IELTS Reading: Mạng Lưới Thương Mại Cổ Đại – Đề Thi Mẫu Có Đáp Án

Mạng lưới thương mại cổ đại đã đóng vai trò then chốt trong việc hình thành nền văn minh nhân loại, kết nối các châu lục và thúc đẩy sự trao đổi không chỉ hàng hóa mà còn cả văn hóa, công nghệ và tư tưởng. Chủ đề về ý nghĩa lịch sử của các tuyến đường thương mại cổ đại xuất hiện khá thường xuyên trong IELTS Reading, thường ở dạng passages thuộc lĩnh vực lịch sử, khảo cổ học hoặc nghiên cứu văn hóa.

Bài viết này cung cấp một bộ đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với 3 passages có độ khó tăng dần từ Easy đến Hard, bao gồm 40 câu hỏi đa dạng giống thi thật. Bạn sẽ tìm thấy đầy đủ đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích cụ thể, hệ thống từ vựng quan trọng theo từng passage, và các kỹ thuật làm bài hiệu quả. Đề thi phù hợp cho học viên có trình độ từ band 5.0 trở lên, giúp bạn làm quen với format thi thực tế, rèn luyện kỹ năng đọc hiểu học thuật và nâng cao khả năng quản lý thời gian.

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, không có điểm âm cho câu trả lời sai. Độ khó của các passages tăng dần, với Passage 1 thường dễ nhất và Passage 3 khó nhất.

Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:

• Passage 1: 15-17 phút (13 câu hỏi)
• Passage 2: 18-20 phút (13 câu hỏi)
• Passage 3: 23-25 phút (14 câu hỏi)

Lưu ý dành 2-3 phút cuối để chuyển đáp án vào Answer Sheet. Không có thời gian bổ sung cho việc này như trong Listening Test.

Các Dạng Câu Hỏi Trong Đề Này

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

• Multiple Choice Questions
• True/False/Not Given
• Yes/No/Not Given
• Matching Headings
• Sentence Completion
• Summary Completion
• Short-answer Questions

Mỗi dạng câu hỏi yêu cầu kỹ năng đọc hiểu khác nhau, từ tìm thông tin cụ thể đến phân tích ý chính và suy luận.

IELTS Reading Practice Test

PASSAGE 1 – The Silk Road: Ancient Highway of Commerce and Culture

Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút

The Silk Road was not a single road but rather a vast network of trade routes that connected the East and West for over 1,500 years. Beginning around the 2nd century BCE, these routes stretched approximately 6,500 kilometers from China through Central Asia, the Middle East, and into Europe. Named after the lucrative silk trade that originated in China, the Silk Road became one of the most important commercial networks in human history.

The establishment of the Silk Road is often attributed to the Chinese Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). Emperor Wu sent his envoy Zhang Qian on a diplomatic mission to forge alliances with kingdoms in the west. Although the initial mission failed in its primary objective, Zhang Qian returned with invaluable information about the lands beyond China’s borders. His reports sparked Chinese interest in establishing trade connections with distant civilizations, leading to the gradual development of what would become the Silk Road network.

Merchants and traders rarely traveled the entire length of the Silk Road. Instead, goods changed hands many times as they moved along the route, with intermediary traders buying and selling products at various trading posts and caravanserais. These wayside stations provided essential services including accommodation, food, and security for travelers and their animals. The most common pack animals were camels, particularly the Bactrian camel with its two humps, which was well-adapted to the harsh desert conditions of Central Asia.

While silk was certainly the most famous commodity transported along these routes, many other goods were traded. From the East came precious spices, jade, porcelain, tea, and gunpowder. The West sent gold, silver, glass products, wool textiles, and various foodstuffs. One particularly significant agricultural exchange was the movement of new crops: China received grapes, walnuts, and pomegranates, while millet and peaches traveled westward.

However, the Silk Road’s significance extended far beyond economic transactions. It became a conduit for cultural exchange on an unprecedented scale. Religious ideas, especially Buddhism, spread from India to China along these routes. Artistic styles and techniques were shared between civilizations, influencing everything from painting and sculpture to architecture and music. The Persian language served as a lingua franca for much of the route, facilitating communication between diverse peoples.

Technological innovations also traveled along the Silk Road. Papermaking, originally a Chinese invention, eventually reached the Islamic world and Europe, revolutionizing the way information was recorded and shared. The compass, another Chinese creation, improved navigation for traders and explorers. Mathematical concepts, including the decimal system from India, spread through trade networks and profoundly influenced scientific development across continents.

The Silk Road faced numerous challenges throughout its history. Geographical obstacles included treacherous mountain passes, arid deserts, and extreme weather conditions. Political instability and warfare could disrupt trade for extended periods. Bandits and raiders posed constant threats to merchant caravans, necessitating the development of security systems and escort services. Despite these difficulties, the potential profits from successful trading expeditions motivated merchants to continue using these routes.

