Đề luyện Reading VSTEP số 9 — 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: World Heritage Sites
UNESCO's World Heritage List, established in 1972, recognizes places of outstanding universal value that deserve protection for future generations. As of 2024, the list includes 1,199 sites across 168 countries, divided into cultural, natural, and mixed categories. Cultural sites include architectural masterpieces like the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China, while natural sites encompass unique ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef and the Galapagos Islands.
Obtaining World Heritage status brings significant benefits. Listed sites attract millions of tourists annually, generating substantial revenue for local economies. The designation also provides access to international funding for conservation and raises public awareness about the importance of preservation. However, increased tourism can paradoxically threaten the very sites it celebrates. Angkor Wat in Cambodia receives over 2.5 million visitors per year, and the constant foot traffic has caused erosion and structural damage to the ancient temples.
The process of selecting World Heritage Sites has also faced criticism for cultural bias. European countries hold a disproportionate number of listings, with Italy alone having 59 sites compared to many African and Asian nations that have fewer than five. Critics argue that the selection criteria favor Western concepts of heritage, such as monumental architecture, over the intangible cultural practices valued by many non-Western societies. UNESCO has acknowledged this imbalance and introduced measures to encourage nominations from underrepresented regions.
Câu 1. The World Heritage List was established in ___.
A. 1952
B. 1962
C. 1972
D. 1982
Câu 2. How many sites are on the World Heritage List as of 2024?
A. 899
B. 999
C. 1,199
D. 1,399
Câu 3. The word "paradoxically" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. predictably
B. in a contradictory way
C. slowly
D. intentionally
Câu 4. How many visitors does Angkor Wat receive annually?
A. Over 1.5 million
B. Over 2.5 million
C. Over 3.5 million
D. Over 5 million
Câu 5. Italy has ___ World Heritage Sites.
A. 29
B. 39
C. 49
D. 59
Câu 6. Critics argue the selection criteria favor ___.
A. natural sites over cultural sites
B. Western concepts of heritage
C. small countries over large ones
D. modern architecture
Câu 7. Which is NOT a benefit of World Heritage status mentioned in the passage?
A. Attracting tourists
B. Access to international funding
C. Tax exemptions for local businesses
D. Raising public awareness
Câu 8. The word "intangible" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. physical and visible
B. not physical; unable to be touched
C. extremely valuable
D. ancient and traditional
Câu 9. It can be inferred that UNESCO ___.
A. refuses to acknowledge any criticism
B. recognizes the need for more balanced representation
C. plans to reduce the number of listed sites
D. only cares about European heritage
Câu 10. The main purpose of the passage is to ___.
A. list all World Heritage Sites
B. describe the World Heritage program, its benefits and criticisms
C. argue that tourism should be banned at heritage sites
D. explain how to nominate a site
Passage 2: The Globalization of Food
The globalization of food has transformed eating habits worldwide. Dishes that were once confined to specific regions are now enjoyed across the globe: sushi restaurants operate in every major city, Mexican tacos are popular in Europe, and Korean kimchi has become a trendy health food in the United States. This culinary exchange has been driven by immigration, international trade, social media, and the growth of global restaurant chains.
The spread of global food culture has both positive and negative consequences. On the positive side, consumers now have access to a wider variety of nutritious foods and can experience diverse culinary traditions without traveling abroad. Cross-cultural food exchange has also created economic opportunities for immigrant communities who open restaurants and food businesses. However, globalization has also led to the homogenization of diets, with fast food chains replacing local food traditions in many countries. The World Health Organization has linked the global spread of Western-style diets — high in processed food, sugar, and saturated fat — to rising rates of obesity and diabetes in developing nations.
In response, a growing movement seeks to preserve and celebrate local food heritage. The Slow Food movement, founded in Italy in 1986, promotes local ingredients, traditional recipes, and sustainable farming. Countries like France and Japan have had their traditional cuisines recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. These efforts recognize that food is more than nutrition — it embodies cultural identity, community bonds, and centuries of accumulated knowledge about local ingredients and preparation methods.
Câu 11. Which food has become trendy in the US according to the passage?
A. French cheese
B. Korean kimchi
C. Indian curry
D. Italian pasta
Câu 12. The Slow Food movement was founded in ___.
A. France in 1976
B. Italy in 1986
C. Japan in 1996
D. Spain in 2006
Câu 13. The word "homogenization" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. improvement
B. diversification
C. making things more similar
D. localization
Câu 14. Western-style diets are linked to ___.
A. better health outcomes
B. rising obesity and diabetes
C. improved nutrition
D. lower food costs
Câu 15. Which factor has NOT driven food globalization?
A. Immigration
B. Space exploration
C. Social media
D. International trade
Câu 16. Food is described as embodying ___.
A. only nutritional value
B. cultural identity and community bonds
C. economic competition
D. scientific research
Câu 17. Which countries' cuisines are UNESCO intangible cultural heritage?
A. Germany and China
B. France and Japan
C. Italy and India
D. Mexico and Thailand
Câu 18. The word "embodies" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. rejects
B. destroys
C. represents and expresses
D. hides
Câu 19. It can be inferred that the author believes ___.
A. all traditional food should be frozen in time
B. food globalization has both benefits and risks to preserve against
C. fast food is superior to local cuisine
D. food has no cultural significance
Câu 20. The passage mainly discusses ___.
