Bài tập đọc hiểu tiếng Anh THPT Quốc gia

Traffic-free shopping areas

The concept of traffic-free shopping areas goes back a long time. During the Middle Ages, traffic-
free shopping areas were built in Middle Eastern countries to allow people to shop in comfort and,
more importantly, safety. As far back as 2000 years ago, road traffic was banned from central
Rome during the day to allow for the free movement of pedestrians.

The modern, traffic-free shopping street was born in Europe in the 1960s, when both city
populations and car ownership increased rapidly. Dirty exhaust from cars and the risks involved in
crossing the road were beginning to make shopping an unpleasant and dangerous experience.
Many believed the time was right for experimenting with car-free streets, and shopping areas
seemed the best place to start.

At first, there was resistance from shopkeepers. They argued that people would avoid streets if
they were unable to get to them in their cars. When the first streets in Europe were closed to
traffic, there were even noisy demonstrations, as many shopkeepers predicted they would lose
customers. With the arrival of the traffic-free shopping street, many shops, especially those selling
things like clothes, food and smaller luxury items, prospered. Unfortunately, shops selling furniture
and larger electrical appliances actually saw their sales drop. Many of these were forced to move
elsewhere, away from the city centre.

(Adapted from Complete IELTS)

Câu 1: Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A. A Need for Cashless Shopping

B. A Need for Street Shopping

C. Pedestrians Only
D. Shopkeepers Only

Câu 2: According to paragraph 2, shopping became an unpleasant and unsafe experience

due to pollution and

A. the decrease in car ownership

B. the appearance of car-free shopping areas

C. the risks involved in crossing roads

D. the experiment of car-free streets

Câu 3: The word they in paragraph 3 refers to

A. demonstrations

B. streets

C. cars

D. shopkeepers

Câu 4: The word prospered in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to______

A. enriched

B. constructed

C. widened

D. succeeded

Câu 5: Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A. The idea of constructing traffic-free shopping areas is not a new one.

B. The modern, traffic-free shopping street was first built in the Middle East in the 1960s.

C. 2000 years ago, central Rome banned road traffic during the day to allow for the free
movement of pedestrians.

D. Shopkeepers were not happy with the construction of traffic-free shopping areas at first.
Can Computers Become Artists?

Machines already perform a lot of tasks that were usually done by humans, such as building cars,
doing complex calculations, and even marking exam papers. But now it seems that ever more
intelligent machines are straying into areas where we never envisaged they would go. We have
always taken pride in having a unique kind of intelligence that machines could never match, one
which allows us to think of new ideas and produce creative and artistic works. But it seems that
even here, computers are lining up to compete with us.

Machines can easily be trained to do the physical work of producing art. About ten years ago, a
painting robot known as e-David was created at a university in Germany. And recently in New York,
the painting Portrait of Edmond de Belamy has been auctioned for nearly half a million dollars.
What made it a bit unusual was that the idea, and the image itself, was produced entirely by a
computer. A group of young French artists gave instructions to the computer, aiming simply to
show that computers can be creative.

Some artists are now working with computers to produce a new kind of art. Computer-generated
works of art are certainly interesting, and make us think about the limits of what machines can and
cannot do. But not everyone would accept that they qualify as art. Some enthusiasts would argue
they do, and the collectors willing to pay high prices for these works would suggest there is
definitely a market for computer art. Others, however, would disagree.

Many 'real' artists would claim that art is an expression of human intelligence and human
emotions. More importantly, it is about a desire to communicate with other people. These
things, they argue, are part of being human and can never be produced by a machine.

(Adapted from Formula - Exam Trainer)

Câu 1: Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A. World Famous Computer Artists

B. Can Computers Become Artists?

C. Can Human Brains Work like Machines?

D. Artworks by Prominent Artists

Câu 2: The word envisaged in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______

A. encouraged

B. imagined

C. prepared

D. experienced

Câu 3: According to paragraph 2, the painting ‘Portrait of Edmond de Belamy’ ______

A. was painted ten years ago

B. was painted by some French artists

C. was created by e – David

D. was created by a computer

Câu 4: The word unusual in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to_______.

A. uneasy

B. strange

C. simple

D. complicated

Câu 5: The word they in paragraph 4 refers to________.

