BÀI TẬP BỔ TRỢ: DẠNG BÀI ĐIỀN TỪ (GAP FILL) - IELTS READING

PASSAGE 1: URBAN AFFORESTATION

Pre-reading Vocabulary

- afforestation /æˌfɒr.ɪˈsteɪ.ʃən/ (n): sự trồng rừng (trên vùng đất trước đây chưa có rừng)
- urbanization /ˌɜː.bən.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/ (n): quá trình đô thị hóa
- botanist /ˈbɒt.ən.ɪst/ (n): nhà thực vật học
- sapling /ˈsæp.lɪŋ/ (n): cây non, cây giống
- acoustic /əˈkuː.stɪk/ (adj): liên quan đến âm thanh, có tính cách âm
- biodiversity /ˌbaɪ.əʊ.daɪˈvɜː.sə.ti/ (n): sự đa dạng sinh học

Urban afforestation, the practice of planting trees and establishing mini-forests in city centres, has gained significant traction in recent years. Rapid urbanization has transformed landscapes, replacing natural vegetation with concrete infrastructure. This development often generates the urban heat island effect, wherein metropolitan areas experience substantially higher temperatures than their rural surroundings.

To combat this phenomenon, many city planners are adopting the "Miyawaki method", a technique developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. This approach involves planting various native species closely together in small plots. Because the saplings compete fiercely for sunlight, they grow up to ten times faster and become thirty times denser than trees in conventional plantations. Within just a few years, an otherwise barren patch of land turns into a self-sustaining ecosystem.

Beyond temperature regulation, these urban mini-forests deliver multiple ecological benefits. They serve as natural filters, trapping airborne pollutants and absorbing greenhouse gases. Moreover, they act as acoustic barriers, significantly dampening traffic noise in bustling neighbourhoods. Biodiversity also thrives within these green sanctuaries; birds, insects, and small mammals quickly colonize the areas, re-establishing ecological networks that were severed by modern construction.

Questions 1 – 5
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Urbanization has led to the urban heat island effect, causing cities to suffer from elevated temperatures compared to (1) ______ regions. In response, urban planners have implemented the Miyawaki technique, which requires placing a diverse range of (2) ______ in high density. Due to fierce competition for (3) ______, the plants develop at an unprecedented rate. Once established, these micro-forests not only absorb harmful atmospheric emissions but also function as (4) ______ that mitigate noise caused by vehicles. Furthermore, the presence of these green zones fosters (5) ______ by providing habitats for varied wildlife species.

PASSAGE 2: THE SECRETS OF ANCIENT SERICULTURE

Pre-reading Vocabulary

- sericulture /ˈser.ɪ.kʌl.tʃər/ (n): nghề nuôi tằm lấy tơ
- cocoon /kəˈkuːn/ (n): kén tằm
- filament /ˈfɪl.ə.mənt/ (n): sợi tơ mảnh, sợi chỉ mảnh
- meticulous /məˈtɪk.jə.ləs/ (adj): tỉ mỉ, cẩn trọng
- monopoly /məˈnɒp.əl.i/ (n): sự độc quyền thương mại
- lucrative /ˈluː.krə.tɪv/ (adj): có lợi nhuận cao, sinh lời lớn

Sericulture, the cultivation of silkworms for the production of raw silk, holds a legendary status in Chinese history. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Chinese were weaving silk fabric as early as the Neolithic period, around the fourth millennium BCE. According to traditional accounts, Empress Leizu discovered the material when a silkworm cocoon fell into her hot cup of tea, unravelling into a delicate, shimmering filament.

The process of harvesting silk requires meticulous care. Domesticated silkworms (Bombyx mori) feed exclusively on the leaves of the white mulberry tree. Once the larvae enter the pupal stage, they spin protective cocoons consisting of continuous fibroin protein threads, which can reach lengths of up to 900 metres. To retrieve the silk unbroken, farmers submerge the cocoons in boiling water, an essential step that dissolves the sticky sericin coating binding the fibres together.

For centuries, China maintained a strict imperial monopoly over sericulture. Revealing the secrets of silk production or smuggling silkworm eggs outside the borders was punishable by death. This closely guarded secret enabled China to dominate lucrative international trade along the transcontinental network that eventually became known as the Silk Road.

Questions 6 – 9
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

6. In Chinese mythology, the discovery of silk occurred after a cocoon dropped into a cup of hot ______ belonging to Empress Leizu.
7. The larvae of the silkworm depend entirely on the leaves of the ______ for sustenance.
8. In order to soften the gummy substance on the cocoons, producers place them into ______ during processing.
9. Anyone caught attempting the export of silkworm ______ faced execution under ancient Chinese laws.

