Mở Bài
Công nghệ blockchain đang tạo nên cuộc cách mạng trong nhiều lĩnh vực, và y tế là một trong những ngành được hưởng lợi nhiều nhất từ công nghệ tiên tiến này. Chủ đề “How Is Blockchain Technology Being Used To Improve Healthcare Delivery?” không chỉ phổ biến trong các kỳ thi IELTS Reading gần đây mà còn là xu hướng toàn cầu đang thu hút sự quan tâm của cả giới học thuật và thực tiễn.
Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ được trải nghiệm một đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với ba passages có độ khó tăng dần, từ Easy (Band 5.0-6.5) đến Medium (Band 6.0-7.5) và Hard (Band 7.0-9.0). Đề thi bao gồm 40 câu hỏi đa dạng theo đúng format thi thật, kèm theo đáp án chi tiết và giải thích cụ thể. Bạn cũng sẽ học được từ vựng chuyên ngành quan trọng và các kỹ thuật làm bài hiệu quả.
Đề thi này phù hợp cho học viên từ band 5.0 trở lên, giúp bạn làm quen với cấu trúc câu hỏi, luyện tập kỹ năng đọc hiểu và quản lý thời gian một cách bài bản nhất.
Hướng Dẫn Làm Bài IELTS Reading
Tổng Quan Về IELTS Reading Test
Bài thi IELTS Reading kéo dài trong 60 phút với ba passages và tổng cộng 40 câu hỏi. Mỗi câu trả lời đúng được tính là 1 điểm, và band điểm cuối cùng được chuyển đổi dựa trên số câu đúng.
Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:
- Passage 1: 15-17 phút (độ khó thấp nhất, cần làm nhanh để dành thời gian cho các passage sau)
- Passage 2: 18-20 phút (độ khó trung bình, yêu cầu đọc kỹ hơn)
- Passage 3: 23-25 phút (độ khó cao nhất, cần thời gian suy luận và phân tích)
Lưu ý không có thời gian thêm để chép đáp án vào answer sheet, vì vậy bạn cần viết trực tiếp trong quá trình làm bài.
Các Dạng Câu Hỏi Trong Đề Này
Đề thi mẫu này bao gồm 7 dạng câu hỏi phổ biến nhất trong IELTS Reading:
- Multiple Choice – Trắc nghiệm nhiều lựa chọn
- True/False/Not Given – Xác định thông tin đúng/sai/không được nhắc đến
- Matching Information – Nối thông tin với đoạn văn
- Sentence Completion – Hoàn thành câu
- Yes/No/Not Given – Xác định quan điểm tác giả
- Matching Headings – Nối tiêu đề với đoạn văn
- Summary Completion – Hoàn thành tóm tắt
IELTS Reading Practice Test
PASSAGE 1 – Blockchain Basics in Healthcare
Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút
The healthcare industry has long struggled with inefficiencies in data management, privacy concerns, and security vulnerabilities. However, a revolutionary technology called blockchain is now offering solutions to many of these persistent problems. Originally developed as the foundation for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, blockchain has evolved into a powerful tool with applications far beyond digital currency.
At its core, blockchain is a decentralized database that stores information across multiple computers in a network. Unlike traditional databases controlled by a single organization, blockchain creates a distributed ledger where data is shared among all participants. Each piece of information, or “block,” is linked to the previous one, forming a chain. This structure makes it extremely difficult to alter or delete information once it has been recorded, providing an unprecedented level of security.
In healthcare settings, this technology is being used to address several critical challenges. One of the most important applications is in medical records management. Currently, patient information is often stored in separate systems at different hospitals, clinics, and laboratories. When patients move between healthcare providers, their medical history frequently fails to follow them, leading to duplicate tests, medication errors, and delayed treatments. Blockchain technology can create a unified, secure system where all authorized healthcare providers can access a patient’s complete medical history instantly.
Data security is another major benefit. Healthcare data is a prime target for cybercriminals because it contains valuable personal and financial information. Traditional databases have a single point of vulnerability – if hackers breach the main server, they can access everything. Blockchain’s distributed nature means there is no single point of failure. To compromise the system, attackers would need to simultaneously breach the majority of computers in the network, which is practically impossible with current technology.
