IELTS ACADEMIC READING TEST 10 – BAND 7.0+

Kỹ năng đọc hiểu trong kỳ thi IELTS là thử thách lớn, đòi hỏi thí sinh xử lý hiệu quả các văn bản học thuật phức tạp. IELTS Reading yêu cầu khả năng phân tích nhanh, nắm bắt ý chính và hiểu sâu từ vựng chuyên ngành trong thời gian giới hạn. Để đạt band điểm từ 5 đến 8+, người học cần rèn kỹ thuật skimming, scanning và quản lý thời gian một cách khoa học, đảm bảo tiếp cận bài thi chính xác và tối ưu.

Đọc thêm: IELTS ACADEMIC READING TEST 9 – BAND 7.0+

PASSAGE 1: THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1–14, which are based on the reading passage below.

Sleep is a vital biological function, essential for physical health, mental clarity, and emotional regulation. Despite its importance, many aspects of why we sleep remain mysterious.

Sleep occurs in cycles, alternating between REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and non-REM stages. REM sleep is associated with dreaming and memory consolidation, while deep non-REM sleep supports physical restoration and immune function.

Research suggests that sleep deprivation impairs cognitive performance, mood, and reaction times. Chronic sleep loss is linked to heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and depression. Even short-term disruption—such as jet lag or night shifts—can affect hormonal balance and immune responses.

One of the key regulators of sleep is melatonin, a hormone released by the pineal gland in response to darkness. Modern lifestyles, with excessive exposure to artificial light and screen time, can suppress melatonin production and disturb the circadian rhythm—our internal body clock.

Some researchers argue that sleep serves an evolutionary function. In animals, sleep may reduce energy expenditure and limit exposure to predators. In humans, it also appears to support learning, memory, and emotional processing.

There are still open questions. Why do some species sleep with half their brain (like dolphins)? Why do we dream? As tools like EEG (electroencephalography) and neuroimaging advance, scientists hope to unravel these remaining mysteries.

QUESTIONS 1–14

Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D.

1. What is the main topic of the passage?
A. Melatonin supplements
B. Sleep and its biological role
C. Dream interpretation
D. The history of medicine

2. What occurs during REM sleep?
A. Muscle building
B. Immune suppression
C. Dreaming and memory consolidation
D. Hunger control

3. What does deep non-REM sleep support?
A. Emotional balance
B. Muscle memory
C. Physical repair and immunity
D. Melatonin production

4. What is a consequence of chronic sleep deprivation?
A. Improved reaction times
B. Increased creativity
C. Risk of major health issues
D. Enhanced memory

5. What short-term problem is linked to disrupted sleep?
A. Bone fracture
B. Jet lag and hormone imbalance
C. Weight gain in children only
D. Fever

6. What is melatonin?
A. A neurotransmitter
B. A sleep hormone triggered by darkness
C. A brainwave
D. A type of vitamin

7. What modern habit may reduce melatonin?
A. Drinking water
B. Using artificial light and screens at night
C. Walking at night
D. Eating breakfast

8. What is the circadian rhythm?
A. A kind of dream
B. The body’s internal clock
C. A musical pattern
D. A sleep disorder

9. What evolutionary benefit might sleep provide?
A. Increases food intake
B. Increases exposure to predators
C. Energy saving and reduced risk
D. Faster digestion

10. What cognitive functions are supported by sleep?
A. Language acquisition only
B. Decision-making and learning
C. Reflex control only
D. Basic motor skills

11. What unusual sleep trait is mentioned in dolphins?
A. They do not sleep at all
B. They dream continuously
C. They sleep with half their brain active
D. They only sleep underwater

12. What tool helps study brain activity during sleep?
A. MRI
B. X-ray
C. EEG
D. Microscope

13. What remains unclear about sleep?
A. How much sleep babies need
B. Why we dream and sleep patterns across species
C. Whether dreams are real
D. Why animals sleep during the day

14. The tone of the author is:
A. Mystical and poetic
B. Scientific and curious
C. Negative and critical
D. Humorous and casual

PASSAGE 2: THE ROLE OF FAILURE IN SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 15–28, which are based on the reading passage below.

In public perception, science is often associated with breakthroughs and success. However, behind many major discoveries lies a long trail of failed experiments, missteps, and rejected hypotheses. Far from being a sign of weakness, failure is central to the scientific process.

Throughout history, notable scientists have embraced failure as part of learning. Thomas Edison, when inventing the light bulb, reportedly said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” In biology, Alexander Fleming’s accidental discovery of penicillin came from a “failed” attempt to culture bacteria.

Modern science embraces failure through falsifiability—a principle proposed by philosopher Karl Popper. A good scientific theory must be testable and capable of being proven wrong. If an idea withstands rigorous testing and resists falsification, it becomes stronger.

Failure also drives innovation. The pharmaceutical industry, for example, tests thousands of compounds before finding one viable drug. Similarly, space exploration has experienced catastrophic failures, such as the Challenger disaster, yet continued learning from mistakes led to safer missions.

Still, there are concerns. In academia, the pressure to publish positive results creates a “publication bias”—discouraging researchers from reporting null or negative findings. This may slow scientific progress and distort the overall understanding of a field.

Recently, movements advocating for open science and reproducibility have gained momentum. Encouraging transparency, sharing data, and publishing failed attempts may help build a more honest and robust research culture.

In essence, failure is not the opposite of success, but a crucial path to achieving it.

QUESTIONS 15–28

Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D.

15. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Scientists never fail
B. Failure plays a vital role in science
C. Most discoveries are accidental
D. Only positive results matter

16. What is a common misconception about science?
A. It’s done by artists
B. It rarely changes
C. It’s mostly about successful outcomes
D. It only exists in labs

17. What did Edison say about failure?
A. It should be avoided
B. It proves weakness
C. It’s a way to learn what doesn’t work
D. It’s irrelevant

18. How was penicillin discovered?
A. Through years of planning
B. By chance during an unrelated experiment
C. Using advanced technology
D. Through artificial intelligence

19. What principle did Karl Popper propose?
A. Scientific facts must be certain
B. Theories should be popular
C. Theories must be falsifiable
D. Science is based on intuition

20. Why is falsifiability important?
A. It makes theories harder to understand
B. It ensures theories can be tested and challenged
C. It helps avoid funding issues
D. It focuses on philosophical beliefs

21. How does failure promote innovation?
A. It eliminates all risks
B. It leads to shorter projects
C. It enables learning and breakthroughs
D. It reduces scientific funding

22. What is an example of learning from failure?
A. Marketing a failed drug
B. Halting space programs
C. Improving space safety after past accidents
D. Banning scientific research

23. What is “publication bias”?
A. Publishing outdated theories
B. Only publishing positive or successful results
C. Printing the same article multiple times
D. Refusing to cite other scientists

24. Why is publication bias a concern?
A. It causes legal issues
B. It wastes paper
C. It may slow down scientific progress
D. It increases experiment costs

25. What is the open science movement promoting?
A. Fewer experiments
B. Commercializing research
C. More secrecy
D. Transparency and data sharing

26. What would publishing failed attempts achieve?
A. Wasting time
B. Encouraging scientific fraud
C. Improving research culture and integrity
D. Making research confusing

27. What is the relationship between failure and success, according to the passage?
A. They are opposites
B. Failure is unnecessary
C. Failure leads to success
D. Success prevents failure

28. The author’s tone is:
A. Dismissive of science
B. Appreciative and explanatory
C. Comedic
D. Angry and critical

PASSAGE 3: LANGUAGE LOSS AND CULTURAL IDENTITY

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 29–42, which are based on the reading passage below.

Language is not just a tool for communication—it is a repository of history, values, and worldviews. Yet every two weeks, one language disappears, and with it, a unique way of understanding the world is lost.

There are over 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, but just 23 account for more than half of the global population. Many smaller languages are spoken by communities of only a few hundred people and are under threat due to globalization, migration, and education policies favoring dominant languages.

When a language dies, it often takes with it traditional knowledge of plants, medicine, and environment. For example, indigenous terms may describe ecological relationships unknown to modern science. Losing this information reduces not only linguistic diversity but biocultural diversity as well.

Language is also tied to cultural identity. For many communities, their native tongue is a marker of belonging and pride. Language loss can lead to cultural dislocation, low self-esteem, and the erosion of traditional practices.

Efforts to revitalize endangered languages are growing. Some involve documenting and recording native speakers; others focus on immersion schools where children learn the language as a first language. Technology also plays a role—apps, online dictionaries, and social media are being used to reconnect youth with ancestral tongues.

However, revitalization faces challenges, including limited funding, few fluent speakers, and political resistance. Some governments have historically suppressed minority languages, considering them barriers to national unity.

Preserving linguistic diversity is about more than saving words. It is about maintaining cultural memory, human rights, and global knowledge systems.

QUESTIONS 29–42

Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D.

29. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. All people should speak one language
B. Languages are disappearing rapidly, along with cultural identity
C. Language learning apps are effective
D. Translation technology replaces native tongues

30. How often does a language disappear?
A. Every year
B. Every month
C. Every two weeks
D. Every decade

31. What happens when a language is lost?
A. Travel becomes harder
B. Cultural and ecological knowledge may be lost
C. Technology use declines
D. Population drops

32. What does “biocultural diversity” refer to?
A. Plant names in textbooks
B. Biodiversity and cultural diversity interconnected
C. Internet slang
D. Medical translations

33. What is one effect of language loss on individuals?
A. Improved test scores
B. Stronger national pride
C. Cultural disconnection and loss of identity
D. Increased employment

34. What is one method of language revitalization?
A. Banning dominant languages
B. Replacing schools
C. Immersion education in the native language
D. Encouraging emigration

35. How does technology help in this effort?
A. Teaching only grammar
B. Providing communication tools like apps and social media
C. Preventing online access
D. Eliminating traditional media

36. What challenge is mentioned in revitalizing languages?
A. Too many textbooks
B. Resistance from youth
C. Political opposition and lack of resources
D. Limited internet speed

37. Why have some governments suppressed minority languages?
A. For international trade
B. To promote tourism
C. To enforce national unity
D. Due to lack of teachers

38. What does linguistic diversity help preserve?
A. Banking systems
B. Cultural memory and global knowledge
C. Government structure
D. Traffic systems

39. What role do native languages play in culture?
A. No significant role
B. A source of income
C. A marker of identity and tradition
D. A hindrance to progress

40. What is a consequence of losing ecological vocabulary?
A. Increased pollution
B. Scientific gaps in understanding nature
C. More textbooks
D. Language confusion

41. What is the tone of the passage?
A. Apathetic
B. Analytical and concerned
C. Humorous
D. Hostile

42. What is implied about saving endangered languages?
A. It’s hopeless
B. It’s necessary for cultural and ecological reasons
C. Only useful for entertainment
D. It will reduce technology use

ĐÁP ÁN & GIẢI THÍCH CHI TIẾT

PASSAGE 1: THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP

PASSAGE 2: THE ROLE OF FAILURE IN SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY

PASSAGE 3: LANGUAGE LOSS AND CULTURAL IDENTITY