Vit IELTS

Chilli Peppers
For thousands of years, humans have taken painful pleasure from adding chillies (also known as peppers or chilli peppers) to their food. A study published in the British Medical Journal in 2015 indicated that a diet filled with spices—including chillies—was beneficial for health. The study, which was carried out by scientists at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, tracked the health of nearly half a million participants in China for several years.
They found that participants who ate spicy food once or twice a week had a mortality rate 10% lower than those who ate spicy food less than once a week. Risk of death reduced still further for people who ate spicy food six or seven days a week. Chilli peppers were the most commonly used spice among the sample, and those who ate fresh chilli had a lower probability of death from cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
The health-promoting properties of chillies can be found in capsaicin, which is the odorless, colorless chemical compound that makes chillies hot. Inside a chilli, there are yellow stalks that attach the seeds to its sides, and in many types of chilli, this is the location of capsaicin, but there are several varieties where this is not the case. The heat of a chilli is measured in Scoville heat units, which is the number of times a sample of dissolved dried chilli must be diluted by its own weight in sugar water before it loses its heat.
For a green bell pepper, this is zero. But habanero peppers have a Scoville value of between 100,000 and 350,000. For pure capsaicin, the figure is 16 million. Pure capsaicin can be bought on the internet, though its use as a food additive is banned in the European Union. The use of chilli peppers as weapons dates back to pre-Columbian times (before 1492), when, it is said, Mayans burned rows of them to create a stinging smokescreen to protect themselves from their enemies. The Aztecs also put chilli on their teeth to kill toothache pain, and the use of capsaicin as a pain reliever continues today. 
Joshua Tewksbury, a natural historian at the University of Washington, thinks the burning sensation we experience when we come into contact with chillies is an evolutionary trick.
“We’re not actually being damaged by the capsaicin the way we would be if we were touching a stove, but our brain thinks we are,” he says, adding that all mammals experience the same sensation, but that birds do not.
“They can eat chillies like popcorn and they don’t feel the heat.”
In this way, Tewksbury suggests, the plant evolved to repel animals that might crush its seeds with their teeth but not ones that would help spread them.
Chillies also fight bacteria. This was of great value before refrigeration, when, particularly in the tropics, people were vulnerable to bacteria that could harm them directly or cause their food to spoil. Chillies kill or inhibit 75% of such bacteria. That may just explain the spice’s world-conquering success.
Just two or three years after the explorer Christopher Columbus brought chilli seeds back to Europe from the New World in 1493, Portuguese merchants took the plants to Asia, where they would transform the cuisine.
People in hot countries are said to use more chilli because it makes them generate a lot of sweat, which cools them down. But in 1998, researchers at Cornell University pointed out that the greater use of spices in countries such as India, Thailand, and China was likely linked to the antibacterial function. By studying books filled with recipes from all over the world, the researchers found that spices—including chilli—were more likely to be used close to the equator and were also used more in valleys with high levels of humidity than on high plateaux.
Capsaicin has even been suggested as a potential weight-loss tool. Research conducted by the University of Wyoming on mice that had been fed a high-fat diet found that the substance increased the metabolism of the animals, causing them to burn more energy and preventing weight gain.
In another study, researchers at the University of Adelaide found that certain receptors that interact with capsaicin and are located inside the stomach play a role in sensing when you are full. Previous studies on humans seem to back the idea that eating spicy food may curb our appetite.
Capsaicin is a natural painkiller. Capsaicin creams and patches are available in chemists to ease pain. But it’s only recently that we have come to understand how something that causes pain can ease it too.
Capsaicin binds to the pain receptor TRPV1, which our brains also use to detect changes in temperature—that’s why we think chillies are hot. But after being overstimulated, the neurons stop responding, killing the pain. This process involves the release of endorphins, which can give us a “rush” not unlike the feeling we have when we have done some exercise. This may explain why some people believe that hot food is addictive.

