we invent negative scenarios to explain the silence. They were designed to make communication easier, but features like read receipts can sometimes create more pressure and misunderstanding in modern friendships if we are not careful about how we interpret them.

Fortunately, we can develop healthier digital habits to manage this pressure. One effective strategy is to practice asynchronous communication—the understanding that messages don't need immediate answers. Another is to talk openly with your friends about your texting styles and expectations. For example, you could agree that a 'thumbs up' emoji means 'I saw this and will reply when I can.' On some apps, you can even turn off read receipts entirely to remove the pressure for both the sender and the receiver. A simple text like 'Got it, will reply later!' can also work wonders.

Ultimately, navigating the world of digital messaging is about empathy and clear communication. The 'Seen' notification is just a tool; it has no emotion or intention on its own. By remembering that there's a real person with a real life on the other end of the screen, we can prevent small misunderstandings from becoming big problems. Strong friendships are built on trust and understanding, not on the speed of a text reply.