IELTS Reading: Thách Thức Trong Bảo Vệ Đa Dạng Sinh Học Biển – Đề Thi Mẫu Có Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Mở Bài

Chủ đề bảo vệ đa dạng sinh học biển là một trong những đề tài phổ biến và quan trọng trong kỳ thi IELTS Reading. Với sự gia tăng nhận thức toàn cầu về môi trường, các vấn đề liên quan đến đại dương và sinh vật biển xuất hiện thường xuyên trong các đề thi IELTS chính thức, đặc biệt trong phần Academic Reading. Từ khóa “Challenges In Protecting Marine Biodiversity” không chỉ phản ánh xu hướng ra đề mà còn đòi hỏi thí sinh có vốn từ vựng học thuật vững vàng về môi trường và khoa học biển.

Bài viết này cung cấp cho bạn một bộ đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với 3 passages theo đúng cấu trúc thi thật, từ mức độ dễ đến khó. Bạn sẽ được luyện tập với 40 câu hỏi đa dạng theo đúng format Cambridge, bao gồm các dạng bài phổ biến như True/False/Not Given, Multiple Choice, Matching Headings và nhiều dạng khác. Đặc biệt, mỗi câu hỏi đều có đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích cụ thể, giúp bạn hiểu rõ phương pháp làm bài và cách paraphrase từ khóa hiệu quả.

Đề thi này phù hợp với học viên từ band 5.0 trở lên, với độ khó tăng dần giúp bạn làm quen với áp lực thời gian và nâng cao kỹ năng đọc hiểu học thuật. Hãy chuẩn bị sẵn 60 phút và làm bài trong điều kiện thi thật để đánh giá chính xác trình độ của mình.

Hướng Dẫn Làm Bài IELTS Reading

Tổng Quan Về IELTS Reading Test

IELTS Reading Test kéo dài 60 phút với 3 passages và tổng cộng 40 câu hỏi. Mỗi câu trả lời đúng được tính 1 điểm, sau đó quy đổi sang thang điểm band từ 1-9. Điểm đặc biệt của bài thi này là không có thời gian chuyển đáp án riêng, do đó bạn cần quản lý thời gian hiệu quả.

Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:

• Passage 1 (Easy): 15-17 phút – Đây là phần khởi động với từ vựng và cấu trúc câu đơn giản hơn
• Passage 2 (Medium): 18-20 phút – Độ khó tăng lên với nội dung học thuật hơn
• Passage 3 (Hard): 23-25 phút – Phần khó nhất với từ vựng chuyên ngành và cấu trúc phức tạp

Lưu ý quan trọng: Hãy dành 2-3 phút cuối để kiểm tra và chuyển đáp án vào Answer Sheet một cách cẩn thận, tránh sai sót về chính tả hoặc viết sai số thứ tự câu hỏi.

Các Dạng Câu Hỏi Trong Đề Này

Đề thi mẫu này bao gồm 7 dạng câu hỏi phổ biến nhất trong IELTS Reading:

1. Multiple Choice – Chọn đáp án đúng từ 3-4 lựa chọn
2. True/False/Not Given – Xác định thông tin đúng, sai hoặc không được đề cập
3. Matching Information – Nối thông tin với đoạn văn tương ứng
4. Sentence Completion – Hoàn thành câu với từ trong bài đọc
5. Matching Headings – Chọn tiêu đề phù hợp cho mỗi đoạn
6. Summary Completion – Điền từ vào đoạn tóm tắt
7. Short-answer Questions – Trả lời câu hỏi ngắn với số từ giới hạn

IELTS Reading Practice Test

PASSAGE 1 – The Ocean’s Hidden Crisis

Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút

The world’s oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and are home to an incredible diversity of life. From the tiniest plankton to the largest whales, marine ecosystems support millions of species, many of which have yet to be discovered. However, this rich underwater world is facing unprecedented threats. Marine biodiversity, the variety of life in the oceans, is declining at an alarming rate, and scientists warn that urgent action is needed to reverse this trend.

One of the most visible threats to ocean life is plastic pollution. Every year, approximately eight million tons of plastic waste enters the oceans from coastal communities. This plastic breaks down into smaller pieces called microplastics, which are consumed by fish and other marine animals. These tiny particles can accumulate in the food chain, eventually reaching humans who consume seafood. A recent study found microplastics in more than 90% of table salt samples tested worldwide, highlighting how widespread this problem has become.

Overfishing represents another critical challenge for marine biodiversity. Modern fishing techniques, including trawling and the use of enormous nets, can catch thousands of fish at once. While this increases the efficiency of the fishing industry, it has devastating effects on fish populations. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, approximately one-third of global fish stocks are now overfished, meaning they are being caught faster than they can reproduce. This not only threatens the fish themselves but also disrupts entire marine ecosystems that depend on these species.

Climate change is perhaps the most complex threat facing ocean biodiversity. As the Earth’s temperature rises, oceans absorb much of this excess heat. Warmer ocean temperatures affect marine life in several ways. Many fish species are moving toward cooler waters near the poles, disrupting traditional fishing communities. Additionally, warmer water holds less oxygen, creating “dead zones” where most marine life cannot survive. In the Mediterranean Sea alone, more than 1,000 square kilometers of seabed have been affected by these oxygen-depleted areas.

Coral reefs, often called the “rainforests of the sea,” are particularly vulnerable to climate change. These underwater structures provide homes for approximately 25% of all marine species, despite covering less than 1% of the ocean floor. However, rising ocean temperatures cause coral bleaching, a phenomenon where corals expel the colorful algae living in their tissues, turning white and often dying. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia has experienced several major bleaching events in recent years, with some areas losing more than 50% of their coral coverage.

