Mở bài
Chủ đề năng lượng tái tạo và phát triển bền vững là một trong những nội dung xuất hiện thường xuyên nhất trong IELTS Reading, đặc biệt là ở Passage 2 và Passage 3. Theo thống kê từ Cambridge IELTS và British Council, các đề thi liên quan đến năng lượng, môi trường và công nghệ xanh chiếm khoảng 15-20% tổng số bài đọc trong những năm gần đây.
Bài viết này cung cấp một bộ đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với chủ đề “The Future Of Renewable Energy In Developing Countries” – một chủ đề vừa thời sự vừa mang tính học thuật cao. Bạn sẽ được trải nghiệm:
- Ba passages đầy đủ với độ khó tăng dần từ Easy (Band 5.0-6.5) đến Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)
- 40 câu hỏi đa dạng bao gồm 7 dạng câu hỏi phổ biến nhất trong IELTS Reading
- Đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích về vị trí thông tin và kỹ thuật paraphrase
- Từ vựng chuyên ngành được phân tích kỹ lưỡng với collocation và ví dụ thực tế
- Chiến lược làm bài được chia sẻ từ kinh nghiệm thực chiến
Bộ đề này phù hợp cho học viên có trình độ từ Band 5.0 trở lên, đặc biệt hữu ích cho những bạn đang nhắm đến Band 6.5-7.5.
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 1 điểm, không bị trừ điểm với câu sai.
Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:
- Passage 1: 15-17 phút (độ khó thấp nhất, cần làm nhanh để dành thời gian cho passage sau)
- Passage 2: 18-20 phút (độ khó trung bình, thường có dạng câu hỏi matching headings)
- Passage 3: 23-25 phút (độ khó cao nhất, cần thời gian suy luận và phân tích)
Lưu ý quan trọng: Luôn dành 2-3 phút cuối để chuyển đáp án lên answer sheet. Đáp án viết trên đề bài sẽ không được chấm điểm.
Các Dạng Câu Hỏi Trong Đề Này
Bộ đề thi này bao gồm 7 dạng câu hỏi phổ biến:
- Multiple Choice – Trắc nghiệm nhiều lựa chọn
- True/False/Not Given – Xác định thông tin đúng/sai/không có
- Matching Information – Nối thông tin với đoạn văn
- Yes/No/Not Given – Xác định quan điểm tác giả
- Matching Headings – Chọn tiêu đề phù hợp cho đoạn văn
- Summary Completion – Hoàn thành đoạn tóm tắt
- Short-answer Questions – Trả lời ngắn
2. IELTS Reading Practice Test
PASSAGE 1 – Solar Revolution in Rural Communities
Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút
In recent years, solar energy has emerged as a game-changing solution for rural communities in developing countries. Unlike traditional energy sources that require extensive infrastructure and significant capital investment, solar panels can be installed relatively quickly and cost-effectively, even in the most remote locations. This technological breakthrough has transformed the lives of millions of people who previously had no access to electricity.
The benefits of solar power in rural areas are multifaceted. First and foremost, it provides a reliable source of electricity for basic needs such as lighting, charging mobile phones, and powering small appliances. In many developing nations, children can now study after sunset, healthcare clinics can refrigerate vaccines, and small businesses can operate beyond daylight hours. This extended productivity has a direct positive impact on local economies and quality of life.
Bangladesh serves as an exemplary case study of successful solar energy adoption. The country’s Solar Home Systems programme, launched in the early 2000s, has become the world’s fastest-growing off-grid renewable energy project. By 2020, more than 6 million solar home systems had been installed across the country, bringing electricity to approximately 20 million people in rural areas. The programme’s success can be attributed to several factors, including affordable financing options, strong government support, and an effective distribution network involving local entrepreneurs.
Kenya presents another compelling example. The country has one of the highest rates of solar panel adoption in Africa, with over 30% of off-grid households using solar energy. The M-KOPA system, a pay-as-you-go solar solution, has been particularly successful. Customers make a small initial deposit and then pay daily instalments via mobile money. This innovative financing model has made solar energy accessible to families who cannot afford the upfront cost of a complete system. After approximately one year of payments, customers own their solar system outright and enjoy free electricity.
The economic implications of solar energy in rural communities extend beyond household consumption. Solar-powered irrigation systems are transforming agriculture in regions where farmers previously relied on diesel pumps or manual labour. In India, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme aims to install 25,000 megawatts of solar capacity for agricultural use. Farmers using solar pumps report substantial cost savings – up to 60% reduction in irrigation expenses – and increased crop yields due to more consistent water supply.
Small enterprises have also benefited tremendously from solar electrification. In Tanzania, a study found that shops with solar lighting experienced a 20% increase in evening sales. Tailoring businesses, phone charging stations, and small manufacturing operations have expanded their working hours and services. Women, in particular, have found new economic opportunities through solar-powered cottage industries such as sewing and food processing.
