Đề Thi Thử Tốt Nghiệp THPT Tiếng Anh 2026 Sở GD&ĐT Lào Cai (Mã Đề 0948)

Technology, Deterrence and the Battle Against Waste Crime
Illegal waste dumping is frequently dismissed as a local inconvenience; however, in practice it constitutes a highly organised and financially lucrative form of environmental crime. In England alone, such activity is estimated to cost the economy approximately £1 billion annually, while simultaneously imposing long-term ecological and social damage. Against this backdrop, the government has announced the establishment of a 33-member drone unit intended to enhance the detection and investigation of unlicensed waste sites. Far from being a symbolic gesture, this initiative represents a strategic shift towards a more assertive and technology-driven enforcement model. [I]
The announcement coincided with the conviction of Varun Datta at Birmingham Crown Court. Datta orchestrated the illegal disposal of more than 4,000 tonnes of municipal waste across 16 sites, including protected land and a historic manor property. By falsely declaring that the waste would be transported to a licensed facility near Sheffield, he redirected it to unauthorised locations nationwide. [II] The court ordered him to repay over £1 million, reflecting the financial benefits derived from his activities, in addition to compensation and prosecution costs. [III] Although his custodial sentence was suspended, the substantial financial penalty was intended to undermine the economic incentives that often make waste crime attractive to organised groups.
Central to the revised strategy is the expanded role of the Environment Agency, which now integrates advanced surveillance technologies into its investigative framework. Several drones will be equipped with lidar systems capable of generating highly detailed topographical maps, enabling authorities to identify concealed or rapidly changing dumping sites. Officials argue that such innovation is necessary because organised offenders have become increasingly adept at exploiting regulatory gaps and avoiding conventional inspections. In this sense, technological monitoring is presented not as an optional enhancement but as a proportionate response to evolving criminal methods. [IV]
Nevertheless, questions remain regarding whether surveillance and financial penalties alone can deliver sustained deterrence. Critics contend that suspended prison sentences may dilute the perceived severity of the offence, potentially weakening the overall message of zero tolerance. Moreover, effective enforcement is resource-intensive and depends upon coordination between national regulators, local authorities and private landowners. Without consistent collaboration and long-term funding, even sophisticated technology may struggle to reverse entrenched patterns of illegal disposal.
Ultimately, while drones and harsher penalties are unlikely to eradicate waste crime entirely, they signal an effort to recalibrate the balance of risk and reward that has historically favoured offenders. By combining technological precision with legal accountability, policymakers appear determined to demonstrate that environmental crime will no longer remain a low-risk, high-profit enterprise.
(Adapted from https://www.theguardian.com/am)

Technology, Deterrence and the Battle Against Waste Crime
Illegal waste dumping is frequently dismissed as a local inconvenience; however, in practice it constitutes a highly organised and financially lucrative form of environmental crime. In England alone, such activity is estimated to cost the economy approximately £1 billion annually, while simultaneously imposing long-term ecological and social damage. Against this backdrop, the government has announced the establishment of a 33-member drone unit intended to enhance the detection and investigation of unlicensed waste sites. Far from being a symbolic gesture, this initiative represents a strategic shift towards a more assertive and technology-driven enforcement model. [I]
The announcement coincided with the conviction of Varun Datta at Birmingham Crown Court. Datta orchestrated the illegal disposal of more than 4,000 tonnes of municipal waste across 16 sites, including protected land and a historic manor property. By falsely declaring that the waste would be transported to a licensed facility near Sheffield, he redirected it to unauthorised locations nationwide. [II] The court ordered him to repay over £1 million, reflecting the financial benefits derived from his activities, in addition to compensation and prosecution costs. [III] Although his custodial sentence was suspended, the substantial financial penalty was intended to undermine the economic incentives that often make waste crime attractive to organised groups.
Central to the revised strategy is the expanded role of the Environment Agency, which now integrates advanced surveillance technologies into its investigative framework. Several drones will be equipped with lidar systems capable of generating highly detailed topographical maps, enabling authorities to identify concealed or rapidly changing dumping sites. Officials argue that such innovation is necessary because organised offenders have become increasingly adept at exploiting regulatory gaps and avoiding conventional inspections. In this sense, technological monitoring is presented not as an optional enhancement but as a proportionate response to evolving criminal methods. [IV]
Nevertheless, questions remain regarding whether surveillance and financial penalties alone can deliver sustained deterrence. Critics contend that suspended prison sentences may dilute the perceived severity of the offence, potentially weakening the overall message of zero tolerance. Moreover, effective enforcement is resource-intensive and depends upon coordination between national regulators, local authorities and private landowners. Without consistent collaboration and long-term funding, even sophisticated technology may struggle to reverse entrenched patterns of illegal disposal.
Ultimately, while drones and harsher penalties are unlikely to eradicate waste crime entirely, they signal an effort to recalibrate the balance of risk and reward that has historically favoured offenders. By combining technological precision with legal accountability, policymakers appear determined to demonstrate that environmental crime will no longer remain a low-risk, high-profit enterprise.
(Adapted from https://www.theguardian.com/am)

