Đề luyện Reading VSTEP số 8 — 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: Biodiversity Loss
The Earth is experiencing its sixth mass extinction event, driven not by natural catastrophes but by human activity. Scientists estimate that species are disappearing at a rate 1,000 times faster than the natural background extinction rate. The World Wildlife Fund's Living Planet Report 2022 revealed that monitored wildlife populations have declined by an average of 69 percent since 1970, a staggering loss that threatens the stability of ecosystems worldwide.
The primary drivers of biodiversity loss are habitat destruction, overexploitation, pollution, invasive species, and climate change. Deforestation alone eliminates approximately 10 million hectares of forest annually, destroying the habitats of countless species. The Amazon rainforest, often called the "lungs of the Earth," has lost nearly 17 percent of its forest cover in the last 50 years. Coral reefs, which support approximately 25 percent of all marine species, face bleaching events caused by rising ocean temperatures that have become increasingly frequent and severe.
The loss of biodiversity has profound consequences for human well-being. Ecosystem services — the benefits humans derive from nature, including clean air, water purification, pollination, and flood control — are valued at an estimated $125 trillion annually. When species disappear, these services deteriorate. The decline of pollinator populations, particularly bees, directly threatens global food production, as approximately 75 percent of food crops depend at least partly on animal pollination. Reversing biodiversity loss requires coordinated global action to protect habitats, regulate resource extraction, and address climate change.
Câu 1. The current mass extinction is mainly caused by ___.
A. volcanic eruptions
B. asteroid impacts
C. human activity
D. natural climate cycles
Câu 2. Wildlife populations have declined by ___ since 1970.
A. 39 percent
B. 49 percent
C. 59 percent
D. 69 percent
Câu 3. How much forest is lost annually to deforestation?
A. 5 million hectares
B. 10 million hectares
C. 15 million hectares
D. 20 million hectares
Câu 4. The word "staggering" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. expected
B. insignificant
C. astonishing
D. gradual
Câu 5. Coral reefs support approximately ___ of all marine species.
A. 10 percent
B. 25 percent
C. 50 percent
D. 75 percent
Câu 6. The Amazon rainforest has lost ___ of its cover in the last 50 years.
A. nearly 7 percent
B. nearly 17 percent
C. nearly 27 percent
D. nearly 37 percent
Câu 7. Ecosystem services are valued at ___.
A. $25 trillion annually
B. $75 trillion annually
C. $125 trillion annually
D. $200 trillion annually
Câu 8. The word "deteriorate" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. improve
B. remain stable
C. become worse
D. disappear instantly
Câu 9. Approximately ___ of food crops depend partly on animal pollination.
A. 25 percent
B. 50 percent
C. 75 percent
D. 90 percent
Câu 10. It can be inferred that the author ___.
A. believes biodiversity loss is exaggerated
B. considers biodiversity loss an urgent global crisis
C. thinks technology will solve the problem alone
D. is not concerned about the future
Passage 2: Nuclear Energy Debate
Nuclear energy has long been one of the most controversial topics in energy policy. Supporters argue that nuclear power is one of the most efficient and reliable sources of low-carbon electricity. A single nuclear plant can generate enormous amounts of energy using relatively small amounts of fuel, and unlike solar and wind power, nuclear plants can operate continuously regardless of weather conditions. France, which generates about 70 percent of its electricity from nuclear power, has one of the lowest carbon footprints per capita in Europe.
Opponents of nuclear energy point to the catastrophic risks associated with nuclear accidents. The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 contaminated vast areas of Ukraine and Belarus, forcing the permanent evacuation of over 350,000 people. The Fukushima accident in 2011, triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan, released radioactive material into the atmosphere and ocean, and the cleanup is expected to take 30 to 40 years. The long-term storage of nuclear waste also remains unresolved, as spent fuel remains radioactive for thousands of years.
A new generation of nuclear technology, including small modular reactors and fusion research, may address some of these concerns. Small modular reactors are designed to be safer and cheaper than traditional large-scale plants, with built-in safety features that prevent meltdowns. Nuclear fusion, which powers the sun, produces minimal radioactive waste and carries no risk of meltdown, but achieving sustained fusion reactions on Earth remains an enormous technical challenge. Whether nuclear energy should play a significant role in the transition to clean energy remains one of the most divisive questions in environmental policy.
Câu 11. France generates about ___ of its electricity from nuclear power.
A. 30 percent
B. 50 percent
C. 70 percent
D. 90 percent
Câu 12. The Chernobyl disaster occurred in ___.
A. 1976
B. 1986
C. 1996
D. 2006
Câu 13. The Fukushima cleanup is expected to take ___.
A. 5 to 10 years
B. 10 to 20 years
C. 30 to 40 years
D. 50 to 60 years
Câu 14. The word "catastrophic" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. minor
B. disastrous
C. predictable
D. beneficial
Câu 15. An advantage of nuclear power over solar and wind is that it ___.
A. is cheaper to build
B. operates continuously regardless of weather
C. produces no waste
D. uses no fuel
Câu 16. Small modular reactors are designed to be ___.
A. larger than traditional plants
B. safer and cheaper
C. powered by coal
D. used only in space
Câu 17. Nuclear fusion ___.
A. is currently widely used for electricity
B. produces large amounts of radioactive waste
C. remains an enormous technical challenge
D. was achieved in 2020
Câu 18. The word "divisive" in the last sentence is closest in meaning to ___.
A. unifying
B. boring
C. causing strong disagreement
D. irrelevant
Câu 19. It can be inferred that the author ___.
A. strongly supports nuclear energy
B. presents both sides without clear bias
C. opposes all nuclear technology
D. believes fusion is impossible
Câu 20. The main purpose of the passage is to ___.
