Đề ôn thi Đề thi vào lớp 10 Trường THPT Chuyên KHXH môn Tiếng Anh - Mã đề KHXH-93

A concrete mixer truck is a common sight on any construction site. Its most recognizable feature is the large, pear-shaped (35) __________ mounted on its back. This part of the truck is essential for transporting liquid concrete from a factory to the place where it will be used.

This drum is not just for decoration; it is constantly rotating. The slow, continuous movement is crucial (36) __________ the concrete remains in a liquid state. If it stopped moving for too long, the mixture of cement, water, and aggregates would begin to harden, becoming solid and unusable.

The process starts with (37) __________ the raw materials into the drum. Inside, spiral blades lift and drop the materials to mix them thoroughly. This creates the wet, grey substance we know as concrete. The recipe must be precise; adding even a slightly wrong amount of water could ruin (38) __________ entire batch.

Once at the site, the process reverses. The driver changes the drum's rotation, and the blades begin to push the concrete (39) __________. It travels down a long chute to be poured exactly where needed. Getting the mixture to the right spot is not (40) __________; it requires skill and teamwork. If the concrete (41) __________ placed incorrectly, it could compromise the building's safety.

The whole operation is a race against time. The foreman told his team that they (42) __________ work quickly before the concrete set. Because of this urgency, the concrete mixer truck is more than a vehicle; it's a mobile mixing plant essential for building our modern world.

For generations, space travel was the stuff of science fiction. Today, however, it is rapidly becoming a reality, not for astronauts on scientific missions, but for wealthy tourists seeking the ultimate adventure. Private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin are at the forefront of this new industry, developing reusable rockets that significantly lower the cost of reaching the stars. While a trip to space is still far from affordable for the average person, these developments mark the beginning of a new era in human exploration: commercial space tourism.

So, what does a ticket to space actually buy? For a price tag that can run into millions of dollars, tourists can experience a sub-orbital flight. This journey takes them just past the edge of Earth's atmosphere, allowing them to witness the stunning curvature of our planet and experience a few minutes of weightlessness. It is an incredibly exclusive club, reserved for billionaires and celebrities who can afford the high price of admission. The goal for these companies, however, is to eventually make space travel more accessible, though that future is likely decades away.

The rise of space tourism has not been without criticism. Environmentalists express serious concerns about the carbon footprint of rocket launches, arguing that such luxury travel comes at a high cost to our planet's health. Others question the ethics of spending vast sums of money on space vacations when significant problems like poverty and disease persist on Earth. In response, proponents point to the immense technological advancements that space exploration drives. These innovations, they argue, often have far-reaching benefits that eventually improve life for everyone, not just the space-faring few.

Indeed, the history of space exploration is filled with 'spin-off' technologies. The need to solve complex problems for missions in space has led to inventions we use every day. GPS technology, which helps us navigate our cars and phones, was developed for satellites. Medical imaging technologies like MRI and CT scans have been improved by techniques used for analyzing images from space. Even everyday items like memory foam and cordless power tools have their origins in research conducted for space agencies. These examples show that investing in space can lead to tangible benefits back on Earth.

While a holiday on the Moon might seem like a distant dream for most, the excitement around space is growing globally. In Vietnam, for instance, a strong focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education is nurturing a new generation's curiosity about the cosmos. Initiatives like Vingroup's VinSpace Astronomy Club are providing young people with opportunities to learn about aerospace. This growing interest proves that even if you aren't flying to space soon, the journey of discovery and the technology it creates are relevant and inspiring for everyone.