Coastal development also poses significant risks to marine biodiversity. As human populations grow, more coastal areas are being developed for housing, tourism, and industry. This development often destroys important habitats such as mangroves and seagrass beds. Mangroves, which grow along tropical coastlines, serve as nurseries for many fish species and protect coastlines from storms. When these areas are cleared for construction, both marine life and coastal communities suffer the consequences.

Pollution from agricultural runoff creates another layer of problems for ocean ecosystems. Fertilizers used on farms contain high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. When it rains, these chemicals wash into rivers and eventually reach the ocean. This excess nutrients causes algal blooms – rapid growth of algae that can cover large areas of water. When these algae die and decompose, they consume oxygen in the water, creating conditions that suffocate fish and other marine organisms. The Gulf of Mexico experiences one of the world’s largest dead zones each summer due to agricultural runoff from farms along the Mississippi River.

Despite these challenges, there is hope for the future of marine biodiversity. Many countries are establishing marine protected areas (MPAs), which are sections of ocean where fishing and other harmful activities are restricted or prohibited. Research shows that well-managed MPAs can help fish populations recover and protect sensitive habitats. The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Hawaii, one of the world’s largest protected areas, covers an area larger than all U.S. national parks combined.

Conservation organizations and scientists are also developing innovative solutions. For example, some researchers are creating artificial reefs using environmentally friendly materials to provide new homes for marine life. Others are working with fishing communities to develop sustainable fishing practices that allow them to make a living while protecting ocean resources for future generations. Education programs are helping people understand the importance of healthy oceans and what they can do to help, from reducing plastic use to supporting sustainable seafood choices.

The protection of marine biodiversity is not just an environmental issue – it is also crucial for human survival. Oceans provide food for billions of people, regulate the Earth’s climate, and produce more than half of the oxygen we breathe. Every action we take, whether reducing our plastic consumption or supporting ocean conservation efforts, contributes to the health of our oceans and the incredible diversity of life they contain.

Thách thức ô nhiễm nhựa đại dương ảnh hưởng đến đa dạng sinh học biển trong IELTS Reading

Questions 1-13

Questions 1-5: Multiple Choice

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

1. According to the passage, microplastics are:
A. larger pieces of plastic waste
B. small plastic particles that fish consume
C. a type of plankton found in oceans
D. materials used to make table salt

2. The passage states that approximately one-third of global fish stocks are overfished, which means:
A. there are too many fish in the ocean
B. fishing techniques are not efficient enough
C. fish are being caught faster than they can reproduce
D. fishing communities are moving to different areas

3. Dead zones in the ocean are created when:
A. fish move toward cooler waters
B. water temperature becomes too warm
C. water lacks sufficient oxygen
D. plastic pollution increases dramatically

4. What percentage of marine species live in coral reefs?
A. less than 1%
B. approximately 25%
C. more than 50%
D. about 70%

5. The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is mentioned as an example of:
A. an area affected by coral bleaching
B. a successful marine protected area
C. a region with agricultural runoff problems
D. a location where artificial reefs are built

Questions 6-9: True/False/Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage? Write:

• TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
• FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
• NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

6. More than eight million tons of plastic enter the oceans annually from coastal areas.

7. Fish populations near the Mediterranean Sea are increasing due to conservation efforts.

8. The Great Barrier Reef has lost over half of its coral in some locations due to bleaching events.

9. All countries have established marine protected areas to help ocean conservation.

Questions 10-13: Sentence Completion

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

10. Mangroves function as __ for many species of fish and also protect coasts from severe weather.

11. The rapid growth of algae, known as __, occurs when excessive nutrients from fertilizers enter the ocean.

12. Scientists are creating __ using eco-friendly materials to give marine creatures new places to live.

13. Oceans are essential for human survival because they provide food, help control climate, and produce over half of the __ that people breathe.

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PASSAGE 2 – Economic and Political Barriers to Marine Conservation

Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút

While scientific evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates the urgent need to protect marine biodiversity, implementing effective conservation measures faces considerable economic and political obstacles. The relationship between Impact of climate change on marine biodiversity and human activities creates complex challenges that extend far beyond environmental science into the realms of international relations, economic development, and social justice.

The fishing industry represents a particularly contentious area where conservation goals clash with economic realities. Globally, fishing and aquaculture directly employ more than 60 million people, with many millions more depending on related industries such as fish processing, distribution, and retail. In numerous coastal communities, particularly in developing nations, fishing constitutes not merely an occupation but a fundamental aspect of cultural identity and food security. When governments propose restrictions on fishing activities to protect depleted stocks, they often encounter fierce resistance from these communities, who view such measures as threats to their livelihoods and way of life.

The concept of short-term economic gains versus long-term sustainability lies at the heart of many marine conservation challenges. Commercial fishing operations, especially large-scale industrial fleets, are driven by immediate profit motives. Depleting fish stocks today generates substantial revenue, whereas the benefits of conservation – healthier fish populations and more productive ecosystems – may not materialize for years or even decades. This temporal mismatch creates what economists call a “tragedy of the commons,” where individual actors pursuing their self-interest collectively deplete a shared resource. The problem is exacerbated in international waters, which lie beyond any single nation’s jurisdiction. These areas, covering nearly half of the Earth’s surface, are particularly vulnerable to overexploitation because no country has the authority or incentive to enforce conservation measures.

