IELTS Reading: Mạng Xã Hội và Thuyết Âm Mưu – Đề Thi Mẫu Có Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Mở Bài

Chủ đề về ảnh hưởng của mạng xã hội đến sự lan truyền thuyết âm mưu đang trở thành một trong những đề tài phổ biến trong IELTS Reading, xuất hiện với tần suất ngày càng cao trong các kỳ thi gần đây. Đây là chủ đề liên quan đến công nghệ, tâm lý học và xã hội học – những lĩnh vực được IELTS ưa chuộng.

Bài viết này cung cấp cho bạn một bộ đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với 3 passages từ dễ đến khó, giúp bạn làm quen với nhiều dạng câu hỏi khác nhau: Multiple Choice, True/False/Not Given, Yes/No/Not Given, Matching Headings, Summary Completion, và Short-answer Questions. Tổng cộng 40 câu hỏi được thiết kế sát với đề thi thật, kèm theo đáp án chi tiết và giải thích cụ thể về cách tìm thông tin trong bài.

Đặc biệt, bạn sẽ học được hàng chục từ vựng quan trọng về chủ đề công nghệ và truyền thông, các collocations học thuật, cùng kỹ thuật paraphrase – yếu tố then chốt để đạt band điểm cao. Bộ đề này phù hợp cho học viên từ band 5.0 trở lên, giúp bạn rèn luyện kỹ năng đọc hiểu một cách bài bản và chiến lược.

1. Hướng Dẫn Làm Bài IELTS Reading

Tổng Quan Về IELTS Reading Test

IELTS Reading Test kéo dài 60 phút với 3 passages và tổng cộng 40 câu hỏi. Mỗi câu trả lời đúng được tính 1 điểm, không bị trừ điểm khi sai. Độ khó của các passages tăng dần từ Passage 1 đến Passage 3.

Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:

• Passage 1 (Easy): 15-17 phút cho 13 câu hỏi
• Passage 2 (Medium): 18-20 phút cho 13 câu hỏi
• Passage 3 (Hard): 23-25 phút cho 14 câu hỏi

Lưu ý dành 2-3 phút cuối để chuyển đáp án vào Answer Sheet. Bạn không có thêm thời gian cho việc này, vì vậy quản lý thời gian rất quan trọng.

Các Dạng Câu Hỏi Trong Đề Này

Bộ đề thi này bao gồm 7 dạng câu hỏi phổ biến nhất trong IELTS Reading:

1. Multiple Choice – Chọn đáp án đúng từ A, B, C, D
2. True/False/Not Given – Xác định thông tin đúng/sai/không có trong bài
3. Matching Headings – Nối tiêu đề với đoạn văn phù hợp
4. Summary Completion – Điền từ vào chỗ trống trong đoạn tóm tắt
5. Sentence Completion – Hoàn thành câu với thông tin từ bài đọc
6. Matching Features – Nối thông tin với nhân vật/tổ chức tương ứng
7. Short-answer Questions – Trả lời câu hỏi ngắn với số từ giới hạn

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2. IELTS Reading Practice Test

PASSAGE 1 – The Rise of Social Media and Information Sharing

Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút

Over the past two decades, social media platforms have fundamentally transformed the way people communicate and share information. What began as simple networking websites has evolved into complex ecosystems where billions of users interact, share content, and form communities around shared interests. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube have become integral parts of daily life for people across the globe, changing not only how we connect with friends and family but also how we consume news and information.

The unprecedented speed at which information spreads on social media is one of its most distinctive characteristics. A single post can reach millions of people within hours, transcending geographical boundaries and time zones. This rapid dissemination of information has both positive and negative implications. On one hand, social media enables people to stay informed about current events, mobilize support for important causes, and maintain relationships across distances. On the other hand, it has created an environment where unverified information can spread just as quickly as accurate news.

Traditional media outlets, such as newspapers and television broadcasters, once served as gatekeepers of information. These organizations employed professional journalists who were trained to verify facts, check sources, and present balanced reporting. The rise of social media has disrupted this model, allowing anyone with an internet connection to become a content creator and information distributor. While this democratization of information sharing has given voice to marginalized groups and enabled citizen journalism, it has also made it more difficult for people to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources.

The algorithmic nature of social media platforms plays a crucial role in determining what content users see. These algorithms are designed to show users content that will keep them engaged on the platform for as long as possible. They analyze user behavior, including what posts people like, share, and comment on, to predict what content will be most interesting to them. This creates what experts call “filter bubbles” or “echo chambers” – situations where users are primarily exposed to information that reinforces their existing beliefs and opinions.

