Title [GV] ĐỀ 19 - A. ĐỀ THI.docx ✅

4 B. that scholars have described as a cruel irony of globalization, exemplifies the uneven distribution of resources in a world of staggering contrasts C. when regional growth rates coincided with falling mortality levels, exemplifies the uneven distribution of resources in a world of staggering contrasts D. who measured it according to shifting climatic baselines, exemplifies the uneven distribution of resources in a world of staggering contrasts Question 21. A. where subregions were already converging on global benchmarks B. which distort the narrative of progress in misleading ways C. that international agencies will soon rectify through quotas D. whose reliability has been doubted by demographers Question 22. A. Only if such measures are systematically implemented B. Unless economic austerity is drastically expanded C. While leaders continue to disregard international law D. As though demographic projections had no consequences Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 23 to 30. The phrase “toxic positivity” refers to the cultural tendency to valorize relentless optimism at the expense of acknowledging genuine distress. Its popularity surged in the late 2010s, amplified by social media platforms saturated with exhortations to “stay positive” and “find the silver lining.” While such messages may appear benign, psychologists caution that they often operate as subtle mechanisms of invalidation. They create a pressure to suppress grief, anger, or fear, which paradoxically deepens psychological suffering rather than alleviates it. Clinical experts argue that toxic positivity differs from ordinary encouragement in its insistence on erasing negative emotion altogether. Graham Reynolds, a Columbia University psychologist, notes that this cultural script demands cheerfulness even in moments of loss or crisis, thereby stigmatizing vulnerability. “To deny fear, sadness, or rage in the name of positivity is not resilience; it is repression,” he explains. The effect is cumulative: unacknowledged emotions resurface in disguised forms, contributing to burnout, depression, and fractured relationships. Yet many individuals perpetuate this discourse unknowingly, believing they are offering support. Expressions such as “everything happens for a reason” or “look on the bright side” function less as comfort and more as avoidance of discomfort. In truth, friends may find it more helpful to hear acknowledgment of pain: “That sounds devastating” or “I am here with you.” Susan David of Harvard characterizes this difference as one between emotional suppression and emotional validation, the latter enabling authentic connection. The costs of toxic positivity extend beyond personal relationships. Research published in 2024 by therapist Zoe Wyatt demonstrates that consistent invalidation of emotional experience can corrode mental resilience, undermine coping strategies, and erode communal solidarity. When distress is dismissed rather than engaged, individuals are left isolated, unable to process meaning from hardship. This, in turn, obstructs what psychologists term “sense-making” – the capacity to integrate suffering into one’s narrative as a step toward healing. (Adapted from Washington Post, “Toxic positivity denies real feelings. Here's how to do better”) Question 23. The word benign in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to _______. A. dangerous B. severe C. harmless D. hostile Question 24. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 1 as an outcome of toxic positivity? A. pressure to hide authentic emotions B. relief from personal anxiety C. amplification via social media D. deepened psychological suffering Question 25. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 3? A. Such expressions genuinely bring comfort to people by encouraging them to accept difficulties positively.