Đề luyện thi vào lớp 10 - Đề 16

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. Food is a popular subject with many people around the world. It is fun to talk about our favorite dishes. It is even more fun to share a favorite dish with others. Today we talk about the word “dish.” A dish can be the object on which you serve food. But, a dish can also mean a specially prepared food. Do you have a signature dish? Our signature is how we sign our names. So, a signature dish is a dish we are known for making well. In a way, it identifies us. My signature dish is sweet potato rosemary dinner rolls. I am often asked to make them, especially for holiday parties. In my circle of friends, I am known for this dish. When the rolls are on the table, people know that I made them. A tasty dish is something that makes a table look good and inviting. Sometimes the same can be said about a person. Someone who is good-looking can be called a dish. While this usage might be a bit dated, it is still used. Now, let’s talk about the verb “dish.” “To dish” can mean to talk about private or personal information. It might be gossip. But I can also dish about myself. For example, a friend may ask me to dish about my new job. I could also use a phrasal verb form and say my friend want me to dish out all the interesting details. Now, to dish up something means to put food on a dish for someone to eat. However, it can also mean sharing personal details, our own and others. We can also dish out things, like jokes or even insults. Some people like to tease or insult. They can dish out jokes and insults all day long. But sometimes these same people do not like it if you do the same to them. We have a saying for just such people. We say, “They can dish it out, but they can’t take it.” They are able and willing to share harsh thoughts, criticisms, or insults about others, but they do not think they, themselves, deserve such treatment. And that’s Words and Their Stories. Until next time, I’m Anna Matteo.

PRESERVING TRADITIONS IN MODERN LIFE Many young people today live in a fast-changing world. They use smartphones, study online and enjoy modern forms of entertainment. However, (37)______. Many schools and families are finding creative ways to teach teenagers about cultural heritage. For example, many families still prepare traditional dishes during festivals and special occasions. Grandparents often teach children how to make spring rolls, sticky rice or other local dishes. These activities (38)______ and understand the value of family traditions more clearly. Traditional games are also worth preserving. In the past, (39)______. Today, some schools organize Cultural Days, where students can try these games and learn about their meanings. Digital tools can also be used to introduce traditional music, costumes and festivals to young people through online videos and digital stories. Preserving traditions does not mean refusing modern life. Instead, it means choosing useful ways to keep cultural values alive. Young people can share photos of family festivals online, interview older family members or learn traditional songs from their grandparents. They can also join local cultural events (40)______. In conclusion, traditions help young people understand who they are and where they come from. When traditions and modern life go together, culture can continue to grow in meaningful ways.

Wild celebrations of Mardi Gras come just before the start of Lent. Lent is the Christian observance leading up to the Easter holiday. It is a serious, spiritual time, especially important to Roman Catholics. The name "Mardi Gras" comes from the French language. It means "Fat Tuesday." The day is also called “Shrove Tuesday” in some places. Mardi Gras marks the end of the Carnival period, a time of public merrymaking energetically observed in Europe and South America. Mardi Gras in New Orleans During Mardi Gras, huge crowds fill the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the southern part of the United States. People from all over the country come to eat, drink and dance. Police watch the crowds carefully. Many parties and parades have already taken place by the time Fat Tuesday arrives. In fact, activities start in January and last for weeks before the big Tuesday. Social groups hold parades. Some of the huge floats, or special parade vehicles, carry up to two hundred fifty people. Riders on the parade floats wear colorful clothes. Top hats made from bird feathers can stand a meter tall. Beautiful, and sometimes strange, masks cover the faces of people on the floats. These people throw cups and necklaces to the crowds of people who watch the parades. Another tradition is to eat “King Cake." This food, similar to a sweet bread, is served at Mardi Gras parties. Inside one piece is a small plastic baby. Whoever gets the baby must promise to hold the next party. The French Quarter is the oldest part of the city. It remains the heart of New Orleans. And the French Quarter is where some of the best food -- a mix of French and Caribbean influences -- can be found. In New Orleans, music spills into the streets not just at Mardi Gras, but throughout the year. New Orleans is known as the birthplace of jazz. But local sounds also include Cajun and zydeco music. On Bourbon Street, the music and the crowds seem like a huge celebration that never ends. The most traditional old-time jazz is played at Preservation Hall in the French Quarter.

TEENTECH Forum Thomson@2005: I always read about teens and how much time they spend on their electronic devices. Is it a good idea for teens to have a lot of electronic devices? What do you think? Dan@14: Of course it is! Having a device like a smartphone is a great way for me to contact friends and family members – especially the ones I don't see very often. I share photos and send them text messages on a messaging app all the time. I also use my laptop and my tablet to do research and improve my computer skills. Harrison@008: Electronic devices can have some negative effects on teens. I had a tablet, a smartphone and a games console. I spent too much time playing video games and going on social media. My parents said it would reduce my attention span and make me lack social skills. My doctor told me I was gaining weight, too. Now, I just have a smartphone and I only use it after I finish my homework. I'm glad I stopped wasting so much time on electronic devices.