ĐỀ THI THỬ VSTEP B1 — TRỌN BỘ 4 KỸ NĂNG

Passage 1 — Technology: AI in Vietnamese Agriculture

In the early morning, when the mist still hangs over the rice fields of the Mekong Delta, farmer Nguyen Van Thanh no longer walks alone to check his crops. Instead, he opens an app on his smartphone. A small drone flies above his five-hectare rice field, taking detailed photos of every plant. Within minutes, an artificial intelligence (AI) system analyzes the images and tells him exactly which areas need more water, which plants show signs of disease, and when the best time to harvest will be. "It is like having an expert standing in the field with me all day," Thanh says with a smile.

Vietnam is an agricultural country, with nearly 40 percent of its workforce employed in farming. However, Vietnamese farmers face many serious challenges. Climate change has brought more floods, droughts, and saltwater intrusion, especially in the Mekong Delta. Young people are leaving the countryside to work in cities, so there are fewer hands to work in the fields. Meanwhile, the demand for food keeps rising as the population grows. In this difficult situation, AI technology is bringing new hope.

Several Vietnamese technology companies have developed smart farming solutions designed for local conditions. For example, the "Smart Rice" app, created by a startup in Ho Chi Minh City, can recognize more than 20 common rice diseases from a single photo taken with an ordinary phone. The app then suggests the right treatment, helping farmers reduce the use of pesticides by up to 30 percent. This not only saves money but also protects the environment and the health of consumers.

In the Central Highlands, coffee growers are using AI-powered sensors buried in the soil. These sensors measure temperature, humidity, and nutrient levels every hour and send the data to the farmer's phone. The AI system studies weather forecasts and soil conditions to create a precise watering schedule. Farmers who use this system report that they use 40 percent less water while their coffee yield has increased by 15 percent.

Drones are another powerful tool. In Thai Binh province, farming cooperatives share expensive agricultural drones. The drones can spray fertilizer over one hectare in just 15 minutes, a job that would take a worker a whole day. They fly at a fixed height, spreading chemicals evenly, so farmers avoid breathing in harmful substances.

Despite these promising results, there are still obstacles. Many older farmers are not comfortable with smartphones and need training. The cost of equipment is still high for small family farms, and internet connections in remote areas are often weak. Experts believe that the government, technology companies, and farmers must work together to solve these problems.

Looking to the future, AI will not replace farmers, but it will change the way they work. As Thanh puts it, "The land still needs our hands and our hearts. Technology only helps us understand the land better." For Vietnam, where agriculture remains the backbone of the economy, that understanding could make all the difference.

Passage 2 — Health: Sleep and Students

At 1 a.m., while most of the city is asleep, the light is still on in Mai's small bedroom in Hanoi. The 17-year-old high school student is preparing for her final exams, and she believes that sleeping less means studying more. "I only sleep four or five hours a night," she says. "All my friends do the same. We drink coffee to stay awake." Mai is not alone. A recent survey of 2,000 Vietnamese students found that more than 60 percent sleep less than six hours per night during exam periods, far below the eight to ten hours that doctors recommend for teenagers.

Sleep is not wasted time. While we sleep, our brain organizes and stores what we learned during the day. Scientists call this process "memory consolidation." During deep sleep, the brain replays new information and moves it from short-term to long-term memory. This is why students who sleep well often remember lessons better than those who stay up late. In one experiment, two groups of students learned the same vocabulary. The group that slept eight hours remembered 25 percent more words the next day than the group that slept only four hours.

Lack of sleep harms more than memory. Teenagers who do not sleep enough often feel tired, stressed, and unable to concentrate in class. Their reaction time becomes slower, similar to that of a drunk driver, which is dangerous when riding a motorbike to school. Over a long time, poor sleep can weaken the immune system, cause weight gain, and even lead to depression. Doctors warn that many students mistake the short-term alertness from coffee for real energy, but caffeine cannot replace sleep; it only hides tiredness for a few hours.

So why do students sacrifice sleep? The pressure is enormous. Vietnamese students face heavy homework, extra classes, and high expectations from parents. Many also spend hours on smartphones before bed. The blue light from screens tricks the brain into thinking it is still daytime, making it harder to fall asleep.

The good news is that small changes can make a big difference. Experts suggest going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends. Students should stop using phones at least 30 minutes before bed and keep their bedroom dark, quiet, and cool.

Some schools in Vietnam have started to pay attention to this problem. A few high schools in Ho Chi Minh City now begin classes at 7:30 instead of 7:00 to give students more time to rest. As one principal said, "A tired student cannot learn well. Sleep is part of education, not its enemy."

Mai has started to change her habits. She now turns off her phone at 10:30 p.m. and sleeps seven hours a night. "At first I was afraid I would fall behind," she admits, "but my grades actually improved. I feel healthier and happier." Her story shows a simple truth: to study better, students may need to sleep more, not less.