By the 15th century, the importance of the Silk Road began to decline. Several factors contributed to this change. The Mongol Empire, which had provided stability and security across much of Asia during the 13th and 14th centuries, fragmented into smaller states. The Ottoman Empire’s control over traditional routes increased transportation costs. Most significantly, European nations began developing maritime trade routes around Africa to reach Asian markets directly, bypassing the overland routes that had dominated for centuries.

Archaeological discoveries continue to reveal new information about the Silk Road. Excavations at ancient sites have uncovered artifacts from distant civilizations, confirming the extent of cross-cultural contact. Preserved documents found in desert caves provide insights into the daily lives of traders and the business practices of the time. Modern scholars use interdisciplinary approaches, combining history, archaeology, and science, to better understand this remarkable network’s impact on world history.

Today, the legacy of the Silk Road remains evident in many aspects of global culture. Cities that once served as major trading hubs, such as Samarkand, Bukhara, and Xi’an, still celebrate their historical significance. The concept has been revived in modern times with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to create new economic corridors connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa. Understanding the historical significance of the ancient Silk Road helps us appreciate how interconnected human societies have always been and continues to inform contemporary discussions about globalization and international cooperation.

Bản đồ minh họa tuyến đường Con đường Tơ lụa cổ đại kết nối Á Âu

Questions 1-13

Questions 1-5: Multiple Choice

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

1. The Silk Road was established primarily because
   A. Emperor Wu wanted to expand China’s territory
   B. Zhang Qian successfully formed military alliances
   C. China became interested in trading with western regions
   D. European merchants requested trade with China

2. According to the passage, merchants traveling the Silk Road typically
   A. completed the entire journey from China to Europe
   B. traded goods at multiple points along the route
   C. traveled alone without security
   D. used horses as their main transport animals

3. The most significant agricultural item China received from the West was
   A. millet
   B. peaches
   C. grapes
   D. silk

4. Which language facilitated communication along much of the Silk Road?
   A. Chinese
   B. Arabic
   C. Persian
   D. Sanskrit

5. The decline of the Silk Road in the 15th century was mainly due to
   A. climate change making routes impassable
   B. the complete collapse of Asian empires
   C. European development of sea trade routes
   D. depletion of valuable goods to trade

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. The Silk Road was a single, continuous road connecting China to Europe.
7. Caravanserais provided accommodation and security for traders.
8. The Persian language was the only means of communication on the Silk Road.
9. Modern archaeological methods combine multiple academic disciplines.

Questions 10-13: Sentence Completion

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

10. The Silk Road network began during the Chinese __ Dynasty.
11. Buddhism spread to China from India through the __.
12. The __ Empire’s control increased transportation costs in the 15th century.
13. China’s modern __ aims to create new connections between continents.

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PASSAGE 2 – The Indian Ocean Trade Network: Maritime Connections of the Ancient World

Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút

While the Silk Road garners considerable attention in discussions of ancient trade, the Indian Ocean trade network was equally, if not more, significant in facilitating commercial and cultural exchange. This maritime system connected the coastal regions of East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and even reached as far as southern China. Unlike the more geographically constrained overland routes, the Indian Ocean network offered distinct advantages: larger cargo capacity, reduced transportation costs, and the ability to move bulk commodities that would have been impractical to transport by land.

The Indian Ocean trade network predates the Silk Road by several centuries, with evidence of maritime commerce dating back to at least 3000 BCE. Early Mesopotamian texts reference trade with the land of Meluhha, now believed to be the Indus Valley Civilization. Archaeological evidence from Harappan sites includes materials such as lapis lazuli from Afghanistan and carnelian beads from India found in Mesopotamian archaeological contexts, confirming extensive maritime connections even in ancient times.

The network’s development was intimately connected to understanding and harnessing the monsoon wind systems. These predictable seasonal winds were crucial for sailing across the vast Indian Ocean. The southwest monsoon, occurring from June to September, enabled ships to sail from Africa and Arabia toward India and beyond. Conversely, the northeast monsoon, from November to March, facilitated the return voyage. This natural rhythm created a reliable trading cycle, though it also meant that merchants often had to wait months in foreign ports for favorable winds, leading to the establishment of permanent trading communities in port cities.

Diverse civilizations participated in this maritime commerce. The Phoenicians and later Greeks established trade connections from the Mediterranean into the Indian Ocean through the Red Sea. The Roman Empire became a major consumer of luxury goods from the East, particularly spices, silk, and gemstones. Indian merchants served as crucial intermediaries, leveraging their geographical position to facilitate exchanges between East and West. Chinese junks, with their advanced maritime technology including watertight compartments and stern-mounted rudders, dominated trade in the eastern portions of the network. Arab and Persian traders controlled much of the western Indian Ocean, establishing commercial outposts along the African coast, particularly in what is now Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania.