Enforcement of marine regulations presents another formidable challenge. Unlike terrestrial protected areas, which can be fenced and patrolled relatively easily, the ocean’s vast expanse makes monitoring and enforcement extraordinarily difficult and expensive. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing costs the global economy an estimated $23 billion annually. Sophisticated criminal networks operate fishing vessels that disable their tracking systems, transfer catches at sea to avoid port inspections, and frequently change flags to evade national jurisdictions. Developing countries, which often lack the resources for extensive ocean patrols, are particularly vulnerable to IUU fishing in their territorial waters. The understanding of How climate change is affecting the world’s oceans makes these enforcement challenges even more critical as ecosystems become more fragile.

Political fragmentation further complicates marine conservation efforts. Marine ecosystems do not recognize political boundaries; fish populations migrate across national borders, and pollution generated in one country affects waters thousands of kilometers away. Effective protection requires international cooperation, yet achieving consensus among nations with different priorities, capabilities, and levels of development proves remarkably difficult. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), established in 1982, provides a legal framework for ocean governance, but its provisions regarding marine conservation remain relatively weak and difficult to enforce. Regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) attempt to coordinate fishing activities across borders, but these bodies often struggle with conflicts between member states and lack the authority to impose meaningful penalties for violations.

The influence of powerful economic interests on political decision-making cannot be understated. The global seafood industry, worth approximately $150 billion annually, wields considerable political influence. Large fishing corporations and industry associations regularly lobby governments to oppose stricter regulations, argue for higher catch limits, and seek subsidies that enable continued intensive fishing. Global fisheries subsidies, estimated at $35 billion per year, often incentivize overfishing by reducing operational costs for fishing fleets. Efforts to reform these subsidies encounter strong political resistance, despite widespread agreement among economists and environmentalists that many subsidies are counterproductive from both economic and environmental perspectives.

Marine spatial planning (MSP) offers a potential framework for balancing competing ocean uses, but its implementation reveals the complexity of marine governance. MSP involves mapping and regulating different activities in marine areas, such as fishing, shipping, energy production, and conservation. However, the process requires extensive stakeholder consultation, sophisticated scientific data, and strong political will – resources that many countries, particularly developing nations, lack. Moreover, different government agencies often have overlapping jurisdictions over marine resources, leading to bureaucratic conflicts and inefficient management. A coastal nation might have separate agencies responsible for fisheries, environmental protection, tourism, and energy development, each with different priorities and limited coordination.

The disparity in marine conservation capacity between developed and developing nations raises important questions of environmental justice. Many developing countries possess extensive coastlines and rich marine resources but lack the financial resources, technical expertise, and institutional capacity to implement effective conservation programs. When international bodies pressure these nations to establish marine protected areas or reduce fishing, governments often respond that developed countries industrialized without such restrictions and should not impose limits on developing nations’ economic growth. This argument has particular resonance given that much of the plastic pollution and carbon emissions affecting oceans originates from wealthy nations. Similar environmental justice concerns arise in discussions about Cultural influences on teaching environmental sustainability, where different cultural perspectives on nature must be respected.

Climate change adds another layer of complexity to marine conservation politics. The acidification and warming of oceans require dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions – actions that involve fundamental transformations of global energy systems and economies. While the scientific consensus on climate change is overwhelming, political responses remain inadequate and fragmented. Some nations resist ambitious climate action due to concerns about economic competitiveness, while others lack the resources to transition away from fossil fuels. The interconnectedness of climate change with marine biodiversity means that even perfect implementation of traditional conservation measures may prove insufficient without addressing the root causes of environmental change.

Despite these obstacles, several developments offer hope for improved marine governance. Advances in satellite monitoring technology make tracking fishing vessels easier and less expensive, improving enforcement capabilities. The growing consumer demand for sustainable seafood creates market incentives for responsible fishing practices. International agreements, such as the recent treaty to protect biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, demonstrate increasing recognition of the need for collective action. Most importantly, a growing body of evidence shows that well-designed conservation measures benefit both ecosystems and economies in the long term, providing a compelling argument for overcoming short-term political and economic barriers.

Quản lý nguồn lợi thủy sản bền vững và bảo vệ đa dạng sinh học biển IELTS Reading

Questions 14-26

Questions 14-18: Yes/No/Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the passage? Write:

• YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
• NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
• NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

14. The fishing industry’s economic importance makes it difficult to implement conservation measures.

15. All commercial fishing operations prioritize long-term sustainability over immediate profits.

16. Developing countries have better enforcement capabilities than developed nations for monitoring illegal fishing.

17. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides strong enforcement mechanisms for marine conservation.

18. Consumer demand for sustainable seafood can create positive incentives for responsible fishing.

Questions 19-23: Matching Information

Match the following statements (Questions 19-23) with the correct paragraph (A-J). You may use any letter more than once.

A. Paragraph about fishing industry employment
B. Paragraph about short-term vs. long-term economics
C. Paragraph about enforcement challenges
D. Paragraph about political fragmentation
E. Paragraph about economic interests and lobbying
F. Paragraph about marine spatial planning
G. Paragraph about environmental justice
H. Paragraph about climate change complexity
I. Paragraph about hopeful developments

19. Discusses the financial value of illegal fishing activities globally

20. Explains why different government departments may conflict over marine resource management

21. Describes how technological improvements are aiding conservation efforts

22. Addresses the cultural significance of fishing in certain communities

23. Mentions the total worth of the global seafood industry

Questions 24-26: Summary Completion

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

Marine conservation faces significant political challenges, particularly in international waters where no single country has 24. __ to enforce rules. The concept known as the “25. __” describes how individuals acting in self-interest can collectively harm shared resources. Additionally, 26. __ worth billions of dollars annually often encourage excessive fishing by lowering costs for fishing companies, despite being harmful to both the economy and environment.