1. The study done by the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences looked at eating habits in several countries.
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Đáp án: FALSE
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 1, câu cuối: “…tracked the health of nearly half a million participants in China for several years.”
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Giải thích: Bài đọc khẳng định nghiên cứu này chỉ thực hiện trên những người tham gia tại Trung Quốc (in China). Do đó, thông tin nói nghiên cứu thực hiện ở “vài quốc gia” (several countries) là sai.
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2. Eating fresh chillies can decrease the likelihood of dying from certain serious illnesses.
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Đáp án: TRUE
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 2, câu cuối: “…those who ate fresh chilli had a lower probability of death from cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.”
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Giải thích: “Lower probability of death” tương ứng với “decrease the likelihood of dying”. Các bệnh ung thư, tim mạch và tiểu đường chính là “certain serious illnesses” (những căn bệnh nghiêm trọng nhất định).
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3. Capsaicin is found in the same place in all chilli varieties.
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Đáp án: FALSE
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 3, câu 3: “…in many types of chilli, this is the location of capsaicin, but there are several varieties where this is not the case.”
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Giải thích: Bài đọc nói rằng mặc dù ở nhiều loại ớt capsaicin nằm ở cuống vàng bám vào hạt, nhưng có vài giống ớt mà vị trí này không phải như vậy (not the case). Vì vậy, nói nó nằm ở cùng một chỗ trong tất cả các loại ớt là sai.
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4. Habanero peppers are the hottest known peppers.
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Đáp án: NOT GIVEN
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 4, câu 2: “But habanero peppers have a Scoville value of between 100,000 and 350,000.”
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Giải thích: Bài đọc có đưa ra chỉ số độ cay của ớt habanero, nhưng không hề so sánh nó với các loại ớt khác để khẳng định đây là loại ớt “cay nhất” (hottest known).
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5. Pure capsaicin is licensed for use in food products in the European Union.
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Đáp án: FALSE
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 4, câu 4: “Pure capsaicin can be bought on the internet, though its use as a food additive is banned in the European Union.”
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Giải thích: “Banned” có nghĩa là bị cấm. Điều này trái ngược hoàn toàn với từ “licensed” (được cấp phép) trong câu hỏi.
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6. The Aztecs were the first to use capsaicin as a pain killer.
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Đáp án: NOT GIVEN
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 4, câu cuối: “The Aztecs also put chilli on their teeth to kill toothache pain…”
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Giải thích: Bài đọc xác nhận người Aztec đã sử dụng ớt để giảm đau răng, nhưng không có thông tin nào khẳng định họ là những người “đầu tiên” (the first) làm việc này.
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7. Birds have different physical responses to eating chillies than mammals.
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Đáp án: TRUE
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 6 &amp; 7: “…adding that all mammals experience the same sensation, but that birds do not. ‘They can eat chillies like popcorn and they don’t feel the heat’.”
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Giải thích: Bài đọc chỉ rõ động vật có vú (mammals) cảm thấy sức nóng (burning sensation), trong khi chim (birds) thì không cảm thấy gì. Đây chính là sự khác biệt về phản ứng cơ thể (different physical responses).
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Questions 1-7

