Đề thi thử VSTEP Reading số 4
Thời gian: 60 phút | Tổng số câu: 40 câu trắc nghiệm
Hướng dẫn: Đọc kỹ các đoạn văn và chọn đáp án đúng nhất (A, B, C hoặc D) cho mỗi câu hỏi.
PASSAGE 1 (Câu 1–10)
Vietnamese traditional festivals are vibrant celebrations that reflect the rich cultural heritage and spiritual beliefs of the Vietnamese people. Throughout the year, communities across the country observe dozens of festivals, each with its own unique customs, rituals, and significance. These festivals serve not only as occasions for entertainment and social gathering but also as vital mechanisms for preserving cultural traditions and strengthening community bonds across generations.
The most important festival in Vietnamese culture is Tet Nguyen Dan, commonly known as Tet, which marks the beginning of the lunar new year. Preparations for Tet typically begin weeks in advance, as families clean their homes, purchase new clothes, and prepare special foods such as banh chung (square sticky rice cakes) and mut (candied fruits). During the three main days of Tet, family members gather to pay respect to their ancestors, visit temples and pagodas, and exchange wishes for health, prosperity, and happiness. The first visitor to enter a home after midnight on New Year's Eve, known as xong dat, is considered particularly significant, as Vietnamese tradition holds that this person's character and fortune will influence the household's luck for the entire coming year.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, or Tet Trung Thu, is another beloved celebration that takes place on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. Originally an agricultural festival celebrating the harvest season, it has evolved into a holiday primarily associated with children. Families buy or make colorful lanterns in the shapes of stars, fish, and other figures, which children carry in procession through the streets. Mooncakes filled with lotus seed paste, mung bean, or mixed fruits are exchanged as gifts among friends and relatives. In recent decades, lion dance performances and carnival-like atmosphere have become increasingly prominent features of the festival in urban areas.
Regional festivals highlight the diverse cultural traditions found throughout Vietnam. In the central province of Thua Thien Hue, the Hue Festival is held every two years, showcasing traditional court music, poetry recitals, and royal cuisine that date back to the Nguyen Dynasty. In the northern mountains, ethnic minority communities celebrate festivals such as the Hmong New Year and the Khmer Chol Chnam Thmay with traditional music, dance, and colorful traditional costumes. These regional celebrations provide important opportunities for ethnic communities to maintain their distinct cultural identities in an increasingly interconnected and homogenized society.
However, Vietnamese traditional festivals face challenges in the modern era. Rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles mean that many young people have limited knowledge of traditional customs and rituals. The commercialization of major festivals, particularly Tet and the Mid-Autumn Festival, has led some observers to worry that the spiritual and communal significance of these events is being overshadowed by consumer spending. Additionally, the environmental impact of certain festival practices, such as the burning of votive paper offerings and the release of balloons, has prompted calls for more environmentally conscious celebrations. Despite these challenges, festivals remain a cherished part of Vietnamese life, and efforts to document, preserve, and adapt traditional celebrations for contemporary audiences continue to grow.
Câu 1. What is the main topic of this passage?
A. How to prepare for Tet celebrations
B. The significance, variety, and challenges of Vietnamese traditional festivals
C. A comparison of Vietnamese and Chinese festivals
D. The economic impact of festivals on Vietnam's tourism industry
Câu 2. What is the custom of "xong dat"?
A. Preparing special food for the new year
B. The first visitor to enter a home after midnight on New Year's Eve
C. Giving children lucky money in red envelopes
D. Visiting the graves of ancestors during Tet
Câu 3. The word "vibrant" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to:
A. Quiet
B. Ancient
C. Lively and colorful
D. Expensive
Câu 4. What has the Mid-Autumn Festival evolved into?
A. A religious ceremony for adults only
B. A holiday primarily associated with children
C. A political celebration
D. An international trade fair
Câu 5. The word "procession" in paragraph 3 refers to:
A. A formal parade or march
B. A type of dance
C. A cooking competition
D. A religious ceremony
Câu 6. What is the purpose of paragraph 4?
