Official Cambridge Guide To IELTS - Reading Test 6 With Practice Test, Answers And Explanation

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Official Cambridge Guide To IELTS - Reading Test 6 With Practice Test, Answers And Explanation

Passage

📖 Bài đọc passage 1

Why Are Finland’s Schools Successful?
The country’s achievements in education have other nations doing their homework 
A
A. At Kirkkojarvi Comprehensive School in Espoo, a suburb west of Helsinki, Kari Louhivuori, the school’s principal, decided to try something extreme by Finnish standards. One of his sixth-grade students, a recent immigrant, was falling behind, resisting his teacher’s best efforts. So he decided to hold the boy back a year. Standards in the country have vastly improved in reading, math and science literacy over the past decade, in large part because its teachers are trusted to do whatever it takes to turn young lives around. ‘I took Besart on that year as my private student,' explains Louhivuori. When he was not studying science, geography and math, Besart was seated next to Louhivuori's desk, taking books from a tall stack, slowly reading one, then another, then devouring them by the dozens. By the end of the year, he had conquered his adopted country’s vowel-rich language and arrived at the realization that he could, in fact, learn. 
B
B. This tale of a single rescued child hints at some of the reasons for Finland’s amazing record of education success. The transformation of its education system began some 40 years ago but teachers had little idea it had been so successful until 2000. In this year, the first results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), a standardized test given to 15yearolds in more than 40 global venues, revealed Finnish youth to be the best at reading in the world. Three years later, they led in math. By 2006, Finland was first out of the 57 nations that participate in science. In the latest PISA scores, the nation came second in science, third in reading and sixth in math among nearly half a million students worldwide.
C
C. In the United States, government officials have attempted to improve standards by introducing marketplace competition into public schools. In recent years, a group of Wall Street financiers and philanthropists such as Bill Gates have put money behind private sector ideas, such as charter schools, which have doubled in number in the past decade. President Obama, too, apparently thought competition was the answer. One policy invited states to compete for federal dollars using tests and other methods to measure teachers, a philosophy that would not be welcome in Finland. ‘I think, in fact, teachers would tear off their shirts,’ said Timo Heikkinen, a Helsinki principal with 24 years of teaching experience. ‘If you only measure the statistics, you miss the human aspect.’ 
D
D. There are no compulsory standardized tests in Finland, apart from one exam at the end of students’ senior year in high school. There is no competition between students, schools or regions. Finland’s schools are publicly funded. The people in the government agencies running them, from national officials to local authorities, are educators rather than business people or politicians. Every school has the same national goals and draws from the same pool of university trained educators. The result is that a Finnish child has a good chance of getting the same quality education no matter whether he or she lives in a rural village or a university town.
E
E. It’s almost unheard of for a child to show up hungry to school. Finland provides three years of maternity leave and subsidized day care to parents, and preschool for all five-year-olds, where the emphasis is on socializing. In addition, the state subsidizes parents, paying them around 150 euros per month for every child until he or she turns 17. Schools provide food, counseling and taxi service if needed. Health care Is even free for students taking degree courses. 
F
F. Finland’s schools were not always a wonder. For the first half of the twentieth century, only the privileged got a quality education. But In 1963, the Finnish Parliament made the bold decision to choose public education as the best means of driving the economy forward and out of recession. Public schools were organized into one system of comprehensive schools for ages 7 through 16. Teachers from all over the nation contributed to a national curriculum that provided guidelines, not prescriptions, for them to refer to. Besides Finnish and Swedish (the country’s second official language), children started learning a third language (English Is a favorite) usually beginning at age nine. The equal distribution of equipment was next, meaning that all teachers had their fair share of teaching resources to aid learning. As the comprehensive schools Improved, so did the upper secondary schools (grades 10 through 12). The second critical decision came In 1979, when it was required that every teacher gain a fifth-year Master’s degree In theory and practice, paid for by the state. From then on, teachers were effectively granted equal status with doctors and lawyers. Applicants began flooding teaching programs, not because the salaries were so high but because autonomous decision-making and respect made the job desirable. And as Louhivuori explains, ‘We have our own motivation to succeed because we love the work.’