8. refrigeration
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 9, câu 1-2: “Chillies also fight bacteria. This was of great value before refrigeration…”
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Giải thích: Khả năng diệt khuẩn (fight germs/bacteria) của ớt cực kỳ quan trọng trước khi con người phát minh ra tủ lạnh/việc làm lạnh (refrigeration).
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9. sweat
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 11, câu 1: “People in hot countries are said to use more chilli because it makes them generate a lot of sweat, which cools them down.”
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Giải thích: Ăn ớt khiến cơ thể đổ mồ hôi (sweat), quá trình này giúp làm mát cơ thể (reduces body heat).
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10. recipes
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 11, câu 3: “By studying books filled with recipes from all over the world, the researchers found that spices—including chilli—were more likely to be used close to the equator…”
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Giải thích: Các nhà nghiên cứu đã phân tích sách công thức nấu ăn (recipes) trên toàn thế giới để chứng minh ớt được dùng phổ biến hơn ở các khu vực địa lý cụ thể (gần xích đạo, độ ẩm cao).
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11. metabolism
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 12, câu 2: “Research… found that the substance increased the metabolism of the animals, causing them to burn more energy…”
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Giải thích: Nghiên cứu trên chuột cho thấy ớt làm tăng quá trình trao đổi chất (metabolism), giúp đốt cháy nhiều năng lượng hơn.
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12. stomach
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 13, câu 1: “…researchers at the University of Adelaide found that certain receptors… located inside the stomach play a role in sensing when you are full.”
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Giải thích: Các thụ thể nằm trong dạ dày (stomach) phản ứng với ớt để phát tín hiệu cho não biết khi nào bạn đã ăn đủ/no (had enough to eat/full).
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13. exercise
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn cuối, câu 3: “This process involves the release of endorphins, which can give us a “rush” not unlike the feeling we have when we have done some exercise.”
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Giải thích: Cảm giác hưng phấn (rush) khi ăn ớt rất giống với cảm giác sau khi tập thể dục (exercise) nhờ quá trình giải phóng endorphin.
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Questions 8-13

Passage 1

Learning from the Romans
How an ancient building material is influencing modern construction
A
In a quest to make concrete more durable and sustainable, an international team of geologists and engineers has found inspiration in the concrete used by the ancient Romans. The chemical secrets of Roman concrete have been uncovered in samples taken from a concrete Roman breakwater. A breakwater is a barrier that is built out into the sea to protect coasts and harbors from the force of waves. This particular breakwater has spent the last 2,000 years submerged in seawater. The international team of researchers that collected the samples was led by Paulo Monteiro, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. Analysis of samples from the ancient underwater site in Pozzuoli Bay near Naples in Italy, and pinpointed why the best Roman concrete was superior to most modern concrete.
B
Concrete was the Roman Empire’s construction material of choice. It was used in land monuments such as the Pantheon in Rome, as well as in underwater and partially underwater coastal and harbor structures. Monteiro and his team were particularly interested in how the coastal and harbor structures endured the unforgiving saltwater environment. Chemical analysis of Roman concrete showed that it differs from the modern kind in several ways. One is the content of the cement that binds the material in the concrete. The most commonly used cement in recent decades has been Portland cement. Portland cement is a compound of calcium, silicates, and hydrates (C-S-H). However, analysis of Roman concrete shows that it contains a significantly different cement. Roman cement contains aluminum, which is not found in Portland cement, and less silicon than is found in Portland cement. The resulting calcium-aluminum-silicate-hydrate (C-A-S-H) is an exceptionally stable cement.
C
The recipe for the contents of Roman concrete was first described around 30 BC by Vitruvius, an engineer for the Roman Emperor Augustus. Volcanic ash was one of the ingredients, and it is now understood that this is crucial, as it is volcanic ash that contains the aluminum that ultimately gives Roman concrete its great durability. The Romans devised an efficient method of making concrete for coastal structures. They combined volcanic ash with lime, which added the calcium to the mix. This was then packed, together with stones and chunks of rock, into wooden molds, which were then immersed in seawater. The seawater instantly triggered a hot chemical reaction. The lime was hydrated by the seawater, which means that it incorporated water molecules into its structure, and reacted with the volcanic ash to cement the whole mixture together. This reaction formed the concrete that was used to build some of the most enduring structures in Western civilization.
D
According to Marie Jackson, a member of the research team, Roman concrete is one of the most durable construction materials on the planet, and that was no accident. Shipping was the lifeline of political, economic, and military stability for the Roman Empire, so constructing harbors that would last was critical. ‘Over time, the Romans used less and less concrete.’ ‘As the Roman Empire declined, and shipping declined, the need for the seawater concrete declined,’ said Jackson. ‘You could also argue that the original structures were built so well that, once they were in place, they didn’t need to be replaced,’ she added.
E
Producing Roman concrete also left a smaller carbon footprint than its modern counterpart. ‘It’s not that modern concrete isn’t good—it’s so good we use 19 billion tons of it a year,’ says Monteiro. ‘The problem is that manufacturing Portland cement accounts for seven percent of the carbon dioxide that industry puts into the air.’ Portland cement holds most modern concrete together. However, making Portland cement releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from burning fuel in order to heat a mix of limestone and clays to 1,450 degrees Celsius. The production of Roman concrete, however, was much cleaner, as less heat was needed. A temperature that was a third lower than that required for making Portland cement was sufficient for making Roman concrete.
F
Some modern concrete no longer contains Portland cement; instead, fly ash is used, which causes fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Fly ash is a waste product from burning coal, and the researchers are investigating whether volcanic ash would be a good, large-volume replacement in countries that cannot access fly ash easily. ‘There is not enough fly ash in this world to replace half of the Portland cement being used,’ said Monteiro. ‘Many countries don’t have fly ash, so the idea is to find alternative local materials that will work, including the kind of volcanic ash that Romans used. Using these alternatives could replace 40 percent of the world’s demand for Portland cement.’
G
Cutting greenhouse gas emissions is one powerful incentive for finding a better way to provide the concrete the world needs; another is the need for stronger, longer-lasting buildings, bridges, and other structures. ‘In the middle 20th century, concrete structures were designed to last 50 years, and a lot of them are on borrowed time,’ Monteiro says. ‘Now we design buildings to last 100 to 120 years.’ Yet Roman harbor installations have survived 2,000 years of chemical attack from seawater and wave action. Stronger, longer-lasting modern concrete may be the legacy of a deeper understanding of how the Romans made their incomparable concrete.

