Kỹ thuật nghe Part 3 — Lectures & Talks

Part 3 là phần khó nhất trong Listening VSTEP, gồm 3 bài giảng/thuyết trình dài (monologue), mỗi bài khoảng 2-3 phút với 5 câu hỏi trắc nghiệm. Tổng cộng 15 câu (câu 21-35). Người nói là giảng viên, diễn giả hoặc chuyên gia trình bày về một chủ đề học thuật.

Đặc điểm Part 3

Kỹ thuật 1: Nắm Main Idea trước tiên

Câu hỏi cuối cùng (hoặc đầu tiên) thường hỏi ý chính của bài giảng. Ngay từ 30 giây đầu, người nói thường giới thiệu chủ đề.

Dấu hiệu nhận biết main idea:

• "Today, I'm going to talk about..." — chủ đề chính ngay sau cụm này
• "The topic of today's lecture is..." — tương tự
• "Let's discuss..." — mở đầu chủ đề
• "What I want to focus on is..." — trọng tâm bài giảng

Ví dụ: Nghe thấy "Today, I'm going to talk about product packaging" — main idea là mục đích và vai trò của bao bì sản phẩm.

Kỹ thuật 2: Ghi chú theo cấu trúc bài giảng

Bài giảng Part 3 thường có cấu trúc rõ ràng. Ghi chú theo dàn ý giúp bạn theo dõi luồng thông tin.

Cấu trúc điển hình:

1. Mở đầu: Giới thiệu chủ đề (1-2 câu đầu)
2. Điểm 1: Ý chính thứ nhất + ví dụ minh họa
3. Điểm 2: Ý chính thứ hai + ví dụ minh họa
4. Điểm 3: Ý chính thứ ba (nếu có)
5. Kết luận: Tóm tắt hoặc nhận xét cuối

Mẫu ghi chú nhanh:

Topic: _______________
Point 1: _____ (ex: _____)
Point 2: _____ (ex: _____)
Point 3: _____ (ex: _____)
Conclusion: _____

Từ chuyển ý cần lắng nghe:

• "First / Firstly" — điểm thứ nhất
• "Another / In addition / Furthermore" — điểm tiếp theo
• "However / On the other hand" — ý đối lập
• "For example / For instance" — ví dụ minh họa
• "Lastly / Finally / In conclusion" — kết luận

Kỹ thuật 3: Dự đoán câu hỏi từ đáp án

Đọc trước 5 câu hỏi và đáp án trong thời gian chờ. Từ đáp án, bạn có thể dự đoán bài giảng sẽ nói về gì.

5 dạng câu hỏi thường gặp Part 3:

Lời khuyên quan trọng cho Part 3

• Không hoảng khi gặp từ lạ: Bài giảng học thuật sẽ có từ chuyên ngành. Tập trung vào ý chính, không cần hiểu mọi từ.
• Câu hỏi theo thứ tự: Câu 1 hỏi về phần đầu, câu 5 hỏi về phần cuối. Theo dõi theo thứ tự.
• Chú ý giọng nhấn: Từ được nhấn mạnh thường là thông tin quan trọng cho câu hỏi.
• Phấn đấu 9-10/15 câu đúng để đạt B2 phần Part 3.

60 từ vựng học thuật thường gặp trong Part 3

Part 3 Listening VSTEP sử dụng từ vựng học thuật (academic vocabulary) nhiều hơn Part 1 và Part 2. Nắm vững 60 từ dưới đây giúp bạn nghe hiểu bài giảng dễ dàng hơn.

Nhóm 1: Khoa học & Tự nhiên (1-10)

Nhóm 2: Môi trường & Tài nguyên (11-20)

Nhóm 3: Xã hội & Kinh tế (21-30)

Nhóm 4: Giáo dục & Tư duy (31-40)

Nhóm 5: Y tế & Sức khỏe (41-50)

Nhóm 6: Bao bì & Công nghiệp (51-60)

Part 3 — Product Packaging (Bao bì sản phẩm)

Đây là bài giảng mẫu thực tế từ đề thi VSTEP, chủ đề bao bì sản phẩm. Đọc transcript, trả lời 5 câu hỏi, rồi kiểm tra đáp án và giải thích bên dưới.

"Good morning, everyone. Today, I'm going to talk about product packaging. We often think of packaging as just a way to hold or protect a product, but it's much more than that. Packaging plays a key role in how a product is seen and how successful it can be.