The range of traded commodities was remarkably diverse. Spices from the Indonesian archipelago – including cloves, nutmeg, and mace – commanded astronomical prices in European and Middle Eastern markets. India exported textiles, particularly fine cotton cloth and later silk fabrics, alongside precious stones, indigo, and pepper. East Africa supplied ivory, gold, mangrove poles for construction, and enslaved people, a tragic aspect of this trade network that intensified over time. China contributed porcelain, silk, tea, and lacquerware. The Arabian Peninsula offered frankincense and myrrh, aromatic resins highly valued for religious and medicinal purposes.

Technological innovations in shipbuilding and navigation were essential to the network’s success. The dhow, an iconic vessel of Indian Ocean trade, featured a distinctive triangular lateen sail that allowed for effective sailing into the wind. Indian shipbuilders developed large vessels capable of carrying hundreds of tons of cargo. Chinese maritime technology included the magnetic compass, which significantly improved navigational accuracy, and detailed maritime charts documenting coastlines, ports, and hazards. Knowledge of celestial navigation using stars and understanding of ocean currents were carefully guarded and passed down through generations of sailors.

The Indian Ocean trade network served as a conduit for cultural and religious diffusion. Islam spread rapidly throughout the network following its emergence in the 7th century, carried by Arab merchants and missionaries. Port cities from Zanzibar to Malacca became centers of Islamic learning and culture. Hinduism and Buddhism also spread through trade connections, particularly to Southeast Asia, where they profoundly influenced local cultures. The Swahili civilization that developed along the East African coast represented a remarkable synthesis of African, Arab, and Persian cultural elements, creating a distinctive society with its own language that incorporated Arabic vocabulary into Bantu grammatical structures.

Economic structures supporting this trade were sophisticated. Banking systems developed to facilitate long-distance transactions. The concept of the suftaja, an early form of bill of exchange, allowed merchants to transfer funds without physically transporting precious metals. Partnerships and investment networks enabled the pooling of capital for expensive trading ventures. Port authorities collected customs duties and provided regulatory frameworks for commerce. Some port cities, like Calicut in India and Malacca in Southeast Asia, adopted deliberate policies to attract foreign merchants, offering tax incentives and legal protections.

The arrival of European powers fundamentally altered the Indian Ocean trade network. Portuguese naval expeditions in the late 15th century, led by Vasco da Gama, sought to gain direct access to Asian spice markets. Unlike earlier traders who participated in the network’s existing structures, Europeans attempted to monopolize trade through military force and the establishment of fortified trading posts. The Portuguese, followed by the Dutch, English, and French, progressively disrupted traditional trading patterns. However, indigenous merchant communities continued to play significant roles, often adapting to new circumstances and sometimes collaborating with European traders.

Modern scholarship has reassessed the Indian Ocean trade network’s significance, recognizing it as a prime example of globalization before the modern era. The network demonstrated that extensive commercial integration could occur without political unification or imperial control. It fostered cosmopolitan societies in port cities where merchants from diverse backgrounds coexisted and interacted. Recent archaeological and historical research, including underwater archaeology and analysis of historical documents in multiple languages, continues to reveal the network’s complexity and sophistication. Understanding this maritime system challenges Eurocentric narratives of history and highlights the agency and achievements of non-European civilizations in shaping global connections.

Minh họa tàu thuyền và tuyến thương mại trên Ấn Độ Dương thời cổ đại

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 Indian Ocean trade network was more important than the Silk Road for ancient commerce.
15. Maritime trade in the Indian Ocean began after the Silk Road was established.
16. The monsoon wind system made Indian Ocean trade unpredictable and dangerous.
17. European powers completely destroyed indigenous trading systems in the Indian Ocean.
18. Modern research has changed how historians view the Indian Ocean trade network.

Questions 19-22: Matching Headings

The passage has nine paragraphs. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs C, E, G, and I from the list of headings below.

List of Headings:
i. The role of wind patterns in trade development
ii. Religious and cultural transmission through commerce
iii. European disruption of traditional trading patterns
iv. Financial systems supporting maritime trade
v. Origins and early evidence of ocean trade
vi. The decline of Indian Ocean commerce
vii. Various goods exchanged across the network
viii. Modern perspectives on historical significance
ix. Technologies enabling sea navigation

19. Paragraph C ___
20. Paragraph E ___
21. Paragraph G ___
22. Paragraph I ___

Questions 23-26: Summary Completion

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

The Indian Ocean trade network connected multiple regions and offered advantages over land routes, including larger (23) __ and the ability to transport bulk goods. Different civilizations participated, with Indian merchants serving as important (24) __ between East and West. The network’s success depended on understanding (25) __ for sailing and innovations in shipbuilding. Port cities developed sophisticated (26) __ to support commerce, including early forms of banking and investment systems.