14. An opinion on why the Romans reduced the amount of concrete they made… — {D}
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Dẫn chứng: “‘As the Roman Empire declined, and shipping declined, the need for the seawater concrete declined,’ said Jackson.”
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Giải thích: Marie Jackson đưa ra ý kiến rằng khi đế chế và ngành hàng hải suy yếu, nhu cầu sử dụng bê tông nước mặn cũng giảm theo.
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15. A list of the contents of both Portland and Roman cement — {B}
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Dẫn chứng: “Portland cement is a compound of calcium, silicates, and hydrates (C-S-H)… Roman cement contains aluminum, which is not found in Portland cement, and less silicon…”
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Giải thích: Đoạn B liệt kê các thành phần hóa học cấu tạo nên cả hai loại xi măng để so sánh.
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16. An argument for finding substitutes for a limited resource… — {F}
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Dẫn chứng: “‘There is not enough fly ash in this world to replace half of the Portland cement… Many countries don’t have fly ash, so the idea is to find alternative local materials…’”
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Giải thích: Vì tro bay (fly ash) là nguồn tài nguyên có hạn và không phải quốc gia nào cũng có, tác giả lập luận cần tìm vật liệu thay thế (như tro núi lửa).
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17. Information about the structure from which the scientists took their samples — {A}
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Dẫn chứng: “…samples taken from a concrete Roman breakwater… built out into the sea to protect coasts and harbors… in Pozzuoli Bay near Naples in Italy…”
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Giải thích: Đoạn A mô tả cấu trúc mà các nhà khoa học lấy mẫu là một đê chắn sóng (breakwater) tại vịnh Pozzuoli.
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18. A comparison of the environmental impacts of making modern and Roman concrete — {E}
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Dẫn chứng: “Producing Roman concrete also left a smaller carbon footprint than its modern counterpart. …manufacturing Portland cement accounts for seven percent of the carbon dioxide…”
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Giải thích: Đoạn E so sánh lượng khí thải carbon và tác động môi trường của hai quá trình sản xuất.
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19. A comparison of the durability of Roman concrete with concrete produced today — {G}
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Dẫn chứng: “In the middle 20th century, concrete structures were designed to last 50 years… Now we design buildings to last 100 to 120 years. Yet Roman harbor installations have survived 2,000 years…”
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Giải thích: Đoạn G so sánh tuổi thọ (độ bền) của bê tông hiện đại (50-120 năm) với bê tông La Mã (2.000 năm).
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20. Details of how the Romans used seawater to make concrete — {C}
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Dẫn chứng: “…immersed in seawater. The seawater instantly triggered a hot chemical reaction. The lime was hydrated by the seawater…”
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Giải thích: Đoạn C mô tả quy trình kỹ thuật: nước biển kích hoạt phản ứng hóa học với vôi và tro núi lửa để kết dính hỗn hợp.
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Questions 14–20