❓ Câu hỏi passage 1

List of Headings

A business-model approach to education

The reforms that improved education in Finland

III

Educational challenges of the future

Ways in which equality is maintained in the Finnish education system

The benefits of the introduction of testing

An approach that helped a young learner

VII

Statistical proof of education success

VIII

Support for families working and living in Finland

The impact of the education system on Finland’s economy

Paragraph A

Paragraph B

Paragraph C

Paragraph D

Paragraph E

Paragraph F

The school system in Finland

PISA tests
• In the most recent tests, Finland’s top subject was ﻿.
History
1963:
• A new school system was needed to improve Finland’s﻿.
• Schools followed ﻿ that were created partly by teachers.
• Young pupils had to study an additional ﻿.
• All teachers were given the same ﻿to use.
1979:
• Teachers had to get a ﻿ but they did not have to pay for this.
• Applicants were attracted to the ﻿that teaching received.

🔥 Đáp án & giải thích 1

Giải thích chi tiết

Skimming/ scanning

Khi thí sinh chỉ lướt qua hoặc tìm kiếm từ khóa giữa đoạn văn và danh sách các tiêu đề, họ dễ dàng bị nhầm lẫn. Các tiêu đề có vẻ giống nhau và đều đề cập đến "giáo dục," khiến việc chọn tiêu đề đúng trở nên khó khăn. 😕

List of Headings i. A business-model approach to education ii. The reforms that improved education in Finland iii. Educational challenges of the future iv. Ways in which equality is maintained in the Finnish education system vii. Statistical proof of education success ix. The impact of the education system on Finland’s economy

Linearthinking

Để chọn được Tiêu đề phù hợp, bạn cần áp dụng phương pháp Linearthinking qua hai bước:

Simplify
Read the Connection

Connection:

(1) Hiệu trưởng đã thử một phương pháp đặc biệt. (2) - (6) Giải thích những hành động mà hiệu trưởng đã thực hiện để giúp một học sinh đang bị tụt lại phía sau. (7) Kết quả: Học sinh đã nắm vững ngôn ngữ và trở nên tự tin hơn.

Main idea: A method used by the principal helped a young learner. 🎓 (Một phương pháp được sử dụng bởi hiệu trưởng đã giúp một học sinh trẻ.)

Ý này trùng khớp với tiêu đề: vi. An approach that helped a young learner (Một phương pháp đã giúp một học sinh trẻ.)