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PASSAGE 3 – The Trans-Saharan Trade Routes: Economic and Socio-Political Transformation in Medieval Africa

Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)

Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút

The trans-Saharan trade network, which flourished from approximately the 8th to the 16th centuries CE, represents a pivotal yet frequently underappreciated chapter in the historiography of global commerce. This intricate web of caravan routes traversing the world’s largest hot desert facilitated not merely the exchange of commodities but engendered profound transformations in the political structures, economic systems, and cultural landscapes of sub-Saharan Africa and the Mediterranean world. The network’s emergence, development, and eventual decline illuminate fundamental principles regarding the interplay between geographical constraints, technological adaptation, and socio-economic evolution in pre-modern commercial systems.

The viability of trans-Saharan commerce hinged upon a confluence of geographical, biological, and technological factors. The Sahara Desert, spanning approximately 9 million square kilometers, presented formidable obstacles to human transit: extreme temperature fluctuations, acute water scarcity, navigation difficulties in featureless terrain, and the absence of sustainable food sources. The domestication and subsequent introduction of the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) from Arabia into North Africa during the Roman period constituted the crucial prerequisite for establishing reliable desert crossings. The dromedary’s physiological adaptations – including its capacity to tolerate dehydration of up to 25% of body weight, efficient thermoregulation, and ability to traverse sandy terrain – rendered it uniquely suited to Saharan conditions. Camels could carry loads of approximately 150-200 kilograms and travel 40-50 kilometers daily, fundamentally altering the economic calculus of desert trade.

The emergence of trans-Saharan commerce during the Islamic expansion of the 7th and 8th centuries was not coincidental. The Arab conquest of North Africa created unified political structures that facilitated long-distance trade. More significantly, Islamic commercial practices and legal frameworks provided standardized mechanisms for conducting business across culturally diverse regions. Concepts such as commenda partnerships (mudaraba), where investors provided capital while merchants contributed labor and expertise, enabled the mobilization of substantial resources for expensive trading expeditions. The Islamic prohibition on charging interest stimulated innovative financial instruments, while the widespread use of Arabic as a commercial lingua franca reduced transaction costs associated with cross-cultural exchange.

The commodity structure of trans-Saharan trade exhibited distinctive asymmetries that shaped the economic trajectories of participating regions. The trade’s quintessential commodity was gold, extracted primarily from alluvial deposits in the Bambuk and Bure regions of West Africa (roughly corresponding to modern Mali and Guinea). This gold was pivotal to Mediterranean economies, particularly as European silver mines experienced declining productivity during the medieval period. North African and European states relied heavily on West African gold for minting coinage, with estimates suggesting that approximately two-thirds of gold circulating in the medieval Mediterranean originated from sub-Saharan sources. In exchange, the most significant import to West Africa was salt, extracted from Saharan deposits like Taghaza and Taoudenni. While this might appear incongruous to modern observers, salt was physiologically essential in tropical climates where human perspiration caused significant sodium loss, and its preservative properties made it economically valuable in societies lacking refrigeration technology.

Beyond these primary commodities, the trade encompassed a diverse array of goods reflecting the differential resource endowments of participating regions. North Africa exported textiles, horses, manufactured goods, and luxury items including glassware and metalwork. West Africa supplied ivory, kola nuts (a mild stimulant highly valued in Islamic regions where alcohol was prohibited), enslaved people, and various agricultural products. The human trade constituted a troubling dimension of this network, with conservative estimates suggesting thousands of enslaved Africans were transported northward annually. However, the scale and character of this trade differed substantially from the later transatlantic slave trade, being more limited in volume and characterized by different labor integration patterns in receiving societies.

The trans-Saharan trade catalyzed the emergence of powerful states and urban centers in West Africa. The Ghana Empire (c. 750-1240 CE), the Mali Empire (c. 1235-1600 CE), and the Songhai Empire (c. 1430-1591 CE) derived substantial portions of their wealth and power from controlling gold-producing regions and trade routes. These states developed sophisticated administrative structures to regulate commerce, including taxation systems, standardized weights and measures, and legal codes governing commercial transactions. Cities like Timbuktu, Gao, and Djenné evolved into cosmopolitan centers combining commercial, administrative, and intellectual functions. Timbuktu, in particular, became renowned as a center of Islamic learning, housing extensive libraries and attracting scholars from across the Islamic world, exemplifying how commercial networks facilitated intellectual exchange.

The socio-cultural ramifications of trans-Saharan trade extended far beyond economic transformation. The network served as the principal conduit for Islamic expansion into sub-Saharan Africa. Merchants often served as de facto missionaries, and the pragmatic advantages of adopting Islam – including access to commercial networks, literacy, and legal frameworks – incentivized conversion among West African elites and merchant classes. However, Islamic adoption was rarely wholesale; instead, syncretic practices emerged, blending Islamic and indigenous traditions. This religious transformation had far-reaching consequences, influencing legal systems, educational structures, architectural styles, and social organization. The introduction of Arabic literacy enabled more sophisticated record-keeping and administration, while Islamic scholarly traditions established educational institutions that preserved and transmitted knowledge.