A. recipes from around the world
B. how food globalization has changed eating habits, with its effects
C. the history of the Slow Food movement
D. why people should only eat local food
Passage 3: Music and the Brain
Neuroscience research has revealed that music engages the brain more extensively than almost any other activity. When a person listens to music, multiple brain regions activate simultaneously: the auditory cortex processes sound, the motor cortex responds to rhythm, the frontal lobe analyzes song structure, and the limbic system generates emotional responses. Playing a musical instrument is even more demanding, requiring the coordination of visual, auditory, and motor systems in real time.
The effects of music on cognitive development have attracted particular attention. A landmark study at the University of Toronto found that children who received music lessons for one year showed significantly greater improvements in IQ scores compared to children who received drama lessons or no extra instruction. Other research has demonstrated that musical training strengthens working memory, attention span, and spatial reasoning skills. These benefits appear to persist into adulthood, with elderly musicians showing slower rates of cognitive decline than non-musicians.
Music therapy has emerged as an evidence-based treatment for a variety of conditions. For patients with Parkinson's disease, rhythmic auditory stimulation can improve walking speed and coordination. For individuals recovering from stroke, singing can help restore speech when conventional speech therapy has failed, because singing and speaking use different neural pathways. In dementia care, familiar music can trigger vivid memories and temporarily restore communication in patients who have otherwise lost the ability to speak. These applications demonstrate that music is not merely entertainment but a powerful tool for healing and cognitive enhancement.
Câu 21. When listening to music, the limbic system generates ___.
A. visual images
B. motor responses
C. emotional responses
D. speech
Câu 22. The University of Toronto study found that music lessons improved ___.
A. physical fitness
B. IQ scores
C. social skills only
D. handwriting
Câu 23. Elderly musicians show ___.
A. faster cognitive decline
B. no difference from non-musicians
C. slower cognitive decline
D. more memory problems
Câu 24. The word "landmark" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. ordinary
B. groundbreaking and significant
C. controversial
D. incomplete
Câu 25. For Parkinson's patients, rhythmic stimulation can improve ___.
A. vision
B. walking speed and coordination
C. reading ability
D. mathematical skills
Câu 26. Singing can help stroke patients because ___.
A. it requires no brain activity
B. singing and speaking use different neural pathways
C. it is easier than walking
D. doctors prefer it
Câu 27. Familiar music can help dementia patients by ___.
A. curing the disease
B. triggering memories and restoring communication
C. improving their eyesight
D. increasing their appetite
Câu 28. The word "persist" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. disappear
B. continue
C. decrease
D. fluctuate
Câu 29. It can be inferred that the author considers music ___.
A. a waste of time for children
B. a powerful cognitive and therapeutic tool
C. only useful for professional musicians
D. less important than sports
Câu 30. The passage mainly discusses ___.
A. how to play musical instruments
B. the effects of music on the brain and its therapeutic applications
C. the history of music from ancient times
D. why some people dislike music
Passage 4: Digital Museums
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a transformation that was already underway in the museum world: the shift toward digital access. When museums closed their doors during lockdowns, many turned to virtual tours, online exhibitions, and social media to maintain engagement with their audiences. The Louvre in Paris saw its online visitors increase from 400,000 to over 10 million per month during the first lockdown in 2020. This digital pivot has continued even as physical museums have reopened, fundamentally changing how cultural institutions think about accessibility and audience engagement.
Digital technology offers museums unprecedented opportunities to reach new audiences. High-resolution scanning and 3D modeling allow visitors to examine artifacts in detail that would be impossible behind glass cases. Google Arts and Culture has partnered with over 2,000 museums to create virtual exhibitions accessible to anyone with an internet connection. For people in remote areas, those with physical disabilities, or those who simply cannot afford international travel, digital museums democratize access to cultural heritage that was previously available only to a privileged few.
However, critics argue that digital experiences cannot replicate the emotional impact of encountering original artworks in person. Standing before Michelangelo's David or walking through the ancient halls of the British Museum creates a sense of awe and connection to history that a screen cannot fully convey. There are also concerns about digital equity: while virtual museums are theoretically accessible to all, the 2.7 billion people worldwide who lack internet access are excluded from these benefits. Museums must therefore pursue hybrid strategies that embrace digital innovation while preserving the irreplaceable experience of physical engagement with art and history.
Câu 31. The Louvre's online visitors increased to ___ per month during lockdown.
A. 1 million
B. 5 million
C. 10 million
D. 20 million
Câu 32. Google Arts and Culture has partnered with ___.
A. over 500 museums
B. over 1,000 museums
C. over 2,000 museums
D. over 5,000 museums
Câu 33. The word "democratize" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. restrict
B. make available to everyone
C. complicate
D. commercialize
Câu 34. How many people worldwide lack internet access?
A. 1.7 billion
B. 2.7 billion
C. 3.7 billion
D. 4.7 billion
Câu 35. The word "replicate" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. improve
B. reproduce exactly
C. simplify
D. criticize
Câu 36. Digital museums especially benefit people who ___.
A. prefer expensive travel
B. live in remote areas or have disabilities
C. dislike technology
D. work in museums
Câu 37. The phrase "digital pivot" in paragraph 1 refers to ___.
A. a new type of museum building
B. the shift toward digital access
C. a brand of computer
D. a government policy
Câu 38. Critics of digital museums argue that screens cannot fully convey ___.
A. the price of artworks
B. the age of artifacts
C. the emotional impact of seeing originals in person
D. the size of museum buildings
Câu 39. It can be inferred that the author recommends ___.
A. closing all physical museums
B. a hybrid approach combining digital and physical
C. banning virtual tours
D. only investing in technology
Câu 40. The passage mainly discusses ___.
A. the architecture of famous museums
B. the rise of digital museums, their benefits and limitations
C. how to become a museum curator
D. the history of the Louvre
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