Psychological factors also influence how people interact with information on social media. Research has shown that people are more likely to share content that triggers strong emotional responses, particularly feelings of anger, fear, or excitement. This emotional contagion means that sensational or controversial content often spreads more rapidly than mundane factual information. Additionally, people tend to trust information shared by friends and family more than information from unknown sources, even when those close connections may not have verified the accuracy of what they are sharing.

The business model of social media platforms is based on advertising revenue, which is directly tied to user engagement metrics such as time spent on the platform and interactions with content. This creates an incentive structure where platforms prioritize content that keeps users engaged, regardless of its accuracy or social value. Controversial or emotionally charged content typically generates more engagement than straightforward factual reporting, leading to concerns that these platforms may inadvertently promote misleading information.

Privacy concerns have also emerged as a significant issue in the social media age. These platforms collect vast amounts of data about their users, including their interests, behaviors, and social connections. This data is used not only to target advertisements but also to refine the algorithms that determine what content users see. Critics argue that this level of data collection raises serious questions about user privacy and the potential for this information to be misused.

Despite these challenges, social media continues to grow in popularity and influence. Understanding how these platforms work and how they shape the flow of information is increasingly important for anyone seeking to be an informed digital citizen. As these technologies continue to evolve, finding ways to harness their benefits while mitigating their risks remains one of the most important challenges of our time.

Questions 1-13

Questions 1-5: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

1. According to the passage, social media has changed
   A. only how people communicate with family
   B. both personal communication and news consumption
   C. primarily the newspaper industry
   D. the way people watch television

2. Traditional media outlets are described as having been
   A. faster than social media
   B. gatekeepers of information
   C. unprofessional in their approach
   D. unable to verify facts

3. Filter bubbles occur when
   A. users share too much information
   B. algorithms show diverse viewpoints
   C. people see mainly content that matches their beliefs
   D. social media platforms collect data

4. The business model of social media is based on
   A. subscription fees from users
   B. government funding
   C. advertising revenue
   D. selling user data

5. According to the passage, people are more likely to trust information
   A. from professional journalists
   B. that is verified by fact-checkers
   C. shared by friends and family
   D. from traditional media outlets

Questions 6-9: True/False/Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the information given 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

6. Social media platforms have existed for more than twenty years.
7. All social media content is reviewed before it is published.
8. Emotional content spreads faster than factual information on social media.
9. Social media companies make most of their profit from subscription services.

Questions 10-13: Sentence Completion

Complete the sentences below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

10. The rise of social media has allowed anyone to become a __ and share information widely.
11. Social media algorithms create __ where users mainly see content matching their existing views.
12. Platforms collect data to target advertisements and __ their algorithms.
13. Being an informed __ requires understanding how social media platforms work.

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PASSAGE 2 – How Conspiracy Theories Spread Online

Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút

Conspiracy theories – beliefs that significant events are the result of secret plots by powerful groups – have existed throughout history. However, the digital age has dramatically altered the landscape in which these theories emerge and spread. Social media platforms have become fertile ground for conspiracy theories to take root and flourish, reaching audiences that would have been impossible to access in the pre-internet era.

The proliferation of conspiracy theories on social media can be attributed to several interconnected factors. First, the algorithmic curation of content on these platforms tends to create self-reinforcing information environments. When a user shows interest in a particular conspiracy theory by clicking on, liking, or sharing related content, the algorithm interprets this as a signal to show them more similar content. This creates a feedback loop where users are increasingly exposed to conspiratorial content while being shielded from contradictory information or debunking efforts.

Research by psychologists and communication scholars has revealed that certain psychological predispositions make individuals more susceptible to conspiracy theories. People who feel powerless or marginalized may be drawn to conspiracy theories because they offer simple explanations for complex problems and identify clear villains to blame. Additionally, individuals with a high need for cognitive closure – a desire for definite answers rather than ambiguity – may find conspiracy theories appealing because they provide comprehensive explanations for confusing events.

The social dynamics of online communities play a crucial role in amplifying conspiracy theories. Social media allows like-minded individuals to form communities regardless of geographical location. Within these groups, conspiratorial beliefs are normalized and reinforced through repeated exposure and social validation. Members who express skepticism may be ostracized or labeled as naive, creating social pressure to conform to the group’s beliefs. This group polarization effect means that discussions within these communities often drive members toward more extreme versions of the conspiracy theories rather than moderating their views.

Confirmation bias – the tendency to seek out and interpret information in ways that confirm existing beliefs – is exacerbated by the design of social media platforms. Users can easily find content that supports their views while avoiding information that challenges them. This is made easier by the way search functions and recommendation algorithms work, prioritizing content similar to what users have previously engaged with. The sheer volume of information available online means that conspiracy theorists can almost always find some piece of content, however dubious its source, that seems to support their claims.

