Ôn thi Tốt nghiệp THPT môn Tiếng Anh (Đề 18)

            In the year 1900, the world was in the midst of a machine revolution. (3) _______ electrical power became more ubiquitous, tasks once done by hand were now completed quickly and efficiently by machine. Sewing machines replaced needle and thread. Tractors replaced hoes. Typewriters replaced pens. Automobiles replaced horse-drawn carriages. 

            A hundred years later, in the year 2000, machines were again pushing the boundaries of (4) _______ was possible. Humans could now work in space, thanks to the International Space Station. We were finding out the composition of life thanks to the DNA sequencer. Computers and the world wide web changed the way we learn, read, communicate, or start political revolutions. 

           So what will be the game-changing machines in the year 2100? How will they (5) _______ our lives better, cleaner, safer, more efficient, and (6) _______ exciting? 

           We asked over three dozen experts, scientists, engineers, futurists, and organizations

in five different disciplines, including climate change, military, infrastructure, transportation, and space exploration, about how the machines of 2100 will change humanity. The (7) _______ we got back were thought-provoking, hopeful and, at times, apocalyptic. 

(Adapted from https.//www.popularmechanics.com) 

          Right now, the biggest source of energy in the world is fossil fuel. Fossil fuels are oil, gas, and coal. More than 80 percent of the world's energy comes from fossil fuel. There are many problems with fossil fuel. One problem is that when fossil fuel is burned, it pollutes the air. Also, when we take fossil fuel from the Earth, we often cause a lot of damage. Another problem is that we are running out of it. That is why we need new sources of energy. A big source of energy for many countries is nuclear power. Thirty-one countries use nuclear power. Many ships also use it. 

          Nuclear power has some advantages. First of all, we can’t run out of nuclear power. Nuclear power does not make the air dirty. Also, if a country has nuclear power, it doesn't need to buy as much as oil from other countries. 

          However, there are also a lot of problems that come with nuclear power. For example, nuclear accidents are very serious. In 1986, there was a nuclear accident in Ukraine. In the next 20 years, about 4,000 people got sick and died. In 2011, there was another very serious nuclear accident in Japan. Japan is still trying to clean up the nuclear waste from the accident. 

          Many people don't want nuclear power in their countries. They say that it is not safe. A lot of people want their countries to use safer and cleaner ways to get electricity. There have been protests against nuclear energy in the United States, Russia, France, Taiwan, Japan, India, and many other countries.

Although many people hate nuclear energy, more and more countries are using it. One reason for this is that the world is using more and more energy. We just don't have enough fossil fuel. However, if we use nuclear power, then we may have more serious problems in the future. 

          Contrary to popular belief, one does not have to be a trained programmer to work online. Of course, there are plenty of jobs available for people with high-tech computer skills, but the growth of new media has opened up a wide range of Internet career opportunities requiring only a minimal level of technical expertise. Probably one of the most well-known online job opportunities is the job of webmaster. However, it is hard to define one basic job description for this position. The qualifications and responsibilities depend on what tasks a particular organization needs a webmaster to perform. 

          To specify the job description of a webmaster, one needs to identify the hardware and software that the website the webmaster will manage is running on. Different types of hardware and software require different skill sets to manage them. Another key factor is whether the website will be running internally (at the firm itself) or externally (renting shared space on the company servers). Finally, the responsibilities of a webmaster also depend on whether he or she will be working independently, or whether the firm will provide people to help. All of these factors need to be considered before one can create an accurate webmaster job description.

          Webmaster is one type of Internet career requiring in-depth knowledge of the latest computer applications. However, there are also online jobs available for which traditional skills remain in high demand. Content jobs require excellent writing skills and a good sense of the web as a "new media". 

          The term "new media" is difficult to define because it encompasses a constantly growing set of new technologies and skills, specifically, it includes websites, email, Internet technology, CD-ROM, DVD, streaming audio and video, interactive multimedia presentations, e-books, digital music, computer illustration, video games, virtually reality, and computer artistry. 

          Additionally, many of today’s Internet careers are becoming paid-by-the-job professions. With many companies having to downsize in tough economic items, the outsourcing and contracting of freelance workers online has become common business practice. The Internet provides an infinite pool of buyers from around the world with whom freelancers can contract their services. An added benefit to such online jobs is that freelancers are able to work on projects with companies outside their own country of residence. 

          How much can a person make in these kinds of careers? As with many questions related to today’s evolving technology, there is no simple answer. There are many companies willing to pay people with technical Internet skills salaries well above $70,000 a year. Generally, webmasters start at about $30,000 per year, but salaries can vary greatly. Freelance writers working online have been known to make between $40,000 and $70,000 per year.