ĐÁP ÁN A: Fly ash results in less damage to the environment than Portland cement. (ĐÚNG)
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Dẫn chứng (Đoạn F): “Some modern concrete no longer contains Portland cement; instead, fly ash is used, which causes fewer greenhouse gas emissions.”
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Giải thích: Bài đọc khẳng định việc sử dụng tro bay thay thế cho xi măng Portland giúp tạo ra ít khí thải gây hiệu ứng nhà kính hơn (fewer greenhouse gas emissions). Điều này đồng nghĩa với việc nó ít gây hại cho môi trường hơn (less damage to the environment).
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ĐÁP ÁN C: Fly ash is already used in the production of some concrete. (ĐÚNG)
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Dẫn chứng (Đoạn F): “Some modern concrete no longer contains Portland cement; instead, fly ash is used…”
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Giải thích: Cụm từ “is used” (đang được sử dụng) cho thấy đây là một thực tế đang diễn ra trong ngành xây dựng hiện đại, không phải là một dự đoán hay kế hoạch trong tương lai. Nó đã và đang được dùng để thay thế xi măng Portland trong một số loại bê tông nhất định.
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Questions 21-22

23. {limestone}
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Dẫn chứng (Đoạn E): “…burning fuel in order to heat a mix of limestone and clays to 1,450 degrees Celsius.”
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Giải thích: Câu hỏi yêu cầu tìm loại vật liệu được kết hợp với đất sét (clays) ở nhiệt độ cao để tạo ra xi măng Portland. Trong bài đọc, tác giả nêu rõ hỗn hợp này gồm đá vôi (limestone) và đất sét.
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24. {third}
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Dẫn chứng (Đoạn E): “A temperature that was a third lower than that required for making Portland cement was sufficient for making Roman concrete.”
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Giải thích: Bài tóm tắt nói về việc mức nhiệt độ này được giảm đi một khoảng bao nhiêu khi làm bê tông La Mã. Dẫn chứng xác nhận mức nhiệt độ cần thiết thấp hơn một phần ba (a third) so với quy trình hiện đại.
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25. {fuel}
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Dẫn chứng (Đoạn E): “…releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from burning fuel in order to heat a mix…”
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Giải thích: Để tạo ra nhiệt độ cao, người ta phải thực hiện hành động đốt cháy. Từ cần điền ở đây là nhiên liệu (fuel). Việc đốt nhiên liệu ít hơn đồng nghĩa với việc tạo ra ít khí $CO_2$ hơn.
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26. {industry}
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Dẫn chứng (Đoạn E): “…manufacturing Portland cement accounts for seven percent of the carbon dioxide that industry puts into the air.”
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Giải thích: Câu hỏi yêu cầu xác định nguồn phát thải khí $CO_2$ mà trong đó sản xuất xi măng chiếm 7%. Văn bản ghi rõ đây là lượng khí thải mà ngành công nghiệp (industry) thải vào không khí.
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Questions 23–26

