Đề ôn thi Đề thi vào lớp 10 Trường THPT Chuyên KHXH môn Tiếng Anh - Mã đề KHXH-20

The Panama Canal is a vital waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, drastically cutting travel time for ships. Instead of sailing around South America, vessels can now cross between the oceans in hours. However, the land is not flat, which presented a huge engineering challenge. The solution was (35) __________ system of locks.

The canal’s function depends on these locks. Because the oceans are at different sea levels, engineers avoided (36) __________ a single, flat channel. Instead, they designed 'water elevators'. A ship first enters a large, enclosed section called a lock chamber. Massive steel gates are then sealed behind it, trapping the vessel inside.

To lift the ship, a powerful process begins. Valves are opened (37) __________ water from a higher lake can flow into the chamber. As the chamber fills, the ship is slowly raised until the water inside (38) __________ the level of the next section. The entire operation is a masterclass in using gravity for water control.

Once the levels are equal, the forward gate opens, and the ship can (39) __________ into the next part of its journey. To lower a ship on the other side, the process is reversed. Water is drained from the chamber, which lowers the vessel to the next level, allowing for a smooth transition out of the canal.

If this lock system (40) __________, the canal simply would not work. A lead engineer once remarked that his team (41) __________ the project with the belief that failure was not an option. This determination proved that with enough innovation, humanity can (42) __________ to achieve incredible feats.

In the age of YouTube and Spotify, it's almost impossible to avoid them: cover songs. From global superstars like Justin Bieber, who launched his career by singing versions of other artists' hits, to Vietnamese phenomena like Hương Ly, who gained millions of fans by reinterpreting V-Pop songs, the path to fame is often paved with familiar melodies. This practice, however, sparks a passionate debate. Is covering a song a clever strategy for aspiring artists to get noticed, or is it simply a shortcut that demonstrates a lack of originality and creativity?

On one hand, performing covers is an undeniably effective strategy for emerging artists. A well-known song already has a built-in audience, making it easier for a new singer to attract listeners. It provides a perfect platform for them to showcase their unique vocal abilities and interpretive skills without the immediate pressure of writing original material. By offering a fresh take on a beloved classic, an unknown artist can capture the attention of both the public and record labels, potentially leading to a professional music career.

On the other hand, critics argue that an over-reliance on covers can stifle artistic growth and originality. They contend that the true essence of being an artist lies in creating something new, not re-packaging someone else's work. Furthermore, there are complex legal and ethical questions. While some covers are officially licensed, many are not, raising issues of copyright infringement and profiting from the intellectual property of the original artists without giving them proper credit or compensation for their creative labor.

However, a more nuanced perspective suggests that a cover can be a legitimate art form in itself. A truly great cover is not a mere copy but a transformation. Artists can change the genre, alter the tempo, or infuse the lyrics with a completely different emotional weight, revealing new layers of meaning in a song listeners thought they knew. In some famous cases, such as Johnny Cash's version of "Hurt" or Whitney Houston's rendition of "I Will Always Love You," the cover version becomes so iconic that it overshadows the original.

Ultimately, the debate over cover songs has no simple answer. A cover can be either a stepping stone on the path to an original career or a creative dead-end. Its value depends entirely on the artist's intention and execution. Is the goal simply to gain quick fame by using a popular melody, or is it to pay homage to an influence while adding a unique, personal voice to the conversation? As listeners, the power is in our hands to decide which versions resonate with us the most.