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Passage

📖 Bài đọc passage 2

The Magic of Kefir
A
A. The shepherds of the North Caucasus region of Europe were only trying to transport milk the best way they knew how – in leather pouches strapped to the side of donkeys – when they made a significant discovery. A fermentation process would sometimes inadvertently occur enroute, and when the pouches were opened up on arrival they would no longer contain milk but rather a pungent, effervescent, low- alcoholic substance instead. This unexpected development was a blessing in disguise. The new drink – which acquired the name kefir – turned out to be health tonic, a naturally-preserved dairy product and a tasty addition to our culinary repertoire.
B
B. Although their exact origin remains a mystery, we do know that yeast-based kefir grains have always been at the root of the kefir phenomenon. These grains are capable of a remarkable feat: in contradistinction to most other items you might find in a grocery store, they actually expand and propagate with use. This is because the grains, which are granular to the touch and bear a slight resemblance to cauliflower rosettes, house active cultures that feed on lactose when added to milk. Consequently, a bigger problem for most kefir drinkers is not where to source new kefir grains, but what to do with the ones they already have!
C
C. The great thing about kefir is that it does not require a manufacturing line in order to be produced. Grains can be simply thrown in with a batch of milk for ripening to begin. The mixture then requires a cool, dark place to live and grow, with periodic unsettling to prevent clumping (Caucasus inhabitants began storing the concoction in animal-skin satchels on the back of doors – every time someone entered the room the
mixture would get lightly shaken). After about 24 hours the yeast cultures in the grains have multiplied and devoured most of the milk sugars, and the final product is then ready for human consumption.
D
D. Nothing compares to a person’s first encounter with kefir. The smooth, uniform consistency rolls over the tongue in a manner akin to liquefied yogurt. The sharp, tart pungency of unsweetened yogurt is there too, but there is also a slight hint of effervescence, something most users will have previously associated only with mineral waters, soda or beer. Kefir also comes with a subtle aroma of yeast, and depending on the type of milk and ripening conditions, ethanol content can reach up to two or three percent – about on par with a decent lager – although you can expect around 0.8 to one per cent for a typical day-old preparation. This can bring out a tiny edge of alcohol in the kefir’s flavour.
E
E. Although it has prevailed largely as a fermented milk drink, over the years kefir has acquired a number of other uses. Many bakers use it instead of starter yeast in the preparation of sourdough, and the tangy flavour also makes kefir an ideal buttermilk substitute in pancakes. Kefir also accompanies sour cream as one of the main ingredients in cold beetroot soup and can be used in lieu of regular cow’s milk on granola or cereal. As a way to keep their digestive systems fine-tuned, athletes sometimes combine kefir with yoghurt in protein shakes.
F
F. Associated for centuries with pictures of Slavic babushkas clutching a shawl in one hand and a cup of kefir in the other, the unassuming beverage has become a minor celebrity of the nascent health food movement in the contemporary West. Every day, more studies pour out supporting the benefits of a diet high in probiotics . This trend toward consuming probiotics has engulfed the leisure classes in these countries to the point that it is poised to become, according to some commentators, “the next multivitamin”. These days the word kefir is consequently more likely to bring to mind glamorous, yoga mat-toting women from Los Angeles than austere visions of blustery Eastern Europe.
G
G. Kefir’s rise in popularity has encouraged producers to take short cuts or alter the production process. Some home users have omitted the ripening and culturation process while commercial dealers often add thickeners, stabilisers and sweeteners. But the beauty of kefir is that, at its healthiest and tastiest, it is a remarkably affordable, uncluttered process, as any accidental invention is bound to be. All that is necessary are some grains, milk and a little bit of patience. A return to the unadulterated kefir-making of old is in everyone’s interest.

❓ Câu hỏi passage 2

List of Headings

A unique sensory experience

Getting back to basics

III

The gift that keeps on giving

Variations in alcohol content

Old methods of transportation

Culinary applications

VII

Making kefir

VIII

A fortunate accident

Kefir gets an image makeover

Ways to improve taste

Paragraph A

Paragraph B

Paragraph C

Paragraph D

Paragraph E

Paragraph F

Paragraph G

﻿

What do kefir grains look like?

﻿

What needs to happen to kefir while it is ripening?

﻿

What will the yeast cultures have consumed before kefir is ready to drink?

﻿

The texture of kefir in the mouth is similar to what?

Which TWO products are NOT mentioned as things which kefir can replace?

Ordinary cow’s milk

Buttermilk

Sour cream

Starter yeast

Yoghurt

🔥 Đáp án & giải thích 2

VIII

Giải thích chi tiết

Skimming/ scanning

Nếu thí sinh chỉ đọc lướt hoặc quét từ để tìm các từ khóa trùng khớp giữa đoạn văn và danh sách tiêu đề, họ có thể dễ dàng chọn nhầm các tiêu đề như:

iv. Variations in alcohol content 🍷 Thí sinh có thể chọn tiêu đề này vì thấy cụm từ “chất có cồn (alcoholic substance)” trong đoạn văn, có vẻ giống với “nồng độ cồn (alcohol content)” trong tiêu đề. Tuy nhiên, đây không phải lựa chọn đúng, vì đoạn văn không bàn về sự thay đổi nồng độ cồn, mà chỉ đề cập ngắn gọn một lần duy nhất.

x. Ways to improve taste 🍽️ Một số thí sinh có thể chọn nhầm tiêu đề này vì thấy từ “ngon (tasty)” ở câu cuối của đoạn văn. Tuy nhiên, đây vẫn không phải là tiêu đề phù hợp.