Product packaging is not about making the products look appealing, its main purpose is to protect the product inside. It keeps it safe from damage during transport and storage. Imagine buying a box of eggs without proper packaging — they would break easily! That's why it's important to choose the right materials. For example, food packaging often uses plastic or glass to keep the food fresh and safe to eat.

Packaging can also provide important information. Labels on the package tell you what the product is, how much it weighs, how to use it, and sometimes, what it's made of. This is especially important for products like medicine or food. For example, food packaging often has nutritional information, so you know what you're eating.

Lastly, in recent years, there has been a growing interest in environmentally-friendly packaging. Many companies are now trying to use materials that can be recycled or are biodegradable. This is important because it helps reduce waste and protect the environment."

5 câu hỏi trắc nghiệm

Câu 21: Why is it important to choose the right packaging materials?

A. To keep the product safe during transport and storage
B. To make the product look more expensive
C. To increase the weight of the product
D. To attract more customers to the store

Câu 22: What is true about companies interested in eco-friendly products?

A. They only use glass materials
B. They increase product prices significantly
C. They help to save the environment
D. They stop using all types of packaging

Câu 23: What is the purpose of product packaging?

A. Only to protect the product
B. Only to provide information
C. Only to look attractive
D. All of the above

Câu 24: What does "meets the eye" mean in this context?

A. The packaging's color
B. The packaging's appearance
C. The packaging's size
D. The packaging's weight

Câu 25: What is the speaker mainly discussing?

A. The purposes of product packaging
B. How to design beautiful packages
C. The history of packaging materials
D. How to start a packaging company

Đáp án và giải thích

Câu 21: A — To keep the product safe during transport and storage

Transcript nói: "its main purpose is to protect the product inside. It keeps it safe from damage during transport and storage." Đây là lý do chọn vật liệu phù hợp.

Câu 22: C — They help to save the environment

Transcript nói: "Many companies are now trying to use materials that can be recycled or are biodegradable. This is important because it helps reduce waste and protect the environment."

Câu 23: D — All of the above

Bài giảng đề cập 3 mục đích: bảo vệ sản phẩm (protect), cung cấp thông tin (information), và thân thiện môi trường. Do đó "all of the above" là đáp án đúng nhất.

Câu 24: B — The packaging's appearance

"More than meets the eye" là thành ngữ nghĩa "nhiều hơn vẻ bề ngoài" — ám chỉ bao bì không chỉ là ngoại hình mà còn nhiều chức năng khác.

Câu 25: A — The purposes of product packaging

Toàn bộ bài giảng xoay quanh các mục đích của bao bì: bảo vệ, thông tin, môi trường. Đây là ý chính (main idea).

Từ vựng quan trọng

Part 3 — Urban Planning in Singapore (Quy hoạch đô thị Singapore)

Bài giảng thực tế về quy hoạch đô thị Singapore — một chủ đề học thuật điển hình trong Part 3 VSTEP. Bài này đòi hỏi khả năng theo dõi nhiều ý chính trong một bài nói dài.

"Good morning, everyone. Today, we're going to discuss a fascinating and highly successful example of urban planning: the city-state of Singapore. Over the past few decades, Singapore has transformed itself from a small, overcrowded island with limited resources into one of the world's most innovative and efficient cities. This success didn't happen by chance.

Let's talk about land use. Singapore is an island with a total land area of just 728 square kilometers, making it one of the smallest countries in the world. Despite this, Singapore has managed to accommodate a population of over 5 million people while maintaining a high standard of living. The government has implemented strict zoning laws that designate specific areas for residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational purposes.

Another key aspect of Singapore's urban planning is its emphasis on green spaces. Despite its limited land area, Singapore is known as a 'Garden City,' with nearly half of its land area covered by greenery.

Transportation is another area where Singapore excels. The city has one of the most efficient public transportation systems in the world.

Furthermore, Singapore's urban planning also takes into account the need for sustainable development."

5 câu hỏi trắc nghiệm

Câu 26: What is the main idea of the lecture?

A. Singapore is a small island with many problems
B. Singapore's success is due to its planning and policies
C. Singapore has the best weather in Asia
D. Singapore was always a developed country

Câu 27: Why does the speaker mention land use planning?