A. To argue that regional festivals are better than national ones
B. To show the cultural diversity reflected in regional festivals
C. To list all festivals celebrated in Vietnam
D. To compare Vietnamese festivals with other Asian festivals
Câu 7. What does the Hue Festival showcase?
A. Modern art and technology
B. Traditional court music, poetry, and royal cuisine
C. International film screenings
D. Contemporary Vietnamese pop music
Câu 8. What can be inferred about ethnic minority festivals?
A. They are no longer celebrated
B. They help communities maintain their distinct cultural identities
C. They are identical to mainstream Vietnamese festivals
D. They are only attended by tourists
Câu 9. What challenge do Vietnamese festivals face according to the passage?
A. Government bans on traditional celebrations
B. Commercialization that may overshadow spiritual significance
C. A lack of interest from international tourists
D. The complete disappearance of traditional customs
Câu 10. What environmental concern about festivals is mentioned?
A. Water pollution from festival activities
B. Deforestation for festival decorations
C. Burning votive paper and releasing balloons
D. Noise pollution from fireworks
PASSAGE 2 (Câu 11–20)
The exploration of outer space has captivated human imagination for centuries, but it was not until the twentieth century that technological advances made it possible to leave Earth's atmosphere and venture into the cosmos. Since the launch of Sputnik in 1957 and the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin in 1961, space exploration has yielded an extraordinary array of scientific discoveries, technological innovations, and practical applications that have transformed life on Earth in ways that early space pioneers could scarcely have imagined.
One of the most significant and often overlooked benefits of space exploration is the development of technologies that have found widespread applications in everyday life. The Global Positioning System, originally developed by the United States military for satellite navigation, now guides billions of smartphone users, delivery services, and transportation networks around the world. Memory foam, initially created by NASA to improve seat cushioning and crash protection for astronauts, is now used in mattresses, pillows, and medical equipment. Water purification systems developed for space stations have been adapted for use in developing countries, providing clean drinking water to communities that previously lacked access. These technology transfers, known as spinoff technologies, represent a tangible and ongoing return on the investment in space research.
Space exploration has also made invaluable contributions to our understanding of Earth itself. Satellites orbiting the planet continuously monitor weather patterns, ocean currents, deforestation, glacial retreat, and atmospheric composition, providing data that is essential for weather forecasting, disaster preparedness, and climate science. Without satellite observations, scientists would have been unable to detect the ozone hole over Antarctica in the 1980s, a discovery that led to the Montreal Protocol and the eventual recovery of the ozone layer. Today, satellite data plays a critical role in monitoring the progression of climate change, tracking greenhouse gas emissions, and assessing the health of ecosystems worldwide.
The scientific knowledge gained from space missions extends far beyond practical applications. Robotic exploration of Mars, Jupiter's moons, and distant asteroids has revealed surprising evidence of water ice and potentially habitable environments beyond Earth, fundamentally altering our understanding of where life might exist in the universe. The Hubble Space Telescope and its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope, have captured images of galaxies forming billions of years ago, providing unprecedented insights into the origins and evolution of the cosmos. These discoveries inspire wonder and curiosity, encouraging young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Critics of space exploration argue that the enormous financial resources devoted to space programs could be better spent addressing pressing problems on Earth, such as poverty, disease, and environmental degradation. While this criticism deserves serious consideration, proponents counter that space exploration represents a relatively small fraction of national budgets and that the technological, scientific, and inspirational returns far exceed the costs. The emerging commercial space industry, led by companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Rocket Lab, is driving down launch costs and opening new possibilities for space tourism, asteroid mining, and eventual human settlement beyond Earth. Whether humanity's future ultimately extends to other planets or remains confined to this one, the knowledge and capabilities developed through space exploration will continue to benefit society for generations to come.
Câu 11. What is the passage mainly about?