PASSAGE 3: THE DAWN OF URBAN AIR MOBILITY

Pre-reading Vocabulary

- vertical /ˈvɜː.tɪ.kəl/ (adj): phương thẳng đứng
- propulsion /prəˈpʌl.ʃən/ (n): lực đẩy, hệ thống động lực
- bottleneck /ˈbɒt.əl.nek/ (n): điểm nghẽn, trở ngại kỹ thuật cốt lõi
- operational /ˌɒp.ərˈeɪ.ʃən.əl/ (adj): thuộc về vận hành, khả năng hoạt động
- aviation /ˌeɪ.viˈeɪ.ʃən/ (n): ngành hàng không
- vertiport /ˈvɜː.tɪ.pɔːt/ (n): bãi đáp cất/hạ cánh thẳng đứng

The vision of personal flying vehicles navigating city skylines has transitioned from science fiction into engineering reality. Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are currently being developed by aerospace corporations worldwide, with the aim of revolutionizing metropolitan transit and relieving congested roadway networks.

Unlike conventional helicopters, which rely on single large rotors powered by fossil-fuel combustion engines, eVTOL vehicles utilize distributed electric propulsion. This configuration employs several smaller rotors driven by electric motors, offering substantial reductions in carbon emissions and acoustic footprints. Operating at sound levels barely exceeding 60 decibels during cruise flight, an eVTOL craft is substantially quieter than a standard automobile on a motorway.

However, significant hurdles remain before commercial air taxi services can launch at scale. The primary technological bottleneck lies in battery energy density; current lithium-ion cells are relatively heavy and restrict operational range to approximately 100 kilometres per charge. Additionally, aviation authorities must formulate comprehensive regulatory frameworks for unmanned aerial corridors. Specialized landing facilities, termed "vertiports", must also be incorporated into existing urban hubs, predominantly on top of skyscrapers or parking garages.

Questions 10 – 14
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

Aerospace manufacturers are developing eVTOL aircraft to alleviate traffic congestion on (10) ______. A major distinction between eVTOL craft and conventional helicopters is the implementation of distributed (11) ______, which makes these vehicles environmentally friendly and remarkably quiet. Nevertheless, broad adoption faces obstacles. Current services are constrained by the limitations of (12) ______, preventing aircraft from traveling beyond roughly (13) ______ on a single battery charge. Furthermore, the integration of dedicated air terminals known as (14) ______ into urban architecture is essential before regular operations begin.

PASSAGE 4: ARCHITECTURAL BRILLIANCE OF THE HONEYBEE

Pre-reading Vocabulary

- comb /kəʊm/ (n): tầng sáp tổ ong
- prismatic /prɪzˈmæt.ɪk/ (adj): có hình lăng trụ
- hexagonal /hekˈsæɡ.ən.əl/ (adj): có dạng lục giác đều
- conjecture /kənˈdʒek.tʃər/ (n): giả thuyết toán học
- perimeter /pəˈrɪm.ɪ.tər/ (n): chu vi
- metabolize /məˈtæb.əl.aɪz/ (v): chuyển hóa chất dinh dưỡng

The honeybee comb is widely considered one of nature's greatest structural wonders. Built by worker bees from secreted beeswax, the nest consists of two vertical layers of horizontal, back-to-back prismatic cells. What fascinates mathematicians and biologists alike is the uniform hexagonal geometry of these compartments, which are utilized for storing honey and rearing larvae.

In the fourth century CE, the Greek mathematician Pappus of Alexandria proposed the "honeycomb conjecture", hypothesizing that a hexagonal grid provides the most efficient way to divide a surface into equal regions using the minimal total perimeter. It was not until 1999 that American mathematician Thomas Hales formally proved this theory. Hales demonstrated that hexagons consume less boundary material than triangles or squares of equivalent volume.

For honeybees, minimizing boundary material is critical for survival. Beeswax is an energetically expensive resource; a colony must consume approximately eight grams of honey to metabolize just one gram of wax. By utilizing hexagonal units, bees maximize storage capacity while expending the least amount of physiological energy and wax. Additionally, the walls of each cell meet at precisely 120-degree angles, creating extraordinary structural stability capable of supporting over thirty times the comb's own dry weight.