A. To show how expensive land is
B. To illustrate efficient land management
C. To compare with other countries' land prices
D. To explain why people leave Singapore

Câu 28: What does "Garden City" imply?

A. Singapore only grows vegetables
B. Singapore has many flower shops
C. Extensive greenery integrated into urban landscape
D. Singapore is a rural area

Câu 29: What is the speaker's opinion on Singapore's transportation?

A. A model for other cities
B. Too expensive for citizens
C. Not as good as in Europe
D. Only useful for tourists

Câu 30: What is the order of information presented?

A. Transportation, green spaces, land use
B. Green spaces, transportation, land use
C. Land use, transportation, green spaces
D. Land use, green spaces, transportation

Đáp án và giải thích

Câu 26: B — Singapore's success is due to its planning and policies

Mở đầu bài giảng nói: "Singapore has transformed itself... into one of the world's most innovative and efficient cities. This success didn't happen by chance." Toàn bộ bài nói về các chính sách quy hoạch thông minh.

Câu 27: B — To illustrate efficient land management

Diện tích chỉ 728 km² nhưng chứa hơn 5 triệu dân với mức sống cao — ví dụ điển hình về quản lý đất đai hiệu quả nhờ luật quy hoạch phân khu (zoning laws).

Câu 28: C — Extensive greenery integrated into urban landscape

Transcript giải thích: "nearly half of its land area covered by greenery" — "Garden City" nghĩa là cây xanh được tích hợp rộng rãi vào cảnh quan đô thị.

Câu 29: A — A model for other cities

Speaker dùng từ "excels" và "one of the most efficient public transportation systems in the world" — ngụ ý đây là hình mẫu cho các thành phố khác.

Câu 30: D — Land use, green spaces, transportation

Thứ tự trình bày: land use ("Let's talk about land use") → green spaces ("Another key aspect... green spaces") → transportation ("Transportation is another area").

Từ vựng quan trọng

Part 3 — Ants Colony Behavior (Hành vi đàn kiến)

Bài giảng thực tế về hành vi của loài kiến — chủ đề khoa học tự nhiên thường gặp trong Part 3. Bài này kiểm tra khả năng hiểu chi tiết và suy luận.

"Ants are everywhere, aren't they? Have you ever stopped to think about how amazing these tiny creatures are? They might seem small and insignificant, but ants play a huge role in our environment.

They live in colonies that can have thousands, even millions, of ants, all working together to support the colony. Each ant has a specific job — some are workers, some are soldiers, and of course, there's the queen. The queen's main job is to lay eggs, while the workers find food and build the nest. Soldiers defend the colony from predators.

Ants use chemicals called pheromones to send messages. When an ant finds food, it leaves a trail of pheromones for other ants to follow. This is why you often see ants walking in a line — they're following the chemical trail left by the scout ant.

Ants are incredibly strong for their size. They can carry objects that are 10 to 50 times their own body weight! Imagine if you could carry a car over your head — that's what it's like for an ant carrying a piece of food.

They help to clean up the environment by eating dead insects and breaking down organic material. They also aerate the soil, which helps plants grow better."

5 câu hỏi trắc nghiệm

Câu 31: What is the purpose of this talk?

A. To warn people about dangerous ants
B. To explain how to get rid of ants
C. To highlight fascinating aspects of ants
D. To compare ants with other insects

Câu 32: What does "pheromones" mean in this context?

A. A type of food ants eat
B. A chemical ants use to communicate
C. A sound ants make to warn others
D. A color ants use to attract mates

Câu 33: Why do ants leave pheromone trails?

A. To mark their territory
B. To scare away predators
C. To find their way home
D. To guide other ants to food

Câu 34: What is true about ant strength?

A. They are the strongest animal in the world
B. They can lift objects much heavier than themselves
C. They can only carry light objects
D. They are stronger than humans

Câu 35: What does the speaker imply about ant habitats?

A. Ants only live in forests
B. Ants are harmful to the environment
C. How adaptable ants are
D. Ants are becoming endangered

Đáp án và giải thích

Câu 31: C — To highlight fascinating aspects of ants

Mở đầu bài giảng: "Have you ever stopped to think about how amazing these tiny creatures are?" — mục đích là giới thiệu những khía cạnh thú vị về loài kiến, không phải cảnh báo hay hướng dẫn diệt kiến.