Patient privacy is also enhanced through blockchain. The technology uses advanced cryptographic techniques to protect information. Patients can be given digital keys that allow them to control exactly who can access their medical records and for how long. This puts individuals in charge of their own health data, addressing growing concerns about privacy in the digital age. Some blockchain systems also allow patients to grant temporary access to their records for research purposes while maintaining anonymity, supporting medical research without compromising privacy.
The pharmaceutical industry is using blockchain to combat counterfeit medications, which the World Health Organization estimates account for up to 10% of medicines in developing countries. By recording every step of a drug’s journey from manufacturer to patient on a blockchain, companies can create an unbreakable chain of custody. Pharmacists and patients can verify that medications are genuine by checking the blockchain record, potentially saving thousands of lives annually.
Insurance claims processing represents another area of improvement. Currently, the process of submitting and approving insurance claims can take weeks or even months, involving multiple parties and extensive paperwork. Blockchain can automate much of this process through smart contracts – self-executing agreements that automatically trigger payments when certain conditions are met. For example, when a patient receives treatment, the blockchain can automatically verify the service, check the insurance policy, and process the payment, reducing processing time from weeks to minutes.
Despite these promising applications, blockchain in healthcare is still in its early stages. Implementation challenges include the high cost of establishing blockchain networks, the need for industry-wide standards, and resistance to change from established institutions. Additionally, questions remain about how to handle situations where incorrect information needs to be corrected, given blockchain’s immutable nature. Nevertheless, pilot programs around the world are demonstrating the technology’s potential, and experts predict widespread adoption within the next decade as these challenges are addressed.
Questions 1-13
Questions 1-5: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
-
What was blockchain technology originally created for?
A. Healthcare data management
B. Digital currencies
C. Medical research
D. Insurance processing -
According to the passage, how does blockchain differ from traditional databases?
A. It stores more information
B. It is controlled by multiple computers instead of one organization
C. It is faster to access
D. It costs less to maintain -
The main problem with current medical records systems is that:
A. They are too expensive
B. They contain too much information
C. They are not shared between different healthcare providers
D. They are difficult for doctors to understand -
What makes blockchain difficult for hackers to attack?
A. It uses complex passwords
B. It has no single vulnerable point
C. It is monitored by security experts
D. It automatically deletes sensitive information -
How are patients given control over their medical records in blockchain systems?
A. Through digital keys
B. By creating their own databases
C. Through insurance companies
D. By contacting healthcare providers directly
Questions 6-9: True/False/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage?
Write:
- TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
- FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
- NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
-
Blockchain was initially designed specifically for healthcare applications.
-
Counterfeit medications are a more serious problem in developing countries than in developed ones.
-
Smart contracts can reduce insurance claims processing time significantly.
-
All hospitals in developed countries have already adopted blockchain technology.
Questions 10-13: Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
-
In a blockchain, each piece of information is called a __.
-
The pharmaceutical industry uses blockchain to maintain an unbreakable __ of medications.
-
Blockchain allows patients to grant __ to their records for research while staying anonymous.
-
One challenge to implementing blockchain is the lack of __ across the healthcare industry.
PASSAGE 2 – Transforming Healthcare Data Management Through Blockchain
Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút
The integration of blockchain technology into healthcare systems represents a paradigm shift in how medical information is stored, shared, and utilized. While the previous generation of electronic health records (EHRs) represented a significant advancement over paper-based systems, they introduced new challenges related to interoperability, security, and patient autonomy. Blockchain technology, with its inherent characteristics of decentralization, immutability, and transparency, offers solutions to these persistent obstacles while creating new opportunities for innovation in healthcare delivery.
A. Data Interoperability and Seamless Exchange
One of the most compelling applications of blockchain in healthcare addresses the fragmented nature of medical data. In most countries, healthcare information exists in isolated silos, with each institution maintaining its own proprietary system. This fragmentation results in what experts call “information asymmetry” – where complete patient data exists across multiple locations but cannot be efficiently aggregated or accessed when needed. Studies have shown that this lack of coordination leads to approximately 30% of healthcare spending being wasted on unnecessary duplicate procedures and tests.
