Đề luyện Reading VSTEP số 3 — Thời gian: 60 phút
Đề gồm 4 bài đọc, mỗi bài 10 câu hỏi trắc nghiệm (A, B, C, D). Tổng cộng 40 câu. Hãy hoàn thành trong 60 phút.
Passage 1: Online Education
Online education has grown dramatically since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools and universities worldwide to shift to remote learning. Before the pandemic, only about 15 percent of university students had taken an online course. By 2023, that figure had risen to over 40 percent. Many institutions now offer hybrid models that combine in-person and online instruction.
Supporters of online education point to its flexibility and accessibility. Students can learn at their own pace, review recorded lectures, and attend classes from anywhere with an internet connection. Online programs are often less expensive than traditional ones because they eliminate costs such as transportation, housing, and physical classroom maintenance. For working adults and parents, online education makes it possible to earn a degree without giving up their jobs or family responsibilities.
Critics, however, argue that online learning lacks the social interaction and hands-on experience that traditional classrooms provide. Studies have shown that completion rates for online courses are significantly lower than for in-person courses, with some programs reporting dropout rates as high as 90 percent. Students also report feeling isolated and struggling with motivation when learning alone at home. The digital divide remains a concern, as students in rural areas or developing countries may lack reliable internet access.
Câu 1. Before the pandemic, what percentage of university students had taken an online course?
A. About 5 percent
B. About 15 percent
C. About 25 percent
D. About 40 percent
Câu 2. The word "hybrid" in paragraph 1 refers to ___.
A. only online classes
B. only in-person classes
C. a combination of online and in-person
D. self-study without teachers
Câu 3. Which is NOT mentioned as an advantage of online education?
A. Flexibility
B. Lower cost
C. Better exam scores
D. Accessibility
Câu 4. Some online programs have dropout rates as high as ___.
A. 50 percent
B. 70 percent
C. 80 percent
D. 90 percent
Câu 5. The "digital divide" refers to ___.
A. disagreements about technology in education
B. unequal access to internet and technology
C. the gap between online and offline prices
D. competition between tech companies
Câu 6. What do critics say about online learning?
A. It is too expensive for students
B. It lacks social interaction
C. It requires too much travel
D. It is only suitable for children
Câu 7. By 2023, online course participation rose to over ___.
A. 20 percent
B. 30 percent
C. 40 percent
D. 50 percent
Câu 8. Online education especially benefits ___.
A. children under five years old
B. working adults and parents
C. professional athletes
D. retired people only
Câu 9. It can be inferred that completion rates for online courses ___.
A. are higher than traditional courses
B. are a significant problem
C. do not matter to educators
D. are improving rapidly
Câu 10. The author's attitude toward online education is ___.
A. entirely supportive
B. balanced, presenting both sides
C. completely negative
D. uninterested
Passage 2: The Global Water Crisis
Access to clean water is one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity. According to the United Nations, approximately 2 billion people worldwide lack access to safely managed drinking water. In sub-Saharan Africa, only 30 percent of the population has access to clean water, forcing millions to walk long distances to collect water from rivers and wells that may be contaminated.
The water crisis is driven by several factors. Population growth increases demand, while climate change alters rainfall patterns and causes droughts in previously water-rich regions. Industrial pollution and agricultural runoff contaminate freshwater sources, making them unsafe for drinking. Aging infrastructure in many countries leads to significant water loss through leaking pipes — in some cities, up to 40 percent of treated water is lost before reaching consumers.
Solutions exist but require significant investment. Desalination plants convert seawater into freshwater, but the process is energy-intensive and expensive. Water recycling systems can treat wastewater for reuse in agriculture and industry. Simple technologies like rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation can dramatically improve water efficiency in farming. Experts agree that addressing the water crisis requires a combination of technological innovation, infrastructure investment, and changes in how societies value and manage water resources.
Câu 11. How many people lack access to safe drinking water?
A. About 1 billion
B. About 2 billion
C. About 3 billion
D. About 4 billion
Câu 12. In sub-Saharan Africa, what percentage has access to clean water?
A. 10 percent
B. 20 percent
C. 30 percent
D. 50 percent
Câu 13. The word "runoff" in paragraph 2 refers to ___.
A. water that flows over land carrying pollutants
B. athletes who run on farms
C. water that evaporates quickly
D. clean water from rivers
Câu 14. How much treated water is lost through leaking pipes in some cities?
A. Up to 10 percent
B. Up to 20 percent
C. Up to 30 percent
D. Up to 40 percent
Câu 15. What is a disadvantage of desalination?
A. It produces toxic water
B. It is energy-intensive and expensive
C. It only works in cold climates
D. It requires ocean access only
Câu 16. Which is NOT mentioned as a cause of the water crisis?
A. Population growth
B. Climate change
C. Volcanic eruptions
D. Industrial pollution
Câu 17. Drip irrigation helps ___.
A. desalinate seawater
B. improve water efficiency in farming
C. clean polluted rivers
D. repair aging pipes
Câu 18. The word "pressing" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. gentle
B. urgent
C. minor
D. traditional
Câu 19. Experts say the water crisis requires ___.
A. only new technology
B. only more money
C. a combination of approaches
D. military intervention
Câu 20. It can be inferred that the water crisis ___.
A. only affects poor countries
B. can be solved but requires commitment
C. is not a serious problem
D. will resolve itself naturally
Passage 3: How Memory Works
Human memory is far more complex than most people realize. Rather than functioning like a video camera that records events exactly as they happen, memory is a reconstructive process. Each time we recall an event, our brain essentially rebuilds the memory from scattered pieces of information, filling in gaps with assumptions and expectations. This means that memories are not perfect records but rather interpretations that can be influenced by our current mood, beliefs, and subsequent experiences.