Câu 32: B — A chemical ants use to communicate

Transcript định nghĩa rõ: "Ants use chemicals called pheromones to send messages." — pheromone là hóa chất dùng để giao tiếp.

Câu 33: D — To guide other ants to food

Transcript nói: "When an ant finds food, it leaves a trail of pheromones for other ants to follow." — mục đích là dẫn đường cho kiến khác tìm thức ăn.

Câu 34: B — They can lift objects much heavier than themselves

Transcript nói: "They can carry objects that are 10 to 50 times their own body weight!" — kiến mang được vật nặng hơn cơ thể chúng rất nhiều lần.

Câu 35: C — How adaptable ants are

Mở đầu nói "Ants are everywhere" và kết thúc nói kiến giúp ích cho môi trường (ăn côn trùng chết, làm tơi đất). Ngụ ý kiến rất dễ thích nghi.

Từ vựng quan trọng

Part 3 — Wealth Inequality in ASEAN (Bất bình đẳng giàu nghèo ASEAN)

Bài giảng thực tế từ đề thi VSTEP về bất bình đẳng tài sản tại Đông Nam Á — chủ đề kinh tế xã hội cấp B2. Bài này kiểm tra khả năng nghe hiểu số liệu và so sánh.

"Good morning, class. Today we're going to look at wealth inequality in Southeast Asia, specifically in two countries: Indonesia and the Philippines.

Let's start with Indonesia. Jakarta, the capital, has experienced rapid economic growth over the past two decades. You can see this in the towering skyscrapers and luxury shopping malls. However, this wealth is not evenly distributed. In fact, a recent study showed that the richest one percent of Indonesians own nearly half of the country's total wealth. Meanwhile, millions of people in rural areas still live below the poverty line, struggling to access basic services like clean water and healthcare.

Now, let's look at the Philippines. Manila presents a similar contrast. On one hand, you have the wealthy districts of Makati and Bonifacio Global City, with their modern offices and high-end restaurants. On the other hand, just a few kilometers away, you'll find informal settlements where families live in makeshift shelters without proper sanitation.

This gap between the rich and the poor has serious consequences. It affects social stability, increases crime rates, and limits access to quality education and healthcare for lower-income families. When a large portion of the population cannot participate in the economy, the entire country suffers.

What can be done? Experts suggest progressive taxation, investment in public education, and expanding healthcare coverage to rural areas. These measures won't eliminate inequality overnight, but they are essential first steps."

5 câu hỏi trắc nghiệm

Câu 21: What is the main topic of this lecture?

A. Economic growth in Jakarta
B. Tourism in Southeast Asia
C. Comparing Indonesia and Philippines' GDP
D. Wealth inequality in Indonesia and the Philippines

Câu 22: According to the speaker, what percentage of wealth do the richest Indonesians own?

A. About 10 percent
B. About 25 percent
C. Nearly half
D. Over 75 percent

Câu 23: What does the speaker say about Manila?

A. It has no wealthy areas
B. It is poorer than Jakarta
C. It shows a contrast between rich and poor districts
D. It has solved its inequality problems

Câu 24: What is one consequence of wealth inequality mentioned?

A. It increases crime rates
B. It improves education quality
C. It attracts more foreign investment
D. It reduces population growth

Câu 25: What solution does the speaker suggest?

A. Closing all luxury businesses
B. Progressive taxation and public education investment
C. Moving people from rural to urban areas
D. Reducing government spending

Đáp án và giải thích

Câu 21: D — Wealth inequality in Indonesia and the Philippines

Mở đầu nói rõ: "Today we're going to look at wealth inequality in Southeast Asia, specifically in two countries: Indonesia and the Philippines."

Câu 22: C — Nearly half

Transcript nói: "the richest one percent of Indonesians own nearly half of the country's total wealth."

Câu 23: C — It shows a contrast between rich and poor districts

Transcript mô tả: "Manila presents a similar contrast" — giữa Makati/BGC giàu có và khu ổ chuột gần đó.

Câu 24: A — It increases crime rates

Transcript liệt kê: "It affects social stability, increases crime rates, and limits access to quality education."

Câu 25: B — Progressive taxation and public education investment

Transcript nói: "Experts suggest progressive taxation, investment in public education, and expanding healthcare coverage."