Despite these successes, challenges remain. The initial cost of solar equipment, even with financing options, can still be prohibitive for the poorest families. Additionally, technical maintenance and repairs pose difficulties in remote areas where skilled technicians are scarce. Battery replacement, typically needed every 3-5 years, represents a significant expense that many users struggle to afford. Furthermore, counterfeit solar products of poor quality have entered some markets, leading to consumer dissatisfaction and erosion of trust in solar technology.
Quality assurance and consumer protection have become critical priorities. Organizations like Lighting Global, a World Bank programme, have established quality standards and testing protocols for off-grid solar products. Products that meet these standards receive certification, helping consumers identify reliable equipment. Several countries have also implemented import regulations to prevent substandard products from entering their markets.
Looking ahead, technological advancements promise to make solar energy even more accessible and affordable. Battery technology is improving rapidly, with longer-lasting and more efficient storage solutions becoming available. Solar panel efficiency continues to increase while prices decline – solar module costs have fallen by over 90% in the past decade. Smart grid technology and minigrids are enabling communities to share and trade excess power, creating more resilient energy systems.
The success of solar energy in rural developing communities offers valuable lessons for global energy transition. It demonstrates that decentralized renewable energy can be deployed faster and more cost-effectively than traditional centralized power generation. As technology improves and costs continue to fall, solar power is poised to become the primary energy source for millions more people in the developing world.
Questions 1-13
Questions 1-5: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
-
According to the passage, what is the main advantage of solar panels over traditional energy sources?
A. They produce more electricity
B. They can be installed quickly without extensive infrastructure
C. They last longer than other systems
D. They are completely free to operate -
The Solar Home Systems programme in Bangladesh is described as:
A. The world’s largest grid-connected solar project
B. A failed experiment in renewable energy
C. The fastest-growing off-grid renewable energy project globally
D. A small pilot programme in urban areas -
The M-KOPA system in Kenya is notable because it:
A. Provides free solar panels to all households
B. Uses a pay-as-you-go model with mobile money payments
C. Only works in urban areas
D. Requires full payment upfront -
Farmers using solar-powered irrigation in India have experienced:
A. Up to 60% reduction in irrigation costs
B. Decreased crop yields
C. More water shortages
D. Higher diesel expenses -
According to the study mentioned, shops in Tanzania with solar lighting saw:
A. A 50% increase in daytime sales
B. No change in revenue
C. A 20% increase in evening sales
D. Reduced operating hours
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
- Children in rural areas with solar power can study after dark.
- All solar home systems in Bangladesh were provided free of charge.
- Solar-powered irrigation systems use more water than diesel pumps.
- Lighting Global is a programme that certifies quality solar products.
Questions 10-13: Matching Information
Match the following statements (10-13) with the correct country (A-C). You may use any letter more than once.
A. Bangladesh
B. Kenya
C. India
- Has implemented a major scheme for solar-powered agricultural irrigation
- Has more than 30% of off-grid households using solar energy
- Has installed over 6 million solar home systems
- Uses mobile money for solar system payments
PASSAGE 2 – Economic and Social Transformations Through Renewable Energy
Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút
A.
The transition to renewable energy in developing countries represents far more than a simple technological substitution of one power source for another. It embodies a fundamental restructuring of economic relationships, social dynamics, and developmental pathways. While developed nations are gradually retrofitting their existing energy infrastructure with renewable alternatives, developing countries face a unique opportunity: to leapfrog traditional fossil fuel-based development entirely and build their economies on a foundation of clean energy from the outset. This paradigmatic shift has profound implications for economic growth, social equity, and environmental sustainability.
B.
The economic case for renewable energy in developing nations has become increasingly compelling. Historically, the high capital expenditure required for renewable installations posed a significant barrier. However, the economic landscape has shifted dramatically. The levelized cost of energy (LCOE) – a measure that accounts for all costs over a project’s lifetime divided by total energy production – for solar and wind power has plummeted to the point where renewables are now the cheapest source of new electricity generation in most of the world. Bloomberg New Energy Finance reports that building new solar or wind capacity is now cheaper than operating existing coal plants in many markets. This cost trajectory is particularly advantageous for developing countries, as it reduces their dependence on volatile fossil fuel imports and provides price stability for energy consumers.
C.
Beyond direct cost comparisons, renewable energy offers developing countries substantial macroeconomic benefits. Money previously spent on importing fossil fuels – which often represents a significant portion of national budgets – can be redirected toward domestic investments. For instance, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa collectively spend over $40 billion annually on fuel imports. Transitioning to domestically produced renewable energy would retain this capital within local economies, creating a multiplier effect as funds circulate through domestic supply chains and employment. Moreover, renewable energy projects attract significant foreign direct investment (FDI), bringing both capital and technical expertise to developing economies.
D.
The employment implications of the renewable energy transition are particularly significant for developing countries, where job creation remains a critical priority. The renewable sector is notably more labor-intensive than fossil fuel industries. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that renewable energy creates approximately three times more jobs per dollar invested compared to fossil fuels. These jobs span the entire value chain: manufacturing of components, installation and construction, operations and maintenance, and decommissioning. Importantly, many of these positions are geographically distributed and located in rural areas where employment opportunities are typically scarce.