Linearthinking

Để chọn đúng tiêu đề cho đoạn văn, hãy áp dụng Linearthinking theo hai bước:

Simplify
Read the Connection 🧩

(1) + (2) + (3): Những người chăn cừu phát hiện ra một chất mới khi đang vận chuyển sữa.
(4): Phát hiện này hóa ra lại rất quan trọng vì đã tạo ra một loại đồ uống mới.

Main Idea:

The shepherds accidentally discovered a new drink while transporting milk, and this discovery proved to be very important. 🎉

(Những người chăn cừu vô tình phát hiện ra một loại thức uống mới trong lúc vận chuyển sữa, và phát hiện này chứng tỏ là rất quan trọng.)

=> Điều này tương ứng với tiêu đề viii. A fortunate accident 🍀

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Passage

📖 Bài đọc passage 3

The Swiffer
For a fascinating tale about creativity, look at a cleaning product called the Swiffer and how it came about, urges writer Jonah Lehrer. In the story of the Swiffer, he argues, we have the key elements in producing breakthrough ideas: frustration, moments of insight and sheer hard work. The story starts with a multinational company which had invented products for keeping homes spotless, and couldn't come up with better ways to clean floors, so it hired designers to watch how people cleaned. Frustrated after hundreds of hours of observation, they one day noticed a woman do with a paper towel what people do all the time: wipe something up and throw it away. An idea popped into lead designer Harry West's head: the solution to their problem was a floor mop with a disposable cleaning surface. Mountains of prototypes and years of teamwork later, they unveiled the Swiffer, which quickly became a commercial success. 

Lehrer, the author of Imagine, a new book that seeks to explain how creativity works, says this study of the imagination started from a desire to understand what happens in the brain at the moment of sudden insight. 'But the book definitely spiraled out of control,' Lehrer says. 'When you talk to creative people, they'll tell you about the 'eureka'* moment, but when you press them they also talk about the hard work that comes afterwards, so I realised I needed to write about that, too. And then I realised I couldn't just look at creativity from the perspective of the brain, because it's also about the culture and context, about the group and the team and the way we collaborate.' 

When it comes to the mysterious process by which inspiration comes into your head as if from nowhere, Lehrer says modern neuroscience has produced a 'first draft' explanation of what is happening in the brain. He writes of how burnt out American singer Bob Dylan decided to walk away from his musical career in 1965 and escape to a cabin in the woods, only to be overcome by a desire to write. Apparently 'Like a Rolling Stone' suddenly flowed from his pen. 'It's like a ghost is writing a song,' Dylan has reportedly said. 'It gives you the song and it goes away.' But it's no ghost, according to Lehrer. 

Instead, the right hemisphere of the brain is assembling connections between past influences and making something entirely new. Neuroscientists have roughly charted this process by mapping the brains of people doing word puzzles solved by making sense of remotely connecting information For instance, subjects are given three words  such as 'age', 'mile' and 'sand'  and asked to come up with a single word that can precede or follow each of them to form a compound word. (It happens to be 'stone'.) Using brain imaging equipment, researchers discovered that when people get the answer in an apparent flash of insight, a small fold of tissue called the anterior superior temporal gyrus suddenly lights up just beforehand. This stays silent when the word puzzle is solved through careful analysis. Lehrer says that this area of the brain lights up only after we've hit the wall on a problem. Then the brain starts hunting through the 'filing cabinets of the right hemisphere' to make the connections that produce the right answer. 

Studies have demonstrated it's possible to predict a moment of insight up to eight seconds before it arrives. The predictive signal is a steady rhythm of alpha waves emanating from the brain's right hemisphere, which are closely associated with relaxing activities. 'When our minds are at ease when those alpha waves are rippling through the brain  we're more likely to direct the spotlight of attention towards that stream of remote associations emanating from the right hemisphere,' Lehrer writes. 'In contrast, when we are diligently focused, our attention tends to be towards the details of the problems we are trying to solve.' In other words, then we are less likely to make those vital associations. So, heading out for a walk or lying down are important phases of the creative process, and smart companies know this. Some now have a policy of encouraging staff to take time out during the day and spend time on things that at first glance are unproductive (like playing a PC game), but daydreaming has been shown to be positively correlated with problem-solving. However, to be more imaginative, says Lehrer, it's also crucial to collaborate with people from a wide range of backgrounds because if colleagues are too socially intimate, creativity is stifled. 