Questions 15 – 18
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

15. Honeybee combs are constructed out of ______ produced directly by worker bees.
16. Thomas Hales provided mathematical validation that shapes featuring a ______ arrangement require the lowest amount of structural boundaries.
17. Worker bees need to ingest roughly eight grams of ______ to manufacture a single gram of building material.
18. The interior walls of the honeycomb cells converge at angles of ______ to ensure optimal physical strength.

PASSAGE 5: TIME MANAGEMENT AND THE POMODORO TECHNIQUE

Pre-reading Vocabulary

- methodology /ˌmeθ.əˈdɒl.ə.dʒi/ (n): hệ thống phương pháp
- interval /ˈɪn.tə.vəl/ (n): khoảng thời gian nghỉ/giãn cách
- distraction /dɪˈstræk.ʃən/ (n): sự gây xao nhãng, yếu tố phân tâm
- cognitive fatigue /ˈkɒɡ.nə.tɪv fəˈtiːɡ/ (np): sự mệt mỏi về nhận thức
- procrastination /prəʊˌkræs.tɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ (n): thói quen trì hoãn công việc
- morale /məˈrɑːl/ (n): tinh thần, nhuệ khí

In the late 1980s, university student Francesco Cirillo devised a time management methodology that has since been embraced by millions globally: the Pomodoro Technique. Struggling to maintain focus during his exam revisions, Cirillo grabbed a tomato-shaped kitchen timer (known as a pomodoro in Italian) and committed to studying without interruption for just ten minutes.

The standard modern procedure divides work into focused intervals, conventionally 25 minutes in duration, designated as "Pomodoros". During each interval, the individual must dedicate their attention exclusively to a singular predetermined task, deliberately ignoring all external and internal distractions. When the timer rings, a short break of five minutes is mandated. This resting phase allows mental recovery and prevents cognitive fatigue.

After completing four consecutive Pomodoro cycles, the user takes an extended restorative break lasting between 15 and 30 minutes. Proponents of the method assert that it transforms time from an enemy into a constructive ally. By transforming broad, overwhelming projects into manageable temporal blocks, the system diminishes psychological resistance and curbs the tendency toward procrastination. Furthermore, tracking completed units offers tangible reinforcement, bolstering daily productivity and morale.

Questions 19 – 23
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

The Pomodoro Technique
- Invented by Francesco Cirillo using a mechanical (19) ______ timer.
- Standard work intervals are set at (20) ______ minutes long.
- Users must focus on one single assignment and eliminate any (21) ______ during work time.
- A brief recess helps users avoid cognitive (22) ______.
- A longer interval of rest is taken once (23) ______ consecutive sessions have been finished.

--------- HẾT ---------

HƯỚNG DẪN CHẤM & GIẢI THÍCH CHI TIẾT

A. ĐÁP ÁN TỔNG HỢP

B. VỊ TRÍ TRÍCH DẪN VÀ GIẢI THÍCH CHI TIẾT

PASSAGE 1: URBAN AFFORESTATION

- 1. rural
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 1, dòng 4–5: "...metropolitan areas experience substantially higher temperatures than their rural surroundings."
- Giải thích: Từ cần điền là tính từ bổ nghĩa cho "regions" (đồng nghĩa với "surroundings").
- 2. native species
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 2, dòng 2–3: "This approach involves planting various native species closely together in small plots."
- Giải thích: Cần cụm danh từ chỉ đối tượng được trồng dày đặc ("high density" tương đương "closely together").
- 3. sunlight
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 2, dòng 3–4: "Because the saplings compete fiercely for sunlight, they grow up to ten times faster..."
- Giải thích: Cạnh tranh khốc liệt để giành "sunlight", giúp cây lớn nhanh.
- 4. acoustic barriers
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 3, dòng 2–3: "Moreover, they act as acoustic barriers, significantly dampening traffic noise..."
- Giải thích: Rừng mini đóng vai trò như các rào cản âm thanh ("acoustic barriers") làm giảm tiếng ồn xe cộ.
- 5. biodiversity
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 3, dòng 3–4: "Biodiversity also thrives within these green sanctuaries; birds, insects, and small mammals..."
- Giải thích: "fosters biodiversity" đồng nghĩa với "Biodiversity also thrives".

