In some countries, small town-centre shops are going out of business because people tend to drive to large out-of-town stores. As a result, people without cars have limited access to out-of-town stores, and it may result in an increase in the use of cars. Do you think the disadvantages of this change outweigh its advantages? (Đề thi ngày 14/03/2019) **Bài mẫu** In many countries the world over, small shops in city centers cannot **compete** with large stores that are based on the outskirts; therefore, many of those small businesses are **threatened with** closure. This leads to a number of consequences, including a rise in car usage in these countries and access to large out-of-town stores becoming limited for those without cars(1). In my view, this change does more harm than good. Increasing bankruptcies among small town-center shops are an unfortunate situation that puts local people to great inconvenience, with those who are not in possession of a car standing most affected, because they now have to travel to a distant place to shop(2). The time used for such journeys could be better spent on other activities that are of greater importance, be it work or entertainment. The situation’s impacts are also far beyond individual levels. It causes a **significant loss for the economy of any city** where large numbers of such businesses are forced to shut down. This may inflict unexpected damage on the national economy as a whole. The rise in car usage caused by people’s demand for long distance travel is also problematic. **To compete with** someone or **somebody**: cạnh tranh với cái gì đó, ai đó **To be threatened with** something: bị đe dọa bởi cái gì đó **A rise in something**: sự tăng lên ở cái gì đó **Increasing bankruptcies among small town-center shops**: sự phá sản nhiều cửa hàng nhỏ trong trung tâm thành phố **To cause a significant loss for the economy of any city**: gây ra tổn thất lớn cho nền kinh tế của bất cứ thành phố nào 3 **congestion** will become worse due to the higher number of vehicles on streets. Furthermore, the quantity of pollutants emitted from car engines will rise, which heightens pollution levels in those places and **adversely affects** human health. However, this change in people’s shopping preference may encourage them to move to out-of-town areas to live. Given the fact that modern cities are faced with **overpopulation** and consequently ever-growing pressure on **housing supply systems**, this could be considered a start of relieving such pressure(3). In conclusion, the trend towards shopping in large stores located away from city centers is having many negative impacts. Although it could encourage some people to move to places where these stores are established and help solving some population problems in modern cities, I doubt that the trend could promise any significant outcome. **Traffic congestion**: tắc đường **To adversely affect human health**: ảnh hưởng tiêu cực tới sức khoẻ con người **To be faced with overpopulation and consequently ever-growing pressure on housing supply systems**: đối mặt với quá tải dân số và hậu quả là áp lực đề nặng về vấn đề cung cấp chỗ ở **Cấu trúc câu** **Câu (1):** This leads to a number of consequences, including a rise in car usage in these countries and access to large out-of-town stores becoming limited for those without cars. * Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: Mệnh đề “including a rise in car usage in these countries and access to large out-of-town stores” là mệnh đề quan hệ rút gọn bổ sung thông tin cho “a number of consequences”. Mệnh đề “becoming limited for those without cars” là mệnh đề quan hệ rút gọn bổ sung thông tin cho “large out-of-town stores”. Chủ ngữ “This” trong mệnh đề chỉ chính thay thế cho toàn bộ câu đứng trước nó. Cấu trúc “a rise in something” nghĩa tăng lên về cái gì đó. **Câu (2):** Increasing bankruptcies among small town-center shops are an unfortunate situation that puts local people to great inconvenience, with those who are not in possession of a car standing most affected, because they now have to travel to a distant place to shop. * Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: Mệnh đề phụ “that puts local people to great inconvenience” là mệnh đề quan hệ bổ nghĩa cho “unfortunate situation”. Mệnh đề phụ “with those who are not in possession of a car standing most affected” bổ nghĩa cho “local people”. Cấu trúc “put somebody to something” mang nghĩa là đặt ai đó vào tình thế/trải nghiệm gì đó. Cấu trúc “in possession of something” mang nghĩa là sở hữu cái gì đó. Từ nối “because + mệnh đề” đồng nghĩa với “since”, có chức năng đưa ra nguyên nhân. **Câu (3):** Given the fact that modern cities are faced with overpopulation and consequently ever-growing pressure on housing supply systems, this could be considered a start of relieving such pressure. * Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: Chủ ngữ “This” trong mệnh đề chỉ chính thay thế cho toàn bộ câu đứng trước nó: “this change … to live”. “Given (the fact) that” được dùng khi người viết xem xét một sự việc nào đó, thường được dùng làm nguyên nhân cho thông tin được cung cấp phía sau. Cấu trúc “to be faced with” mang nghĩa là đang phải đối mặt với điều gì đó. Cấu trúc “Somebody/something is considered to be noun/adjective” mang nghĩa là coi như cái gì/như thế nào đó.