A. The history of NASA
B. The various benefits and significance of space exploration
C. Why space tourism will become popular
D. The technical challenges of building rockets
Câu 12. What are "spinoff technologies"?
A. Technologies that failed in space but work on Earth
B. Technologies developed for space that found everyday applications
C. Technologies used only by astronauts
D. Technologies that replaced older inventions
Câu 13. The word "tangible" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to:
A. Theoretical
B. Insignificant
C. Concrete and real
D. Temporary
Câu 14. What role do satellites play in environmental science?
A. They directly clean up pollution in the atmosphere
B. They monitor weather, climate, and ecosystem health from orbit
C. They prevent natural disasters from occurring
D. They control ocean temperatures
Câu 15. What discovery was made possible by satellite observations?
A. The existence of water on Mars
B. The ozone hole over Antarctica
C. The age of the universe
D. The composition of Jupiter's atmosphere
Câu 16. The word "unprecedented" in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to:
A. Common and expected
B. Never done or experienced before
C. Controversial and debated
D. Expensive and wasteful
Câu 17. What have robotic missions to Mars revealed?
A. Mars was once identical to Earth
B. Evidence of water ice and potentially habitable conditions
C. Mars is currently inhabited by microorganisms
D. Mars will become habitable within 50 years
Câu 18. What is the main criticism of space exploration?
A. It is too dangerous for astronauts
B. The money could be better spent on Earth-based problems
C. It causes severe environmental damage
D. It has produced no useful results
Câu 19. What is the author's attitude toward space exploration?
A. Strongly opposed
B. Generally supportive while acknowledging criticism
C. Completely neutral
D. Focused only on the economic aspects
Câu 20. What can be inferred about the future of space exploration?
A. Government agencies will be the only participants
B. Space exploration will be abandoned due to costs
C. Commercial companies are playing an increasingly important role
D. Space tourism will replace scientific research
PASSAGE 3 (Câu 21–30)
Mental health awareness has undergone a significant transformation in recent decades, evolving from a subject shrouded in stigma and misunderstanding to a mainstream public health concern that receives increasing attention from governments, healthcare systems, educational institutions, and media organizations. The World Health Organization defines mental health not merely as the absence of mental disorders but as a state of well-being in which individuals can realize their potential, cope with normal stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to their communities. This comprehensive definition underscores the relevance of mental health to every aspect of human functioning.
The prevalence of mental health conditions worldwide is both substantial and growing. Depression affects more than 280 million people globally and is the leading cause of disability, while anxiety disorders impact approximately 300 million individuals. Suicide claims more than 700,000 lives annually, making it the fourth leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 29. These statistics are likely underestimates, as mental health conditions remain significantly underdiagnosed and underreported in many parts of the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where access to mental healthcare services is severely limited.
Stigma continues to represent one of the most formidable barriers to mental health treatment. In many cultures, mental illness is associated with personal weakness, moral failing, or supernatural causes, leading individuals to conceal their symptoms and avoid seeking professional help. This stigma operates at multiple levels — from internalized shame experienced by individuals with mental health conditions to structural discrimination embedded in healthcare systems, workplaces, and legal frameworks. Research consistently shows that public education campaigns, contact-based interventions that facilitate interaction between people with and without mental health conditions, and positive media representation can significantly reduce stigma over time.
The integration of mental health services into primary healthcare represents a crucial strategy for expanding access to treatment. In many countries, the shortage of specialized mental health professionals — psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurses — makes it impractical to rely solely on specialist care. Task-shifting approaches, in which primary care physicians, community health workers, and even trained lay counselors are equipped to identify and manage common mental health conditions, have demonstrated effectiveness in multiple low-resource settings. Digital mental health interventions, including smartphone applications, online therapy platforms, and AI-powered chatbots, offer additional avenues for reaching individuals who may be unable or unwilling to access traditional face-to-face services.
