===TITLE=== PART 7 – READING COMPREHENSION ===TIMER=== 30 ===PART=== READING COMPREHENSION :: 10:: 20 ===SECTION=== Passage 1 Many people think a local community is simply the place where they live, but it is much more than that. A real community is built on everyday relationships. Neighbours greet one another, share advice, and sometimes help take care of children or elderly people. Public workers such as police officers, firefighters, garbage collectors, and delivery people also play an important role. Without them, life in a town or suburb would be much less safe, clean, and convenient. Communities are also shaped by places and activities. A bus station, a shopping mall, a swimming pool, or a pedestrian street may look ordinary, but they bring people together. Children meet friends there, adults look around local shops, and families go out on weekends. Even a house-warming party can help new residents get on well with their neighbours. Another important part of community life is local culture. In some areas, artisans make lanterns, pottery, paper fans, and other handicrafts by using traditional techniques that have been passed down for generations. These products are not only useful; they also symbolize the history of a place. When local people try to preserve such traditions, they help future generations understand what makes their hometown special. ===MCQ=== 1. What is the main idea of the passage? A. Only public workers create a strong community. *B. A community is formed by people, places, and shared culture. C. Shopping malls are the most important part of modern life. D. Traditional crafts are more valuable than public services. Giải thích: Cả ba đoạn đều lần lượt nói về con người, địa điểm sinh hoạt và văn hóa địa phương. Vì vậy đáp án B bao quát đúng ý chính toàn bài. Các đáp án khác chỉ nói đến một phần nhỏ hoặc sai trọng tâm. ===MCQ=== 2. According to paragraph 1, what would happen without public workers? A. Towns would become more modern. B. People would have more free time. *C. Daily life would be less convenient and secure. D. Neighbours would talk more often. Giải thích: Đoạn 1 nói rõ rằng nếu không có những người làm dịch vụ công cộng, cuộc sống sẽ “much less safe, clean, and convenient”. Đáp án C diễn đạt lại chính xác ý này. ===MCQ=== 3. The word “them” in paragraph 1 refers to ______. A. towns or suburbs *B. public workers C. elderly people D. relationships Giải thích: Trong câu “Without them, life in a town or suburb…”, từ “them” đứng ngay sau danh sách police officers, firefighters, garbage collectors, and delivery people. Vì vậy “them” thay cho “public workers”. ===MCQ=== 4. Why does the writer mention places like a bus station and a pedestrian street? A. To show that they are expensive to build B. To criticize crowded public areas *C. To explain that ordinary places can connect people D. To compare them with tourist attractions Giải thích: Đoạn 2 nhấn mạnh rằng những nơi trông bình thường như bến xe hay phố đi bộ vẫn có thể đưa con người lại gần nhau. Vì thế đáp án C là đúng. ===MCQ=== 5. According to the passage, local handicrafts are important because they ______. A. are always cheap to buy B. are made only for tourists *C. help express the identity and history of a place D. replace modern facilities Giải thích: Đoạn 3 nói các sản phẩm thủ công “symbolize the history of a place” và giúp thế hệ sau hiểu điều gì làm quê hương mình đặc biệt. Đáp án C diễn đạt đúng ý đó. ===MCQ=== 6. Which statement is TRUE according to the passage? *A. A house-warming party may help neighbours become friendlier. B. Communities are built only in cities, not suburbs. C. Local culture has nothing to do with community life. D. Traditional techniques are no longer used today. Giải thích: Đoạn 2 nói rõ “Even a house-warming party can help new residents get on well with their neighbours.” Nên A là phát biểu đúng. Các lựa chọn còn lại trái với nội dung bài. ===SECTION=== Passage 2 Last summer, Mai moved from a busy city centre to a quiet suburb with her family. At first, she felt unsure because everything seemed slower there. There was no huge shopping mall nearby, and the bus station was much smaller than the one she used to know. She missed going out with her old friends after school and often wondered what to do in the evenings. However, her opinion gradually changed. Her new neighbour, an elderly artisan, invited her to visit a small workshop behind his house. There, she saw how paper fans and clay pottery were made by hand. The artisan explained each traditional technique carefully and showed her how certain patterns symbolized luck, peace, or family happiness. Mai was surprised by how much patience and skill were needed to make even one small object. A few weeks later, the local youth club organized a fair on the pedestrian street. Villagers sold speciality food, local handicrafts, and handmade lanterns. Tourists came to look around, buy souvenirs, and find out more about the area. Mai helped sort rubbish after the event and realized that even small actions could improve the community. By the end of the summer, the suburb no longer felt boring. Instead, it had become her favourite place. ===MCQ=== 7. What is the passage mainly about? A. A girl who learned to dislike suburban life *B. A teenager whose view of her new community changed positively C. A shopping mall that became a tourist attraction D. An artisan who wanted to move to the city centre Giải thích: Bài đọc kể quá trình Mai từ chỗ không quen, thấy buồn chán, đến chỗ yêu thích nơi ở mới. Vì vậy đáp án B tóm tắt đúng nhất nội dung toàn bài. ===MCQ=== 8. At first, Mai felt uncomfortable in the suburb because ______. A. she had no neighbours *B. life there seemed unfamiliar and less exciting C. the people were unfriendly D. there were too many tourists Giải thích: Đoạn 1 cho biết Mai thấy mọi thứ chậm hơn, không có trung tâm mua sắm lớn, không được đi chơi với bạn cũ như trước. Điều đó cho thấy cuộc sống ở đây lạ lẫm và kém sôi động hơn với cô. ===MCQ=== 9. The word “there” in paragraph 2 refers to ______. A. the shopping mall B. the city centre *C. the workshop D. the youth club Giải thích: Câu trước nói người hàng xóm mời Mai đến “a small workshop behind his house”. Câu sau bắt đầu bằng “There, she saw…”, nên “there” chính là “the workshop”. ===MCQ=== 10. What impressed Mai most about the artisan’s work? A. The low prices of the products B. The speed of production *C. The amount of care and ability required D. The modern machines in the workshop Giải thích: Bài đọc nói Mai ngạc nhiên vì cần rất nhiều “patience and skill” để làm ra chỉ một món đồ nhỏ. Đáp án C diễn đạt lại đúng chi tiết đó. ===MCQ=== 11. Why is the fair mentioned in the passage? *A. It was the moment Mai began to appreciate the local community more B. It caused a lot of serious problems in the suburb C. It made Mai want to move back to the city D. It stopped tourists from visiting the area Giải thích: Sau hội chợ, Mai tham gia phân loại rác và nhận ra những hành động nhỏ cũng có thể giúp cộng đồng tốt hơn. Đây là bước quan trọng khiến cô thay đổi cách nhìn về nơi ở mới, nên A là đúng. ===MCQ=== 12. Which statement is TRUE according to the passage? A. Mai disliked the suburb throughout the whole summer. B. The artisan taught Mai how to drive to the city centre. *C. Tourists visited the fair to explore local products and culture. D. Mai refused to help clean up after the fair. Giải thích: Đoạn 3 cho biết du khách đến để nhìn ngắm, mua quà lưu niệm và tìm hiểu thêm về khu vực. Đáp án C phù hợp với chi tiết đó. Các đáp án còn lại đều sai với nội dung bài.