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