E.
However, this employment dividend comes with caveats. The jobs created require different skills than those in traditional energy sectors. Workers displaced from coal mines or oil fields often lack the training necessary for renewable energy positions. Effective just transition strategies – which support workers and communities dependent on fossil fuel industries – are essential but frequently underfunded or absent in developing countries. Additionally, while installation and construction create numerous temporary jobs, the long-term operational workforce required for renewable facilities is relatively small. The sustainability of employment benefits therefore depends on continuous expansion of renewable capacity and development of local manufacturing capabilities rather than importing finished components.
F.
The social dimensions of renewable energy deployment in developing countries extend well beyond economic metrics. Energy access correlates strongly with virtually every development indicator: education, health, gender equality, and social mobility. The World Bank estimates that approximately 770 million people globally lack access to electricity, with the vast majority residing in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Distributed renewable energy – particularly solar – offers the most practical pathway to universal energy access, as extending traditional grid infrastructure to remote rural areas is often economically infeasible.
G.
Energy access particularly transforms opportunities for women and girls. In households without electricity, women typically spend several hours daily collecting firewood or other traditional fuels, time that could otherwise be devoted to education or income-generating activities. Indoor air pollution from cooking with solid fuels causes an estimated 3.8 million premature deaths annually, with women and children disproportionately affected. Solar-powered clean cooking solutions and lighting directly address these health burdens. Furthermore, reliable electricity enables women’s economic empowerment by supporting home-based enterprises and extending working hours beyond daylight.
H.
Educational outcomes improve dramatically with electricity access. Studies across multiple countries have documented that students in households with electric lighting study more hours and achieve better academic results. Schools with electricity can utilize computers and internet connectivity, bridging the digital divide that increasingly marginalizes communities without access to information technology. Healthcare facilities with reliable power can maintain vaccine cold chains, operate diagnostic equipment, and provide emergency services after dark – capabilities that substantially reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.
I.
Despite these benefits, the renewable energy transition in developing countries faces substantial non-technical barriers. Governance challenges, including corruption, weak regulatory frameworks, and political instability, can deter investment and slow deployment. Many developing countries maintain fossil fuel subsidies that distort energy markets and make renewables appear less competitive. Land rights and resource tenure issues, particularly affecting indigenous communities and smallholder farmers, can create conflicts around large-scale renewable projects. Grid integration poses technical challenges in countries with unreliable transmission infrastructure. Addressing these multifaceted obstacles requires coordinated policy efforts and strong institutional capacity that many developing nations are still building.
J.
The future trajectory of renewable energy in developing countries will be shaped by several converging trends. Energy storage technology, particularly batteries, is advancing rapidly and becoming more affordable, addressing the intermittency challenge that has historically limited renewable deployment. Digitalization and smart grid technologies enable more efficient management of distributed energy resources. Climate finance mechanisms, including the Green Climate Fund and various development bank initiatives, are channeling increasing resources toward renewable energy projects in developing countries. Perhaps most significantly, a growing recognition that sustainable development and climate action are inseparable is driving policy alignment and international cooperation on an unprecedented scale.
Chuyển đổi năng lượng tái tạo thay đổi đời sống cộng đồng nông thôn ở các nước đang phát triển
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
- Developing countries have an advantage in being able to build energy systems based on renewables from the beginning.
- The cost of renewable energy has decreased to the point where it is now the cheapest option for new electricity generation in most regions.
- All workers from fossil fuel industries can easily transition to renewable energy jobs without additional training.
- Extending traditional grid infrastructure to remote rural areas is usually not economically practical.
- Fossil fuel subsidies make renewable energy more competitive in developing countries.
Questions 19-23: Matching Headings
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs C, E, G, H, and I from the list of headings below.
List of Headings:
i. The impact of renewable energy on women’s health and economic opportunities
ii. Technical challenges in renewable energy implementation
iii. Domestic economic advantages of renewable energy investment
iv. Environmental benefits of clean energy transition
v. Challenges and limitations of renewable energy employment
vi. Educational and healthcare improvements through electrification
vii. Political and institutional obstacles to renewable energy adoption
viii. International cooperation in renewable development
ix. The role of technology in future renewable expansion
- Paragraph C
- Paragraph E
- Paragraph G
- Paragraph H
- Paragraph I
Questions 24-26: Summary Completion
Complete the summary below using words from the passage. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Renewable energy creates approximately three times more jobs per dollar invested than fossil fuels, according to estimates by the 24. __________. These jobs are spread across the entire value chain and are often located in 25. __________ where employment opportunities are usually limited. However, the long-term 26. __________ required to run renewable facilities is relatively small.