Creativity, it seems, thrives on serendipity. American entrepreneur Steve Jobs believed so. Lehrer describes how at Pixar Animation, Jobs designed the entire workplace to maximise the chance of strangers bumping into each other, striking up conversations and learning from one another. He also points to a study of 766 business graduates who had gone on to own their own companies. Those with the greatest diversity of acquaintances enjoyed far more success. Lehrer says he has taken all this on board, and despite his inherent shyness, when he's sitting next to strangers on a plane or at a conference, forces himself to initiate conversations. As for predictions that the rise of the Internet would make the need for shared working space obsolete, Lehrer says research shows the opposite has occurred; when people meet face-to-face, the level of creativity increases. This is why the kind of place we live in is so important to innovation. According to theoretical physicist Geoffrey West, when corporate institutions get bigger, they often become less receptive to change. Cities, however, allow our ingenuity to grow by pulling huge numbers of different people together, who then exchange ideas. Working from the comfort of our homes may be convenient, therefore, but it seems we need the company of others to achieve our finest 'eureka' moments. 

Glossary: 
Eureka: In ancient Greek, the meaning was ‘I have found!’. Now it can be used when people suddenly find the solution to a difficult problem and want to celebrate

❓ Câu hỏi passage 3

What are we told about the product called a ‘Swifter’?

Its designers had little experience working with household objects.

Once the idea for it was conceived, it did not take long to develop.

It achieved profits beyond the manufacturer’s expectations.

Its design was inspired by a common housework habit.

When Jonah Lehrer began writing his book,

he had not intended to focus on creativity.

he ended up revising his plans for the content.

he was working in a highly creative environment.

he was driven by his own experience of the ‘eureka’ moment.

Lehrer refers to the singer Bob Dylan in order to

illustrate how ideas seem spontaneous.

exemplify ways in which we might limit our inventiveness.

contrast different approaches to stimulating the imagination.

propose particular approaches to regaining lost creativity.

What did neuroscientists discover from the word puzzle experiment?

Memories are easier to retrieve when they are more meaningful.

An analytical approach to problem-solving is not necessarily effective.

One part of the brain only becomes active when a connection is made suddenly.

Creative people tend to take a more instinctive approach to solving language problems.

List of Endings

when people are not too familiar with one another.

because there is greater activity in the right side of the brain.

if people are concentrating on the specifics of a problem.

so they can increase the possibility of finding answers.

when people lack the experience required for problem-solving.

when the brain shows strong signs of distraction.

when both hemispheres of the brain show activity.

Scientists know a moment of insight is coming

Mental connections are much harder to make

Some companies require their employees to stop working

A team will function more successfully

How other people influence our creativity

• Steve Jobs: made changes to the ﻿ to encourage interaction at Pixar.
• Lehrer: company owners must have a wide range of ﻿ to do well. it’s important to start ﻿ with new people the ﻿ has not replaced the need for physical contact.
• Geoffrey West: living in ﻿ encourages creativity.

Which of the following is the most suitable title for Reading Passage?

Understanding what drives our moments of inspiration

Challenging traditional theories of human creativity

Creative solutions for enhancing professional relationships

How the future is shaped by innovative ideas and inspired people

🔥 Đáp án & giải thích 3

Giải thích chi tiết

STEP 1: Đọc câu hỏi để hiểu yêu cầu

What are we told about the product called a ‘Swifter’?

👉 Câu hỏi yêu cầu chúng ta xác định thông tin đúng được đưa ra trong đoạn văn về sản phẩm Swiffer.