Passage 3 — Environment: Plastic Pollution in the Mekong River

The Mekong River is one of the longest rivers in the world, flowing through six countries before reaching the sea in Vietnam. For millions of people in the Mekong Delta, the river is life itself: it provides water for rice fields, fish for daily meals, and a way to travel and trade. But today, this great river is facing a serious threat that you cannot always see clearly — plastic pollution.

Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste enter the world's oceans, and rivers carry most of it there. Scientists estimate that the Mekong is among the top ten rivers carrying plastic to the sea. In Vietnam, plastic bags, bottles, food containers, and fishing nets are commonly seen floating on the water or stuck along the riverbanks. In Can Tho, volunteers collecting rubbish along the river found that plastic makes up nearly 70 percent of all waste.

Where does all this plastic come from? A large part comes from daily life. In many delta towns, people still use dozens of plastic bags each week when shopping at local markets. Waste collection systems are incomplete, especially in rural areas, so rubbish is often thrown directly into canals or left on the ground, and rain washes it into the river. The fishing and aquaculture industry also contributes old nets, ropes, and foam boxes.

The damage is alarming. Plastic waste harms fish, birds, and other animals that mistake it for food. Tiny pieces called microplastics have been found in fish sold at delta markets, which means plastic is entering the human food chain. Plastic also blocks canals, making floods worse during the rainy season. For a region already suffering from climate change and saltwater intrusion, this is an extra heavy burden.

Fortunately, people are starting to fight back. In 2019, Vietnam launched a national action plan to reduce ocean plastic waste by 50 percent by 2025 and 75 percent by 2030. Many supermarkets now charge for plastic bags or offer paper alternatives. In Hoi An and Con Dao, local authorities have banned single-use plastics in certain areas. Young volunteers organize regular river clean-up events, collecting tons of waste each year.

Innovative ideas are also appearing. In some Mekong Delta villages, women turn plastic waste into eco-bricks for building houses and school walls. A social enterprise in Can Tho collects plastic bottles and transforms them into T-shirts and bags. These projects not only reduce pollution but also create jobs for local people.

Experts say that technology and laws alone are not enough. The most important change must happen in people's daily habits: refusing single-use plastics, sorting waste at home, and teaching children to protect the river. As a fisherman in An Giang said, "The river has fed our family for three generations. If we kill the river with plastic, we kill our own future." His words remind us that saving the Mekong starts with each of us, today.

Passage 4 — Culture & Festivals: Tet Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn Festival)

On the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, when the moon is at its roundest and brightest, millions of Vietnamese children carry colorful lanterns through the streets, singing cheerful songs. This is Tet Trung Thu, the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most beloved traditional festivals in Vietnam.

The festival has a history of thousands of years, originating from ancient harvest celebrations in Asia. In the past, after a long season of hard work in the rice fields, farmers held a festival to thank heaven and earth for a good harvest. The full moon was seen as a symbol of reunion, so families gathered together to share joy. Over time, the festival became especially dedicated to children, who are called "the future of the country." Parents prepare special gifts for their children to show love and to make up for the busy working days when they had little time for family.

No Mid-Autumn Festival is complete without mooncakes. These round cakes, symbolizing the full moon and family reunion, come in two main kinds: baked golden-brown cakes and soft white sticky-rice cakes. Traditional fillings include lotus seed paste, mung bean paste, and salted egg yolk. Giving mooncakes to relatives, friends, and business partners is a meaningful way to express good wishes.

Lanterns are the soul of the festival for children. In the past, lanterns were simple, made from bamboo frames covered with colored cellophane paper, often in the shapes of stars, fish, or butterflies. Children made them by hand with the help of their parents. Today, besides traditional lanterns, there are also modern plastic lanterns with lights and music, shaped like cartoon characters. On festival night, streets in towns and cities glow with thousands of lanterns, creating a magical scene.

Another highlight is the lion dance. Groups of young performers wear colorful lion costumes and dance to the exciting beat of drums through neighborhoods. It is believed that the lion dance brings good luck and drives away bad spirits. Children love to follow the lions, laughing and clapping.

In recent years, the festival has also become an occasion for charity. Many volunteer groups organize "Mid-Autumn Festival for poor children" programs, bringing mooncakes, lanterns, and gifts to children in remote mountainous areas and poor neighborhoods. For these children, who rarely receive toys, the festival brings unforgettable happiness.

However, some people worry that the festival is losing its traditional meaning. Expensive mooncake gift boxes, sometimes costing millions of dong, have turned a simple gift of love into a tool for business relationships. Cultural experts remind us that the true spirit of Tet Trung Thu lies not in expensive gifts, but in family reunion, love for children, and the simple joy of watching the full moon together.

As the bright moon rises over Vietnam each autumn, the Mid-Autumn Festival continues to connect generations. It reminds busy modern families to slow down, gather around, and share sweetness — both of mooncakes and of love.