The democratization of content creation has also contributed to the spread of conspiracy theories. Anyone can create professional-looking videos, websites, or social media posts that superficially resemble legitimate news sources. The lack of gatekeeping means that content created by individuals with no expertise or accountability can reach vast audiences. Many users lack the media literacy skills necessary to critically evaluate sources and may not distinguish between professional journalism and amateur conspiracy content.

Timing and cultural context also influence how conspiracy theories spread. Theories often emerge during periods of crisis or uncertainty, when people are searching for explanations for threatening or confusing events. The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, created conditions ripe for conspiracy theories about the virus’s origins, the efficacy of treatments, and the intentions of public health officials. During such times, the information vacuum created by the novel and rapidly evolving nature of the crisis allows conspiracy theories to fill the gap before accurate information becomes available.

The consequences of conspiracy theory proliferation on social media extend beyond mere misinformation. Some conspiracy theories have led to real-world violence, harassment of individuals falsely accused of wrongdoing, and public health risks when they discourage people from taking life-saving precautions like vaccines. They can also erode trust in legitimate institutions, making it harder for governments, scientists, and journalists to communicate effectively with the public.

Platform responses to conspiracy theory content have been inconsistent and controversial. While some platforms have implemented fact-checking programs and content moderation policies aimed at reducing the spread of demonstrably false information, these efforts face significant challenges. Determining what constitutes a conspiracy theory versus a legitimate alternative viewpoint can be difficult, raising concerns about censorship. Additionally, aggressive content moderation may drive conspiracy theorists to alternative platforms with even fewer safeguards, creating more insular communities where beliefs become more radicalized.

Understanding the mechanisms through which social media facilitates the spread of conspiracy theories is essential for developing effective countermeasures. Education in digital literacy and critical thinking skills, combined with platform design changes that reduce algorithmic amplification of conspiratorial content, may help address this growing challenge.

Biểu Đồ Minh Họa Cách Mạng Xã Hội Thúc Đẩy Lan Truyền Thuyết Âm Mưu Qua Thuật Toán

Questions 14-26

Questions 14-18: 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

14. Social media has made it easier for conspiracy theories to reach large audiences than before.
15. All people are equally likely to believe conspiracy theories.
16. Online communities always help moderate extreme beliefs.
17. Professional-looking content on social media is always reliable.
18. Platform responses to conspiracy theories have been completely effective.

Questions 19-23: Matching Headings

The passage has nine paragraphs. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-F from the list of headings below.

List of Headings:
i. The role of timing in conspiracy theory emergence
ii. Psychological factors that attract people to conspiracy theories
iii. Platform policies and their limitations
iv. How algorithms create echo chambers
v. The impact of social media communities on belief reinforcement
vi. The historical context of conspiracy theories
vii. How confirmation bias is strengthened online
viii. The dangers of widespread conspiracy theories
ix. The challenge of content creation without oversight

19. Paragraph B (begins with “The proliferation of conspiracy theories…”)
20. Paragraph C (begins with “Research by psychologists…”)
21. Paragraph D (begins with “The social dynamics…”)
22. Paragraph E (begins with “Confirmation bias…”)
23. Paragraph F (begins with “The democratization…”)

Questions 24-26: Summary Completion

Complete the summary below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Conspiracy theories often emerge during times of 24. __ or uncertainty, when people need explanations for confusing events. The COVID-19 pandemic created ideal conditions because it was a 25. __ situation that evolved rapidly. The 26. __ created by lack of immediate accurate information allowed conspiracy theories to spread.

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PASSAGE 3 – Cognitive Mechanisms and Digital Epistemology in the Age of Social Media

Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)

Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút

The epistemic crisis precipitated by social media’s ubiquity represents one of the most formidable challenges to democratic discourse and rational deliberation in contemporary society. While scholarly attention has traditionally focused on the technological and algorithmic dimensions of misinformation propagation, a more nuanced understanding requires examining the intricate interplay between cognitive architecture, social identity formation, and the affordances of digital communication platforms. This multidimensional analysis reveals that the susceptibility to conspiracy theories and counterfactual narratives is not merely a consequence of technological manipulation but rather emerges from fundamental aspects of human cognition and social psychology that are being exploited and amplified by platform design.

At the neurological level, research utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has demonstrated that processing information that contradicts deeply held beliefs activates brain regions associated with threat perception and emotional distress, specifically the amygdala and insular cortex. Conversely, encountering information that aligns with existing beliefs triggers activation in the ventral striatum, a region associated with reward processing and positive reinforcement. This neurobiological predisposition suggests that the human brain has evolved to resist information that challenges established worldviews, treating such challenges as potential threats to coherent self-identity. Social media platforms, through their algorithmic prioritization of engagement-maximizing content, inadvertently create environments that capitalize on these neurological tendencies, preferentially surfacing content that validates users’ preexisting beliefs while suppressing contradictory evidence.