The network’s organizational structure revealed sophisticated adaptation to environmental challenges and security concerns. Trade was conducted through large caravans, sometimes comprising hundreds or even thousands of camels, which provided collective security against bandits and improved navigation through pooled knowledge. Specialized groups dominated different segments of the trade: Berber peoples, particularly the Sanhaja and later the Tuareg, controlled much of the desert crossing, while various West African merchant groups, including the Wangara and Dyula, organized trade in sub-Saharan regions. Entrepôt cities emerged at critical junctures – such as Sijilmasa in Morocco and Walata in Mauritania – where goods were consolidated, merchants rested, and market information was exchanged. These cities developed specialized infrastructures, including caravanserais, water storage facilities, and market areas.

The trans-Saharan trade network’s decline during the 16th and 17th centuries resulted from multiple intersecting factors. The Portuguese exploration of West African coasts from the 15th century offered alternative routes for accessing gold and other commodities, bypassing desert routes and their associated costs and risks. The Moroccan invasion of the Songhai Empire in 1591, though initially motivated by desire to control gold sources, destabilized the political structures that had supported trade. Shifting commercial patterns in the broader Islamic world, including the growing importance of Indian Ocean trade and Atlantic commerce, reduced the relative significance of trans-Saharan routes. However, it should be noted that the network never completely ceased functioning; rather, its volume and economic significance diminished, with trade continuing at reduced levels into the colonial period.

Contemporary scholarship on trans-Saharan trade has evolved considerably, moving beyond earlier narratives that either romanticized or minimized African agency and achievement. Modern historians emphasize the sophisticated commercial practices, complex state structures, and rich intellectual traditions that characterized West African societies involved in this trade. Archaeological research, including excavations at sites like Tegdaoust (ancient Awdaghust) and Es-Souk, has provided material evidence complementing textual sources, enabling more nuanced reconstructions of economic practices and daily life. Interdisciplinary approaches incorporating climatology have revealed how environmental changes, including periods of desertification, affected trade routes and settlement patterns. This research underscores that trans-Saharan trade was not a peripheral phenomenon but rather a central component of medieval global commerce, comparable in significance to better-known networks and essential for understanding Africa’s integration into world economic systems.

Đoàn lạc đà chở hàng băng qua sa mạc Sahara thời trung cổ minh họa

Questions 27-40

Questions 27-31: Multiple Choice

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

27. According to the passage, the dromedary camel was crucial to trans-Saharan trade because it
    A. was native to the Sahara Desert
    B. could carry more weight than other animals
    C. possessed biological adaptations suited to desert conditions
    D. was introduced during the Islamic expansion

28. The emergence of trans-Saharan commerce during the Islamic expansion occurred because
    A. Arab conquerors forced Africans to trade
    B. Islamic practices provided standardized business mechanisms
    C. Muslims discovered West African gold deposits
    D. camels were first domesticated at this time

29. The passage suggests that West African gold was particularly important to Mediterranean economies because
    A. it was more pure than European gold
    B. European silver production was decreasing
    C. Islamic law required gold currency
    D. there were no other sources of precious metals

30. Timbuktu became significant as a
    A. military stronghold controlling trade routes
    B. center combining commerce and intellectual activity
    C. primary source of gold production
    D. port for Mediterranean shipping

31. The trans-Saharan trade network declined primarily due to
    A. depletion of West African gold deposits
    B. Islamic prohibition of certain trade practices
    C. alternative routes and political instability
    D. climate change making the Sahara impassable

Questions 32-36: Matching Features

Match the following regions/groups (32-36) with the correct characteristics (A-H).

Regions/Groups:
32. Bambuk and Bure regions
33. Taghaza and Taoudenni
34. Berber peoples
35. Sijilmasa and Walata
36. Wangara and Dyula

Characteristics:
A. Controlled desert crossing segments
B. Sources of West African gold
C. Organized sub-Saharan trade
D. Mediterranean trading posts
E. Salt extraction sites
F. Centers of Islamic learning
G. Entrepôt cities at critical junctions
H. European colonial settlements

Questions 37-40: Short-answer Questions

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

37. What type of partnership allowed investors to provide capital while merchants contributed expertise?
38. What physiological process in tropical climates made salt economically valuable in West Africa?
39. What type of practices emerged when Islamic and indigenous traditions blended?
40. What modern academic approaches have revealed how environmental changes affected trade routes?

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Answer Keys – Đáp Án

PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13

1. C
2. B
3. C
4. C
5. C
6. FALSE
7. TRUE
8. NOT GIVEN
9. TRUE
10. Han
11. Silk Road
12. Ottoman
13. Belt and Road Initiative

PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26

14. NOT GIVEN
15. NO
16. NO
17. NO
18. YES
19. i
20. vii
21. ii
22. viii
23. cargo capacity
24. intermediaries
25. monsoon winds / monsoon systems
26. economic structures / banking systems

PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40

27. C
28. B
29. B
30. B
31. C
32. B
33. E
34. A
35. G
36. C
37. commenda partnerships / mudaraba
38. perspiration / human perspiration
39. syncretic practices
40. interdisciplinary approaches

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Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Passage 1 – Giải Thích

Câu 1: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: established primarily, Emperor Wu
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 4-6
• Giải thích: Passage nói rõ “His reports sparked Chinese interest in establishing trade connections with distant civilizations” sau chuyến đi của Zhang Qian. Đây là lý do chính dẫn đến việc thành lập Con đường Tơ lụa. Đáp án A sai vì mục đích không phải mở rộng lãnh thổ. B sai vì nhiệm vụ ban đầu thất bại. D không được đề cập.

