thangleo103147 9/8/2025 10:55:17 AM

Vietnam has made remarkable strides in aligning its national development strategies with ASEAN's collective vision. To rub salt in the wound of critics who doubted Vietnam's commitment, the country has consistently outperformed regional expectations in several key sustainability metrics. Since joining ASEAN in 1995, Vietnam has transformed from one of the region's poorest nations into a middle-income country with impressive growth rates and poverty reduction achievements. This progress demonstrates Vietnam's dedication to the shared goals of economic integration, social responsibility, and environmental protection that form the cornerstone of ASEAN's development framework.

The Vietnamese government has implemented comprehensive policies that directly support sustainable development goals. These initiatives focus on green growth, renewable energy adoption, and climate change resilience—priorities that mirror ASEAN's Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025. Vietnam's National Green Growth Strategy exemplifies this alignment, targeting reduced carbon emissions while promoting sustainable infrastructure development. Additionally, Vietnam has established special economic zones that attract foreign investment while maintaining strict environmental regulations. These coordinated efforts highlight Vietnam's practical approach to balancing economic advancement with ecological preservation.

Vietnam faces significant challenges in its sustainability journey despite notable progress. [I] Environmental degradation, particularly in urban areas and industrial zones, threatens to undermine development gains. [II] Rising sea levels pose an existential threat to the Mekong Delta, Vietnam's agricultural heartland, which produces nearly 90% of the country's rice exports. Furthermore, income inequality between urban and rural populations remains substantial. [III] Vietnam has responded by enhancing cross-border cooperation with fellow ASEAN members on water resource management, disaster preparedness, and knowledge exchange programs. [IV] 

The next phase of Vietnam's sustainability evolution demands innovative approaches beyond conventional development paradigms. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain offer unprecedented opportunities to monitor environmental compliance and optimize resource allocation. Vietnam's ambitious pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 necessitates fundamental economic restructuring and deeper institutional reforms. Success will hinge on Vietnam's capacity to forge strategic public-private partnerships while effectively leveraging international support mechanisms. As ASEAN pursues greater economic integration, Vietnam's experience provides valuable insights about maintaining the delicate balance between rapid development and environmental stewardship—a critical equilibrium all developing nations must achieve for truly sustainable growth.

Question 31: The phrase “rub salt in the wound” in paragraph 1 could be best replaced by _________.

  1. break down                        B. pick up                        C. get over                        D. make worse

Question 32: Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a challenge Vietnam faces in its sustainability journey?

  1. Political instability
  2. Environmental degradation
  3. Rising sea levels
  4. Income inequality

Question 33: The word “These” in paragraph 2 refers to _________.

  1. Sustainable development goals
  2. National strategies
  3. Comprehensive policies
  4. ASEAN members

Question 34: The word “exemplifies” in paragraph 2 is OPPOSITE in meaning to _________.

  1. demonstrates                B. contradicts                        C. illustrates                        D. represents

Question 35: Where in paragraph 3 does the following sentence best fit?

These collaborative initiatives demonstrate how regional integration strengthens individual nations' capacity to address complex sustainability challenges.

  1. [I]                                B. [II]                                C. [III]                        D. [IV]

Question 36: Which of the following best summarises paragraph 3?

  1. Vietnam addresses sustainability challenges through regional cooperation despite environmental threats and socioeconomic inequality
  2. Vietnam produces ninety percent of its rice exports from the Mekong Delta region facing serious environmental degradation issues
  3. Environmental degradation in Vietnam's urban areas necessitates immediate government intervention to prevent economic collapse
  4. ASEAN member states have established collaborative programs focusing primarily on Vietnam's agricultural sustainability needs

Question 37: Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 4?

  1. Vietnam must enforce strict regulations on private companies while seeking foreign investment to achieve its sustainability goals.
  2. International organizations should provide more financial assistance to Vietnam for implementing its carbon neutrality initiatives.
  3. Vietnam's development strategy requires cooperation with neighboring countries to establish effective environmental policies.
  4. Vietnam's achievements will depend on building key business alliances while making effective use of global support resources.

Question 38: Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

  1. Vietnam achieved carbon neutrality ahead of schedule through innovative blockchain applications in environmental monitoring.
  2. Vietnam has transformed from one of the region's poorest nations into a middle-income country since joining ASEAN in 1995.
  3. The Mekong Delta produces all of Vietnam's agricultural exports while facing minimal environmental threats from climate change.
  4. ASEAN's development framework prioritizes rapid industrialization over ecological conservation in its member nations' policies.

Question 39: Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

  1. Vietnam's sustainability approach could serve as a model for other developing nations seeking balanced economic and environmental progress.
  2. Critics of Vietnam's development policies have acknowledged their errors as the country achieved unprecedented carbon reduction targets.
  3. Vietnam has sacrificed short-term economic gains in favor of long-term environmental protection since joining ASEAN twenty years ago.
  4. The Mekong Delta region will eventually relocate its agricultural production to higher elevations due to inevitable climate change impacts.

Question 40: Which of the following best summarises the passage?

  1. Vietnam's economic transformation has come at significant environmental cost despite international pressure to adopt more sustainable practices.
  2. ASEAN's development blueprint has fundamentally reshaped Vietnam's national priorities and forced compliance with regional sustainability standards.
  3. Vietnam has achieved remarkable sustainable development by aligning with ASEAN goals while facing challenges that require innovation and collaboration.
  4. Vietnam's environmental regulations have attracted foreign investment primarily from nations seeking to avoid stricter controls in developed economies.

    Test 1 - Unit 4