Từ vựng quan trọng

Part 3 — Freshwater Resources Crisis (Khủng hoảng tài nguyên nước ngọt)

Bài giảng thực tế từ đề thi VSTEP về tài nguyên nước ngọt — chủ đề môi trường cấp B2. Bài này đòi hỏi khả năng nắm bắt số liệu và hiểu quan hệ nhân quả.

"Today, I'd like to discuss a critical issue facing our planet: the freshwater crisis. Water covers about 71 percent of the Earth's surface, but here's the surprising fact — 97.5 percent of that water is saltwater found in the oceans. Only 2.5 percent is freshwater, and of that small amount, nearly 70 percent is locked away in glaciers and ice caps.

So the freshwater available for human use — in rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers — is actually less than one percent of all the water on Earth. And this tiny fraction must support nearly 8 billion people, plus agriculture, industry, and ecosystems.

The situation is getting worse due to several factors. First, pollution from industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and household sewage contaminates freshwater sources. Rivers that once provided clean drinking water are now too polluted to use safely.

Second, climate change is causing longer and more severe droughts in many regions. Rainfall patterns are shifting, making some areas drier while flooding others.

A dramatic example is Lake Chad in Africa. In the 1960s, it was one of the largest lakes in the world. Today, it has shrunk by approximately 90 percent. Local fish populations have collapsed, and millions of people who depended on the lake for their livelihoods are now facing severe hardship.

Addressing this crisis requires a combination of water conservation, better infrastructure, and international cooperation."

5 câu hỏi trắc nghiệm

Câu 26: What is the main topic of this lecture?

A. Ocean exploration technology
B. How glaciers are formed
C. The benefits of saltwater
D. The global freshwater crisis

Câu 27: What percentage of Earth's water is freshwater?

A. 71 percent
B. 2.5 percent
C. 97.5 percent
D. Less than 1 percent

Câu 28: Which is NOT mentioned as a cause of freshwater problems?

A. Industrial pollution
B. Agricultural runoff
C. Overfishing in rivers
D. Climate change

Câu 29: What happened to Lake Chad?

A. It has shrunk by about 90 percent
B. It has doubled in size
C. It became saltwater
D. It was drained for agriculture

Câu 30: What does the speaker suggest to address the crisis?

A. Water conservation and international cooperation
B. Building more dams only
C. Moving populations to coastal areas
D. Importing water from other planets

Đáp án và giải thích

Câu 26: D — The global freshwater crisis

Mở đầu: "I'd like to discuss a critical issue facing our planet: the freshwater crisis."

Câu 27: B — 2.5 percent

Transcript nói: "Only 2.5 percent is freshwater." Chú ý: 71% là bề mặt Trái Đất có nước, 97.5% là nước mặn, dưới 1% là nước ngọt dùng được.

Câu 28: C — Overfishing in rivers

Transcript đề cập 3 nguyên nhân: ô nhiễm công nghiệp (A), dòng chảy nông nghiệp (B), biến đổi khí hậu (D). "Overfishing" không được nhắc đến như nguyên nhân.

Câu 29: A — It has shrunk by about 90 percent

Transcript nói: "it has shrunk by approximately 90 percent."

Câu 30: A — Water conservation and international cooperation

Kết luận: "a combination of water conservation, better infrastructure, and international cooperation."

Từ vựng quan trọng

Part 3 — Rote Learning vs Critical Thinking (Học vẹt vs Tư duy phản biện)

Bài giảng thực tế từ đề thi VSTEP về phương pháp giáo dục — so sánh học vẹt và tư duy phản biện. Chủ đề giáo dục thường xuyên xuất hiện trong Part 3.

"Good afternoon, everyone. Today I want to talk about two different approaches to learning: rote learning and critical thinking. This is a topic that affects every student and every teacher.

Rote learning — that is, memorizing information through repetition without necessarily understanding the underlying concepts — has been the dominant method in many education systems around the world. Students memorize facts, dates, formulas, and definitions. They repeat them until they can recall the information during exams.

The problem is that rote learning does not promote deep understanding. A student might score well on a test by memorizing answers, but when faced with a new problem that requires applying that knowledge in a different context, they often struggle. They have the information stored in memory, but they don't truly understand how to use it.

Critical thinking, on the other hand, encourages students to analyze, evaluate, and create. Instead of simply accepting information, students learn to question it. Why is this true? What evidence supports this claim? Are there alternative explanations?