The concept of “epistemic closure” – a condition in which individuals become epistemologically insulated from information and arguments that challenge their beliefs – provides a useful framework for understanding how online communities centered around conspiracy theories develop and maintain themselves. Unlike traditional information environments where exposure to diverse viewpoints was virtually unavoidable, social media enables the construction of bespoke information ecosystems where every piece of content has been curated to reinforce a particular worldview. This phenomenon is compounded by homophily – the tendency for individuals to associate with others who share similar characteristics and beliefs – which on social media manifests as the formation of tightly knit communities with remarkably uniform belief systems.

Social identity theory offers crucial insights into why conspiracy theories prove so resilient to debunking efforts. According to this theoretical framework, individuals derive significant portions of their self-concept from their group memberships, and threats to group beliefs are therefore experienced as threats to personal identity. For members of conspiracy theory communities, the shared belief in the conspiracy becomes a defining characteristic of group membership. Empirical research has shown that presenting contradictory evidence to conspiracy believers often backfires, causing them to cling more tenaciously to their beliefs – a phenomenon known as the “backfire effect” or “worldview backfire effect”. This occurs because contradictory evidence is interpreted not as a refutation of the conspiracy theory but as evidence of the conspiracy’s power and the lengths to which conspirators will go to conceal the truth.

The information-processing heuristics that humans employ to navigate complex environments also contribute to conspiracy theory susceptibility. The “availability heuristic” leads people to judge the probability of events based on how easily examples come to mind, and social media’s algorithmic amplification of sensational content means that conspiracy-related information becomes disproportionately available in users’ consciousness. Similarly, the “representativeness heuristic” – judging the likelihood that something belongs to a category based on how well it matches the prototype of that category – can lead people to see patterns and connections that do not exist, a tendency that conspiracy theories exploit by presenting superficially coherent narratives that match people’s preconceptions about how power operates in society.

The asymmetry between the effort required to create misinformation and the effort required to debunk it – sometimes called “Brandolini’s Law” or the “bullshit asymmetry principle” – creates a structural advantage for conspiracy theories in the social media environment. A single conspiracy theorist can generate dozens of false claims in the time it takes a fact-checker to thoroughly debunk one, and the attention economy of social media means that sensational false claims often achieve far greater reach than subsequent corrections. Moreover, the psychological research on the “illusory truth effect” demonstrates that repeated exposure to false information increases perceived truthfulness, regardless of whether the information was explicitly identified as false. Given social media’s tendency to recirculate content, this effect becomes particularly pernicious.

From a sociological perspective, the rise of conspiracy theories on social media can be understood as a manifestation of broader structural transformations in how knowledge is validated and legitimated in postmodern societies. The traditional epistemological hierarchies that privileged credentialed experts and established institutions have been disrupted, creating what some scholars term “epistemic pluralism” – the idea that multiple ways of knowing have equal validity. While this democratization of knowledge production has positive aspects, including giving voice to marginalized perspectives, it has also enabled the proliferation of pseudo-expertise, where individuals with no relevant training or methodological rigor claim equivalent authority to trained specialists.

The economic incentives embedded in social media platforms’ business models create perverse outcomes regarding information quality. Platforms generate revenue primarily through advertising, with advertising rates determined by user engagement metrics. Since emotionally arousing and controversial content generates higher engagement than mundane factual information, there exists a structural incentive to promote conspiracy theories and other forms of inflammatory content, even when platforms’ stated policies ostensibly oppose misinformation. This creates what critical media scholars identify as a contradiction between platforms’ economic imperatives and their stated commitment to information integrity.

Addressing the challenge of conspiracy theory proliferation on social media requires moving beyond simplistic solutions focused solely on content moderation or fact-checking. While these interventions have a role to play, the deep-rooted cognitive and social-psychological factors underlying conspiracy theory belief suggest that more comprehensive approaches are necessary. These might include educational interventions focused on developing critical thinking and media literacy skills, platform design modifications that reduce algorithmic amplification of extreme content without creating martyrdom narratives around censorship, and broader societal efforts to address the economic insecurity and social alienation that make conspiracy theories psychologically appealing. The challenge lies not simply in countering false information but in reconstructing epistemic environments that support rational discourse and evidence-based reasoning while respecting legitimate pluralism in values and perspectives.