Passage 2

Robert Louis Stevenson
A Scottish novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer, Robert Louis Stevenson was born at 8 Howard Place, Edinburgh, Scotland, on 13 November 1850. It has been more than 100 years since his death. Stevenson was a writer who caused conflicting opinions about his works. On one hand, he was often highly praised for his expert prose and style by many English-language critics. On the other hand, others criticised the religious themes in his works, often misunderstanding Stevenson’s own religious beliefs. Since his death a century before, critics and biographers have disagreed on the legacy of Stevenson’s writing. Two biographers, KF and CP , wrote a biography about Stevenson with a clear focus. They chose not to criticise aspects of Stevenson’s personal life. Instead, they focused on his writing, and gave high praise to his writing style and skill.
The literary pendulum has swung these days. Different critics have different opinions towards Robert Louis Stevenson’s works. Though today, Stevenson is one of the most translated authors in the world, his works have sustained a wide variety of negative criticism throughout his life. It was like a complete reversal of polarity—from highly positive to slightly less positive to clearly negative; after being highly praised as a great writer, he became an example of an author with corrupt ethics and lack of moral. Many literary critics passed his works off as children’s stories or horror stories, and thought to have little social value in an educational setting. Stevenson’s works were often excluded from literature curriculum because of its controversial nature. These debates remain, and many critics still assert that despite his skill, his literary works still lack moral value.
One of the main reasons why Stevenson’s literary works attracted so much criticism was due to the genre of his writing. Stevenson mainly wrote adventure stories, which was part of a popular and entertaining writing fad at the time. Many of us believe adventure stories are exciting, offers engaging characters, action, and mystery but ultimately can’t teach moral principles. The plot points are one-dimensional and rarely offer a deeper moral meaning, instead focusing on exciting and shocking plot twists and thrilling events. His works were even criticised by fellow authors. Though Stevenson’s works have deeply influenced Oscar Wilde, Wilde often joked that Stevenson would have written better works if he wasn’t born in Scotland. Other authors came to Stevenson’s defence, including Galsworthy who claimed that Stevenson is a greater writer than Thomas Hardy.
Despite Wilde’s criticism, Stevenson’s Scottish identity was an integral part of his written works. Although Stevenson’s works were not popular in Scotland when he was alive, many modern Scottish literary critics claim that Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson are the most influential writers in the history of Scotland. While many critics exalt Sir Walter Scott as a literary genius because of his technical ability, others argue that Stevenson deserves the same recognition for his natural ability to capture stories and characters in words. Many of Scott’s works were taken more seriously as literature for their depth due to their tragic themes, but fans of Stevenson praise his unique style of story-telling and capture of human nature. Stevenson’s works, unlike other British authors, captured the unique day to day life of average Scottish people. Many literary critics point to this as a flaw of his works. According to the critics, truly important literature should transcend local culture and stories. However, many critics praise the local taste of his literature. To this day, Stevenson’s works provide valuable insight to life in Scotland during the 19th century.
Despite much debate of Stevenson’s writing topics, his writing was not the only source of attention for critics. Stevenson’s personal life often attracted a lot of attention from his fans and critics alike. Some even argue that his personal life eventually outshone his writing. Stevenson had been plagued with health problems his whole life, and often had to live in much warmer climates than the cold, dreary weather of Scotland in order to recover. So he took his family to a south pacific island Samoa, which was a controversial decision at that time. However, Stevenson did not regret the decision. The sea air and thrill of adventure complimented the themes of his writing, and for a time restored his health. From there, Stevenson gained a love of travelling, and for nearly three years he wandered the eastern and central Pacific. Much of his works reflected this love of travel and adventure that Stevenson experienced in the Pacific islands. It was as a result of this biographical attention that the feeling grew that interest in Stevenson’s life had taken the place of interest in his works. Whether critics focus on his writing subjects, his religious beliefs, or his eccentric lifestyle of travel and adventure, people from the past and present have different opinions about Stevenson as an author. Today, he remains a controversial yet widely popular figure in Western literature.