Blockchain-based health information exchanges (HIEs) create a unified architecture where data from disparate sources can be securely linked and accessed. Rather than storing the actual medical records on the blockchain itself – which would be impractical due to size constraints and privacy regulations – the system stores cryptographic hashes (unique digital fingerprints) and pointers to where the actual data resides. This approach maintains the integrity of information while preserving computational efficiency. When a healthcare provider needs access to a patient’s records, the blockchain verifies their credentials and permissions, then directs them to the relevant data sources.
B. Enhanced Security Through Cryptographic Protection
The security architecture of blockchain systems provides multiple layers of protection against both external attacks and internal breaches. Each transaction or data entry is encrypted using advanced cryptographic algorithms and requires consensus from multiple network nodes before being added to the chain. This consensus mechanism ensures that no single entity can unilaterally alter records, addressing a major vulnerability in centralized systems where privileged administrators or compromised credentials can lead to catastrophic data breaches.
Moreover, blockchain’s audit trail functionality creates a permanent, tamper-evident record of all access to patient information. Every time a healthcare provider views, modifies, or shares medical data, this action is recorded with a timestamp and digital signature. This granular tracking serves multiple purposes: it deters unauthorized access, facilitates compliance with regulations like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) or GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), and provides forensic evidence in case of security incidents. Research indicates that healthcare organizations using blockchain-based systems experience 65% fewer data breach incidents compared to those using traditional databases.
C. Patient-Centric Control and Consent Management
Perhaps the most transformative aspect of blockchain in healthcare is its potential to shift the paradigm from institution-centric to patient-centric data ownership. In traditional systems, healthcare providers effectively “own” patient data, with individuals having limited control over who accesses their information or how it is used. Blockchain enables the implementation of sophisticated consent management systems where patients can granularly control access permissions.
Through patient-controlled digital identities, individuals can create nuanced permission structures. For example, a patient might grant their primary care physician permanent access to all records, give a specialist temporary access to specific test results for six months, and allow a pharmaceutical company to access anonymized data for research purposes. These permissions are encoded in smart contracts that automatically enforce access rules without requiring ongoing manual administration. Furthermore, patients can revoke access at any time, and the distributed nature of blockchain ensures these changes are propagated throughout the network instantaneously.
D. Streamlining Clinical Trials and Research
The pharmaceutical research sector is leveraging blockchain to address endemic problems in clinical trials, where data integrity issues, patient recruitment challenges, and result verification difficulties have long plagued the industry. Blockchain-based trial management systems create immutable records of trial protocols, patient consent forms, and experimental results, making it impossible to retroactively alter data to achieve desired outcomes – a practice that has undermined the credibility of numerous studies.
Patient recruitment for trials is also being revolutionized. Blockchain-based patient matching systems can search across multiple healthcare institutions to identify eligible participants while preserving privacy through zero-knowledge proofs – cryptographic techniques that verify eligibility without revealing underlying medical details. This approach has been shown to reduce trial recruitment time by up to 40%, accelerating the development of new treatments. Additionally, blockchain enables more equitable compensation for trial participants through automated smart contract payments, ensuring immediate and transparent disbursement when milestones are achieved.
E. Implementation Challenges and Future Directions
Despite its promise, blockchain adoption in healthcare faces substantial obstacles. Scalability remains a significant concern, as current blockchain networks process transactions much more slowly than traditional databases. The need for consensus mechanisms that maintain security while improving speed is driving research into new algorithmic approaches. Regulatory uncertainty also poses challenges, as healthcare regulators worldwide are still developing frameworks for blockchain-based systems.
Furthermore, the entrenchment of existing systems creates inertia. Healthcare institutions have invested billions in current EHR systems and are reluctant to undertake costly migrations without clear return on investment demonstrations. Industry experts suggest that successful adoption will likely follow a hybrid approach, where blockchain is initially implemented for specific use cases like consent management or prescription tracking, with gradual expansion as the technology matures and proves its value.
Hệ thống quản lý dữ liệu y tế bằng công nghệ blockchain với các máy chủ kết nối và bảo mật thông tin bệnh nhân
Questions 14-26
Questions 14-17: Yes/No/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the passage?
Write:
- YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
- NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
- NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
-
Electronic health records completely solved all problems related to medical data management.
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Storing complete medical records directly on the blockchain would be impractical.
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Blockchain systems are completely immune to all types of security breaches.
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The shift to blockchain technology will happen gradually rather than all at once.