Questions 27-40

Questions 27-31: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

27. According to the passage, fMRI research has shown that encountering contradictory information
    A. always changes people’s beliefs
    B. activates brain regions associated with threat
    C. improves critical thinking skills
    D. has no effect on brain activity

28. The term “epistemic closure” refers to
    A. closing social media accounts
    B. ending online discussions
    C. being isolated from challenging information
    D. government censorship of information

29. The “backfire effect” occurs when
    A. people change their beliefs after seeing evidence
    B. conspiracy theories are successfully debunked
    C. presenting contrary evidence strengthens original beliefs
    D. social media platforms remove false content

30. Brandolini’s Law suggests that
    A. all information online is false
    B. creating misinformation is easier than debunking it
    C. fact-checkers are more efficient than conspiracy theorists
    D. social media platforms prioritize truthful content

31. According to the passage, social media platforms promote controversial content because
    A. they want to spread conspiracy theories
    B. it aligns with their economic model based on engagement
    C. users demand false information
    D. regulations require them to do so

Questions 32-36: Matching Features

Match each concept (32-36) with the correct description (A-H).

Write the correct letter, A-H.

Concepts:
32. Homophily
33. Availability heuristic
34. Illusory truth effect
35. Representativeness heuristic
36. Social identity theory

Descriptions:
A. Repeated exposure to false information increases perceived truthfulness
B. People judge probability based on how easily examples come to mind
C. Individuals associate with others who share similar beliefs
D. Group beliefs become part of personal identity
E. Algorithms prioritize engagement over accuracy
F. Traditional media serves as gatekeeper
G. People see patterns based on preconceptions about categories
H. Social media creates filter bubbles

Questions 37-40: Short-answer Questions

Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

37. What two brain regions are activated when people encounter information contradicting their beliefs?
38. What type of information ecosystems can social media users construct for themselves?
39. What do platforms generate revenue from primarily?
40. What two types of skills should educational interventions focus on developing?

Sơ Đồ Cơ Chế Nhận Thức Và Tâm Lý Xã Hội Trong Lan Truyền Thuyết Âm Mưu Trực Tuyến

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3. Answer Keys – Đáp Án

PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13

1. B
2. B
3. C
4. C
5. C
6. TRUE
7. NOT GIVEN
8. TRUE
9. FALSE
10. content creator
11. echo chambers / filter bubbles
12. refine
13. digital citizen

PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26

14. YES
15. NO
16. NO
17. NOT GIVEN
18. NO
19. iv
20. ii
21. v
22. vii
23. ix
24. crisis
25. novel
26. information vacuum

PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40

27. B
28. C
29. C
30. B
31. B
32. C
33. B
34. A
35. G
36. D
37. amygdala and insular cortex (hoặc insular cortex and amygdala)
38. bespoke information ecosystems
39. advertising / advertising revenue
40. critical thinking and media literacy (hoặc media literacy and critical thinking)

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4. Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Passage 1 – Giải Thích

Câu 1: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: social media has changed
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 3-5
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói rõ “changing not only how we connect with friends and family but also how we consume news and information”. Đây là paraphrase của đáp án B “both personal communication and news consumption”. Các đáp án khác chỉ đề cập một khía cạnh nên không đầy đủ.

Câu 2: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: Traditional media outlets, described as
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 1-2
• Giải thích: Bài viết sử dụng cụm “served as gatekeepers of information” để mô tả vai trò của traditional media. Đây là thông tin trực tiếp, không cần paraphrase phức tạp.

Câu 3: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: Filter bubbles occur when
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 5-7
• Giải thích: Bài viết định nghĩa filter bubbles là “situations where users are primarily exposed to information that reinforces their existing beliefs and opinions”. Đáp án C paraphrase “reinforces their existing beliefs” thành “matches their beliefs”.

Câu 5: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: people trust information
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng 3-5
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói rõ “people tend to trust information shared by friends and family more than information from unknown sources”. Đây là thông tin trực tiếp cho câu trả lời C.

Câu 6: TRUE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: more than twenty years
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, câu đầu
• Giải thích: Bài viết mở đầu bằng “Over the past two decades” (two decades = 20 years), khẳng định social media đã tồn tại hơn 20 năm.

Câu 8: TRUE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: emotional content spreads faster
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng 1-3
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói “sensational or controversial content often spreads more rapidly than mundane factual information”, với “emotional” là paraphrase của “sensational”.

Câu 10: content creator

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: anyone, become
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 4-5
• Giải thích: Bài viết sử dụng exact words “allowing anyone with an internet connection to become a content creator”.

Câu 11: echo chambers / filter bubbles

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: algorithms create, users see content matching views
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 5-6
• Giải thích: Bài viết đề cập “filter bubbles” hoặc “echo chambers” – cả hai đáp án đều đúng theo ngữ cảnh.