PASSAGE 3 – Geopolitical Dimensions and Strategic Implications of the Renewable Energy Transition
Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)
Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút
The global transition toward renewable energy is fundamentally reconfiguring the geopolitical landscape in ways that extend far beyond environmental considerations. For developing nations, this transformation presents both unprecedented opportunities and complex challenges that will shape international relations, economic development trajectories, and power dynamics for decades to come. Understanding these multidimensional implications requires moving beyond technocentric analyses to examine how energy transitions interact with questions of sovereignty, resource dependencies, technological capabilities, and the emerging architecture of global governance.
Historically, fossil fuel dependence has created asymmetric power relationships between resource-rich exporters and energy-importing nations. This dynamic has profoundly influenced diplomatic relations, military interventions, and economic vulnerability. The OPEC oil embargo of 1973, for instance, demonstrated how energy supplies could be weaponized for political purposes, causing significant economic disruptions in developed nations. For developing countries, reliance on imported fossil fuels has consistently constrained fiscal autonomy and created balance of payments challenges. The renewable energy transition offers a pathway toward energy sovereignty – the capacity to generate power from domestic resources, thereby reducing strategic vulnerabilities and enhancing self-determination.
However, the notion that renewable energy automatically confers energy independence warrants careful scrutiny. While sunlight and wind are universally available, the technological means to harness them remain concentrated in a relatively small number of countries. The photovoltaic supply chain, for example, is dominated by China, which produces approximately 80% of global solar panels and controls significant portions of the upstream supply chain, including polysilicon production and wafer manufacturing. Similarly, rare earth elements essential for wind turbines and battery production are geographically concentrated, with China accounting for over 60% of global rare earth mining and nearly 90% of processing capacity. This concentration creates new forms of resource dependency that could potentially replicate – or even exceed – the strategic vulnerabilities associated with fossil fuel imports.
The implications of these supply chain dependencies are particularly acute for developing countries. Most lack the industrial capacity to manufacture renewable energy equipment domestically and must therefore import technology, often at substantial cost. This creates a paradoxical situation: transitioning to renewable energy requires significant upfront capital investment in imported equipment, potentially worsening trade deficits in the short term even as it promises long-term energy security. Furthermore, intellectual property regimes governing renewable technologies can impede technology transfer, with patent protections enabling technology owners to extract monopoly rents and constraining indigenous innovation. The tension between protecting intellectual property rights and facilitating climate mitigation through widespread technology dissemination remains a contentious issue in international climate negotiations.
The emerging renewable energy landscape is also reshaping patterns of international cooperation and competition. New alliances are forming around renewable technology development and deployment. The International Solar Alliance, initiated by India and France, exemplifies efforts to create multilateral frameworks for promoting solar energy in sun-rich countries, most of which are developing nations. China’s Belt and Road Initiative has increasingly incorporated renewable energy projects, extending Chinese influence while simultaneously supporting decarbonization in partner countries. These initiatives reflect how renewable energy is becoming intertwined with broader strategic positioning and sphere-of-influence dynamics.
Climate finance represents another dimension where geopolitical considerations intersect with renewable energy deployment. Developed countries’ commitment to mobilize $100 billion annually to support climate action in developing nations – a target that has yet to be consistently met – embodies principles of historical responsibility and differentiated capabilities enshrined in international climate agreements. However, the mechanisms for delivering this finance remain contested. Questions surrounding the balance between grants and loans, the conditionalities attached to funding, and the governance structures of climate finance institutions reflect underlying power dynamics. Developing countries argue that climate finance should be genuinely additional to existing development aid and should prioritize adaptation alongside mitigation, given their acute vulnerability to climate impacts despite minimal historical contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
The concept of a “just transition” has gained prominence in international climate discourse, recognizing that the shift away from fossil fuels will have distributional consequences both within and between nations. For developing countries heavily dependent on fossil fuel exports – such as Nigeria, Angola, and various Middle Eastern nations – the energy transition poses existential challenges to their economic models. The value of stranded assets – fossil fuel reserves and infrastructure that may become economically unviable before the end of their technical lifespan – is estimated in the trillions of dollars globally, with developing countries likely to bear disproportionate losses. Addressing these asymmetries requires robust mechanisms for economic diversification, workforce retraining, and social protection – all of which demand resources that these countries may lack.
Technological leapfrogging – bypassing intermediate stages of technological development to adopt more advanced systems – represents a frequently cited advantage for developing countries in the renewable energy transition. Just as many developing nations skipped landline telephone infrastructure to adopt mobile telephony directly, they might establish distributed renewable energy systems without investing in expensive centralized grid infrastructure. While this analogy holds some validity, important differences exist. The telecommunications revolution was driven by private sector dynamism and required relatively modest infrastructure investment. Renewable energy transitions, conversely, often necessitate substantial public investment, regulatory frameworks, and coordination across multiple sectors. Whether developing countries possess the institutional capacity and financial resources to facilitate such leapfrogging remains an open question.