A. other people

B. these things

C. human emotions

D. ‘real’ artists

Câu 6: Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. People's opinions are divided on whether computer-generated artworks qualify as genuine art.

B. Humans are proud of possessing a unique kind of intelligence that enables them to be creative.

C. Computers have been competing with humans in the creation of a new kind of art.
D. The physical work of producing art can be learned by the computer with ease.

Câu 7: Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. Works of art created by computers have gradually satisfied humans' desire to communicate
with one another.

B. Artworks generated by computers are regarded by some as incapable of conveying human

feelings.

C. It is a matter of time before human artists can outperform their computer counterparts.

D. The market for computer art proves to be more competitive and profitable than that for human
art.

Music training for children

Many children have music classes when they attend school. And it is thought that music can help
them learn other subjects better. Research has shown that it can improve children's performances
in certain subjects.

Some studies have shown that music training can help you understand your own language better.
It could also help you with learning a second one. Moreover, young people who have studied
music also seem to get higher scores in other subjects like maths. So it could be that these school
subjects are connected in some way.

Music also helps you think of new ideas, and believe more in yourself. If you are learning the
guitar, for example, it can be really exciting when you are able to start composing your own pieces
of music. One of the biggest benefits, of course, is that listening to music can reduce your stress.
And composing music can make you feel the same way. Maybe your musical knowledge will even
open up a great career path for you in the future!

(Adapted from Preliminary for Schools Trainer)

Câu 1: What is the main idea of the passage?

A. Benefits of learning music

B. New ideas music

C. Ways to write a piece of music

D. Ways to teach music

Câu 2: The word it in paragraph 1 refers to _______.

A. research

B. child

C. music

D. school

Câu 3: According to paragraph 2, students who learn music seem to _______.

A. get higher marks in maths

B. know only one language

C. dislike learning other subjects

D. dislike learning a second language

Câu 4: The word composing in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to _______.

A. learning

B. sharing

C. writing

D. copying

Câu 5: According to the passage, which of the following is NOT mentioned as a benefit of
music?

A. It helps you make more friends.

B. It helps you believe more in yourself.

C. It helps you reduce stress.

D. It helps you think of new ideas.

Ambition
When it comes to ambition, no two people are alike. Every class has its outstanding students,
every company has its wonderful employees, and every family has its successful members. Then
there is someone who is happy with whatever life brings. So, what makes us different?

A person's desire to succeed depends on so many factors. He or she may have goals, but without
the ambition to get started, they never take the first steps to achieve them. Similarly, those with an
ambition but no clear goals tend to begin many projects, but do not ever follow them till the end.

Although there are not any strict rules about how to 'teach' ambition or what decides it, many
successful people do share some things. Most scientists agree that it helps to have parents who
encourage their children to try new experiences, praise their successes, and accept their failures. In
those families, kids often have much higher confidence levels. They know how to set goals and
keep trying until they achieve them. Money also plays an important role. Those who are not very
rich often want to earn money. It forces them to work hard all the time to improve their life.

However, the desire for success can create its own stress. Working too hard to achieve success can
lead to illnesses. These days, even teens and young adults are feeling the stress. Trying to get into
good colleges and find good jobs has forced high school students to study harder than ever. For
many, it is difficult to find the balance. One solution may be to get together with family and
friends, and do the things we enjoy. Most would agree that those values are far more important
than any wealth or success.

(Adapted from Skillful Reading & Writing by Bixby and Scanlon)

Câu 1: Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A. An Interesting Life Story

B. A Life without Stress

C. The Desire for Success

D. Ways to Teach Ambition

Câu 2: The word outstanding in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to __________.

A. terrible

B. pleasant

C. honest

D. excellent

Câu 3: According to paragraph 1, ambition __________.

A. is achieved by all people

B. is shared by different people

C. differs from person to person

D. is the same for all people

Câu 4: The word them in paragraph 3 refers to __________.

A. kids

B. levels

C. families

D. goals

Câu 5: The word illnesses in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to __________.

A. wonderful results

B. good feelings

C. money problems

D. health problems

Câu 6: Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. A person's desire for success depends on so many factors.

B. The desire to succeed can badly affect people's health.

C. Money does not play a role in people's success.

D. Some people are pleased with whatever life brings.

Câu 7: Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. People in modern society do not care about the values of family.

