Đề luyện Reading VSTEP số 7 — 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: Cybersecurity Threats
Cybersecurity has become a critical concern for governments, businesses, and individuals alike. In 2023, cybercrime cost the global economy an estimated $8 trillion, a figure projected to reach $10.5 trillion by 2025. The most common forms of cyberattack include phishing, where criminals send deceptive emails to trick victims into revealing passwords or financial information, and ransomware, where malicious software encrypts a victim's files and demands payment for their release.
The healthcare sector has become a particularly attractive target for cybercriminals. Hospitals store vast amounts of sensitive patient data, and their systems often rely on outdated software that is vulnerable to attack. In 2021, a ransomware attack on Ireland's Health Service Executive shut down the country's entire public health system for weeks, delaying surgeries and cancer treatments. The incident highlighted the potentially life-threatening consequences of cyber attacks on critical infrastructure.
Experts recommend a multi-layered approach to cybersecurity. This includes keeping software updated, using strong and unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and training employees to recognize phishing attempts. However, as cybercriminals become more sophisticated, using artificial intelligence to craft convincing fake emails and deepfake voice recordings, the challenge of maintaining digital security continues to grow.
Câu 1. How much did cybercrime cost the global economy in 2023?
A. $5 trillion
B. $8 trillion
C. $10.5 trillion
D. $12 trillion
Câu 2. What is phishing?
A. A type of fishing sport
B. Sending deceptive emails to steal information
C. A software update process
D. An encryption method
Câu 3. Why is the healthcare sector attractive to cybercriminals?
A. Hospitals have the most money
B. They store sensitive data and use outdated software
C. Doctors are easy to deceive
D. Healthcare is unregulated
Câu 4. The ransomware attack on Ireland's health system ___.
A. lasted only a few hours
B. had no significant impact
C. shut down the public health system for weeks
D. affected only one hospital
Câu 5. The word "deceptive" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. honest
B. misleading
C. informative
D. friendly
Câu 6. Which is NOT a recommended cybersecurity measure?
A. Keeping software updated
B. Using strong passwords
C. Sharing passwords with colleagues
D. Enabling two-factor authentication
Câu 7. Cybercriminals now use AI to ___.
A. protect hospital systems
B. craft convincing fake emails
C. train cybersecurity experts
D. develop antivirus software
Câu 8. The word "sophisticated" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. simple
B. advanced and complex
C. old-fashioned
D. friendly
Câu 9. It can be inferred that cybersecurity challenges will ___.
A. disappear within a few years
B. continue to increase
C. only affect large companies
D. be solved by government regulation alone
Câu 10. The main purpose of the passage is to ___.
A. teach readers how to hack
B. describe cybersecurity threats and defenses
C. promote a specific antivirus product
D. criticize the healthcare industry
Passage 2: AI in Education
Artificial intelligence is reshaping education in profound ways. Adaptive learning platforms use AI algorithms to analyze student performance in real time, adjusting the difficulty and content of exercises to match each learner's level. This personalized approach means that struggling students receive additional practice on concepts they find difficult, while advanced students are challenged with more complex material. Studies have shown that students using adaptive platforms improve their test scores by 20 to 30 percent compared to traditional classroom instruction alone.
AI-powered language tools have also transformed how students learn foreign languages. Applications like ChatGPT and specialized language tutors can hold conversations with learners, correct their grammar, and provide instant feedback on pronunciation. Unlike human tutors, these tools are available 24 hours a day and can serve millions of students simultaneously, making quality language education accessible to learners in remote areas who previously had no access to native speakers.
However, the integration of AI into education raises concerns about academic integrity and critical thinking. Students may become overly dependent on AI tools, using them to complete assignments without genuine learning. Universities worldwide report increasing cases of students submitting AI-generated essays. There are also worries that AI-driven education could widen the digital divide, as students from wealthier backgrounds have better access to technology. Educators must find ways to harness AI's benefits while preserving the human elements of teaching that inspire curiosity and independent thought.
Câu 11. Adaptive learning platforms work by ___.
A. replacing teachers entirely
B. analyzing student performance and adjusting content
C. providing the same content to all students
D. only teaching advanced students
Câu 12. Students using adaptive platforms improve test scores by ___.
A. 5 to 10 percent
B. 10 to 15 percent
C. 20 to 30 percent
D. 40 to 50 percent
Câu 13. AI language tools can help students in remote areas because ___.
A. they are free of charge
B. they can serve millions of students simultaneously
C. they replace the need for schools
D. they only work offline
Câu 14. The word "harness" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. destroy
B. make use of
C. ignore
D. criticize
Câu 15. A concern about AI in education is that students may ___.
A. learn too much
B. become overly dependent on AI tools
C. refuse to use technology
D. stop attending school entirely
Câu 16. The "digital divide" refers to ___.
A. a type of computer virus
B. the gap between those with and without technology access
C. a mathematical concept
D. the division of AI into categories
Câu 17. Universities report increasing cases of ___.
A. students dropping out
B. AI tools malfunctioning
C. students submitting AI-generated essays
D. teachers refusing to use technology
Câu 18. Unlike human tutors, AI language tools ___.
A. provide better emotional support
B. are available 24 hours a day
C. can only teach one student at a time
D. require no internet connection
Câu 19. It can be inferred that the author ___.
A. wants to ban AI from education
B. sees both benefits and risks of AI in education
C. believes AI will solve all educational problems
D. thinks human teachers are unnecessary
Câu 20. The passage is mainly about ___.