The intersection of renewable energy with other megatrends – particularly digitalization, urbanization, and demographic shifts – creates complex synergies and trade-offs for developing countries. Smart grids, artificial intelligence-optimized energy systems, and blockchain-based energy trading platforms promise to enhance efficiency and enable decentralized energy markets. However, these technologies require digital infrastructure, technical expertise, and regulatory adaptability that vary greatly across developing countries. Rapidly growing cities in the developing world face enormous energy demands; whether these are met through distributed renewables or centralized fossil fuel plants will largely determine the feasibility of global climate goals. Demographic factors, including a youthful population in many developing countries, create both opportunities – in the form of potential human capital for the renewable sector – and pressures – through rapidly increasing energy demand.
Ultimately, the renewable energy transition in developing countries cannot be understood solely through technological or economic lenses. It represents a profound reconfiguration of global systems – environmental, economic, political, and social. The trajectory of this transition will be shaped by choices made today regarding technology transfer mechanisms, international financial architecture, governance frameworks, and the extent to which principles of equity and justice are operationalized in practice rather than merely invoked rhetorically. For developing countries, navigating this transition successfully requires not only adopting renewable technologies but also asserting agency in shaping the normative frameworks and institutional structures that will govern the global energy system of the future. The stakes extend beyond kilowatt-hours and carbon emissions to encompass questions of self-determination, equitable development, and the possibility of forging a genuinely sustainable and just global order.
Questions 27-40
Questions 27-31: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
-
According to the passage, the 1973 OPEC oil embargo demonstrated that:
A. Renewable energy was superior to fossil fuels
B. Energy supplies could be used as a political weapon
C. Developing countries controlled global energy markets
D. Energy independence was impossible to achieve -
The passage suggests that China’s dominance in photovoltaic production:
A. Guarantees energy independence for all countries
B. Creates new forms of resource dependency
C. Is limited to solar panel assembly only
D. Has no impact on developing countries -
According to the passage, intellectual property regimes:
A. Always facilitate technology transfer
B. Have no effect on renewable energy adoption
C. Can constrain technology transfer and indigenous innovation
D. Are supported by all developing countries -
The International Solar Alliance is described as:
A. A Chinese initiative to dominate solar markets
B. An effort to create multilateral frameworks for solar energy promotion
C. A failed attempt at international cooperation
D. An organization focused only on European countries -
The concept of “stranded assets” refers to:
A. Renewable energy equipment that becomes obsolete
B. Solar panels damaged in transportation
C. Fossil fuel reserves and infrastructure that may become economically unviable
D. Financial investments in successful renewable projects
Questions 32-36: Matching Features
Match the following concepts (32-36) with the correct description (A-H). You may use any letter more than once.
Concepts:
32. Energy sovereignty
33. Climate finance
34. Just transition
35. Technological leapfrogging
36. Stranded assets
Descriptions:
A. Bypassing intermediate technological stages to adopt advanced systems
B. The capacity to generate power from domestic resources
C. Financial mechanisms to support climate action in developing nations
D. Fossil fuel infrastructure that may lose economic value
E. Recognition that energy transition will have distributional consequences
F. Technology for converting solar energy to electricity
G. International agreements on carbon emissions
H. Employment in the renewable energy sector
Questions 37-40: Short-answer Questions
Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- What percentage of global solar panels does China produce?
- What principle in international climate agreements recognizes developed countries’ responsibility to support climate action?
- What two areas do developing countries argue climate finance should prioritize alongside each other?
- What type of infrastructure did many developing nations skip when adopting mobile telephony?
3. Answer Keys – Đáp Án
PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13
- B
- C
- B
- A
- C
- TRUE
- NOT GIVEN
- FALSE
- TRUE
- C
- B
- A
- B
PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26
- YES
- YES
- NO
- YES
- NO
- iii
- v
- i
- vi
- vii
- International Renewable Energy Agency / IRENA
- rural areas
- operational workforce
PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40
- B
- B
- C
- B
- C
- B
- C
- E
- A
- D
- approximately 80% / 80%
- historical responsibility
- adaptation and mitigation
- landline telephone infrastructure / landline infrastructure
4. Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết
Passage 1 – Giải Thích
Câu 1: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: main advantage, solar panels, traditional energy sources
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 2-3
- Giải thích: Bài đọc nêu rõ “Unlike traditional energy sources that require extensive infrastructure and significant capital investment, solar panels can be installed relatively quickly and cost-effectively”. Đây là paraphrase của đáp án B “can be installed quickly without extensive infrastructure”. Các đáp án khác không được đề cập như là lợi thế chính.
Câu 2: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: Solar Home Systems programme, Bangladesh
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 2-4
- Giải thích: Câu “has become the world’s fastest-growing off-grid renewable energy project” trùng khớp chính xác với đáp án C. Đây là thông tin được nêu tường minh, không cần suy luận.
Câu 6: TRUE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: children, rural areas, solar power, study after dark
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 3-4
- Giải thích: “children can now study after sunset” là paraphrase trực tiếp của “study after dark”. Thông tin khẳng định rõ ràng trong bài.