Câu 2: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: merchants traveling, typically
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 1-2
• Giải thích: “Merchants and traders rarely traveled the entire length… goods changed hands many times” chỉ rõ hàng hóa được trao đổi nhiều lần tại các điểm khác nhau. A sai vì họ “rarely traveled the entire length”. C và D không chính xác theo thông tin bài đưa ra.

Câu 6: FALSE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: single, continuous road
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 1
• Giải thích: Câu đầu tiên nói rõ “The Silk Road was not a single road but rather a vast network of trade routes”, trực tiếp mâu thuẫn với câu hỏi.

Câu 7: TRUE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Caravanserais, accommodation, security
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 4-5
• Giải thích: Passage xác nhận “These wayside stations provided essential services including accommodation, food, and security”, hoàn toàn khớp với statement.

Câu 10: Han

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: Chinese, Dynasty, began
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 1
• Giải thích: “The establishment of the Silk Road is often attributed to the Chinese Han Dynasty” cho thấy mạng lưới bắt đầu dưới triều đại này.

Câu 13: Belt and Road Initiative

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: China’s modern, aims, connections
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn cuối, dòng 3-4
• Giải thích: “The concept has been revived in modern times with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to create new economic corridors connecting…” cung cấp đáp án chính xác.

Passage 2 – Giải Thích

Câu 14: NOT GIVEN

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: more important than Silk Road
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 1-2
• Giải thích: Passage nói Indian Ocean network “was equally, if not more, significant” nhưng đây là cách diễn đạt mềm mỏng, không khẳng định chắc chắn nó quan trọng hơn. Writer không đưa ra judgment rõ ràng.

Câu 15: NO

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: began after Silk Road
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 1
• Giải thích: “The Indian Ocean trade network predates the Silk Road by several centuries” trực tiếp mâu thuẫn với statement, cho thấy nó xuất hiện trước, không phải sau.

Câu 19: i

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
• Vị trí: Paragraph C (đoạn 3)
• Giải thích: Đoạn này tập trung vào “monsoon wind systems” và cách chúng “were crucial for sailing”, “predictable seasonal winds”, giải thích vai trò của gió mùa trong việc phát triển thương mại – khớp với heading “The role of wind patterns in trade development”.

Câu 20: vii

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
• Vị trí: Paragraph E (đoạn 5)
• Giải thích: Đoạn này liệt kê chi tiết “remarkably diverse” commodities: spices, textiles, ivory, gold, porcelain, silk, tea… – rõ ràng là “Various goods exchanged across the network”.

Câu 23: cargo capacity

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Từ khóa: advantages, larger
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 4-5
• Giải thích: “the Indian Ocean network offered distinct advantages: larger cargo capacity, reduced transportation costs…” cung cấp cụm từ chính xác.

Câu 24: intermediaries

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Từ khóa: Indian merchants, between East and West
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 4-5
• Giải thích: “Indian merchants served as crucial intermediaries, leveraging their geographical position to facilitate exchanges between East and West” – từ “intermediaries” là đáp án.

Passage 3 – Giải Thích

Câu 27: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: dromedary camel, crucial
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 4-6
• Giải thích: “The dromedary’s physiological adaptations – including its capacity to tolerate dehydration… efficient thermoregulation, and ability to traverse sandy terrain – rendered it uniquely suited to Saharan conditions.” Đáp án C chính xác mô tả biological adaptations. A sai vì lạc đà được “introduced from Arabia”. B không phải lý do chính. D sai về thời gian.

Câu 28: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: Islamic expansion, occurred because
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 2-4
• Giải thích: “Islamic commercial practices and legal frameworks provided standardized mechanisms for conducting business” giải thích tại sao thương mại phát triển trong thời kỳ này. Đây là institutional framework, không phải force (A), discovery (C) hay domestication timing (D).

Câu 29: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: West African gold, particularly important, Mediterranean
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 5-6
• Giải thích: “particularly as European silver mines experienced declining productivity during the medieval period” là lý do gold trở nên quan trọng. A, C, D không được đề cập hoặc sai sự thật.

Câu 32: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 2-3
• Giải thích: “gold, extracted primarily from alluvial deposits in the Bambuk and Bure regions of West Africa” – rõ ràng đây là nguồn vàng.

Câu 33: E

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 7-8
• Giải thích: “salt, extracted from Saharan deposits like Taghaza and Taoudenni” – hai địa điểm khai thác muối.