A. the history of education
B. how AI is changing education, with its benefits and concerns
C. why traditional teaching is better than technology
D. a review of specific AI products
Passage 3: Blockchain Technology
Blockchain technology, originally developed as the underlying system for Bitcoin cryptocurrency, has applications far beyond digital currency. A blockchain is essentially a distributed digital ledger that records transactions across many computers in a way that makes the records virtually impossible to alter retroactively. Each block in the chain contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data, creating an unbreakable chain of verified information.
One of the most promising applications of blockchain is in supply chain management. Companies can use blockchain to track products from raw materials to finished goods, creating a transparent and tamper-proof record at every stage. Walmart, for example, uses blockchain to trace the origin of food products within seconds, compared to the days or weeks required by traditional tracking methods. This capability is particularly valuable during food safety recalls, when quickly identifying the source of contamination can prevent illness and save lives.
Blockchain is also being explored for voting systems, land registries, and healthcare records. In developing countries where government records are unreliable or subject to corruption, blockchain could provide a secure and transparent alternative. However, the technology faces significant challenges including high energy consumption, limited processing speed compared to traditional databases, and regulatory uncertainty. Critics argue that blockchain is often promoted as a solution to problems that could be solved more simply with existing technology.
Câu 21. Blockchain was originally developed for ___.
A. supply chain management
B. Bitcoin cryptocurrency
C. government voting systems
D. healthcare records
Câu 22. A blockchain is described as ___.
A. a physical chain of metal links
B. a distributed digital ledger
C. a type of computer virus
D. a government database
Câu 23. Walmart uses blockchain to ___.
A. sell cryptocurrency
B. manage employee schedules
C. trace the origin of food products
D. develop new products
Câu 24. The word "tamper-proof" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. waterproof
B. resistant to unauthorized changes
C. easily modified
D. fireproof
Câu 25. Blockchain could help developing countries by ___.
A. providing free internet access
B. offering secure and transparent records
C. replacing all government institutions
D. eliminating poverty
Câu 26. Which is a challenge facing blockchain technology?
A. It is too easy to hack
B. High energy consumption
C. It only works with Bitcoin
D. It cannot store any data
Câu 27. The word "retroactively" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. looking forward
B. applying to the past
C. temporarily
D. accidentally
Câu 28. Traditional food tracking methods require ___.
A. seconds
B. minutes
C. days or weeks
D. years
Câu 29. Critics of blockchain argue that ___.
A. it should be used for everything
B. it is sometimes an unnecessary complicated solution
C. it is the best technology ever invented
D. it should only be used for Bitcoin
Câu 30. The main purpose of the passage is to ___.
A. convince readers to invest in Bitcoin
B. explain blockchain technology and its applications and limitations
C. argue that blockchain should be banned
D. describe how to create a blockchain
Passage 4: Self-Driving Cars
Self-driving cars, also known as autonomous vehicles, represent one of the most significant technological developments in transportation. These vehicles use a combination of sensors, cameras, radar, and artificial intelligence to navigate roads without human intervention. Companies like Waymo, Tesla, and Cruise have invested billions of dollars in developing this technology, and limited self-driving taxi services are already operating in cities like San Francisco and Phoenix.
Proponents argue that autonomous vehicles could dramatically improve road safety. Human error is responsible for approximately 94 percent of traffic accidents, and self-driving cars never get tired, distracted, or drunk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that widespread adoption of self-driving technology could save over 30,000 lives per year in the United States alone. Autonomous vehicles could also increase mobility for elderly and disabled individuals who are unable to drive conventional cars.
However, self-driving technology faces substantial obstacles. The vehicles struggle to perform reliably in adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain, snow, or fog, which obscure sensor readings. Edge cases — rare and unexpected situations like a mattress falling off a truck — remain extremely challenging for AI systems to handle. There are also unresolved ethical questions: when an accident is unavoidable, how should the vehicle's AI decide between different harmful outcomes? Legal frameworks for determining liability when autonomous vehicles cause accidents are still being developed in most countries.
Despite these challenges, most industry experts predict that autonomous vehicles will gradually become commonplace over the next two decades, though the transition will likely be slower than early optimists predicted.
Câu 31. Self-driving cars navigate using ___.
A. only GPS
B. sensors, cameras, radar, and AI
C. remote control by humans
D. magnetic tracks in roads
Câu 32. Human error causes approximately ___ of traffic accidents.
A. 50 percent
B. 75 percent
C. 85 percent
D. 94 percent
Câu 33. Self-driving taxi services already operate in ___.
A. every major US city
B. San Francisco and Phoenix
C. Europe only
D. no city yet
Câu 34. The word "adverse" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. favorable
B. normal
C. unfavorable or harmful
D. tropical
Câu 35. An "edge case" is ___.
A. a common traffic situation
B. a rare and unexpected situation
C. a type of road intersection
D. a safety feature in cars
Câu 36. Autonomous vehicles could help ___ people.
A. only wealthy
B. elderly and disabled
C. professional drivers only
D. children under 10
Câu 37. The word "obscure" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. improve
B. block or make unclear
C. enhance
D. reflect
Câu 38. An unresolved ethical question about self-driving cars is ___.
A. whether cars should use gasoline
B. what color they should be
C. how AI should decide in unavoidable accidents
D. whether they need license plates
Câu 39. Most experts predict self-driving cars will become commonplace ___.
A. within 2 years
B. over the next two decades
C. never
D. only in Asia
Câu 40. It can be inferred that the transition to self-driving cars ___.
A. will happen overnight
B. will be gradual and slower than expected
C. has already been completed
D. will only occur in developing countries
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