Câu 7: NOT GIVEN
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: solar home systems, Bangladesh, free of charge
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3
- Giải thích: Bài đọc đề cập “affordable financing options” nhưng không nói rõ hệ thống có miễn phí hoàn toàn hay không. Không có thông tin để xác định câu này đúng hay sai.
Câu 10: C (India)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
- Từ khóa: scheme, solar-powered, agricultural irrigation
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng 2-4
- Giải thích: “PM-KUSUM scheme aims to install 25,000 megawatts of solar capacity for agricultural use” ở Ấn Độ khớp với mô tả “major scheme for solar-powered agricultural irrigation”.
Câu 13: B (Kenya)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
- Từ khóa: mobile money, solar system payments
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 4-5
- Giải thích: “Customers make a small initial deposit and then pay daily instalments via mobile money” chỉ rõ Kenya sử dụng mobile money cho thanh toán hệ thống solar.
Phương pháp làm bài IELTS Reading hiệu quả với các dạng câu hỏi phổ biến
Passage 2 – Giải Thích
Câu 14: YES
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: developing countries, advantage, build energy systems, renewables from beginning
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn A, dòng 3-5
- Giải thích: “developing countries face a unique opportunity: to leapfrog traditional fossil fuel-based development entirely and build their economies on a foundation of clean energy from the outset” thể hiện quan điểm của tác giả rằng các nước đang phát triển có lợi thế. Đây là câu Yes vì đồng ý với quan điểm tác giả.
Câu 16: NO
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: workers, fossil fuel industries, transition, renewable energy jobs, without training
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn E, dòng 2-3
- Giải thích: “Workers displaced from coal mines or oil fields often lack the training necessary for renewable energy positions” mâu thuẫn trực tiếp với statement. Tác giả nói rõ công nhân thiếu đào tạo cần thiết, không thể chuyển đổi dễ dàng.
Câu 19: iii (Paragraph C)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
- Từ khóa: macroeconomic benefits, domestic investments, retain capital
- Giải thích: Đoạn C tập trung vào “macroeconomic benefits” và việc “retain this capital within local economies”, khớp với heading “Domestic economic advantages of renewable energy investment”.
Câu 21: i (Paragraph G)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
- Từ khóa: women, girls, collecting firewood, indoor air pollution, women’s economic empowerment
- Giải thích: Toàn bộ đoạn G tập trung vào tác động của năng lượng tái tạo đối với phụ nữ về cả sức khỏe (indoor air pollution) và kinh tế (income-generating activities, economic empowerment).
Câu 24: International Renewable Energy Agency / IRENA
- Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
- Từ khóa: three times more jobs, per dollar invested
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn D, dòng 3-4
- Giải thích: “The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that renewable energy creates approximately three times more jobs per dollar invested” – lấy tên tổ chức từ văn bản.
Câu 25: rural areas
- Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
- Từ khóa: jobs, geographically distributed, employment opportunities limited
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn D, dòng 5-6
- Giải thích: “many of these positions are geographically distributed and located in rural areas where employment opportunities are typically scarce” – chỉ rõ vị trí là rural areas.
Passage 3 – Giải Thích
Câu 27: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: 1973 OPEC oil embargo, demonstrated
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 3-4
- Giải thích: “The OPEC oil embargo of 1973…demonstrated how energy supplies could be weaponized for political purposes” – từ “weaponized” là paraphrase của “used as a political weapon”.
Câu 29: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: intellectual property regimes
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 4-6
- Giải thích: “intellectual property regimes governing renewable technologies can impede technology transfer, with patent protections…constraining indigenous innovation” – khớp chính xác với đáp án C.
Câu 32: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
- Concept: Energy sovereignty
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 6-8
- Giải thích: “energy sovereignty – the capacity to generate power from domestic resources” – định nghĩa trực tiếp trong bài khớp với description B.
Câu 34: E
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
- Concept: Just transition
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 1-2
- Giải thích: “The concept of a ‘just transition’…recognizing that the shift away from fossil fuels will have distributional consequences” – paraphrase của “distributional consequences” là description E.
Câu 37: approximately 80% / 80%
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer
- Từ khóa: China, global solar panels, produce
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 4-5
- Giải thích: “China, which produces approximately 80% of global solar panels” – lấy trực tiếp con số từ văn bản.
