Đề luyện thi vào lớp 10 - Đề 12

Shopping is an important part of everyday life. (37)____. Some enjoy going to small local shops, while others prefer big supermarkets or modern shopping malls. In these places, shoppers can look (38)____. This is especially helpful when buying things like clothes, shoes, or furniture. Sometimes, shop assistants also give useful advice or help customers choose the right product. Today, more and more people shop online. It is easy, fast, and can be done at any time from home. With just a phone or computer, buyers can look (39)____. Items are then delivered to their homes. However, online shopping has some problems. (40)____. There may also be delivery delays, or the item might look different from the pictures. Both online and in-person shopping have advantages, so people can choose what works best for them.

Philadelphia, also sometimes called Philly, is a big city on the Delaware River in the northeastern state of Pennsylvania. It has about 1.5 million people, estimates from the United States Census Bureau show. William Penn, an Englishman and member of the Christian group known as Quakers, founded Pennsylvania in the sixteen eighties. He also designed the city. Penn chose the name Philadelphia - a term he interpreted to mean "city of brotherly love" in Greek. Philadelphia is famous for holding an important place in American history. It served as the nation's capital from 1785 to 1790. Earlier, it was the capital of the American colonies during most of the Revolutionary War against Britain. Philadelphia became the central meeting place for the "Founding Fathers" who created the United States government. The buildings where they worked can be seen today in an area called the Old City, or Independence National Historical Park. The main building is Independence Hall. That was where colonial leaders declared independence and later debated the creation of a government. The National Park Service says more than 2.6 million people visited Independence National Historical Park last year. Close to the park is the National Liberty Museum. It holds a collection of more than ninety paintings and sculptures. They represent the idea that liberty is a freedom that is easily violated. Several blocks away lies the National Constitution Center. This privately operated nonprofit museum opened its doors in Philadelphia on July 4, 2003. It was created to increase public recognition of the Constitution, its history, and its importance today. Visitors are presented with the idea that the most important part of American constitutional democracy is the individual citizen. Rich with tradition, Philadelphia offers plenty for visitors who are less concerned about history and more concerned about their stomachs. There are many food choices for hungry visitors. Reading Terminal Market, for example, is one of the nation’s largest public markets. At Reading Terminal Market, visitors can find all kinds of foods -- including, of course, Philly cheesesteak. The city is known for these sandwiches. They are made of thin pieces of meat covered with cheese. A cheesesteak is offered with onions and other toppings and served on a long roll. And where might a visitor find the best Philly cheesesteak? That question is the subject of much debate.

Every day, more than 110,000 automobiles cross a historic and beautiful bridge in northern California. The span is called the Golden Gate Bridge. It is named after the body of water below it. The Golden Gate Strait connects the Pacific Ocean with San Francisco Bay. The bridge links the city of San Francisco with Marin County to the north. Joseph Strauss was the chief engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge. Building began in 1933. The bridge was opened for use in 1937. The distance between the main towers is almost 1,300 meters long. That was the longest suspension bridge span in the world for almost thirty years. Then, in 1964, the larger Verrazano Narrows bridge opened in New York City. Today, the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge in Japan has the longest span. Strauss used newly developed protective equipment for the men who worked on the bridge. These included a special safety net under the bridge. But still, 11 workers fell to their deaths during the building project. The color of the bridge, international orange, is very important. It was chosen partly because it is easier to see through the heavy fog that often covers San Francisco. Many people consider the Golden Gate Bridge the most beautiful bridge of its kind in the world. More than 2 billion vehicles have crossed the bridge since its opening. But wheels are not the only way to cross the bridge. The Golden Gate is also open to walkers. Many people walk across each year and there is no cost to do so. On clear days, the bridge provides excellent views of San Francisco, ships down below and birds all around. Strauss wrote a poem about his bridge when the work was completed. Here is part of “The Mighty Task is Done.” “At last the mighty task is done; Resplendent in the western sun The Bridge looms mountain high; Its titan piers grip ocean floor, Its great steel arms link shore with shore, Its towers pierce the sky.” This report was written by VOA Learning English.

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. Technology is always progressing. Today, many modern devices can be controlled by touch or voice. This has led to some traditional electronic controls – such as dials and switches – being replaced with new technologies. Digital displays have also become increasingly common. For example, digital number readouts have long replaced the hands on many clocks. Many other devices also now operate purely with digital tools instead of mechanical systems. But some expressions and idioms used by English speakers still describe older technologies. First, let’s talk about dials. These controls are used for changing settings on a piece of equipment, like a radio or old television. We use the dial to tune in to a specific channel. That’s where the expressions dialed in and tuned in come from. If we are dialed in or tuned in to a radio or television program, we can hear it clearly. There is no noise or static. The same can be said when using these terms in personal conversations. For example, if you are dialed in to a project or problem, you know exactly what needs to be done. You are thinking clearly about it and remain very focused. And when you are tuned in, you understand clearly what is going on around you. “Don’t touch that dial” and “stay tuned” are two ways to tell someone to keep watching or listening to a program. Now, let’s talk about switches. These are built to either be off or on. There are no in-between settings like with a dial. So, when we flip the switch, we make something happen quickly and easily. It can also mean that we suddenly change something. Let’s listen to an example. The restaurant’s change to all organic food happened slowly over time. It wasn’t a matter of flipping a switch. Now, for our last expression -- to move the needle. Needles on measuring devices like a scale move to show a desired level has been reached. So, when something moves the needle, it causes a noticeable change in something, usually for the good. And that’s all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. Don't forget to tune in again for another story about American English expressions. Until next time, I’m Anna Matteo.