ĐỀ SỐ 18 - VŨ MAI PHƯƠNG

Humans are harming dolphins at an alarming rate. Long fishing nets known as 'Walls of Death' are mainly to (26) ________. Since their introduction in the 1960s, millions of dolphins, whales and seals have been accidentally caught up in them and killed. The nets are used by fishermen operating illegally (27)
________ want to increase the size of their catch. They are dropped into the sea at night where they catch anything that is fortunate enough to get in their way.
This is a very economical method of fishing, as (28) ________ fish are lost or injured when the nets are hauled in. As the nets are almost invisible, the dolphins have difficulty in seeing them and so are lured to their death. Fortunately, there are now a number of charities who are working to (29) ________ awareness of this issue. Their work is helping the conservation of dolphins, (30) ________ hopefully this destruction may soon be stopped.
(Adapted from FCE Use of English)

People have been communicating by letter for at least 2,000 years. Now, however, with the speed and efficiency of digital media, the handwritten letter is in serious decline. But have we given enough consideration to what we will lose if we abandon the letter completely?
When we handwrite a letter, we write more thoughtfully. When we receive an email, there is pressure to respond instantly and we don't always think carefully about how to express our feelings, often choosing to use emoticons instead. Writing letters may be hard work, but receiving one can be one of life's greatest pleasures. There is so much to appreciate: the feel of the paper, the style of the handwriting and simply knowing someone has taken the trouble to write to you.
Texts and emails allow instant communication but are quickly deleted, while letters stay around for longer, allowing us to keep a record of our past. Many of us keep special letters written by older generations. But what correspondence will we leave behind for future generations? Nothing. However, there are signs that people have been writing more letters recently. Newspapers have reported a rise in stationery sales and several internet campaigns have sprung up in an attempt to save the art of letter- writing. So letter-writing may not be ready to die quite yet.
(Adapted from Navigate)

In the days before the Internet, the word 'troll' had two different meanings. As a noun, 'a troll' was an ugly, bad-tempered creature. As a verb, 'to troll' means to fish using a line pulled slowly behind a boat. Perhaps it's easy to see why the word 'troll' has changed over time to describe anonymous individuals who 'fish' for victims by deliberately insulting and attacking people in online forums.
There are two main reasons for a troll's behaviour. The first is boredom. Trolls lack stimulation in their everyday lives and so seek satisfaction by attempting to humiliate and harm others. As well as being at a loose end, these people desire attention. They want people to react to them regardless of whether the response is negative.
Dealing with online trolls requires self-control and thinking ahead. They are attention seekers, so by engaging with them we are actually giving them exactly what they want. Instead, leave them starved of attention. A more sensible approach is this: delete, block, report, move on.
Those who are suffering at the hands of trolls or because of online bullying can seek help in various ways. The first place to turn for support might be friends and family. There are also support communities which exist to help victims of online bullying and abuse from trolls. Victims should also remember that any threats of violence made online are illegal and can be reported to Internet service providers, or the police. Given the size of the online community and the anonymity that the Internet allows, it is unlikely that the problem of trolls will ever disappear completely. For now perhaps the best we can do is starve them of the attention they seek.
(Adapted from High Note)