Câu 39: adaptation and mitigation
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer
- Từ khóa: developing countries argue, climate finance, prioritize
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng 5-7
- Giải thích: “should prioritize adaptation alongside mitigation” – hai từ này là đáp án, không vượt quá 3 từ.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| game-changing | adj | /ˈɡeɪm ˌtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/ | mang tính đột phá, thay đổi cuộc chơi | “solar energy has emerged as a game-changing solution” | game-changing technology/innovation/solution |
| infrastructure | n | /ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃər/ | cơ sở hạ tầng | “require extensive infrastructure and significant capital investment” | build/develop/maintain infrastructure |
| multifaceted | adj | /ˌmʌltiˈfæsɪtɪd/ | nhiều mặt, đa chiều | “The benefits of solar power are multifaceted” | multifaceted problem/approach/issue |
| exemplary | adj | /ɪɡˈzempləri/ | gương mẫu, điển hình | “Bangladesh serves as an exemplary case study” | exemplary conduct/performance/case |
| off-grid | adj | /ɒf ɡrɪd/ | không kết nối lưới điện | “fastest-growing off-grid renewable energy project” | off-grid system/solution/household |
| attributed to | v phrase | /əˈtrɪbjuːtɪd tuː/ | quy cho, do bởi | “can be attributed to several factors” | be attributed to/attribute success to |
| compelling | adj | /kəmˈpelɪŋ/ | thuyết phục, hấp dẫn | “Kenya presents another compelling example” | compelling evidence/argument/reason |
| upfront cost | n phrase | /ˈʌpfrʌnt kɒst/ | chi phí ban đầu | “cannot afford the upfront cost” | pay upfront cost/high upfront cost |
| substantial | adj | /səbˈstænʃl/ | đáng kể, lớn | “report substantial cost savings” | substantial amount/increase/reduction |
| cottage industries | n phrase | /ˈkɒtɪdʒ ˈɪndəstriz/ | công nghiệp gia đình | “solar-powered cottage industries” | develop/support cottage industries |
| prohibitive | adj | /prəˈhɪbɪtɪv/ | cấm đoán, quá đắt | “can still be prohibitive for poorest families” | prohibitively expensive/prohibitive cost |
| erosion of trust | n phrase | /ɪˈrəʊʒn ɒv trʌst/ | sự mất lòng tin | “leading to erosion of trust in solar technology” | cause/lead to erosion of trust |
Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| paradigmatic shift | n phrase | /ˌpærədɪɡˈmætɪk ʃɪft/ | sự thay đổi mô hình căn bản | “This paradigmatic shift has profound implications” | undergo/represent a paradigmatic shift |
| compelling | adj | /kəmˈpelɪŋ/ | thuyết phục mạnh mẽ | “The economic case has become increasingly compelling” | compelling case/evidence/argument |
| levelized cost | n phrase | /ˈlevəlaɪzd kɒst/ | chi phí san bằng | “The levelized cost of energy (LCOE)” | calculate/compare levelized cost |
| volatile | adj | /ˈvɒlətaɪl/ | dễ biến động, không ổn định | “reduces dependence on volatile fossil fuel imports” | volatile market/prices/situation |
| multiplier effect | n phrase | /ˈmʌltɪplaɪər ɪˈfekt/ | hiệu ứng nhân | “creating a multiplier effect” | generate/create a multiplier effect |
| labor-intensive | adj | /ˈleɪbər ɪnˈtensɪv/ | tốn nhiều nhân công | “notably more labor-intensive than fossil fuel” | labor-intensive industry/process |
| value chain | n phrase | /ˈvæljuː tʃeɪn/ | chuỗi giá trị | “jobs span the entire value chain” | along/throughout the value chain |
| displaced | v | /dɪsˈpleɪst/ | bị thay thế, mất việc | “Workers displaced from coal mines” | displaced workers/be displaced by |
| just transition | n phrase | /dʒʌst trænˈzɪʃn/ | chuyển đổi công bằng | “Effective just transition strategies” | ensure/implement just transition |
| disproportionately | adv | /ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʃənətli/ | không cân xứng, thiên lệch | “women and children disproportionately affected” | disproportionately affected/impacted |
| bridge | v | /brɪdʒ/ | thu hẹp, nối liền | “bridging the digital divide” | bridge the gap/divide/difference |
| distort | v | /dɪˈstɔːt/ | bóp méo, làm sai lệch | “fossil fuel subsidies that distort energy markets” | distort the market/reality/facts |
| multifaceted obstacles | n phrase | /ˌmʌltiˈfæsɪtɪd ˈɒbstəklz/ | trở ngại nhiều mặt | “Addressing these multifaceted obstacles” | face/overcome multifaceted obstacles |
| intermittency | n | /ˌɪntəˈmɪtənsi/ | tính gián đoạn | “addressing the intermittency challenge” | overcome/deal with intermittency |
| inseparable | adj | /ɪnˈseprəbl/ | không thể tách rời | “sustainable development and climate action are inseparable” | be inseparable from |
Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| reconfiguring | v | /ˌriːkənˈfɪɡərɪŋ/ | tái cấu hình, sắp xếp lại | “fundamentally reconfiguring the geopolitical landscape” | reconfigure the system/structure |
| technocentric | adj | /ˌteknəʊˈsentrɪk/ | lấy công nghệ làm trung tâm | “moving beyond technocentric analyses” | technocentric approach/view |
| sovereignty | n | /ˈsɒvrənti/ | chủ quyền | “questions of sovereignty” | national/energy sovereignty |
| asymmetric | adj | /ˌeɪsɪˈmetrɪk/ | bất đối xứng | “created asymmetric power relationships” | asymmetric relationship/warfare |
| weaponized | v | /ˈwepənaɪzd/ | vũ khí hóa, biến thành vũ khí | “energy supplies could be weaponized” | weaponize information/technology |
| fiscal autonomy | n phrase | /ˈfɪskl ɔːˈtɒnəmi/ | tự chủ tài chính | “constrained fiscal autonomy” | maintain/achieve fiscal autonomy |
| warrant | v | /ˈwɒrənt/ | đòi hỏi, cần có | “warrants careful scrutiny” | warrant attention/consideration |
| upstream | adj | /ˈʌpstriːm/ | thượng nguồn, đầu nguồn | “upstream supply chain” | upstream production/activities |
| paradoxical | adj | /ˌpærəˈdɒksɪkl/ | nghịch lý | “creates a paradoxical situation” | paradoxical situation/effect/nature |
| monopoly rents | n phrase | /məˈnɒpəli rents/ | lợi nhuận độc quyền | “extract monopoly rents” | extract/earn monopoly rents |
| contentious | adj | /kənˈtenʃəs/ | gây tranh cãi | “remains a contentious issue” | contentious issue/debate/topic |
| multilateral | adj | /ˌmʌltiˈlætərəl/ | đa phương | “create multilateral frameworks” | multilateral agreement/cooperation |
| intertwined | adj | /ˌɪntəˈtwaɪnd/ | đan xen, gắn bó | “becoming intertwined with broader strategic positioning” | be intertwined with/closely intertwined |
| enshrined | v | /ɪnˈʃraɪnd/ | ghi nhận, thể chế hóa | “principles enshrined in international agreements” | be enshrined in law/constitution |
| acute vulnerability | n phrase | /əˈkjuːt ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪləti/ | tính dễ bị tổn thương cao | “given their acute vulnerability to climate impacts” | face/have acute vulnerability |
| stranded assets | n phrase | /ˈstrændɪd ˈæsets/ | tài sản mắc cạn | “The value of stranded assets” | risk of/create stranded assets |
| leapfrogging | n | /ˈliːpfrɒɡɪŋ/ | bước nhảy vọt | “Technological leapfrogging represents an advantage” | enable/achieve leapfrogging |
| megatrends | n | /ˈmeɡəˌtrendz/ | xu hướng lớn | “intersection with other megatrends” | global/emerging megatrends |
| operationalized | v | /ˌɒpəˈreɪʃənəlaɪzd/ | thực thi, vận hành | “principles are operationalized in practice” | be operationalized/operationalize concepts |
| asserting agency | v phrase | /əˈsɜːtɪŋ ˈeɪdʒənsi/ | khẳng định quyền tự chủ | “asserting agency in shaping frameworks” | assert agency/power/control |
Từ vựng chuyên ngành năng lượng tái tạo thiết yếu cho IELTS Reading band cao
Kết bài
Chủ đề “The future of renewable energy in developing countries” không chỉ là một nội dung thời sự mà còn là chủ đề có tần suất xuất hiện cao trong IELTS Reading những năm gần đây. Qua bộ đề thi mẫu này, bạn đã được trải nghiệm một bài thi hoàn chỉnh với ba passages có độ khó tăng dần, phản ánh chính xác cấu trúc và yêu cầu của bài thi IELTS thực tế.
Passage 1 cung cấp nền tảng về năng lượng mặt trời ở cộng đồng nông thôn với từ vựng và cấu trúc câu ở mức độ dễ hiểu, giúp bạn làm quen với chủ đề và xây dựng sự tự tin. Passage 2 nâng cao độ phức tạp bằng cách phân tích các khía cạnh kinh tế và xã hội, yêu cầu kỹ năng paraphrase và suy luận tốt hơn. Passage 3 đạt đến đỉnh cao với nội dung học thuật về địa chính trị và chiến lược, thách thức ngay cả những học viên nhắm đến Band 8.0-9.0.
Phần đáp án chi tiết không chỉ cung cấp answers mà còn giải thích tại sao đó là đáp án đúng, ở đâu trong bài và các từ khóa được paraphrase như thế nào. Đây chính là chìa khóa để bạn tự đánh giá và cải thiện kỹ năng làm bài của mình.
Hơn 40 từ vựng chuyên ngành được phân tích kỹ lưỡng sẽ giúp bạn không chỉ hiểu nghĩa mà còn biết cách sử dụng chúng trong ngữ cảnh thực tế. Đây là những từ vựng “vàng” thường xuyên xuất hiện trong các bài thi IELTS về môi trường, năng lượng và phát triển bền vững.
Lời khuyên cuối cùng: Hãy làm bài test này trong điều kiện thi thật (60 phút không gián đoạn), sau đó dành thời gian nghiên cứu kỹ phần giải thích và từ vựng. Lặp lại bài test sau 1-2 tuần để củng cố kiến thức. Với sự luyện tập bài bản và chiến lược đúng đắn, band điểm mục tiêu của bạn hoàn toàn nằm trong tầm tay!