The relationship between mental health and broader social determinants of health deserves greater attention from policymakers and practitioners. Poverty, unemployment, housing instability, social isolation, discrimination, and exposure to violence are all well-established risk factors for mental health conditions. Conversely, mental illness can impair an individual's ability to work, maintain relationships, and participate fully in society, creating vicious cycles of disadvantage that are difficult to break without comprehensive intervention. Addressing the mental health crisis therefore requires action not only within healthcare systems but across education, employment, housing, and social protection policies. The growing recognition that there can be no health without mental health represents an important paradigm shift, but translating this principle into adequately funded and effectively implemented programs remains a formidable challenge in most countries around the world.
Câu 21. What is the main topic of this passage?
A. How to treat depression with medication
B. The scope, barriers, and strategies related to mental health awareness and treatment
C. A comparison of mental health systems in different countries
D. The history of psychology as a discipline
Câu 22. How does the WHO define mental health?
A. Simply as the absence of mental disorders
B. As a state of well-being enabling individuals to function and contribute
C. As the ability to avoid all stress
D. As physical fitness combined with emotional stability
Câu 23. The word "prevalence" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to:
A. Treatment
B. Prevention
C. Widespread occurrence
D. Decline
Câu 24. Why are mental health statistics likely underestimates?
A. Mental health conditions are not real medical problems
B. Many conditions are underdiagnosed, especially in poorer countries
C. Researchers deliberately lower the numbers
D. Only severe cases are counted
Câu 25. What does "internalized shame" in paragraph 3 refer to?
A. Shame felt by healthcare professionals
B. Self-directed negative feelings by people with mental health conditions
C. Public shaming campaigns against mental illness
D. Government policies that punish mental illness
Câu 26. What is "task-shifting" in mental healthcare?
A. Transferring patients between hospitals
B. Training non-specialist workers to handle common mental health conditions
C. Moving mental health services to online platforms only
D. Replacing doctors with AI systems entirely
Câu 27. What digital tools are mentioned for mental health support?
A. Virtual reality headsets and gaming consoles
B. Smartphone apps, online therapy, and AI chatbots
C. Social media accounts and video streaming
D. Email newsletters and podcasts
Câu 28. What is the relationship between poverty and mental health?
A. Poverty has no effect on mental health
B. Poverty is a risk factor that can worsen mental health conditions
C. Only wealthy people experience mental health problems
D. Mental health treatment eliminates poverty
Câu 29. What "paradigm shift" does the passage mention?
A. The belief that mental health is unimportant
B. The understanding that physical health can exist without mental health
C. The growing recognition that there can be no health without mental health
D. The idea that only specialists should treat mental health conditions
Câu 30. What can be inferred about the current state of mental health globally?
A. All countries have adequate mental health programs
B. Awareness has improved but implementation of solutions remains insufficient
C. Mental health stigma has been completely eliminated
D. Digital tools have solved the treatment gap
PASSAGE 4 (Câu 31–40)
Globalization, broadly defined as the increasing interconnection of economies, cultures, and populations across national borders, has profoundly shaped the contemporary world in ways that are both celebrated and contested. Proponents argue that globalization has lifted billions of people out of poverty, facilitated unprecedented cultural exchange, and fostered international cooperation on shared challenges such as climate change and public health. Critics, however, contend that globalization has simultaneously threatened cultural diversity, exacerbated economic inequality, and undermined the sovereignty of nation-states in determining their own developmental trajectories.
The tension between globalization and cultural identity manifests with particular intensity in developing nations, where the influx of foreign media, consumer brands, and lifestyle norms can overwhelm local cultural expressions. The dominance of English as the global lingua franca, while facilitating international communication and commerce, has contributed to the decline of indigenous languages at an alarming rate. UNESCO estimates that approximately 40 percent of the world's roughly 7,000 languages are endangered, with one language disappearing every two weeks. When a language dies, the unique worldview, oral traditions, and accumulated knowledge embedded within it are irretrievably lost, representing an impoverishment of humanity's collective intellectual heritage.