-----------------------

STEP 2: Xác định vị trí thông tin liên quan

Để trả lời câu hỏi này, chúng ta chỉ cần tìm thông tin liên quan đến Swiffer, nằm trong đoạn đầu tiên của bài đọc.

-------------------

STEP 3: Áp dụng Linearthinking để hiểu đoạn văn Simplify 1. The story starts with a multinational company which had invented products for keeping homes spotless , and couldn’t come up with better ways to clean floors , so it hired designers to watch how people cleaned .

2. Frustrated , they noticed a woman wipe something up and throw it away .

3. An idea popped into the designer's head : the solution to their problem was a floor mop with a disposable cleaning surface .

4. they unveiled the Swiffer

Connection

Công ty gặp khó khăn trong việc tìm giải pháp làm sạch.
Các nhà thiết kế quan sát một người phụ nữ đang lau dọn.
Họ nảy ra ý tưởng: dụng cụ lau nhà dùng một lần (disposable mop).
Kết quả: họ tạo ra sản phẩm Swiffer.

⇒ Main Idea:

The company created the Swiffer after observing a woman’s cleaning method. (Công ty đã tạo ra Swiffer sau khi quan sát cách một người phụ nữ lau dọn. )🧹✨

------------------

STEP 4: So sánh câu hỏi và các lựa chọn

=> Bài đọc: The company created the Swiffer after observing a woman’s cleaning method.

So sánh với danh sách headings

=> Đáp án: D. Its design was inspired by a common housework habit.

Lưu ý: Các câu hỏi trắc nghiệm yêu cầu xác định Main Idea (ý chính) buộc thí sinh phải hiểu được cách các câu liên kết với nhau và tóm tắt nội dung toàn đoạn, chứ không chỉ đơn thuần là đọc lướt/skimming hoặc quét từ khóa/scanning.

Ví dụ: Nếu thí sinh chỉ đọc lướt hoặc quét từ mà không nắm được ý chính, họ có thể chọn nhầm những đáp án như:

B: "Once the idea for it was conceived, it did not take long to develop." 👉 Tại sao lựa chọn này sai: Một số thí sinh có thể chọn đáp án này vì thấy cụm từ "An idea" ở câu số 3, trông giống với "The idea" trong lựa chọn B. Tuy nhiên, lựa chọn B nói rằng: “When the idea was conceived (= xuất hiện), it didn’t take long to develop” → Điều này hàm ý rằng sản phẩm được phát triển rất nhanh sau khi có ý tưởng.

Nhưng đoạn văn lại viết: “Mountains of prototypes and years of teamwork later, they unveiled the Swiffer,” → Nghĩa là: "Sau nhiều năm làm việc nhóm và vô số nguyên mẫu, họ mới ra mắt Swiffer", tức là mất nhiều thời gian, không phải phát triển nhanh như lựa chọn B gợi ý. ❌ Vì vậy, B là đáp án sai.

A: "Its designers had little experience working with household objects." ❌ Sai vì: Đoạn văn nói rằng Swiffer được phát triển bởi một tập đoàn đa quốc gia đã từng sáng chế các sản phẩm giữ nhà cửa sạch sẽ, điều này ngụ ý rằng các nhà thiết kế có kinh nghiệm trong việc tạo ra sản phẩm liên quan đến công việc nội trợ. Không có chỗ nào trong đoạn nói rằng họ thiếu kinh nghiệm.

C: "It achieved profits beyond the manufacturer’s expectations." ❌ Sai vì: Đoạn văn chỉ mô tả Swiffer là một "commercial success" (thành công về mặt thương mại), nghĩa là bán chạy và được thị trường đón nhận. Tuy nhiên, đoạn văn không hề đề cập việc lợi nhuận vượt kỳ vọng. Nếu đoạn có nói rõ kiểu như "doanh số vượt xa dự đoán của công ty", thì lựa chọn này mới đúng. Nhưng không có thông tin như vậy trong bài.

Xem full giải thích

IELTS Online Test

Gồm làm đề, xem giải thích chi tiết, học từ vựng của những bài thi IELTS Reading & Listening phổ biến nhất trên thị trường