B. Teenagers in the past had to work harder to enter colleges.

C. Poor people do not work hard enough to improve their life.

D. The combination of ambition and clear goals is essential to success.

Field trips
For many years, schoolchildren in the US have been taken on field trips to cultural institutions and
historical sites. Despite these trips involving some expense and disruption to class timetables,
educators arrange them in the belief that schools exist not only to teach economically useful skills,
but also to produce civilised young people who appreciate the arts and culture.

However, there have been increasing signs in recent years that the attitude towards field trips is
changing, with a significant decrease in the number of tours organised for school groups. A survey
carried out by a group of school administrators found that over half the schools they asked had
decided to cancel trips planned for the next academic year.

So what are the reasons for this change? The most obvious one is the issue of finance. Because
there are increasing demands on their funds, schools are forced to make a difficult choice about
how to spend the limited money they have. Field trips are an obvious thing to cut since they are
seen by many as a luxury. A large number of school heads also consider days spent away from
school a waste of time, believing that the only worthwhile use of students' time is spent preparing
for exams in the classroom.

But why should anybody worry if schoolchildren go on fewer trips? Those that believe this is a
negative development in education would say that cultural field trips contribute to the
development of students into well-educated adults who have a healthy interest in history and the
arts. Researchers warn that if schools cut field trips, then valuable opportunities to broaden and
enrich children's learning experiences are lost.

(Adapted from Exam Booster by Helen Chilton, Sheila Dignen, Mark Fountain and Frances Treloar)

Câu 1: What is the passage mainly about?

A. Positive changes in American schools

B. Valuable academic learning experiences

C. New trends in educational development

D. Field trips for schoolchildren

Câu 2: According to paragraph 1, educators believe that through field trips, children can
______.

A. practise some outdoor activities

B. enjoy their time at school

C. learn to value the arts and culture

D. develop economically useful skills only

Câu 3: The word "they" in paragraph 2 refers to _________.

A. school administrators

B. the schools

C. field trips

D. school groups

Câu 4: The phrase "a luxury" in paragraph 3 mostly describes something which is ______.

A. difficult and important

B. new and common

C. expensive but not essential

D. cheap but comfortable

Câu 5: According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A. The number of field trips organised for school groups is growing.

B. Cutting field trips may mean fewer opportunities for students’ cultural learning.

C. Most school heads find it not worthwhile for students to spend time preparing for exams.

D. Schools no longer have to pay for their students' field trips.

Đáp án & Giải thích cho bài tập đọc hiểu tiếng Anh THPT
Quốc gia
Bài 1: Traffic-free shopping area
Câu 1: C
Giải thích: Vì nội dung xuyên suốt bài trên nói về khu vực mua sắm không có giao thông (traffic-
free shopping areas) nên đáp án Pedestrians only (chỉ dành cho người đi bộ) sẽ hợp lý nhất.

Câu 2: C

Giải thích: dựa trên thông tin trong bài “Dirty exhaust from cars and the risks involved in crossing
the road were beginning to make shopping an unpleasant and dangerous experience.”

Câu 3: D

Giải thích: trong câu “When the first streets in Europe were closed to traffic, there were even noisy
demonstrations, as many shopkeepers predicted they would lose customers.”, They dùng để
chỉ shopkeepers.

Câu 4: D

Giải thích: Theo từ điển The Dictionary, Proper được định nghĩa là “to be successful or fortunate,
especially in financial respects; thrive; flourish.”

Câu 5: B

Giải thích: Dựa vào thông tin trong bài “The modern, traffic-free shopping street was born in
Europe in the 1960s, when both city populations and car ownership increased rapidly”

Bài 2: Can Computers Become Artists?

Câu 1: B

Giải thích: Nội dung đoạn trích nói về khả năng sáng tạo nghệ thuật của máy móc và những quan
điểm trái ngược về vấn đề này nên đáp án B là hợp lý nhất.

Câu 2: B

Giải thích: Theo từ điển Cambridge, envisage được định nghĩa là “to imagine or expect
something in the future, especially something good”.

