Sample question paper of the Reading Culture Ambassador Contest 2024: Which work has enhanced your awareness, inspired you, guided you toward a positive lifestyle, and awakened the will to contribute to building a prosperous Vietnam?

Sample Exam for Reading Culture Ambassador 2024

The Work "Quietly in Sa Pa"

Through the gentle, profound pages of Nguyen Thanh Long, "Quietly in Sa Pa" emerges as a beautiful picture of the nature and people of the Northwest. The work not only evokes passion for the majestic and poetic beauty of Sa Pa but also conveys a profound message about a positive lifestyle, social responsibility, and the aspiration to contribute to the nation.

The main character of the work - a young meteorologist on the top of Yen Son - represents those who silently contribute to the nation. His life is intertwined with mist, mountain winds, and their silent yet arduous work. However, he is not discouraged by difficulties but maintains an optimistic spirit, passion for life, and enthusiasm for work. Every day, he meticulously records meteorological data, monitors the skies, and observes the rain and wind. Although his work is small, it plays an essential role in weather forecasting, serving production and the lives of the people.

The image of the young man on the top of Yen Son is like a lighthouse, illuminating the path for the younger generation. He serves as an example of responsibility and dedication to the community. Through the work, Nguyen Thanh Long affirms that everyone can contribute to the nation, no matter how silent or small their work may be.

"Quietly in Sa Pa" is not just a literary work but also a reminder for everyone to live responsibly and dedicate themselves to society. Especially in the new era of development, every young person should be aware of their role and responsibility, following the example of the young man on Yen Son to contribute to building a more prosperous and happy Vietnam.

The work has left a deep impression on me, stirring my pride for those who quietly contribute to the nation and urging me to live a meaningful life, contributing to the enrichment and civilization of my homeland and nation.

Sample Exam for Reading Culture Ambassador 2024

The Work "Barefoot, Iron Will"

The Vietnam War has always been a source of inspiration for writers and poets. "Barefoot, Iron Will" by James G. Zumwalt is such a book. The author portrays the history of the Vietnam War through information from 200 interviews, each linked to a specific person. It could be the story of a cultural worker, a general, or a civilian... Each story brings me a different feeling. Some stories about treating the wounded gave me goosebumps due to the lack of resources and the very realistic way of recounting. I felt as if I was standing there, witnessing each event and feeling the pain.

Unlike other books on the national war I've read, this is the first book about the Vietnam War written by someone from the opposite side during the anti-American period. Therefore, the pages of "Barefoot, Iron Will" are incredibly realistic and lively, like close-up camera shots, reflecting multiple deep perspectives on the relentless struggle. Both James, his brother, and father participated in the war in Vietnam. His father, the admiral commanding the US Navy in Vietnam, was also the one who ordered the spraying of herbicides, causing the infamous "Agent Orange" haunting for the Vietnamese people. His brother also became a victim, contracting cancer and dying thereafter. The loss of a loved one affected James and his father in two completely opposite ways. The herbicide spraying order was given based on assurances from its American manufacturers that it was harmless to humans; thus, following his son’s death, the admiral sought various ways to make the US government acknowledge the effects of Agent Orange and compensate veterans affected by the toxin. He worked to heal and soothe the pain of war on both sides. Contrarily, James couldn't let go of his hatred for those who took away his comrades, friends, and his dearly loved brother. He continually blamed the Vietnamese for his loss. In 1994, when visiting Vietnam with his father, encounters helped James view the Vietnamese differently, recognizing the war that the Americans lost due to a lack of comparable resolve.

"Barefoot, Iron Will" showcases the shift in perception of an American veteran about the Vietnam War, revealing the brutality and absurdity of war, and also highlights why there is a difference in casualty statistics between the two sides. Therefore, he wrote this book with the motivation "to ensure the mistakes of the Vietnam War never happen to future generations of Americans," not to make a "political statement."

Holding the book in my hands, I was genuinely drawn by the image on the cover. It depicts a soldier with bodily shortcomings. The soldier lost his right hand but still bends down using his arms to carry a "piece of metal" or some rock. Not only is the image profound, but the title is also very impactful. With just the four words "Barefoot, Iron Will," it clearly depicts the contrast between our country's situation at the time and the resilient, indomitable fighting spirit of the people during the most intense wartime.

When reading and reflecting on the stories James wrote, three things about the book particularly resonate with me.

Firstly, it speaks of ideals. Reading the book helped me understand that soldiers on both sides fought for their ideals, and we won because our ideals were stronger. In researching the Cu Chi Tunnels, James had the opportunity to meet Major General Tran Hai Phung, commander of the Cu Chi Tunnels. James was surprised when General Phung told him about the assassination of the US naval commander in Vietnam, who was James's father. At the end of the story, General Phung shook his hand and sent his apologies to James's father, as he was merely performing his duty as a soldier. The story helped me understand that the soldiers on the battlefield not only fought for their ideals but also empathized with the losses and sufferings of the opponent.

The second aspect that earns my admiration is the creativity of the Vietnamese military doctors. Every story the author encountered brought him a different narrative, yet the common theme was about scarcity. No Vietnamese troop was sufficiently fed. Everyone had to worry about daily meals because food was always short. The military doctors had to deal with even more severe shortages. Just imagine, what would doctors do without stethoscopes, medical gauze, or painkillers?... Yet they resolved all these difficulties with their creativity and intelligence. If you can't figure out what they did, then you should read the book.

The third aspect that moves and fills me with pride is the forgiveness of the Vietnamese people. Amid the war, a woman who had just lost her husband and son lit incense at the grave of an American pilot with the whisper: “May your soul soon return to your family in America.” The pain of war spares no side, and she, having lost her relatives, understood that. After all, the author realized that each government had different ways of fulfilling the just demands of its people. For the Vietnamese, it was peace. For peace, they were willing to sacrifice everything, overlook the past, and move towards the future to help Americans find their comrades’ remains, while their own lost soldiers still lay somewhere undiscovered on the battlefield.

It goes to show, obtaining "peace" where we occasionally complain about the hardships of life is indeed a monumental blessing (for surviving here doesn’t necessarily imply being whole). If you and I were born over half a century ago, when merely "surviving" was a significant fortune (survival here doesn’t imply wholeness), could we be as heroic, great, and extraordinary? From the book, I not only absorbed more insights about the devastating war that our people endured for many years but also looked back to appreciate the glorious past, furthermore understanding war from a new perspective. It deepened my admiration for the brave spirit, and strong will of those who contributed to the nation’s history. And as young people, regardless of which side we grow up on, we have the responsibility to build our increasingly splendid and developed homeland to be worthy of the sweat, blood, and sacrifices of our preceding generations that secured the peace and happiness we enjoy today.

I genuinely feel fortunate to have stumbled across and read this book. It is no exaggeration to say this work is a tribute of admiration from the author to the Vietnamese people.