27. Stevenson’s biographers KF and CP
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Đáp án: D. elevated Stevenson’s role as a writer.
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 1, câu cuối: “Instead, they focused on his writing, and gave high praise to his writing style and skill.”
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Giải thích: Thay vì chỉ trích đời tư, hai nhà tiểu sử KF và CP tập trung vào việc ca ngợi phong cách và kỹ năng viết lách của Stevenson. Hành động này giúp nâng cao vị thế và vai trò của ông với tư cách là một nhà văn trong mắt công chúng.
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28. The main point of the second paragraph is
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Đáp án: D. Stevenson’s works’ drawback is lack of ethical nature.
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 2: “…he became an example of an author with corrupt ethics and lack of moral… many critics still assert that despite his skill, his literary works still lack moral value.”
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Giải thích: Nội dung chính của đoạn 2 xoay quanh những ý kiến tiêu cực cho rằng các tác phẩm của Stevenson thiếu đi giá trị đạo đức hoặc có nội dung suy đồi. Đây được coi là điểm yếu lớn nhất (drawback) khiến tác phẩm của ông bị loại khỏi chương trình giảng dạy.
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29. According to the author, adventure stories
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Đáp án: B. cannot be used by writers to show moral values.
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 3: “Many of us believe adventure stories… ultimately can’t teach moral principles. The plot points are one-dimensional and rarely offer a deeper moral meaning…”
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Giải thích: Tác giả phân tích rằng thể loại truyện phiêu lưu mà Stevenson theo đuổi thường bị đánh giá là nông cạn, chỉ tập trung vào các tình tiết giật gân, ly kỳ mà không có khả năng truyền tải hay giáo dục các giá trị đạo đức sâu sắc cho người đọc.
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30. What does the author say about Stevenson’s works?
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Đáp án: A. They describe the life of people in Scotland.
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 4: “Stevenson’s works… captured the unique day to day life of average Scottish people.”
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Giải thích: Một đặc điểm nổi bật trong tác phẩm của Stevenson được tác giả nhắc đến là khả năng mô tả chân thực và sống động cuộc sống hàng ngày của tầng lớp bình dân tại Scotland vào thế kỷ 19, mang lại những hiểu biết giá trị về văn hóa địa phương.
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31. The lifestyle of Stevenson
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Đáp án: C. gained more attention from the public than his works.
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 5: “Some even argue that his personal life eventually outshone his writing… interest in Stevenson’s life had taken the place of interest in his works.”
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Giải thích: Do cuộc đời của Stevenson có nhiều biến cố (sức khỏe yếu, chuyển đến sống tại đảo Samoa, sở thích du hành), công chúng thường có xu hướng quan tâm và bàn tán về lối sống của ông nhiều hơn là tập trung vào giá trị các tác phẩm văn học mà ông để lại.
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Questions 27-31