Passage 2 – Giải Thích

Câu 14: YES

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: easier for conspiracy theories to reach large audiences
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn A, dòng 2-4
• Giải thích: Tác giả khẳng định “Social media platforms have become fertile ground for conspiracy theories to take root and flourish, reaching audiences that would have been impossible to access in the pre-internet era”. Đây là quan điểm rõ ràng của tác giả.

Câu 15: NO

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: all people equally likely
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn C, câu đầu
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói “certain psychological predispositions make individuals more susceptible”, điều này mâu thuẫn với ý kiến rằng tất cả mọi người đều có khả năng như nhau.

Câu 16: NO

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: online communities, moderate extreme beliefs
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn D, dòng cuối
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói “discussions within these communities often drive members toward more extreme versions…rather than moderating their views”, trái ngược với ý kiến trong câu hỏi.

Câu 19: iv

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
• Vị trí: Paragraph B
• Giải thích: Đoạn này tập trung vào “algorithmic curation” tạo ra “self-reinforcing information environments” và “feedback loop” – đều liên quan đến echo chambers do algorithms tạo ra.

Câu 20: ii

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
• Vị trí: Paragraph C
• Giải thích: Đoạn này bắt đầu với “psychological predispositions” và giải thích các yếu tố tâm lý khiến người ta dễ tin vào thuyết âm mưu.

Câu 24: crisis

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Từ khóa: emerge during times of
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn G, dòng 1-2
• Giải thích: Bài viết sử dụng exact word “Theories often emerge during periods of crisis or uncertainty”.

Câu 26: information vacuum

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Từ khóa: allowed conspiracy theories to spread
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn G, dòng cuối
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói “the information vacuum created by the novel and rapidly evolving nature of the crisis allows conspiracy theories to fill the gap”.

Passage 3 – Giải Thích

Câu 27: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: fMRI research, contradictory information
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn B, dòng 1-4
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói rõ “processing information that contradicts deeply held beliefs activates brain regions associated with threat perception and emotional distress, specifically the amygdala and insular cortex”.

Câu 28: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: epistemic closure refers to
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn C, dòng 1-2
• Giải thích: Định nghĩa được đưa ra rõ ràng: “a condition in which individuals become epistemologically insulated from information and arguments that challenge their beliefs”. “Insulated from” nghĩa là “isolated from” hay “being isolated from challenging information”.

Câu 29: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: backfire effect occurs when
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn D, giữa đoạn
• Giải thích: Bài viết giải thích “presenting contradictory evidence to conspiracy believers often backfires, causing them to cling more tenaciously to their beliefs”. Đáp án C paraphrase chính xác ý này.

Câu 30: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: Brandolini’s Law suggests
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn F, dòng 1-3
• Giải thích: Brandolini’s Law được mô tả là “asymmetry between the effort required to create misinformation and the effort required to debunk it”, nghĩa là tạo thông tin sai dễ hơn bác bỏ nó.

Câu 32: C (Homophily)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn C, giữa đoạn
• Giải thích: Bài viết định nghĩa homophily là “tendency for individuals to associate with others who share similar characteristics and beliefs”, khớp với description C.

Câu 34: A (Illusory truth effect)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn F, giữa đoạn
• Giải thích: Bài viết giải thích “repeated exposure to false information increases perceived truthfulness”, đây chính là định nghĩa của illusory truth effect.

Câu 37: amygdala and insular cortex

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
• Từ khóa: brain regions, contradicting beliefs
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn B, dòng 2-4
• Giải thích: Bài viết liệt kê cụ thể “the amygdala and insular cortex” là hai vùng não được kích hoạt.

Câu 39: advertising / advertising revenue

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
• Từ khóa: platforms generate revenue from
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn H, dòng 1-2
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói rõ “Platforms generate revenue primarily through advertising”.

Câu 40: critical thinking and media literacy

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
• Từ khóa: educational interventions, focus on developing
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn I, giữa đoạn
• Giải thích: Bài viết đề xuất “educational interventions focused on developing critical thinking and media literacy skills”.