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PASSAGE 3 – Scientific Complexity and Knowledge Gaps in Marine Conservation

Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)

Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút

The endeavour to protect marine biodiversity is fundamentally constrained by substantial gaps in scientific knowledge and the inherent complexity of ocean ecosystems. While public discourse on marine conservation often focuses on visible threats such as plastic pollution or overfishing, scientists emphasize that our limited understanding of marine environments represents an equally formidable, albeit less conspicuous, obstacle to effective conservation. This epistemic uncertainty manifests across multiple scales, from the taxonomic identification of species to the predictive modelling of ecosystem responses to environmental change, creating profound challenges for evidence-based policymaking.

The most glaring knowledge gap concerns the sheer extent of undiscovered biodiversity in marine environments. Scientists estimate that between 700,000 and one million marine species exist, yet only approximately 250,000 have been formally described and catalogued. This represents a far larger proportion of unknown species compared to terrestrial ecosystems, where the majority of macroscopic organisms have been identified. The deep ocean, particularly areas below 200 meters, remains largely unexplored – we possess more detailed maps of the Moon’s surface than of the ocean floor. The Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean, targeted for potential deep-sea mining, is thought to harbour thousands of species unknown to science. Taxonomic impediments – the shortage of trained taxonomists and the time-intensive nature of species identification – further slow the pace of marine biodiversity documentation. The implications of this knowledge deficit are profound: conservation strategies cannot adequately protect species whose existence remains unknown, nor can they account for the ecological roles these organisms might play in maintaining ecosystem function.

Ecosystem complexity presents another formidable scientific challenge. Marine ecosystems are characterized by intricate trophic relationships, where changes to one species can cascade through multiple levels of the food web in unexpected ways. The concept of keystone species – organisms that have disproportionate effects on ecosystem structure relative to their abundance – illustrates this complexity. The extirpation of sea otters from the North Pacific, for instance, led to explosive growth in sea urchin populations, which in turn decimated kelp forests, fundamentally altering the entire coastal ecosystem. However, identifying which species function as keystones and predicting how ecosystems will respond to their removal or addition remains extraordinarily difficult. The relationship between How biodiversity loss affects ecosystem services demonstrates how these complex interactions have real-world consequences for human communities.

Recent advances in molecular ecology and genomic sequencing have paradoxically revealed how much remains unknown about marine life. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis – which involves extracting and sequencing genetic material from water samples – has detected thousands of previously unrecognized organisms, suggesting that traditional survey methods dramatically underestimate marine biodiversity. These techniques have also revealed cryptic species – organisms that appear identical but are genetically distinct – challenging previous assumptions about species distributions and population structures. Furthermore, genomic studies increasingly demonstrate that much of the ocean’s biodiversity consists of microbial life whose functions and ecological importance are poorly understood. Marine microorganisms mediate critical processes including nutrient cycling, primary production, and even climate regulation through carbon sequestration, yet our knowledge of these microbial communities and how environmental changes affect them remains rudimentary.

The temporal dynamics of marine ecosystems add yet another layer of complexity to conservation science. Many marine species are highly migratory, with distributions that shift seasonally or in response to environmental conditions. Pelagic fish stocks, for example, may move thousands of kilometers annually, making population assessment challenging and transboundary management essential. Moreover, marine ecosystems exhibit natural variability across multiple timescales, from diurnal and seasonal cycles to multi-decadal climate oscillations such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Distinguishing anthropogenic impacts from this background variability requires long-term monitoring datasets, which remain scarce for most marine regions. The shifting baseline syndrome – where each generation of scientists uses the degraded conditions of their time as the reference point for “natural” ecosystems – further complicates efforts to establish appropriate conservation targets. This issue is particularly relevant when examining The impact of climate change on fisheries, where historical baselines have shifted dramatically.

Methodological limitations constrain marine research in ways that do not affect terrestrial ecology to the same degree. The ocean’s three-dimensional structure, extreme pressure at depth, corrosive saltwater, and limited light penetration all pose significant technical challenges. Underwater observation remains difficult, expensive, and typically limited to small spatial and temporal scales. While technologies such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and acoustic monitoring have expanded research capabilities, these tools remain costly and require specialized expertise. Sampling bias pervades marine science: accessible coastal areas and surface waters are relatively well-studied, while deep-sea, polar, and open-ocean ecosystems remain poorly understood. This geographic and habitat bias in scientific knowledge means that conservation policies may be based on ecosystems that are atypical of marine environments more broadly.

The challenge of predicting ecosystem responses to multiple synergistic stressors represents perhaps the most daunting scientific obstacle to effective marine conservation. Marine ecosystems simultaneously face ocean warming, acidification, deoxygenation, pollution, and exploitation. These stressors interact in non-linear and sometimes counter-intuitive ways. Ocean acidification, for instance, affects not only calcifying organisms like corals and shellfish but also fish behaviour, potentially impairing their ability to detect predators. When combined with warming and deoxygenation, the cumulative impacts may be far greater than the sum of individual effects. Current ecological models struggle to incorporate these complex interactions, limiting the accuracy of predictions about future ecosystem states. The precautionary principle – advocating conservation action despite scientific uncertainty – offers one response to this predictive limitation, yet implementing precautionary approaches faces the political and economic obstacles discussed previously.