In many countries, people like to eat a wider range of food that cannot be grown in their local place. Therefore, much of the food people eat today has to come from other regions. Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh disadvantages? (Đề thi ngày 13/04/2019) **Bài mẫu** These days, it is quite common for people to eat foods that are not, or cannot, be grown or produced where they live. As a consequence, large quantities of food are either transported long distances within a country or imported from other countries. This essay will review some of the advantages and disadvantages of this trend. Thanks to globalisation, the increase in efficient transportation between and within countries, and **a growing trend in food culture**, people can now enjoy **a vast array of** foods like never before. This trend has many advantages. Firstly, having access to a wide variety of foods from different regions can provide people with **a highly nutritious diet** that can help to **promote health and prevent disease**(1). For example, some kinds of nutrient-rich berries that can only be grown in Asia can now be enjoyed by people all over the world. Furthermore, with such a growing interest in exotic foods and food culture, people can experience a range of cuisine without leaving their town or city. However, this trend also comes with a number of disadvantages. For example, some communities around the world where exotic and rare foods are grown are **losing their own access to their food sources**. When demand for a certain food increases, the price also increases, and people in poorer countries where the food is grown can sometimes not afford to buy it anymore(2). Another problem with this trend is that the constant transportation of foods over long distances **contributes to climate change** due to the large amount of **carbon emissions produced by transportation**(3). And lastly, many foods that are transported long distances need to be **treated with chemicals and preservatives** which make them less healthy to consume(4). Overall, although there are many benefits to having access to a wide variety of foods, personally, I believe that the disadvantages of this trend outweigh the advantages. **A growing trend in food culture**: xu hướng đang thịnh hành về văn hóa ẩm thực **A vast array of**: một chuỗi rất đa dạng **A highly nutritious diet**: chế độ ăn giàu dinh dưỡng **To promote health and prevent disease**: nâng cao sức khỏe & ngăn chặn bệnh tật **Losing their own access to their food sources**: không thể tiếp cận được với những nguồn thực phẩm của họ **Contributes to climate change**: góp phần gây ra biến đổi khí hậu **Carbon emissions produced by transportation**: khí thải carbon từ vận chuyển hàng hóa **Treated with chemicals and preservatives**: được xử lý bằng hóa chất và chất bảo quản **Cấu trúc câu** **Câu (1):** Firstly, having access to a wide variety of foods from different regions can provide people with a highly nutritious diet that can help to promote health and prevent disease. * Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: Mệnh đề phụ “that can help to promote health and prevent disease” là mệnh đề quan hệ bổ sung thông tin cho cụm danh từ ngay trước nó “a highly nutritious diet”. Cấu trúc “provide somebody with something” mang nghĩa cung cấp cho ai đó cái gì. Từ nối “Firstly” được dùng để nêu quan điểm đầu tiên, đi kèm sau là một mệnh đề đề đây đủ. **Câu (2):** When demand for a certain food increases, the price also increases, and people in poorer countries where the food is grown can sometimes not afford to buy it anymore. * Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: Mệnh đề “When demand for a certain food increases” là mệnh đề trạng ngữ chỉ thời gian để làm rõ thời điểm hoặc điều kiện khi mệnh đề chính xảy ra. Mệnh đề “where the food is grown” là mệnh đề tính từ được dùng để làm rõ nghĩa cho danh từ đứng liền trước nó “poorer countries”. Cấu trúc “can afford to do something” mang nghĩa có khả năng tài chính để làm gì. **Câu (3):** Another problem with this trend is that the constant transportation of foods over long distances contributes to climate change due to the large amount of carbon emissions produced by transportation. * Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: Mệnh đề “that the constant transportation of foods over long distances contributes to climate change” là mệnh đề danh từ làm rõ nghĩa trực tiếp cho chủ ngữ. Mệnh đề “due to the large amount of carbon emissions produced by transportation” là mệnh đề trạng ngữ chỉ nguyên nhân, nhằm lả rõ: khí thải carbon là nguyên nhân vì sao nói vận chuyển hàng hóa có thể gây ra biến đổi khí hậu. Cụm danh từ “carbon emissions produced by transportation” được tạo thành cách rút gọn mệnh đề quan hệ, cụm danh từ này có thể được viết lại đầy đủ là “carbon emissions which is produced by transportation”. **Câu (4):** And lastly, many foods that are transported long distances need to be treated with chemicals and preservatives which make them less healthy to consume. * Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: Mệnh đề “that are transported long distances need to be treated with chemicals” là mệnh đề quan hệ dùng để làm rõ nghĩa cho danh từ đứng liền trước nó. (Trong đó đại từ quan hệ ‘which’ có thể thay bằng ‘that’). Mệnh đề “which make them less healthy to consume” là mệnh đề quan hệ dùng để làm rõ nghĩa cho danh từ đứng liền trước nó. (Trong đó đại từ quan hệ ‘which’ có thể thay bằng ‘that’). Cấu trúc “to be treated with something” mang nghĩa được xử lý với cái gì. Cấu trúc “make something adjective” mang nghĩa làm cho cái gì đó trở nên như thế nào. Từ nối “and lastly” để chỉ ra quan điểm cuối cùng trong bài.