Đề thi thử tốt nghiệp THPT môn Tiếng Anh Sở GD&ĐT Hà Nam năm 2025

Leonardo da Vinci - A Genius in Art and Science

Leonardo da Vinci was a famous Italian artist and scientist. He is known as one of the smartest people in history. He was born in a small town in Italy and later he (1) _____ to paint in Florence. In 1478, he opened his own art studio and soon became the best painter in the city. His paintings looked very real, (2) _____ people as if they were moving.

Leonardo was also interested in the human body and studied how it worked. In 1482, he moved to Milan, where he painted The Last Supper, one of his most famous works. (3) _____, the paint that he used did not stick to the wall and he had to repaint it.

Leonardo eventually returned to Florence, where he painted one of his most famous works – The Mona Lisa. During this time, he developed a strong (4) _____ in nature, especially how birds fly. This curiosity led him to (5) _____ early plans for a flying machine, showing his forward-thinking ideas. Later, he moved to Rome to continue his scientific studies, including anatomy and engineering. He lived in France during the last years of his life and continued to (6) _____ himself to his work.

(Adapted from Daily Warms up reading 5)

We live in a time when access to information has never been easier. Every day, we are surrounded by articles, news, media posts, podcasts, and research studies. With just a few clicks, we can find a huge amount of data on any subject. However, there is a challenge: not all information is reliable. Different sources have different goals – some aim to be objective, while others try to influence opinions or focus more on attracting attention than providing accurate details. Although technology has made knowledge available to everyone, it has also made it more difficult to tell the difference between truth and falsehood. With so much conflicting information, even highly intelligent people can be misled by false or deceptive content.

Medical knowledge now doubles every 73 days, compared to nearly 50 years in the 1950s. This rapid growth brings progress but makes it harder to stay updated. Without strong critical thinking, experts and the public may struggle to separate solid evidence from misinformation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced the term "infodemic" to describe the spread of both true and false information during a health crisis. This was especially clear during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the fast flow of conflicting information caused confusion and fear. People were overwhelmed by a large number of claims – some based on science, while others were simply guesses or completely false. In such a situation, critical thinking is not just an important skill; it is essential for making the right decisions and staying safe.

One major issue in education today is that students are often taught to memorize information rather than think critically about it. Standardized tests encourage memorization, but real intellectual growth comes from questioning, combining ideas, and analyzing evidence. Without strong critical thinking skills, students become passive receivers of information instead of active thinkers. Instead of only telling students what to think, education should focus on teaching them how to think.

(Adapted from Psychologytoday.com)

Yesim and Min-ho belong to Generation Z, often known as digital natives because they have been surrounded by the internet, smartphones, and social media since childhood. Unlike their parents, (15) _____, Gen-Z is connected to its music, videos, games, and friends online every day. (16) _____. Marketing companies know this. While browsing social networking sites, (17) _____ but also advertisements tailored to their preferences. Marketing companies, working closely with social media platforms, track users' interests, locations, and social circles to target them with specific ads.

What does this generation think about marketing companies knowing so much about them? Are they worried about losing their privacy? Although companies collect a great deal of personal data, most Gen-Z individuals are not overly concerned about privacy. (18) _____. For instance, Valerie Chen from Kaohsiung dislikes her parents watching her online activities. Nevertheless, she continues using social media while limiting (19) _____.

(Adapted from Select Reading 2nd)

Unlike natural disasters such as floods or cyclones, earthquakes occur with no advance warnings because of their sudden and unpredictable nature. At present, scientific advancements have yet to yield the ability to precisely predict the time or location of seismic events, due to the inherently erratic and abrupt nature of earthquakes. Communities rely on real-time monitoring to reduce disaster impact. Advanced Earthquake Early Warning Systems (EEWS) can issue alerts seconds before shaking begins – critical moments that can save lives, as most earthquake deaths result from collapsing structure.

In countries like Myanmar, where the tectonic situation is especially complex, having a dense network of well-positioned observation stations is essential. Because earthquakes do not respect borders, international cooperation is key. Seismic information must be shared openly between countries and in formats that can be quickly used. Back in 2009, ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), through its Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness, funded the first seismic ground station in Sittwe, Myanmar. This was an important step towards identifying hidden fault lines. Since then, the national seismic network has been expanded with support from neighboring countries and integrated into global platforms. The system is now managed by the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System.

[I]. This earthquake exposed a troubling truth: the vulnerability of our public infrastructure. b According to GIRI (Global Infrastructure Risk Model and Resilience Index), the annual earthquake losses of

(Adapted from Earthquake on 28 March 2025 – reliefweb.int)

Breville's Coffee Maker with Grinder!

The Breville Coffee Maker stands out thanks to its ability to grind beans (35) _____, medium, orcoarsely.

• It features a grinder with six grind settings, so you can easily (36) _____ the grind depending on your taste or coffee beans. The large bean hopper (37) _____ up to half a pound of coffee beans, so no need to refill it every time you brew.

• The (38) _____ digital display shows how many cups you'll make and lets you choose the strength of your coffee. A helpful water level indicator on the front saves you (39) _____ bending or guessing.

• Most importantly, it brews smooth, delicious coffee without (40) _____ bitterness.