Data integration and interdisciplinary synthesis pose additional challenges for marine conservation science. Effective conservation requires integrating knowledge from disparate fields including ecology, oceanography, climatology, economics, and social sciences. However, these disciplines often operate with different methodological paradigms, spatial and temporal scales, and epistemic cultures, making synthesis difficult. Ecological-economic modelling, for example, must bridge fundamental differences in how ecologists and economists conceptualize value, causation, and uncertainty. Moreover, the data infrastructure necessary for large-scale integration remains underdeveloped. Marine datasets are often fragmented across institutions and nations, collected using incompatible methodologies, and subject to varying data-sharing policies. International initiatives such as the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) and Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) are working to address these limitations, but comprehensive, integrated understanding of marine systems remains elusive.

The translation of scientific knowledge into policy presents a final set of challenges. Scientific findings are typically probabilistic and hedged with uncertainties, whereas policy decisions require clear recommendations and definitive action. This science-policy interface often involves simplification that may misrepresent the complexity of scientific understanding. Moreover, the timescales of scientific research and political decision-making are frequently misaligned. Ecological studies may require years or decades to produce results, while political windows of opportunity for policy change can be brief. Effective science communication – translating technical research into accessible formats for policymakers and the public – requires skills and institutional support that many scientists lack.

Despite these formidable obstacles, the scientific foundation for marine conservation is progressively strengthening. Advances in remote sensing, artificial intelligence for data analysis, citizen science initiatives, and international research collaborations are expanding our knowledge of marine ecosystems. Perhaps most importantly, there is growing recognition within the scientific community that perfect knowledge is neither attainable nor necessary for action. Adaptive management approaches – which treat conservation interventions as experiments from which to learn – offer a pragmatic path forward in the face of uncertainty. By acknowledging the limitations of current knowledge while acting decisively to address known threats, the scientific community continues to refine both its understanding of marine biodiversity and its ability to contribute to effective conservation strategies.

Nghiên cứu khoa học hệ sinh thái biển và phương pháp bảo vệ đa dạng sinh học IELTS

Questions 27-40

Questions 27-31: Multiple Choice

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

27. According to the passage, what proportion of estimated marine species have been formally identified?
A. approximately one quarter
B. roughly one half
C. about one third
D. nearly all macroscopic species

28. The example of sea otters and kelp forests is used to illustrate:
A. the difficulty of species identification
B. how removing one species can dramatically alter an ecosystem
C. the success of marine conservation programs
D. the advantages of molecular ecology techniques

29. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has revealed that:
A. traditional survey methods accurately estimated marine biodiversity
B. most marine species have already been discovered
C. marine biodiversity is much higher than previously thought
D. cryptic species are rare in marine environments

30. The “shifting baseline syndrome” refers to:
A. the migration patterns of pelagic fish
B. natural climate oscillations like El Niño
C. each generation accepting degraded ecosystems as normal
D. the movement of marine protected area boundaries

31. According to the passage, adaptive management approaches:
A. require complete scientific knowledge before taking action
B. treat conservation actions as learning opportunities
C. have been proven ineffective for marine conservation
D. are only suitable for terrestrial ecosystems

Questions 32-36: Matching Features

Match each research limitation (32-36) with the correct consequence (A-H). You may use any letter more than once.

Research Limitations:
32. Shortage of trained taxonomists
33. Three-dimensional ocean structure and extreme depth
34. Geographic bias toward coastal areas
35. Incompatible methodologies across institutions
36. Probabilistic nature of scientific findings

Consequences:
A. Difficulty in policy implementation
B. Slow documentation of marine species
C. Expensive and technically challenging research
D. Poor understanding of deep-sea ecosystems
E. Challenges in data integration
F. Inaccurate ecosystem predictions
G. Limited research in open-ocean environments
H. Inability to establish marine protected areas

Questions 37-40: Short-answer Questions

Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

37. What term describes species that look identical but are genetically different?

38. Which two types of vehicles mentioned in the passage have enhanced underwater research capabilities?

39. What principle suggests taking conservation action even when scientific certainty is lacking?

40. What type of management approach treats conservation interventions as experiments?

Answer Keys – Đáp Án

PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13

1. B
2. C
3. C
4. B
5. B
6. FALSE
7. NOT GIVEN
8. TRUE
9. NOT GIVEN
10. nurseries
11. algal blooms
12. artificial reefs
13. oxygen

PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26

14. YES
15. NO
16. NO
17. NO
18. YES
19. C
20. F
21. I
22. A
23. E
24. jurisdiction / authority
25. tragedy of the commons
26. Fisheries subsidies / Global subsidies

PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40

27. A
28. B
29. C
30. C
31. B
32. B
33. C
34. D (hoặc G – cả hai đều chấp nhận được)
35. E
36. A
37. cryptic species
38. AUVs and ROVs / autonomous underwater vehicles and remotely operated vehicles
39. precautionary principle
40. Adaptive management

Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Passage 1 – Giải Thích

Câu 1: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: microplastics
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 3-5
• Giải thích: Bài đọc nói rõ “This plastic breaks down into smaller pieces called microplastics, which are consumed by fish and other marine animals.” Đáp án B paraphrase chính xác thông tin này. Đáp án A sai vì microplastics là smaller pieces, không phải larger. Đáp án C và D hoàn toàn không liên quan.

Câu 2: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: one-third, overfished
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 5-7
• Giải thích: Câu “one-third of global fish stocks are now overfished, meaning they are being caught faster than they can reproduce” giải thích trực tiếp định nghĩa overfishing. Đây là dạng câu hỏi kiểm tra khả năng hiểu định nghĩa được đưa ra trong bài.

Câu 3: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: dead zones, created
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 4-6
• Giải thích: “Warmer water holds less oxygen, creating ‘dead zones’ where most marine life cannot survive.” Đáp án C paraphrase “holds less oxygen” thành “lacks sufficient oxygen”. Các đáp án khác đề cập đến hậu quả hoặc nguyên nhân gián tiếp, không phải nguyên nhân trực tiếp tạo ra dead zones.

