Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 2...
Đề bài
Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 20 to 29.
The atmosphere within the city’s once-boisterous dining districts has undergone a perceptible alteration. Establishments previously renowned for their raucous late-night revelry now contend with a sudden and stark desolation. Rows of tables sit unoccupied during peak operating hours while waitstaff stand idle near silent kitchens. Proprietors watch their revenue streams plummet as the habitual patronage of after-work crowds evaporates almost overnight. [I] The exuberant clinking of glasses has ceased due to a rigorous and unyielding enforcement of traffic regulations.
Checkpoints manned by uniformed officers have become a ubiquitous feature of the urban thoroughfares. Authorities have implemented a stringent policy regarding alcohol consumption for vehicle operators that leaves no room for negotiation. The legal threshold is absolute and unforgiving. Even a negligible trace of alcohol in the system creates grounds for severe punitive measures, including vehicle impoundment. [II] Drivers face exorbitant financial penalties and the immediate revocation of their licenses. The sheer magnitude of the fines constitutes a formidable deterrent and effectively dismantles the long-standing culture of casual impunity on the roads.
Commuters have been compelled to radically reorganize their social logistics in response to this crackdown. The convenience of driving a personal vehicle to a social gathering is now widely viewed as an unacceptable risk. Reliance on ride-hailing applications has surged as a direct consequence of the new enforcement regime. Individuals who choose to imbibe must now factor the cost and availability of third-party transport into their evening plans. [III] Anxiety regarding residual alcohol levels the following morning has also altered consumption habits significantly. Groups of friends frequently designate a sober driver or collectively abstain to avoid the complex logistical complications of the return journey.
A deeply ingrained social custom is eroding under the relentless pressure of the law. The ritual of spontaneous, prolonged drinking sessions is being curtailed by the overwhelming necessity of compliance. Hospitality sectors dependent on the sale of alcoholic beverages face a grim and uncertain future, while road safety statistics show a correlative improvement. [IV] The populace is learning to navigate a new reality where the freedom to consume is strictly demarcated from the privilege of operating a vehicle. Compliance is no longer a matter of choice but a pragmatic survival strategy in an environment of absolute vigilance.
(Adapted from vietnamnews.vn)
Question 20: The word their in paragraph 1 refers to ________.
A. rows of tables B. waitstaff C. proprietors D. silent kitchens