Active learning methods — such as group discussions, debates, case studies, and hands-on experiments — are far more effective at developing these skills. When students engage with material actively rather than passively receiving it, they build deeper understanding and retain information longer.

Of course, some memorization is necessary — you need to know basic facts before you can think critically about them. The key is finding the right balance between the two approaches."

5 câu hỏi trắc nghiệm

Câu 31: What is the speaker's main argument?

A. Rote learning is the best method for all students
B. Critical thinking is more effective than pure memorization
C. Students should stop taking exams
D. Teachers should not use textbooks

Câu 32: What is the main limitation of rote learning?

A. It does not promote deep understanding
B. It is too expensive for schools
C. It takes too much time
D. It requires special equipment

Câu 33: According to the speaker, what happens when rote learners face new problems?

A. They often struggle to apply their knowledge
B. They solve problems faster than others
C. They ask teachers for help immediately
D. They perform better than critical thinkers

Câu 34: Which is an example of active learning?

A. Reading a textbook silently
B. Copying notes from the board
C. Participating in group discussions and debates
D. Listening to a lecture without taking notes

Câu 35: What is the speaker's conclusion?

A. Schools should eliminate rote learning entirely
B. A balance between memorization and critical thinking is needed
C. Critical thinking cannot be taught
D. All exams should be cancelled

Đáp án và giải thích

Câu 31: B — Critical thinking is more effective than pure memorization

Toàn bài so sánh hai phương pháp, nhấn mạnh hạn chế của rote learning và ưu điểm của critical thinking.

Câu 32: A — It does not promote deep understanding

Transcript nói rõ: "rote learning does not promote deep understanding."

Câu 33: A — They often struggle to apply their knowledge

Transcript: "when faced with a new problem that requires applying that knowledge in a different context, they often struggle."

Câu 34: C — Participating in group discussions and debates

Transcript liệt kê: "group discussions, debates, case studies, and hands-on experiments" là ví dụ về active learning.

Câu 35: B — A balance between memorization and critical thinking is needed

Kết luận: "The key is finding the right balance between the two approaches."

Từ vựng quan trọng

Part 3 — History of Vaccination (Lịch sử tiêm chủng)

Bài giảng về lịch sử phát triển vắc-xin — chủ đề y tế khoa học. Bài này kiểm tra khả năng theo dõi trình tự thời gian và hiểu thuật ngữ chuyên ngành.

"Good morning, everyone. Today's lecture is about one of the greatest achievements in medical history: vaccination. The story of vaccines is a fascinating journey that has saved millions of lives.

Before vaccines existed, diseases like smallpox killed millions of people every year. In the 18th century, smallpox alone had a mortality rate of about 30 percent — meaning roughly one in three infected people would die.

The breakthrough came in 1796 when an English doctor named Edward Jenner made a remarkable observation. He noticed that milkmaids who had caught cowpox — a mild disease from cows — seemed to be immune to smallpox. Jenner took material from a cowpox sore and inoculated a young boy. Later, when the boy was exposed to smallpox, he did not get sick. This was the world's first vaccine.

The word 'vaccine' actually comes from the Latin word 'vacca,' meaning cow — a reference to Jenner's cowpox experiment.

Over the next two centuries, scientists developed vaccines for many deadly diseases: polio, measles, tetanus, and many others. Perhaps the greatest achievement was the complete eradication of smallpox in 1980. This was the first time humanity had deliberately wiped out a disease.

Today, vaccination programs around the world prevent an estimated 2 to 3 million deaths each year. However, challenges remain — some communities still lack access to basic vaccines, and misinformation about vaccine safety continues to be a problem."

5 câu hỏi trắc nghiệm

Câu 21: What is the main topic of this lecture?

A. The biography of Edward Jenner
B. Modern medicine techniques
C. The history and impact of vaccination
D. How to prevent cowpox

Câu 22: What was the mortality rate of smallpox in the 18th century?

A. About 10 percent
B. About 30 percent
C. About 50 percent
D. About 70 percent

Câu 23: How did Jenner discover the vaccine?

A. He found a cure in tropical plants
B. He observed that milkmaids with cowpox were immune to smallpox
C. He accidentally mixed two chemicals
D. He studied ancient Egyptian medicine

Câu 24: When was smallpox eradicated?

A. 1796
B. 1900
C. 1950
D. 1980

Câu 25: What challenge does the speaker mention about vaccination today?