An ethnography is a valuable research design for studying groups in education, focusing on their behaviors, beliefs, language, and the ways they develop shared patterns of interaction over time. Ethnographic research is a qualitative approach used to describe, analyze, and interpret the patterns of a culture-sharing group. (11) ______, including language, rituals, social structures, life stages, interactions, and communication.
Ethnographers conduct research by entering the “field,” (12) ______. They aim to produce a detailed cultural portrait of a group within its natural setting. Typically, ethnographic studies focus on a group of individuals at a single site, examining shared patterns of behavior, belief, and language that have evolved over time. Fieldwork often involves observing and interviewing participants in the contexts where they live and work. Data analysis begins with describing and analyzing the culture-sharing group and interpreting its patterns within the broader context of culture in action. (13) _______. The roots of ethnographic research lie in anthropology, sociology, education, and postmodern concerns about interpretation and representation.
Historically, three main types of ethnographic designs have emerged: realist, case study, and critical ethnographies. A realist ethnography presents an objective account of a culture-sharing group. (14) _______. Case studies focus on a specific program, event, or activity and offer an in-depth description and analysis based on extensive data collection. Critical ethnography emphasizes advocacy, giving voice to marginalized groups and addressing issues of power and authority. Together, these three ethnographic designs illustrate the methodological diversity of ethnographic research, (15) _______.
(Adapted from Educational Research)

Eat Real Food Policy – Updated U.S. Dietary Guidelines (2025–2030)
The Eat Real Food Policy refers to the updated United States Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2025–2030), marking a significant shift in federal nutrition guidance. (16) _______, the policy delivers a clear message: prioritise real, minimally processed foods to curb diet-related diseases and improve public health.The guidelines emphasise real, whole foods (17) _______ are recognisable in their natural form. Protein is highlighted as a key nutrient and encouraged at every meal. Fruit and vegetables are prioritised with (18) _______, while whole grains are promoted over refined grains.
The policy addresses rising (19) ______ of obesity, prediabetes, and chronic diseases linked to poor diets by encouraging a shift towards nutrient-dense. In doing so, it seeks to foster long-term (20) ______ habits that support sustainable public health outcomes. These science-based guidelines apply (21) ______ all life stages and influence national programmes such as school meals, public health campaigns, and nutrition education.
(Adapted from https://www.hhs.govpolicy.com)

3D printers have been widely used in educational settings from K–12 schools to universities as tools that support experiential learning and innovation. They are placed in various locations and environmental settings on campus, such as classrooms, maker centers, laboratories, and offices, alongside other office equipment such as photocopy machines, and are used for teaching, research, design, and prototyping in engineering, architecture, and other fields. In particular, university maker centers often house diverse types and multiple 3D printers within a single space, where these devices may operate continuously for extended periods. This intensive and frequent use increases the likelihood of prolonged exposure to emissions for students and staff working nearby.
Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI) has conducted a multi-year research initiative on 3D printer emissions and has found that 3D printing produces ultrafine particles (UFPs, smaller than 100 nm) as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Due to their extremely small size, UFPs can remain suspended in the air for long durations and are easily inhaled. Once inhaled, these particles may penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, which has been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
In addition, some VOCs released during 3D printing processes have been associated with both acute and chronic adverse health effects, including eye and throat irritation, respiratory illness, and, in some cases, cancer, depending on exposure duration and concentration levels. The use of 3D printers on campuses can therefore contribute to elevated levels of indoor air pollutants, raising particular concerns for vulnerable populations such as individuals with asthma or other pre-existing respiratory conditions.
As a result, the growing prevalence of 3D printers in educational environments has increased attention to indoor air quality management. In enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces, continuous printer operation may lead to the accumulation of airborne pollutants, thereby heightening potential health risks. Consequently, systematic monitoring of particle and VOC levels, together with effective ventilation and exposure mitigation strategies, is essential to ensure a safe learning and working environment.
(Adapted from https://chemicalinsights.ul.org)

Francophonie Day 2026
With a nod to both language and the environment, Francophonie Day will bring an eco-minded energy to Thong Nhat Park on March 22, 2026. The event is an annual (35) ________ for the Francophone and Francophile community in Viet Nam and this year it also aims to guide people towards a greener future through sport, culture, education, and (36) ________ professional opportunities.
As part of the even, the fourth season of the Course de la Francophonie (Race of the Francophonie) continues its commitment (37) ________ the values of the Francophone community. It offers an opportunity to (38) ________ personal goals and spread a positive spirit. The Francophone Career and Job Fair will be held (39) ________ the race, offering young people the chance to meet directly with embassies and organisations of the Francophone community, schools and universities, as well as business representatives. There will also be numerous booths and stands (40) ________ by Francophone embassies and institutions teaching French and in French.
(Adapted from https://vietnamnews.vn)