Câu 3: D

Giải thích: dựa vào thông tin trong đoạn 2 “What made it a bit unusual was that the idea, and the
image itself, was produced entirely by a computer”

Câu 4: B

Giải thích: Theo từ điển Cambridge, unusual được định nghĩa là “different from others of the
same type in a way that is surprising, interesting, or attractive”

Câu 5: D

Giải thích: Dựa vào thông tin trong bài “Many 'real' artists would claim that [...]. These
things, they argue [...]”
Câu 6: C

Giải thích: Dựa vào thông tin trong bài “Some artists are now working with computers to produce
a new kind of art”

Câu 7: B

Giải thích: Dựa vào đoạn cuối “Many 'real' artists would claim that art is an expression of human
intelligence and human emotions. More importantly, it is about a desire to communicate with
other people. These things, they argue, are part of being human and can never be produced by a
machine.”

Bài 3: Music training for children

Câu 1: A

Giải thích: Đoạn trích bàn về những lợi ích của việc học âm nhạc như cải thiện thành tích trong
một số môn học, hiểu hơn về ngôn ngữ, có nhiều ý tưởng mới,...

Câu 2: C

Giải thích: Dựa vào thông tin trong bài “[...] music can help them learn other subjects better.
Research has shown that it can improve children's performances in certain subjects.”

Câu 3: A

Giải thích: Dựa vào thông tin trong bài “Moreover, young people who have studied music also
seem to get higher scores in other subjects like maths.”

Câu 4: C

Giải thích: Theo từ điển Cambridge, compose được định nghĩa là “to produce music, poetry, or
formal writing” nên sẽ gần nghĩa nhất với từ write (viết, soạn)

Câu 5: A

Giải thích: Dựa vào thông tin trong bài “Music also helps you think of new ideas, and believe more
in yourself. [...] One of the biggest benefits, of course, is that listening to music can reduce your
stress.” có thể loại phương án B, C và D.

Bài 4: Ambition
Câu 1: C

Giải thích: Đoạn trích chủ yếu bàn về những yếu tố ảnh hưởng đến khát vọng thành công của một
người “A person's desire to succeed depends on so many factors.”

Câu 2: D
Giải thích: Theo từ điển Cambridge, outstanding được định nghĩa là “clearly very much better
than what is usual”

Câu 3: C

Giải thích: Dựa vào thông tin trong đoạn 1 “When it comes to ambition, no two people are alike.”

Câu 4: D

Giải thích: Dựa vào câu “They know how to set goals and keep trying until they achieve them.”

Câu 5: D

Giải thích: Theo từ điển Cambridge, illness được định nghĩa là “a disease of the body or mind”

Câu 6: C

Giải thích: Dựa vào thông tin trong bài “Money also plays an important role.”

Câu 7: D

Giải thích: Đáp án đúng D có thể được suy luận từ thông tin trong bài “He or she may have goals,
but without the ambition to get started, they never take the first steps to achieve them. Similarly,
those with an ambition but no clear goals tend to begin many projects, but do not ever follow
them till the end.”

Bài 5: Field trips

Câu 1: D

Giải thích: Trích đoạn trên đưa ra những quan điểm về chuyến đi trải nghiệm trong trường học
(Field trips) và những thay đổi trong thái độ đối với Field trips trong thời gian gần đây.

Câu 2: C

Giải thích: Dựa vào thông tin trong đoạn 1 “educators arrange them in the belief that schools exist
not only to teach economically useful skills, but also to produce civilised young people who
appreciate the arts and culture.” Đáp án D sai vì có “Only”.

Câu 3: A

Giải thích: Dựa vào câu “A survey carried out by a group of school administrators found that over
half the schools they asked had decided to cancel trips planned for the next academic year.”

Câu 4: C

Giải thích: Theo từ điển Cambridge, Luxury có nghĩa là “something expensive that is pleasant to
have but is not necessary”. Tuy nhiên, nếu chưa biết nghĩa của từ có thể dùng phương pháp
đoán nghĩa cho câu hỏi này. Trong đoạn ba, ở câu thứ hai nhắc đến một trong những lý do cho
việc huỷ chuyến đi trải nghiệm là “the issue of finance” - có thể nói cách khác là những chuyến đi
này khá tốn kém. Ở câu năm cùng đoạn nhắc đến “consider days spent away from school a waste
of time”, đồng nghĩa với việc những chuyến đi này được coi như không cần thiết.

Câu 5: B

Giải thích: Dựa vào thông tin trong bài “Researchers warn that if schools cut field trips, then
valuable opportunities to broaden and enrich children's learning experiences are lost.”