A. Vaccines are too expensive to produce
B. Some communities lack access and misinformation is a problem
C. Scientists cannot develop new vaccines
D. Governments have banned vaccination programs

Đáp án và giải thích

Câu 21: C — The history and impact of vaccination

Bài giảng trình bày từ thời trước vắc-xin → Edward Jenner → phát triển đến nay. Đây là bài về lịch sử và tác động của tiêm chủng.

Câu 22: B — About 30 percent

Transcript nói: "smallpox alone had a mortality rate of about 30 percent."

Câu 23: B — He observed that milkmaids with cowpox were immune to smallpox

Transcript: "He noticed that milkmaids who had caught cowpox seemed to be immune to smallpox."

Câu 24: D — 1980

Transcript: "the complete eradication of smallpox in 1980." Chú ý: 1796 là năm Jenner tạo vắc-xin đầu tiên, không phải năm xóa sổ bệnh.

Câu 25: B — Some communities lack access and misinformation is a problem

Transcript: "some communities still lack access to basic vaccines, and misinformation about vaccine safety continues to be a problem."

Từ vựng quan trọng

Part 3 — Ocean Plastic Pollution (Ô nhiễm nhựa đại dương)

Bài giảng về ô nhiễm nhựa trong đại dương — chủ đề môi trường nóng hổi và thường xuyên xuất hiện trong VSTEP. Bài này đòi hỏi khả năng nắm bắt số liệu và hiểu chuỗi tác động.

"Good morning, class. Today we're going to discuss one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time: ocean plastic pollution.

Every year, approximately 8 million metric tons of plastic waste enters the world's oceans. To put that in perspective, that's equivalent to dumping a garbage truck full of plastic into the ocean every single minute. And this number is expected to double by 2030 if current trends continue.

Where does all this plastic come from? The main sources are land-based: packaging waste, plastic bags, bottles, and single-use items that are not properly disposed of. Rivers carry this waste from cities and towns into the sea. In fact, just ten rivers — mostly in Asia and Africa — are responsible for roughly 90 percent of the plastic that flows into the oceans.

Once in the ocean, plastic doesn't simply disappear. It breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics — fragments less than five millimeters in size. These microplastics are eaten by fish and other marine animals, entering the food chain. When we eat seafood, we may actually be consuming tiny plastic particles without knowing it.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch — a massive area of floating debris between Hawaii and California — is now estimated to be twice the size of Texas. It contains an estimated 80,000 tons of plastic.

What can we do? Reducing single-use plastics, improving waste management systems, and supporting clean-up initiatives are all essential steps. Several countries have already banned plastic bags and straws, and many companies are developing biodegradable alternatives."

5 câu hỏi trắc nghiệm

Câu 26: How much plastic enters the oceans each year?

A. 8 thousand tons
B. 8 million metric tons
C. 80 million tons
D. 800 thousand tons

Câu 27: Where does most ocean plastic come from?

A. Ships and boats
B. Underwater factories
C. Land-based sources carried by rivers
D. Fishing nets only

Câu 28: What are microplastics?

A. A type of marine animal
B. Plastic fragments less than 5mm in size
C. Biodegradable packaging
D. A brand of plastic bags

Câu 29: What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

A. A landfill in California
B. A massive area of floating plastic debris in the Pacific
C. A recycling center in Hawaii
D. A beach clean-up project

Câu 30: What solution does the speaker suggest?

A. Stopping all fishing activities
B. Moving plastic to other planets
C. Reducing single-use plastics and improving waste management
D. Building walls around the oceans

Đáp án và giải thích

Câu 26: B — 8 million metric tons

Transcript nói: "approximately 8 million metric tons of plastic waste enters the world's oceans."

Câu 27: C — Land-based sources carried by rivers

Transcript: "The main sources are land-based... Rivers carry this waste from cities and towns into the sea."

Câu 28: B — Plastic fragments less than 5mm in size

Transcript định nghĩa: "microplastics — fragments less than five millimeters in size."

Câu 29: B — A massive area of floating plastic debris in the Pacific

Transcript mô tả: "a massive area of floating debris between Hawaii and California."

Câu 30: C — Reducing single-use plastics and improving waste management

Kết luận: "Reducing single-use plastics, improving waste management systems, and supporting clean-up initiatives are all essential steps."

Từ vựng quan trọng