Read the following passage about the risks of digital spending and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 18 to 22.
BACK TO BASICS
Employees these days, who are expected to meet higher demands from their employers compared to the past, (18) ______. This drive stems from a society increasingly focused on consumption and material wealth. And even when we don't have the physical cash to pay for our purchases, we can satisfy our desire to have the latest products by virtue of our trusty credit cards, (19) ______.
However, the only problem with this is that many people are being driven into serious debt by an over-reliance on credit. The Internet has made it even easier for us to purchase expensive goods from the comfort of our sitting-room sofa. Driven by such convenience, (20) ______. Banks and other financial institutions also facilitate our spending urges, and for doing this, they are very much at fault. Getting credit has become remarkably easy for consumers in today's market. (21) ______.
Once you've fallen into the trap of indebtedness, it is incredibly difficult to extract yourself from this unpleasant financial situation. It is not only banks and credit card companies to blame; we engage in self-destructive behavior. Working long hours and accumulating debt is not a path to happiness. (22) ______. People need to evaluate their actions and shift their focus from materialism to the values of the past. What truly matters is not material possessions but our relationships with family and friends. In the end, it's not material things but the love of family and friends that defines real wealth.
(Adapted from Succeed in IELTS reading and vocabulary)
Employees these days, who are expected to meet higher demands from their employers compared to the past, (18) ______. This drive stems from a society increasingly focused on consumption and material wealth. And even when we don't have the physical cash to pay for our purchases, we can satisfy our desire to have the latest products by virtue of our trusty credit cards, (19) ______.
However, the only problem with this is that many people are being driven into serious debt by an over-reliance on credit. The Internet has made it even easier for us to purchase expensive goods from the comfort of our sitting-room sofa. Driven by such convenience, (20) ______. Banks and other financial institutions also facilitate our spending urges, and for doing this, they are very much at fault. Getting credit has become remarkably easy for consumers in today's market. (21) ______.
Once you've fallen into the trap of indebtedness, it is incredibly difficult to extract yourself from this unpleasant financial situation. It is not only banks and credit card companies to blame; we engage in self-destructive behavior. Working long hours and accumulating debt is not a path to happiness. (22) ______. People need to evaluate their actions and shift their focus from materialism to the values of the past. What truly matters is not material possessions but our relationships with family and friends. In the end, it's not material things but the love of family and friends that defines real wealth.
(Adapted from Succeed in IELTS reading and vocabulary)
Question 18.
Question 18.
Chọn một phương án bên dưới để kiểm tra đáp án ngay:
Đáp án chính thức: B
Hướng dẫn giải chi tiết
Ta thấy câu đã có chủ ngữ 'Employees these days' và mệnh đề quan hệ 'who are expected to meet higher demands from their employers compared to the past' để bổ nghĩa cho chủ ngữ nên ta cần một động từ có chia thì. Ta xét từng đáp án.
- Loại A vì sử dụng phân từ hoàn thành 'having been motivated'.
- Loại C vì sử dụng hiện tại phân từ 'being motivated'
- Loại D vì sử dụng động từ chia thì quá khứ hoàn thành 'had been motivated' nên không phù hợp với 'these days' chỉ thời gian ở hiện tại.
Tạm dịch:
Employees these days, who are expected to meet higher demands from their employers compared to the past, are often motivated by the need to earn extra income. (Nhân viên ngày nay, những người được kỳ vọng sẽ đáp ứng được yêu cầu cao hơn từ người sử dụng lao động so với trước đây, thường được thúc đẩy bởi nhu cầu kiếm thêm thu nhập.)
→ Chọn đáp án B
- Loại A vì sử dụng phân từ hoàn thành 'having been motivated'.
- Loại C vì sử dụng hiện tại phân từ 'being motivated'
- Loại D vì sử dụng động từ chia thì quá khứ hoàn thành 'had been motivated' nên không phù hợp với 'these days' chỉ thời gian ở hiện tại.
Tạm dịch:
Employees these days, who are expected to meet higher demands from their employers compared to the past, are often motivated by the need to earn extra income. (Nhân viên ngày nay, những người được kỳ vọng sẽ đáp ứng được yêu cầu cao hơn từ người sử dụng lao động so với trước đây, thường được thúc đẩy bởi nhu cầu kiếm thêm thu nhập.)
→ Chọn đáp án B