[033] - Đề thi thử tốt nghiệp THPT 2024 - Môn Tiếng Anh - TRƯỜNG THPT CHUYÊN HẠ LONG - QUẢNG NINH

CYCLING MAKES FINANCIAL SENSE
These days, most people are (8)________ of the environmental impact of motor vehicles, and they realise that cars are responsible for many of the problems facing their cities. Not many people, (9)_______, ever stop to think about how much money they would save by switching from driving to cycling.
Cars cost a lot to buy, and unlike (10)_______ major investments such as houses, they quickly lose their value. On top of that, there are running costs such as repair bills, tax and insurance, all of which seem to go up every year.
Bicycles, by contrast, are far less expensive to purchase and maintain, do not require petrol and are easy to park. And if a lot more people (11)_______ up cycling, the government could spend less of the nation's resources on roads, (12)_______ at present their taxes help pay for whether they drive on them or not.

The old adage 'practice makes perfect' has taken on special significance in recent times. Its message is simple: if you do something over and over again, then your performance will improve. Although often applied to music and sports - both of which are areas in which the necessity to practice is self-evident - the value of practice in other areas of life should not be underestimated. In fact, studies seem to indicate that practice (or experience) plays a greater role in success than natural talent, if such a thing exists.
Studies have demonstrated that high achievers are in fact no more gifted or intelligent than their contemporaries; rather, the difference lies in the amount of practice they put in. In the 1980s, Benjamin Bloom, a professor of education at the University of Chicago, conducted an investigation into the factors that had led to people excelling in different fields. He concluded that there was nothing in the early childhoods of these high achievers that could have predicted their later success. The subjects of his research did, however, have certain features in common, namely, that they all had dedicated teachers and supportive families, and they had all put in intensive practice.
K. Anders Ericsson, a professor of Psychology at Florida State University, who has carried out research spanning more than two decades into giftedness, expertise, and the benefits of practice, concludes that experts are invariably made, and not born. However, Ericsson's research has also indicated that what counts is not just the amount of practice a person puts in, but rather, the way in which they practise. If a person believes that it takes real talent to excel in a certain area, then they are likely to doubt their own ability to improve sufficiently to compete with others, and as a result, may give up trying. Conversely, the person who can learn from their mistakes, and believes that they have the capacity to improve, is more likely to succeed.
In other words, experience really does count. Or as another old adage puts it, 'nothing succeeds like success'. The key to success is motivation and an understanding that practice really does make perfect.

Hobbies and leisure activities are an ideal way to de-stress, meet people and develop your creativity. But if you don't have a lot of spare time, it can be a challenge to find one that suits your tastes and fits into your busy life. Of course, some readers ask why they should take up a hobby at all. After an exhausting day at school, all they want to do is to sit in front of the TV or go online. They don't realise that being more active and doing something really enjoyable can improve their energy levels and their mood.
One strategy for finding the right leisure activity is to think about what you enjoyed when you were a young child. Do you regret giving up those music lessons when you were ten? Now here's your chance to try again. Perhaps you wish you could spend time exploring on your bicycle again, or wonder why you stopped drawing cartoons. Think about going back to similar activities. Another approach is to think about the hobbies your friends have taken up. If you are interested when a classmate talks about her martial class, ask if you can join her. Training together will give both of you a boost in motivation. Or if you see a friend's paintings and you fancy doing some painting as well, give it a try.
Something to keep in mind is that an activity may not interest you after you've tried it. Actually, lots of people give hobbies up within a couple of months of starting them. So don't beg your parents to pay for a lot of equipment or a whole year's lessons right away. Begin slowly, borrow what you need, and see if the activity is really right for you. If you still enjoy an activity after a few weeks of starting it, it might be the right hobby for you. Only then is the time to pay for the full course. And if you complete it, perhaps you can ask for some equipment for your next birthday present.