Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 7...

Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 7 to 16.

Across Southeast Asia, a growing number of young people are turning to community museums and online archives to rediscover their cultural roots. Unlike traditional museums that rely heavily on experts, these “participatory museums” encourage citizens to contribute family photos, recordings of local songs, and stories of historical events. [I] The aim is to make cultural preservation more democratic and accessible.

Yet this model has sparked debate. [II] Supporters argue that involving ordinary people allows for more diverse narratives, especially those of ethnic minorities whose histories are often overlooked. They say digital archives give young contributors the tools to document customs before they disappear. Critics, however, claim such projects may lead to inaccuracies. A story passed down through generations might be touching, but it may omit important facts. To maintain reliability, some museums now require submissions to be checked by historians before being displayed.

The trend also reflects a shift in how young people express identity. Rather than seeing culture as something fixed, they view it as dynamic and interconnected with modern life. [III] A university student in Ho Chi Minh City, for instance, created a virtual exhibition comparing traditional clothing with contemporary fashion designs inspired by ethnic patterns. The project attracted thousands of online visitors and sparked conversations about respectful cultural adaptation.

Despite its challenges, participatory preservation is expected to expand. [IV] As climate change and urban development threaten ancient villages, many communities believe that documenting heritage digitally may be the only way to protect it. The question now is how to balance creativity with accuracy so that cultural identity is neither frozen in the past nor distorted for online attention.

Question 7. According to paragraph 1, participatory museums differ from traditional museums in that they ____________.

A. allow the public to contribute cultural materials

B. prioritise global exhibits

C. limit access to digital resources

D. display only expert-verified artefacts

Question 8. The word “accessible” in paragraph 1 is CLOSEST in meaning to ____________.

A. easy to reach        B. carefully protected                C. modern                        D. expensive

Question 9. What is one criticism of participatory museums.

A. They require costly digital equipment.

B. They focus too much on ethnic minorities.

C. They prevent experts from giving opinions.

D. They may include stories that are not fully accurate.

Question 10. The word “it” in paragraph 4 refers to ____________.

A. ancient villages        B. participatory preservation         C. heritage                        D. climate change

Question 11. Which of the following is mentioned as a positive outcome of digital archives?

A. They reduce the need for historians.

B. They help record cultural practices before they vanish.

C. They make traditional museums unnecessary.

D. They restrict young people’s involvement.

Question 12. Which of the following best summarises paragraph 3?

A. Young people view culture as adaptable and use technology to reinterpret it.

B. Cultural identity is losing relevance among university students.

C. Students lack interest in culture unless it is connected to fashion.

D. Virtual exhibitions are more popular than physical museums.

Question 13. What can be inferred about participatory preservation?

A. It is unpopular among community organisations.

B. It may become more important due to threats to cultural heritage.

C. It is mainly supported by historians.

D. It will eventually replace all traditional museums.

Question 14. The word “shift” in paragraph 3 most nearly means ____________.

A. decoration                B. reduction                        C. influence                        D. movement

Question 15. Which sentence best fits the passage?

“Questions have been raised about whether community-generated content can remain both creative and historically reliable.”

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

Question 16. Which of the following best summarises the passage?

A. Participatory preservation offers opportunities and challenges as communities try to protect cultural identity.

B. Technology weakens traditional cultural practices and discourages community involvement.

C. Participatory museums risk losing accuracy, so experts should control cultural archives.

D. Young people misunderstand cultural identity and rely too much on fashion trends.