PASSAGE 2: THE SECRETS OF ANCIENT SERICULTURE

- 6. tea
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 1, dòng 4–5: "...when a silkworm cocoon fell into her hot cup of tea, unravelling into a delicate, shimmering filament."
- Giải thích: Kén tằm rơi vào tách trà nóng của Hoàng hậu Luy Tổ.
- 7. white mulberry (tree)
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 2, dòng 1–2: "Domesticated silkworms (Bombyx mori) feed exclusively on the leaves of the white mulberry tree."
- Giải thích: Tằm ăn độc quyền ("feed exclusively on" = "depend entirely on") lá cây dâu tằm trắng.
- 8. boiling water
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 2, dòng 4–5: "To retrieve the silk unbroken, farmers submerge the cocoons in boiling water..."
- Giải thích: Nông dân nhúng kén vào nước sôi để làm tan lớp keo dính.
- 9. eggs
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 3, dòng 1–3: "Revealing the secrets of silk production or smuggling silkworm eggs outside the borders was punishable by death."
- Giải thích: Xuất lậu trứng tằm ra khỏi biên giới bị phạt tử hình ("execution" = "punishable by death").

PASSAGE 3: THE DAWN OF URBAN AIR MOBILITY

- 10. (roadway) networks / roadways
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 1, dòng 3–4: "...with the aim of revolutionizing metropolitan transit and relieving congested roadway networks."
- Giải thích: Giảm thiểu ùn tắc trên hệ thống đường bộ.
- 11. (electric) propulsion
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 2, dòng 2: "...eVTOL vehicles utilize distributed electric propulsion."
- Giải thích: Công nghệ đẩy điện phân tán giúp máy bay vận hành êm và sạch hơn.
- 12. battery energy density / batteries
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 3, dòng 2: "The primary technological bottleneck lies in battery energy density..."
- Giải thích: Rào cản kỹ thuật chính nằm ở mật độ năng lượng của pin.
- 13. 100 kilometres / 100 km
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 3, dòng 3–4: "...restrict operational range to approximately 100 kilometres per charge."
- Giải thích: Phạm vi bay bị giới hạn ở khoảng 100 km cho mỗi lần sạc.
- 14. vertiports
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 3, dòng 5: "Specialized landing facilities, termed 'vertiports', must also be incorporated..."
- Giải thích: Bãi đáp chuyên dụng cho loại phương tiện cất cánh thẳng đứng này gọi là "vertiports".

PASSAGE 4: ARCHITECTURAL BRILLIANCE OF THE HONEYBEE

- 15. beeswax / wax
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 1, dòng 1–2: "Built by worker bees from secreted beeswax, the nest consists of..."
- Giải thích: Tổ ong được làm bằng chất sáp ong do ong thợ tiết ra.
- 16. hexagonal
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 2, dòng 3–5: "Hales demonstrated that hexagons consume less boundary material than triangles or squares of equivalent volume."
- Giải thích: Hình lục giác cần ít đường biên nhất cho cùng một diện tích/thể tích.
- 17. honey
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 3, dòng 2–3: "...a colony must consume approximately eight grams of honey to metabolize just one gram of wax."
- Giải thích: Cần tiêu thụ 8g mật ong để sản xuất 1g sáp.
- 18. 120-degree / 120 degrees
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 3, dòng 4–5: "Additionally, the walls of each cell meet at precisely 120-degree angles..."
- Giải thích: Các vách ngăn gặp nhau ở góc chính xác 120 độ.

PASSAGE 5: TIME MANAGEMENT AND THE POMODORO TECHNIQUE

- 19. kitchen
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 1, dòng 3–4: "...grabbed a tomato-shaped kitchen timer... and committed to studying without interruption..."
- Giải thích: Đồng hồ hẹn giờ nhà bếp hình quả cà chua.
- 20. 25
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 2, dòng 1–2: "...conventionally 25 minutes in duration, designated as 'Pomodoros'."
- Giải thích: Mỗi chu kỳ làm việc tiêu chuẩn kéo dài 25 phút.
- 21. distractions
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 2, dòng 3–4: "...deliberately ignoring all external and internal distractions."
- Giải thích: Phải loại bỏ và phớt lờ mọi sự xao nhãng trong lúc làm việc.
- 22. fatigue
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 2, dòng 4–5: "This resting phase allows mental recovery and prevents cognitive fatigue."
- Giải thích: Giờ nghỉ ngắn 5 phút giúp ngăn chặn sự mệt mỏi về nhận thức.
- 23. four / 4
- Vị trí trích dẫn: Đoạn 3, dòng 1: "After completing four consecutive Pomodoro cycles, the user takes an extended restorative break..."
- Giải thích: Sau khi hoàn tất 4 chu kỳ liên tiếp thì được nghỉ dài hơn.