Câu 37: commenda partnerships / mudaraba

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer
• Từ khóa: partnership, investors, capital, merchants, expertise
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 5-6
• Giải thích: “Concepts such as commenda partnerships (mudaraba), where investors provided capital while merchants contributed labor and expertise” – đáp án có thể là tên tiếng Anh hoặc tiếng Ả Rập.

Câu 38: perspiration / human perspiration

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer
• Từ khóa: physiological process, tropical climates, salt valuable
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 9-10
• Giải thích: “salt was physiologically essential in tropical climates where human perspiration caused significant sodium loss” – perspiration là quá trình sinh lý làm muối trở nên có giá trị.

Câu 39: syncretic practices

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer
• Từ khóa: Islamic, indigenous traditions, blended
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 5-6
• Giải thích: “However, Islamic adoption was rarely wholesale; instead, syncretic practices emerged, blending Islamic and indigenous traditions” – đây là thuật ngữ chính xác.

Câu 40: interdisciplinary approaches

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer
• Từ khóa: modern, environmental changes, trade routes
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn cuối, dòng 5-6
• Giải thích: “Interdisciplinary approaches incorporating climatology have revealed how environmental changes, including periods of desertification, affected trade routes” – interdisciplinary approaches là phương pháp nghiên cứu hiện đại.

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Từ Vựng Quan Trọng Theo Passage

Passage 1 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
vast network	noun phrase	/vɑːst ˈnetwɜːk/	mạng lưới rộng lớn	a vast network of trade routes	vast trade network, vast communication network
lucrative	adj	/ˈluːkrətɪv/	sinh lời, có lợi nhuận cao	the lucrative silk trade	lucrative business, lucrative market
attributed to	phrasal verb	/əˈtrɪbjuːtɪd tuː/	được cho là do, quy cho	is often attributed to the Han Dynasty	attributed to factors, attributed to causes
diplomatic mission	noun phrase	/ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk ˈmɪʃn/	sứ mệnh ngoại giao	sent on a diplomatic mission	carry out a diplomatic mission
forge alliances	verb phrase	/fɔːdʒ əˈlaɪənsɪz/	thiết lập liên minh	to forge alliances with kingdoms	forge partnerships, forge relationships
invaluable	adj	/ɪnˈvæljuəbl/	vô giá, quý báu	returned with invaluable information	invaluable experience, invaluable contribution
intermediary	noun/adj	/ˌɪntəˈmiːdiəri/	trung gian	intermediary traders	intermediary role, intermediary service
caravanserais	noun	/ˌkærəˈvænsəraɪz/	nhà trọ cho đoàn lữ hành	at various caravanserais	stay at caravanserais
commodity	noun	/kəˈmɒdəti/	hàng hóa, mặt hàng	the most famous commodity	essential commodity, trade commodity
conduit	noun	/ˈkɒndjuɪt/	kênh dẫn, phương tiện	a conduit for cultural exchange	conduit for information, conduit for trade
lingua franca	noun	/ˌlɪŋɡwə ˈfræŋkə/	ngôn ngữ chung	served as a lingua franca	become a lingua franca
treacherous	adj	/ˈtretʃərəs/	nguy hiểm, hiểm trở	treacherous mountain passes	treacherous conditions, treacherous terrain

Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
garners attention	verb phrase	/ˈɡɑːnəz əˈtenʃn/	thu hút sự chú ý	garners considerable attention	garner support, garner interest
facilitate	verb	/fəˈsɪlɪteɪt/	tạo điều kiện, hỗ trợ	facilitating commercial exchange	facilitate communication, facilitate process
maritime	adj	/ˈmærɪtaɪm/	thuộc về hàng hải	maritime system	maritime trade, maritime routes
geographically constrained	adj phrase	/ˌdʒiːəˈɡræfɪkli kənˈstreɪnd/	bị hạn chế về mặt địa lý	more geographically constrained	constrained by geography
predates	verb	/priːˈdeɪts/	có trước, tồn tại trước	predates the Silk Road	predate by centuries
harnessing	verb	/ˈhɑːnɪsɪŋ/	khai thác, tận dụng	harnessing the monsoon winds	harness energy, harness resources
predictable	adj	/prɪˈdɪktəbl/	có thể dự đoán	predictable seasonal winds	predictable pattern, predictable outcome
leveraging	verb	/ˈlevərɪdʒɪŋ/	tận dụng, khai thác	leveraging their geographical position	leverage advantage, leverage skills
astronomical prices	noun phrase	/ˌæstrəˈnɒmɪkl ˈpraɪsɪz/	giá cực cao	commanded astronomical prices	charge astronomical prices
iconic	adj	/aɪˈkɒnɪk/	mang tính biểu tượng	iconic vessel of Indian Ocean trade	iconic building, iconic figure
lateen sail	noun phrase	/ləˈtiːn seɪl/	buồm tam giác	distinctive triangular lateen sail	hoist a lateen sail
celestial navigation	noun phrase	/səˈlestiəl ˌnævɪˈɡeɪʃn/	định vị bằng thiên văn	knowledge of celestial navigation	use celestial navigation
conduit	noun	/ˈkɒndjuɪt/	kênh truyền tải	served as a conduit for diffusion	conduit for ideas
synthesis	noun	/ˈsɪnθəsɪs/	sự tổng hợp, kết hợp	remarkable synthesis of elements	cultural synthesis
monopolize	verb	/məˈnɒpəlaɪz/	độc quyền	attempted to monopolize trade	monopolize market, monopolize resources

Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
pivotal	adj	/ˈpɪvətl/	then chốt, quan trọng	pivotal yet frequently underappreciated	pivotal role, pivotal moment
historiography	noun	/hɪˌstɔːriˈɒɡrəfi/	biên sử học	in the historiography of global commerce	historical historiography
intricate web	noun phrase	/ˈɪntrɪkət web/	mạng lưới phức tạp	intricate web of caravan routes	intricate network
engendered	verb	/ɪnˈdʒendəd/	sinh ra, gây ra	engendered profound transformations	engender change, engender conflict
viability	noun	/ˌvaɪəˈbɪləti/	tính khả thi	the viability of trans-Saharan commerce	economic viability, long-term viability
confluence	noun	/ˈkɒnfluəns/	sự hợp lưu	a confluence of factors	confluence of events
formidable	adj	/ˈfɔːmɪdəbl/	đáng gờm, khó khăn	presented formidable obstacles	formidable challenge, formidable opponent
domestication	noun	/dəˌmestɪˈkeɪʃn/	sự thuần hóa	the domestication of the camel	animal domestication
physiological	adj	/ˌfɪziəˈlɒdʒɪkl/	thuộc sinh lý	physiological adaptations	physiological response, physiological needs
asymmetries	noun	/eɪˈsɪmətriz/	sự bất cân xứng	exhibited distinctive asymmetries	economic asymmetries
quintessential	adj	/ˌkwɪntɪˈsenʃl/	tinh túy, điển hình	the quintessential commodity	quintessential example
alluvial deposits	noun phrase	/əˈluːviəl dɪˈpɒzɪts/	trầm tích phù sa	extracted from alluvial deposits	rich alluvial deposits
incongruous	adj	/ɪnˈkɒŋɡruəs/	không hợp lý, trái ngược	might appear incongruous	incongruous situation
differential	adj	/ˌdɪfəˈrenʃl/	khác biệt, phân biệt	differential resource endowments	differential treatment
catalyzed	verb	/ˈkætəlaɪzd/	xúc tác, thúc đẩy	catalyzed the emergence of powerful states	catalyze change, catalyze growth
cosmopolitan	adj	/ˌkɒzməˈpɒlɪtən/	mang tính quốc tế	evolved into cosmopolitan centers	cosmopolitan city
syncretic	adj	/sɪŋˈkretɪk/	kết hợp nhiều yếu tố	syncretic practices emerged	syncretic religion
entrepôt	noun	/ˈɒntrəpəʊ/	trung tâm trung chuyển	entrepôt cities emerged	major entrepôt

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Kết Bài

Mạng lưới thương mại cổ đại với ý nghĩa lịch sử sâu sắc của chúng đại diện cho một chủ đề quan trọng và thường xuất hiện trong IELTS Reading. Ba passages trong bài thi mẫu này đã cung cấp góc nhìn toàn diện về các tuyến đường thương mại khác nhau – từ Con đường Tơ lụa nổi tiếng, mạng lưới hàng hải Ấn Độ Dương, đến các tuyến xuyên Sahara ít được biết đến hơn.

Các passages đã được thiết kế với độ khó tăng dần từ Easy đến Hard, giúp bạn làm quen với nhiều dạng câu hỏi khác nhau từ Multiple Choice, True/False/Not Given, Matching Headings đến Summary Completion và Short-answer Questions. Đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích cụ thể về vị trí thông tin và cách paraphrase sẽ giúp bạn tự đánh giá chính xác năng lực hiện tại và xác định những điểm cần cải thiện.

Hệ thống từ vựng được phân loại theo từng passage không chỉ giúp bạn mở rộng vốn từ học thuật mà còn hiểu rõ cách sử dụng chúng trong ngữ cảnh thực tế. Những collocations và cấu trúc ngữ pháp được làm đậm trong passages cũng là tài liệu quý giá cho việc nâng cao kỹ năng Writing và Speaking.

Hãy thực hành đề thi này trong điều kiện giống thi thật với thời gian 60 phút, sau đó đối chiếu đáp án và đọc kỹ phần giải thích để hiểu sâu hơn về kỹ thuật làm bài. Việc luyện tập thường xuyên với các đề thi chất lượng cao như thế này sẽ giúp bạn tự tin hơn và đạt được band điểm mong muốn trong kỳ thi IELTS thực tế.