A. convince readers to support nuclear power
B. present the arguments for and against nuclear energy
C. explain how nuclear reactors work in detail
D. describe the Chernobyl disaster
Passage 3: Sustainable Agriculture
Conventional agriculture has dramatically increased food production over the past century, but at a significant environmental cost. Industrial farming relies heavily on synthetic fertilizers, chemical pesticides, and monoculture — the practice of growing a single crop over large areas. While these methods maximize short-term yields, they degrade soil health, contaminate water supplies, reduce biodiversity, and contribute approximately 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Sustainable agriculture offers alternative practices that aim to produce food while preserving environmental health. Crop rotation involves growing different crops in succession on the same land, which replenishes soil nutrients naturally and breaks pest cycles. Cover cropping — planting species like clover between harvest seasons — prevents soil erosion and adds nitrogen to the soil. Integrated pest management combines biological controls, such as introducing natural predators, with minimal and targeted use of pesticides.
Critics argue that sustainable farming methods produce lower yields per hectare than conventional agriculture, raising concerns about feeding a growing global population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. However, proponents counter that the comparison is misleading because conventional farming's apparent efficiency ignores its hidden costs: soil degradation that reduces future productivity, water pollution that requires expensive treatment, and health problems caused by pesticide exposure. Research published in Nature Sustainability found that organic farms produce 19 percent lower yields on average but use 45 percent less energy and generate 40 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions per unit of food produced.
Câu 21. Monoculture is the practice of ___.
A. growing many different crops together
B. growing a single crop over large areas
C. farming without any machinery
D. using only organic methods
Câu 22. Agriculture contributes approximately ___ of global greenhouse gas emissions.
A. 5 percent
B. 10 percent
C. 20 percent
D. 30 percent
Câu 23. Crop rotation helps by ___.
A. increasing the use of pesticides
B. replenishing soil nutrients and breaking pest cycles
C. requiring more water
D. reducing the number of crops grown
Câu 24. The word "replenishes" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. depletes
B. restores
C. measures
D. destroys
Câu 25. The global population is projected to reach ___ by 2050.
A. 7.7 billion
B. 8.7 billion
C. 9.7 billion
D. 10.7 billion
Câu 26. Organic farms produce ___ lower yields on average.
A. 9 percent
B. 19 percent
C. 29 percent
D. 39 percent
Câu 27. Cover cropping helps prevent ___.
A. plant growth
B. soil erosion
C. rainfall
D. photosynthesis
Câu 28. The word "degradation" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. improvement
B. measurement
C. decline in quality
D. rapid growth
Câu 29. Proponents of sustainable farming argue that conventional farming ___.
A. has no environmental impact
B. ignores hidden environmental and health costs
C. is the only way to feed the world
D. uses less energy than organic farming
Câu 30. The passage mainly discusses ___.
A. how to start an organic farm
B. conventional vs. sustainable agriculture and their trade-offs
C. the history of farming over 10,000 years
D. why all pesticides should be banned
Passage 4: Water Scarcity
Water scarcity is one of the most pressing environmental challenges of the 21st century. According to the United Nations, approximately 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water. By 2025, half of the world's population is expected to live in water-stressed areas. While the Earth contains vast amounts of water, only about 2.5 percent is fresh water, and much of that is locked in glaciers and ice caps, leaving less than 1 percent readily available for human use.
The causes of water scarcity are both natural and human-made. Arid regions naturally receive little rainfall, but human activities have intensified the problem. Agriculture consumes approximately 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals, often using inefficient irrigation methods that waste enormous amounts of water. Industrial processes and urban expansion further strain water supplies. Climate change is altering precipitation patterns, causing longer droughts in some regions while bringing more intense flooding to others.
Solutions to water scarcity require both technological innovation and behavioral change. Desalination — converting seawater to fresh water — is becoming more affordable and is already widely used in countries like Israel and Saudi Arabia. Drip irrigation, which delivers water directly to plant roots, can reduce agricultural water use by up to 60 percent compared to traditional methods. Water recycling and rainwater harvesting offer additional ways to stretch limited supplies. However, experts emphasize that technology alone cannot solve the water crisis; reducing waste, reforming water pricing, and improving governance of shared water resources are equally essential.
Câu 31. How many people lack safely managed drinking water?
A. About 1.2 billion
B. About 2.2 billion
C. About 3.2 billion
D. About 4.2 billion
Câu 32. What percentage of Earth's water is fresh water?
A. About 0.5 percent
B. About 2.5 percent
C. About 10 percent
D. About 25 percent
Câu 33. Agriculture consumes approximately ___ of global freshwater.
A. 30 percent
B. 50 percent
C. 70 percent
D. 90 percent
Câu 34. The word "arid" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. tropical
B. very dry
C. mountainous
D. coastal
Câu 35. Desalination is the process of ___.
A. purifying river water
B. converting seawater to fresh water
C. collecting rainwater
D. filtering groundwater
Câu 36. Drip irrigation can reduce water use by up to ___.
A. 20 percent
B. 40 percent
C. 60 percent
D. 80 percent
Câu 37. Less than ___ of Earth's water is readily available for human use.
A. 1 percent
B. 5 percent
C. 10 percent
D. 15 percent
Câu 38. The word "strain" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. support
B. increase
C. put pressure on
D. purify
Câu 39. It can be inferred that solving water scarcity requires ___.
A. only building more desalination plants
B. both technology and changes in behavior and policy
C. waiting for climate change to reverse
D. reducing the world's population
Câu 40. The passage mainly discusses ___.
A. how desalination plants work
B. the causes of and solutions to water scarcity
C. why agriculture should be eliminated
D. the history of water management
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