32. Although Oscar Wilde admired Robert Louis Stevenson very much, he believed Stevenson could have written better works if he wasn’t born in Scotland.
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Đáp án: TRUE
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Vị trí: Đoạn 3, dòng 7–9.
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Dẫn chứng: “Though Stevenson’s works have deeply influenced Oscar Wilde, Wilde often joked that Stevenson would have written better works if he wasn’t born in Scotland.”
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Giải thích: Bài đọc xác nhận Oscar Wilde chịu ảnh hưởng sâu sắc bởi Stevenson (thể hiện sự ngưỡng mộ) nhưng ông cũng đùa rằng Stevenson sẽ viết tốt hơn nếu không sinh ra ở Scotland. Nội dung này khớp hoàn toàn với câu hỏi.
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33. Robert Louis Stevenson encouraged Oscar Wilde to start writing at first.
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Đáp án: NOT GIVEN
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Vị trí: Đoạn 3.
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Dẫn chứng: “Though Stevenson’s works have deeply influenced Oscar Wilde…”
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Giải thích: Bài đọc chỉ nói rằng các tác phẩm của Stevenson đã ảnh hưởng sâu sắc đến Oscar Wilde. Tuy nhiên, không có thông tin nào đề cập đến việc Stevenson trực tiếp khuyến khích (encouraged) Wilde bắt đầu sự nghiệp cầm bút.
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34. Galsworthy thought Hardy is a greater writer than Stevenson.
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Đáp án: FALSE
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Vị trí: Đoạn 3, câu cuối.
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Dẫn chứng: “Other authors came to Stevenson’s defence, including Galsworthy who claimed that Stevenson is a greater writer than Thomas Hardy.”
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Giải thích: Bài đọc khẳng định Galsworthy cho rằng Stevenson là nhà văn vĩ đại hơn Thomas Hardy. Câu hỏi nói ngược lại (Hardy vĩ đại hơn Stevenson), do đó đáp án là False.
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35. Critics only paid attention to Robert Louis Stevenson’s writing topics.
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Đáp án: FALSE
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Vị trí: Đoạn 5, dòng 1–3.
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Dẫn chứng: “…his writing was not the only source of attention for critics. Stevenson’s personal life often attracted a lot of attention from his fans and critics alike.”
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Giải thích: Bài đọc chỉ rõ rằng các chủ đề viết lách (writing topics) không phải là nguồn chú ý duy nhất. Các nhà phê bình còn đặc biệt quan tâm đến đời tư (personal life) và lối sống phiêu lưu của ông. Từ “only” trong câu hỏi làm cho khẳng định này trở nên sai so với bài đọc.
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Questions 32-35

36. {F} technical control
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 4, câu 3: “While many critics exalt Sir Walter Scott as a literary genius because of his technical ability…”
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Giải thích: Trong danh sách từ cho trước, technical control đồng nghĩa với technical ability (khả năng kỹ thuật/kiểm soát kỹ thuật). Đây là đặc điểm mà các nhà phê bình dùng để ca ngợi Sir Walter Scott.
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37. {A} natural ability
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 4, câu 3: “…others argue that Stevenson deserves the same recognition for his natural ability to capture stories…”
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Giải thích: Ngược lại với Scott, Stevenson được công nhận nhờ vào khả năng thiên bẩm (natural ability) trong việc truyền tải câu chuyện và nhân vật.
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38. {H} depth
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 4, câu 4: “Many of Scott’s works were taken more seriously as literature for their depth due to their tragic themes…”
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Giải thích: Các tác phẩm của Scott được đánh giá cao về chiều sâu (depth) văn học, đặc biệt là khi khai thác các chủ đề bi kịch.
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39. {G} storytelling
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 4, câu 4: “…but fans of Stevenson praise his unique style of story-telling…”
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Giải thích: Trong khi Scott mạnh về chiều sâu bi kịch, độc giả lại yêu thích Stevenson vì phong cách kể chuyện (storytelling) độc đáo của ông.
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40. {I} human nature
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Dẫn chứng: Đoạn 4, câu 4: “…praise his unique style of story-telling and capture of human nature.”
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Giải thích: Sự thấu hiểu và khả năng nắm bắt bản chất con người (human nature) là yếu tố giúp tác phẩm của Stevenson thể hiện một cách độc nhất về con người Scotland.
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Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson
A lot of people believe that Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson are the most influential writer in the history of Scotland, but Sir Walter Scott is more proficient in {F. technical control} , while Stevenson has better {A. natural ability} Scott’s books illustrate {H. depth} especially in terms of tragedy, but a lot of readers prefer Stevenson’s {G. storytelling} What’s more, Stevenson’s understanding of {I. human nature} made his works have the most unique expression of Scottish people.

Reading Test 24

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