The homogenization of consumer culture represents another dimension of globalization's impact on cultural identity. The proliferation of multinational corporations — from fast-food chains to fashion brands to entertainment conglomerates — has created a remarkably uniform commercial landscape in cities around the world. Critics of this trend, sometimes characterized as cultural imperialism, argue that the global spread of Western consumer culture displaces local traditions, dietary practices, and aesthetic sensibilities, creating societies that are superficially diverse but fundamentally similar in their consumption patterns. A teenager in Hanoi, Lagos, or Sao Paulo may wear the same brands, consume the same media, and aspire to similar lifestyles, a convergence that some view as the erosion of authentic cultural expression.
However, the relationship between globalization and cultural identity is more nuanced than the simple narrative of cultural domination suggests. Anthropological research has consistently demonstrated that local communities do not passively absorb global cultural influences but rather actively reinterpret and adapt them in accordance with their own values and traditions, a process scholars term "glocalization." Japanese cuisine, for instance, has incorporated Western ingredients and techniques while maintaining its distinctive aesthetic principles and philosophical orientation toward seasonal harmony. Korean popular culture, or Hallyu, demonstrates how a non-Western cultural industry can leverage globalization's distribution networks to achieve worldwide influence, challenging the assumption that cultural flow moves exclusively from West to East.
Navigating the tension between global connectivity and cultural preservation requires deliberate policy choices and sustained community engagement. Cultural heritage protection laws, investment in local arts and media production, multilingual education programs, and the documentation of indigenous knowledge systems represent important institutional mechanisms for safeguarding cultural diversity in a globalized world. The digital age presents both opportunities and challenges in this regard: while social media platforms and online archives can disseminate cultural content to global audiences, they also accelerate the dominance of major languages and cultural forms at the expense of smaller traditions. Ultimately, the goal is not to resist globalization entirely — an impossibility in the contemporary world — but rather to ensure that its benefits are shared equitably and that the richness of human cultural diversity is preserved as a source of creativity, resilience, and meaning for present and future generations.
Câu 31. What is the central theme of this passage?
A. The economic benefits of international trade
B. The complex relationship between globalization and cultural identity
C. How to start a multinational corporation
D. The history of the English language
Câu 32. According to the passage, how many languages are currently endangered?
A. About 10 percent
B. About 25 percent
C. About 40 percent
D. About 60 percent
Câu 33. The word "irretrievably" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to:
A. Temporarily
B. Partially
C. In a way that cannot be recovered
D. Slowly
Câu 34. What is "cultural imperialism" as described in the passage?
A. The military conquest of foreign territories
B. The global spread of one culture displacing local traditions
C. The export of educational systems between countries
D. The study of foreign cultures by anthropologists
Câu 35. The word "convergence" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to:
A. Disagreement
B. Separation
C. Coming together or becoming similar
D. Competition
Câu 36. What is "glocalization"?
A. The complete rejection of foreign cultural influences
B. The active reinterpretation of global influences through local values
C. The imposition of local culture on other countries
D. A marketing strategy for international brands
Câu 37. How does Korean popular culture (Hallyu) challenge assumptions about globalization?
A. It shows that non-Western cultures can achieve global influence
B. It proves that globalization only benefits Western countries
C. It demonstrates that cultural exchange is impossible
D. It shows that only music can cross cultural boundaries
Câu 38. What policy measures does the passage suggest for protecting cultural diversity?
A. Banning all foreign media and products
B. Heritage protection laws, investment in local arts, and multilingual education
C. Requiring all citizens to speak only their native language
D. Closing national borders to prevent cultural exchange
Câu 39. What is the author's overall position on globalization?
A. It should be completely stopped
B. It is entirely beneficial with no drawbacks
C. Its benefits should be shared equitably while preserving cultural diversity
D. Only developing countries are affected by globalization
Câu 40. What can be inferred about the digital age and cultural preservation?
A. Digital technology is only harmful to cultural diversity
B. Digital technology has no impact on cultural preservation
C. Digital tools offer both opportunities and risks for cultural preservation
D. Social media has completely solved the problem of cultural loss