Câu 6: FALSE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: eight million tons
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 2
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói “approximately eight million tons” nhưng câu hỏi nói “More than eight million tons”. Từ “approximately” có nghĩa là “khoảng, xấp xỉ” không đồng nghĩa với “more than” (nhiều hơn). Do đó đây là FALSE – một contradicts nhỏ nhưng quan trọng.

Câu 8: TRUE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Great Barrier Reef, lost, over half
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng cuối
• Giải thích: “The Great Barrier Reef…with some areas losing more than 50% of their coral coverage.” Câu hỏi paraphrase “more than 50%” thành “over half”, và “losing” thành “lost”. Đây là TRUE.

Câu 10: nurseries

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: Mangroves, fish, protect coasts
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng 4-5
• Giải thích: “Mangroves…serve as nurseries for many fish species and protect coastlines from storms.” Từ “nurseries” (nơi nuôi dưỡng, bảo vệ con non) là từ chính xác trong bài, không thể thay thế bằng từ khác.

Câu 11: algal blooms

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: rapid growth, algae, nutrients, fertilizers
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 4-5
• Giải thích: “This excess nutrients causes algal blooms – rapid growth of algae”. Đây là định nghĩa trực tiếp trong bài với dấu gạch ngang giải thích. Chú ý phải ghi đủ “algal blooms” (2 từ) vì đề yêu cầu NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.

Passage 2 – Giải Thích

Câu 14: YES

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: fishing industry, economic importance, difficult, conservation
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, toàn đoạn
• Giải thích: Toàn bộ đoạn 2 giải thích về việc fishing industry employs millions of people và việc này tạo ra “fierce resistance” khi implement conservation measures. Writer rõ ràng đồng ý với quan điểm này thông qua cách trình bày chi tiết các khó khăn.

Câu 15: NO

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: all commercial fishing, prioritize, long-term sustainability, immediate profits
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 2-4
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói “Commercial fishing operations…are driven by immediate profit motives” và “Depleting fish stocks today generates substantial revenue”. Điều này contradicts câu statement rằng họ “prioritize long-term sustainability”. Từ khóa “all” trong câu hỏi cũng là absolute statement mà bài không support.

Câu 16: NO

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: developing countries, better enforcement, developed nations
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng cuối
• Giải thích: “Developing countries…lack the resources for extensive ocean patrols” – điều này directly contradicts với statement rằng họ có “better enforcement capabilities”. Đây là NO rõ ràng.

Câu 19: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
• Từ khóa: financial value, illegal fishing, globally
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4 (Paragraph C), dòng 3
• Giải thích: “Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing costs the global economy an estimated $23 billion annually.” Đây là thông tin về financial value của illegal fishing ở cấp độ global.

Câu 20: F

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
• Từ khóa: government departments, conflict, marine resource management
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7 (Paragraph F), dòng 5-7
• Giải thích: “Different government agencies often have overlapping jurisdictions…leading to bureaucratic conflicts and inefficient management.” Đoạn này nói về marine spatial planning và conflict giữa các agencies.

Câu 24: jurisdiction / authority

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Từ khóa: international waters, single country, enforce
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 6-8
• Giải thích: “International waters…lie beyond any single nation’s jurisdiction” và “no country has the authority or incentive to enforce”. Cả “jurisdiction” và “authority” đều chấp nhận được vì cả hai đều xuất hiện trong ngữ cảnh này.

Câu 25: tragedy of the commons

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Từ khóa: individuals, self-interest, collectively, shared resources
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 5
• Giải thích: “This temporal mismatch creates what economists call a ‘tragedy of the commons,’ where individual actors pursuing their self-interest collectively deplete a shared resource.” Đây là thuật ngữ kinh tế được định nghĩa rõ ràng.

Passage 3 – Giải Thích

Câu 27: A

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: proportion, marine species, formally identified
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 2-3
• Giải thích: “Scientists estimate that between 700,000 and one million marine species exist, yet only approximately 250,000 have been formally described.” Tính toán: 250,000 trong tổng số 700,000-1,000,000 = xấp xỉ 1/4 (approximately one quarter). Đây là câu hỏi kiểm tra khả năng tính toán tỷ lệ.

Câu 28: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: sea otters, kelp forests, example, illustrate
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 4-6
• Giải thích: Example được đưa ra ngay sau câu nói về keystone species và cascade effects. “The extirpation of sea otters…led to explosive growth in sea urchin populations, which in turn decimated kelp forests, fundamentally altering the entire coastal ecosystem.” Đây minh họa ecosystem complexity và cascade effects.

Câu 29: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: eDNA, revealed
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 2-4
• Giải thích: “Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis…has detected thousands of previously unrecognized organisms, suggesting that traditional survey methods dramatically underestimate marine biodiversity.” Đáp án C paraphrase “dramatically underestimate” thành “much higher than previously thought”.

Câu 30: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: shifting baseline syndrome, refers to
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng 6-8
• Giải thích: “The shifting baseline syndrome – where each generation of scientists uses the degraded conditions of their time as the reference point for ‘natural’ ecosystems”. Đây là định nghĩa direct với dấu gạch ngang. Đáp án C paraphrase ý này một cách chính xác.

Câu 32: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
• Từ khóa: shortage, trained taxonomists
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 6-8
• Giải thích: “Taxonomic impediments – the shortage of trained taxonomists and the time-intensive nature of species identification – further slow the pace of marine biodiversity documentation.” Documentation chậm = slow documentation = đáp án B.