Scientists distinguish between three main types of memory. Sensory memory holds information from the senses for a very brief period, typically less than one second for visual information and up to four seconds for auditory information. Short-term memory, also called working memory, can hold approximately seven items for about 20 to 30 seconds without rehearsal. Long-term memory has virtually unlimited capacity and can store information for a lifetime, though retrieval becomes more difficult over time without periodic review.
The process of moving information from short-term to long-term memory is called encoding. Several factors affect encoding efficiency. Emotional events are encoded more strongly because the amygdala, the brain's emotional center, enhances memory formation during heightened emotional states. Repetition strengthens neural pathways, making retrieval easier. Sleep plays a critical role in memory consolidation — during deep sleep, the hippocampus replays the day's experiences, transferring important information to the cortex for long-term storage. Students who sleep well after studying retain significantly more information than those who stay up all night cramming.
Câu 21. According to the passage, human memory works like ___.
A. a video camera
B. a reconstructive process
C. a computer hard drive
D. a photograph
Câu 22. How long does sensory memory hold visual information?
A. Less than one second
B. About four seconds
C. About 20 seconds
D. About one minute
Câu 23. Short-term memory can hold approximately ___ items.
A. Three
B. Five
C. Seven
D. Twelve
Câu 24. The word "retrieval" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. storage
B. deletion
C. recovery or recall
D. creation
Câu 25. Which brain structure enhances memory during emotional events?
A. The cortex
B. The hippocampus
C. The amygdala
D. The cerebellum
Câu 26. The process of moving information to long-term memory is called ___.
A. retrieval
B. rehearsal
C. encoding
D. sensing
Câu 27. During deep sleep, the ___ replays the day's experiences.
A. amygdala
B. cortex
C. hippocampus
D. cerebellum
Câu 28. The word "cramming" in the last sentence is closest in meaning to ___.
A. sleeping deeply
B. studying intensively at the last minute
C. exercising vigorously
D. eating a large meal
Câu 29. Which statement about long-term memory is true?
A. It can only hold seven items
B. It lasts less than 30 seconds
C. It has virtually unlimited capacity
D. It works better without sleep
Câu 30. It can be inferred that students who want to remember more should ___.
A. avoid sleeping after studying
B. study while feeling no emotions
C. get adequate sleep after studying
D. memorize everything at once
Passage 4: The Circular Economy
The traditional economic model follows a linear pattern: extract raw materials, manufacture products, use them, and then discard them as waste. This "take-make-dispose" approach has driven industrial growth for centuries but has created enormous environmental problems. Each year, the world generates over 2 billion tonnes of solid waste, and this figure is expected to increase by 70 percent by 2050. The circular economy offers an alternative framework that aims to eliminate waste and keep resources in use for as long as possible.
In a circular economy, products are designed from the outset to be durable, repairable, and recyclable. Instead of planned obsolescence — the deliberate design of products with limited lifespans to encourage repeat purchases — manufacturers create goods that can be easily disassembled and their components reused. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation identifies three core principles: eliminate waste and pollution by design, circulate products and materials at their highest value, and regenerate natural systems rather than depleting them.
Several companies and countries have begun implementing circular economy principles. The Netherlands aims to be fully circular by 2050 and has established programs to redesign products, reduce food waste, and develop new business models based on sharing and leasing rather than ownership. Patagonia, the outdoor clothing company, offers a repair program and resells used clothing through its Worn Wear platform. Interface, a carpet manufacturer, takes back old carpets and recycles them into new products, diverting thousands of tonnes of waste from landfills annually.
Critics argue that the circular economy faces significant barriers. Recycling processes often require substantial energy and may produce lower-quality materials. Consumer behavior is difficult to change, as people are accustomed to the convenience of disposable products. The initial investment required to redesign manufacturing processes can be prohibitive for smaller companies. Nevertheless, proponents contend that the circular economy is not merely an environmental ideal but an economic necessity, as finite resources become increasingly scarce and expensive.
Câu 31. The traditional economic model is described as ___.
A. circular
B. sustainable
C. linear (take-make-dispose)
D. sharing-based
Câu 32. How much solid waste does the world generate annually?
A. Over 1 billion tonnes
B. Over 2 billion tonnes
C. Over 5 billion tonnes
D. Over 10 billion tonnes
Câu 33. The word "obsolescence" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. innovation
B. becoming outdated or useless
C. improvement
D. popularity
Câu 34. Which country aims to be fully circular by 2050?
A. Germany
B. Japan
C. The Netherlands
D. Sweden
Câu 35. What does Patagonia's Worn Wear platform do?
A. Sells new clothing at discount prices
B. Resells used clothing
C. Donates clothing to charities
D. Recycles clothing into building materials
Câu 36. Which is NOT a core principle of the circular economy according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation?
A. Eliminate waste and pollution
B. Circulate products at highest value
C. Maximize short-term profits
D. Regenerate natural systems
Câu 37. Interface diverts waste from landfills by ___.
A. burning old carpets for energy
B. recycling old carpets into new products
C. sending carpets to developing countries
D. burying carpets underground
Câu 38. Which is a barrier to the circular economy?
A. Too many recycling facilities
B. Consumer preference for disposable products
C. Excessive government support
D. Too many raw materials available
Câu 39. Proponents argue the circular economy is ___.
A. only an environmental ideal
B. impossible to implement
C. an economic necessity
D. only for large companies
Câu 40. The main purpose of the passage is to ___.
A. criticize all forms of manufacturing
B. explain the circular economy concept, examples, and challenges
C. argue that recycling is a waste of time
D. promote specific companies' products
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