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5. Từ Vựng Quan Trọng Theo Passage

Passage 1 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
fundamentally transformed	verb phrase	/ˌfʌndəˈmentəli trænsˈfɔːmd/	thay đổi căn bản	social media platforms have fundamentally transformed the way people communicate	fundamentally change, fundamentally alter
ecosystem	noun	/ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəm/	hệ sinh thái	complex ecosystems where billions of users interact	digital ecosystem, online ecosystem
unprecedented	adjective	/ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd/	chưa từng có	unprecedented speed at which information spreads	unprecedented scale, unprecedented level
dissemination	noun	/dɪˌsemɪˈneɪʃən/	sự phổ biến, lan truyền	rapid dissemination of information	information dissemination, knowledge dissemination
gatekeeper	noun	/ˈɡeɪtˌkiːpər/	người kiểm soát thông tin	traditional media outlets served as gatekeepers	act as gatekeeper, media gatekeeper
democratization	noun	/dɪˌmɒkrətaɪˈzeɪʃən/	dân chủ hóa	democratization of information sharing	democratization of knowledge, democratization of access
algorithmic	adjective	/ˌælɡəˈrɪðmɪk/	thuộc về thuật toán	algorithmic nature of social media platforms	algorithmic bias, algorithmic decision-making
filter bubble	noun phrase	/ˈfɪltər ˈbʌbəl/	bong bóng lọc thông tin	creates filter bubbles or echo chambers	trapped in filter bubble, burst the filter bubble
reinforce	verb	/ˌriːɪnˈfɔːs/	củng cố, tăng cường	information that reinforces their existing beliefs	reinforce beliefs, reinforce stereotypes
engagement metrics	noun phrase	/ɪnˈɡeɪdʒmənt ˈmetrɪks/	chỉ số tương tác	tied to user engagement metrics	track engagement metrics, measure engagement
incentive structure	noun phrase	/ɪnˈsentɪv ˈstrʌktʃər/	cấu trúc khuyến khích	creates an incentive structure	economic incentive structure, perverse incentive
harness	verb	/ˈhɑːnɪs/	khai thác, tận dụng	finding ways to harness their benefits	harness potential, harness power

Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
proliferation	noun	/prəˌlɪfəˈreɪʃən/	sự lan tràn	proliferation of conspiracy theories	nuclear proliferation, rapid proliferation
algorithmic curation	noun phrase	/ˌælɡəˈrɪðmɪk kjʊəˈreɪʃən/	quản trị nội dung bằng thuật toán	algorithmic curation of content	content curation, digital curation
feedback loop	noun phrase	/ˈfiːdbæk luːp/	vòng phản hồi	creates a feedback loop	positive feedback loop, negative feedback loop
susceptible	adjective	/səˈseptəbəl/	dễ bị ảnh hưởng	make individuals more susceptible	susceptible to influence, highly susceptible
cognitive closure	noun phrase	/ˈkɒɡnətɪv ˈkləʊʒər/	sự khép kín nhận thức	high need for cognitive closure	need for closure, cognitive dissonance
amplify	verb	/ˈæmplɪfaɪ/	khuếch đại	play a crucial role in amplifying	amplify voices, amplify effects
ostracize	verb	/ˈɒstrəsaɪz/	tẩy chay, cô lập	may be ostracized or labeled	socially ostracized, ostracize members
confirmation bias	noun phrase	/ˌkɒnfəˈmeɪʃən ˈbaɪəs/	thiên kiến xác nhận	confirmation bias is exacerbated	demonstrate confirmation bias, overcome confirmation bias
exacerbate	verb	/ɪɡˈzæsəbeɪt/	làm trầm trọng thêm	is exacerbated by the design	exacerbate problems, exacerbate tensions
dubious	adjective	/ˈdjuːbiəs/	đáng ngờ	however dubious its source	dubious claim, dubious distinction
media literacy	noun phrase	/ˈmiːdiə ˈlɪtərəsi/	hiểu biết về truyền thông	lack the media literacy skills	digital media literacy, improve media literacy
efficacy	noun	/ˈefɪkəsi/	hiệu quả	efficacy of treatments	clinical efficacy, vaccine efficacy
erode	verb	/ɪˈrəʊd/	làm xói mòn	can erode trust	erode confidence, gradually erode
insular	adjective	/ˈɪnsjʊlər/	biệt lập	creating more insular communities	insular community, insular thinking
radicalized	adjective	/ˈrædɪkəlaɪzd/	cực đoan hóa	beliefs become more radicalized	become radicalized, increasingly radicalized

Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
epistemic crisis	noun phrase	/ˌepɪˈstiːmɪk ˈkraɪsɪs/	khủng hoảng tri thức	epistemic crisis precipitated by social media	epistemological crisis, epistemic uncertainty
ubiquity	noun	/juːˈbɪkwəti/	sự phổ biến rộng rãi	social media’s ubiquity	achieve ubiquity, digital ubiquity
cognitive architecture	noun phrase	/ˈkɒɡnətɪv ˈɑːkɪtektʃər/	kiến trúc nhận thức	interplay between cognitive architecture	mental architecture, cognitive structure
affordances	noun	/əˈfɔːdənsɪz/	khả năng hỗ trợ	affordances of digital platforms	technological affordances, platform affordances
counterfactual narratives	noun phrase	/ˌkaʊntəˈfæktʃuəl ˈnærətɪvz/	câu chuyện trái sự thật	susceptibility to counterfactual narratives	construct narratives, alternative narratives
amygdala	noun	/əˈmɪɡdələ/	hạch hạnh nhân (não)	activates the amygdala	amygdala activation, amygdala response
ventral striatum	noun phrase	/ˈventrəl straɪˈeɪtəm/	vùng vân não	triggers activation in the ventral striatum	striatum region, reward center
neurobiological	adjective	/ˌnjʊərəʊbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl/	thuộc thần kinh sinh học	neurobiological predisposition	neurobiological mechanisms, neurobiological basis
epistemic closure	noun phrase	/ˌepɪˈstiːmɪk ˈkləʊʒər/	sự khép kín tri thức	concept of epistemic closure	epistemic bubble, epistemic community
homophily	noun	/həˈmɒfɪli/	xu hướng gần gũi người giống mình	compounded by homophily	social homophily, network homophily
resilient	adjective	/rɪˈzɪliənt/	bền bỉ, khó bác bỏ	prove so resilient to debunking	remarkably resilient, highly resilient
backfire effect	noun phrase	/ˈbækfaɪər ɪˈfekt/	hiệu ứng phản tác dụng	known as the backfire effect	demonstrate backfire effect, worldview backfire
heuristics	noun	/hjʊəˈrɪstɪks/	quy tắc ngón tay	information-processing heuristics	cognitive heuristics, decision-making heuristics
availability heuristic	noun phrase	/əˌveɪləˈbɪləti hjʊəˈrɪstɪk/	quy tắc sẵn có	availability heuristic leads people	apply heuristics, mental shortcut
asymmetry	noun	/eɪˈsɪmətri/	sự bất cân xứng	asymmetry between effort required	information asymmetry, power asymmetry
illusory truth effect	noun phrase	/ɪˈluːsəri truːθ ɪˈfekt/	hiệu ứng ảo giác chân lý	illusory truth effect demonstrates	psychological effect, truth effect
pernicious	adjective	/pəˈnɪʃəs/	độc hại	becomes particularly pernicious	pernicious influence, pernicious effects
epistemological hierarchies	noun phrase	/ɪˌpɪstɪməˈlɒdʒɪkəl ˈhaɪərɑːkiz/	hệ thống cấp bậc tri thức	traditional epistemological hierarchies	knowledge hierarchies, social hierarchies

Hướng Dẫn Chiến Lược Làm Bài IELTS Reading Hiệu Quả Cho Đề Thi Về Mạng Xã Hội

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Kết Bài

Bộ đề thi IELTS Reading về chủ đề “How Does Social Media Influence The Spread Of Conspiracy Theories?” vừa rồi đã cung cấp cho bạn một trải nghiệm học tập toàn diện và sát với kỳ thi thực tế. Qua ba passages với độ khó tăng dần, bạn đã được làm quen với nhiều dạng câu hỏi khác nhau từ Multiple Choice, True/False/Not Given, Yes/No/Not Given, Matching Headings, đến Summary Completion và Short-answer Questions.

Chủ đề về ảnh hưởng của mạng xã hội đến sự lan truyền thuyết âm mưu không chỉ quan trọng trong IELTS mà còn là một vấn đề nóng bỏng của thời đại. Việc hiểu sâu về chủ đề này giúp bạn không chỉ làm tốt bài thi mà còn nâng cao nhận thức về cách tiêu thụ thông tin một cách có trách nhiệm trong kỷ nguyên số.

Đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích cụ thể về vị trí thông tin và kỹ thuật paraphrase sẽ giúp bạn tự đánh giá năng lực, hiểu rõ lỗi sai và rút kinh nghiệm cho những lần làm bài sau. Đặc biệt, phần từ vựng được tổng hợp theo từng passage với nghĩa tiếng Việt, phiên âm, ví dụ và collocations sẽ là tài liệu quý giá để bạn mở rộng vốn từ học thuật.

Hãy nhớ rằng, việc luyện tập thường xuyên với các đề thi chất lượng cao như thế này là chìa khóa để cải thiện band điểm IELTS Reading. Đừng nản lòng nếu lần đầu làm bài bạn chưa đạt kết quả như mong đợi – hãy xem đó là cơ hội để học hỏi và tiến bộ. Chúc bạn ôn tập hiệu quả và đạt được mục tiêu band điểm trong kỳ thi IELTS sắp tới!