Câu 33: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
• Từ khóa: three-dimensional, extreme depth
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng 1-2
• Giải thích: “The ocean’s three-dimensional structure, extreme pressure at depth…all pose significant technical challenges…these tools remain costly and require specialized expertise.” = Expensive and technically challenging research.

Câu 37: cryptic species

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
• Từ khóa: look identical, genetically different
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 5-6
• Giải thích: “These techniques have also revealed cryptic species – organisms that appear identical but are genetically distinct”. Định nghĩa trực tiếp với dấu gạch ngang.

Câu 38: AUVs and ROVs

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
• Từ khóa: two types, vehicles, underwater research
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng 3-4
• Giải thích: “Technologies such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs)…have expanded research capabilities.” Có thể viết đầy đủ hoặc viết tắt, cả hai đều được chấp nhận.

Câu 39: precautionary principle

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
• Từ khóa: principle, conservation action, lacking scientific certainty
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 6-7
• Giải thích: “The precautionary principle – advocating conservation action despite scientific uncertainty”. Đây là thuật ngữ chuyên môn được định nghĩa rõ ràng.

Câu 40: Adaptive management

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
• Từ khóa: management approach, interventions, experiments
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 9, dòng 3-4
• Giải thích: “Adaptive management approaches – which treat conservation interventions as experiments from which to learn”. Thuật ngữ này được explain với dấu gạch ngang.

Từ Vựng Quan Trọng Theo Passage

Passage 1 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
biodiversity	n	/ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsəti/	đa dạng sinh học	marine biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate	marine biodiversity, protect biodiversity
microplastics	n	/ˈmaɪkrəʊˌplæstɪks/	vi nhựa	microplastics are consumed by fish	contain microplastics, microplastic pollution
accumulate	v	/əˈkjuːmjəleɪt/	tích tụ, tích lũy	accumulate in the food chain	accumulate over time, gradually accumulate
overfishing	n	/ˌəʊvəˈfɪʃɪŋ/	đánh bắt cá quá mức	overfishing represents a critical challenge	prevent overfishing, combat overfishing
trawling	n	/ˈtrɔːlɪŋ/	đánh bắt bằng lưới kéo	fishing techniques including trawling	bottom trawling, trawling methods
dead zones	n	/ded zəʊnz/	vùng chết (thiếu oxy)	warmer water creates dead zones	marine dead zones, expanding dead zones
coral bleaching	n	/ˈkɒrəl ˈbliːtʃɪŋ/	hiện tượng tẩy trắng san hô	rising temperatures cause coral bleaching	severe coral bleaching, coral bleaching events
vulnerable	adj	/ˈvʌlnərəbl/	dễ bị tổn thương	coral reefs are particularly vulnerable	highly vulnerable, vulnerable to damage
mangroves	n	/ˈmæŋɡrəʊvz/	rừng ngập mặn	mangroves serve as nurseries	coastal mangroves, protect mangroves
algal blooms	n	/ˈælɡəl bluːmz/	hiện tượng tảo nở hoa	excess nutrients causes algal blooms	harmful algal blooms, algal bloom formation
marine protected areas	n	/məˈriːn prəˈtektɪd ˈeəriəz/	khu bảo tồn biển	establishing marine protected areas	expand marine protected areas, effective MPAs
sustainable	adj	/səˈsteɪnəbl/	bền vững	develop sustainable fishing practices	environmentally sustainable, sustainable development

Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
contentious	adj	/kənˈtenʃəs/	gây tranh cãi	particularly contentious area	highly contentious, contentious issue
livelihoods	n	/ˈlaɪvlihʊdz/	kế sinh nhai	threats to their livelihoods	rural livelihoods, depend on livelihoods
temporal mismatch	n	/ˈtempərəl ˈmɪsmætʃ/	sự không đồng bộ về thời gian	creates a temporal mismatch	significant temporal mismatch
tragedy of the commons	n	/ˈtrædʒədi əv ðə ˈkɒmənz/	bi kịch của tài nguyên chung	economists call a tragedy of the commons	classic tragedy of the commons
exacerbated	v	/ɪɡˈzæsəbeɪtɪd/	làm trầm trọng thêm	problem is exacerbated in international waters	severely exacerbated, further exacerbate
territorial waters	n	/ˌterəˈtɔːriəl ˈwɔːtəz/	lãnh hải	IUU fishing in their territorial waters	within territorial waters, protect territorial waters
lobby	v	/ˈlɒbi/	vận động hành lang	corporations lobby governments	actively lobby, lobby against regulations
counterproductive	adj	/ˌkaʊntəprəˈdʌktɪv/	phản tác dụng	subsidies are counterproductive	prove counterproductive, ultimately counterproductive
overlapping jurisdictions	n	/ˌəʊvəˈlæpɪŋ ˌdʒʊərɪsˈdɪkʃənz/	thẩm quyền chồng chéo	agencies have overlapping jurisdictions	resolve overlapping jurisdictions
bureaucratic conflicts	n	/ˌbjʊərəˈkrætɪk ˈkɒnflɪkts/	xung đột hành chính	leading to bureaucratic conflicts	internal bureaucratic conflicts
environmental justice	n	/ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmentl ˈdʒʌstɪs/	công bằng môi trường	questions of environmental justice	promote environmental justice, environmental justice concerns
institutional capacity	n	/ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənl kəˈpæsəti/	năng lực thể chế	lack institutional capacity	strengthen institutional capacity, limited institutional capacity
carbon emissions	n	/ˈkɑːbən ɪˈmɪʃənz/	khí thải carbon	carbon emissions affecting oceans	reduce carbon emissions, global carbon emissions
interconnectedness	n	/ˌɪntəkəˈnektɪdnəs/	sự liên kết chặt chẽ	interconnectedness of climate change	recognize interconnectedness, ecological interconnectedness
satellite monitoring	n	/ˈsætəlaɪt ˈmɒnɪtərɪŋ/	giám sát vệ tinh	advances in satellite monitoring	satellite monitoring technology, use satellite monitoring

Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
epistemic uncertainty	n	/ˌepɪˈstiːmɪk ʌnˈsɜːtənti/	sự không chắc chắn về nhận thức	epistemic uncertainty manifests	inherent epistemic uncertainty, reduce epistemic uncertainty
taxonomic identification	n	/ˌtæksəˈnɒmɪk aɪˌdentɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/	nhận dạng phân loại học	taxonomic identification of species	accurate taxonomic identification
predictive modelling	n	/prɪˈdɪktɪv ˈmɒdəlɪŋ/	mô hình dự đoán	predictive modelling of ecosystem	complex predictive modelling, predictive modelling techniques
glaring knowledge gap	n	/ˈɡleərɪŋ ˈnɒlɪdʒ ɡæp/	khoảng trống kiến thức rõ rệt	most glaring knowledge gap	identify glaring knowledge gaps, address knowledge gaps
trophic relationships	n	/ˈtrɒfɪk rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪps/	mối quan hệ dinh dưỡng	intricate trophic relationships	complex trophic relationships, trophic relationship networks
cascade	v	/kæˈskeɪd/	lan truyền theo chuỗi	changes cascade through food webs	effects cascade, cascade through systems
keystone species	n	/ˈkiːstəʊn ˈspiːʃiːz/	loài then chốt	concept of keystone species	identify keystone species, protect keystone species
extirpation	n	/ˌekstɜːˈpeɪʃən/	tuyệt chủng cục bộ	extirpation of sea otters	local extirpation, prevent extirpation
decimated	v	/ˈdesɪmeɪtɪd/	tàn phá nghiêm trọng	sea urchins decimated kelp forests	populations decimated, completely decimated
environmental DNA	n	/ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmentl diː.enˈeɪ/	DNA môi trường	environmental DNA analysis	extract environmental DNA, eDNA sampling
cryptic species	n	/ˈkrɪptɪk ˈspiːʃiːz/	loài ẩn (giống hình thái nhưng khác gen)	revealed cryptic species	discover cryptic species, cryptic species complex
microbial communities	n	/maɪˈkrəʊbiəl kəˈmjuːnətiz/	quần xã vi sinh vật	marine microbial communities	diverse microbial communities, study microbial communities
rudimentary	adj	/ˌruːdɪˈmentri/	sơ khai, thô sơ	knowledge remains rudimentary	still rudimentary, rudimentary understanding
pelagic	adj	/pəˈlædʒɪk/	thuộc vùng nước nổi	pelagic fish stocks	pelagic species, pelagic ecosystems
diurnal	adj	/daɪˈɜːnl/	theo chu kỳ ngày đêm	diurnal and seasonal cycles	diurnal patterns, diurnal variations
synergistic stressors	n	/ˌsɪnəˈdʒɪstɪk ˈstresəz/	các yếu tố căng thẳng tương hỗ	multiple synergistic stressors	respond to synergistic stressors, cumulative synergistic effects
precautionary principle	n	/prɪˈkɔːʃənəri ˈprɪnsəpl/	nguyên tắc phòng ngừa	precautionary principle advocates action	apply precautionary principle, adopt precautionary principle
adaptive management	n	/əˈdæptɪv ˈmænɪdʒmənt/	quản lý thích ứng	adaptive management approaches	implement adaptive management, adaptive management strategies

Kết Bài

Chủ đề “Challenges in protecting marine biodiversity” không chỉ phản ánh một trong những vấn đề cấp bách nhất của thời đại chúng ta mà còn là đề tài xuất hiện thường xuyên trong IELTS Reading. Qua bộ đề thi mẫu này, bạn đã được trải nghiệm đầy đủ cả ba mức độ khó từ Easy đến Hard, giống hệt như trong kỳ thi thực tế.

Ba passages đã cung cấp góc nhìn đa chiều về vấn đề bảo vệ đa dạng sinh học biển: từ những thách thức môi trường cơ bản như ô nhiễm nhựa và biến đổi khí hậu, đến các rào cản chính trị-kinh tế phức tạp, và cuối cùng là những hạn chế về kiến thức khoa học. Mỗi passage không chỉ kiểm tra khả năng đọc hiểu của bạn mà còn mở rộng vốn hiểu biết về một chủ đề học thuật quan trọng.

Đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích đã chỉ ra cách xác định thông tin trong bài, phương pháp paraphrase từ khóa, và chiến lược làm bài cho từng dạng câu hỏi. Đặc biệt, bảng từ vựng tổng hợp với hơn 40 từ và cụm từ học thuật sẽ là tài liệu quý giá giúp bạn nâng cao band điểm không chỉ ở phần Reading mà cả Writing và Speaking.

Để đạt kết quả tốt nhất, hãy xem lại những câu trả lời sai, phân tích lý do vì sao bạn chọn nhầm, và luyện tập lại các dạng câu hỏi còn yếu. Đừng quên ôn lại toàn bộ từ vựng trong bảng và thực hành sử dụng chúng trong ngữ cảnh thực tế. Chúc bạn đạt band điểm như mong muốn trong kỳ thi IELTS sắp tới!