IELTS Reading: Social Media Influence on Buying Habits – Đề thi mẫu có đáp án chi tiết

Mở bài

Ảnh hưởng của mạng xã hội đến thói quen mua sắm (Social Media Influence On Buying Habits) đã trở thành một chủ đề nóng trong thế giới hiện đại và xuất hiện ngày càng thường xuyên trong các đề thi IELTS Reading. Chủ đề này thường được tìm thấy ở cả ba mức độ của bài thi, từ những khía cạnh cơ bản về quảng cáo trực tuyến đến phân tích sâu về tâm lý tiêu dùng và marketing kỹ thuật số.

Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ được trải nghiệm một bộ đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với 3 passages (Easy → Medium → Hard), được thiết kế sát với đề thi thật. Bạn sẽ rèn luyện với đầy đủ 40 câu hỏi thuộc 7 dạng khác nhau, kèm theo đáp án chi tiết và giải thích từng câu. Ngoài ra, bài viết còn cung cấp bảng từ vựng quan trọng theo từng passage để bạn nắm vững các collocations và academic words thường gặp.

Bộ đề này phù hợp cho học viên từ band 5.0 trở lên, giúp bạn làm quen với độ khó tăng dần và phát triển kỹ năng làm bài bài bản. Hãy chuẩn bị đồng hồ và làm bài trong đúng 60 phút để có trải nghiệm như thi thật nhất!

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, và tổng điểm sẽ được quy đổi thành band score từ 0-9.

Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:

• Passage 1: 15-17 phút (độ khó thấp nhất)
• Passage 2: 18-20 phút (độ khó trung bình)
• Passage 3: 23-25 phút (độ khó cao nhất)

Lưu ý rằng không có thời gian thêm để chép đáp án vào answer sheet, vì vậy bạn cần quản lý thời gian hiệu quả.

Các Dạng Câu Hỏi Trong Đề Này

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

• Multiple Choice (Trắc nghiệm)
• True/False/Not Given (Đúng/Sai/Không có thông tin)
• Matching Information (Nối thông tin)
• Yes/No/Not Given (Có/Không/Không đề cập)
• Matching Headings (Nối tiêu đề)
• Summary Completion (Hoàn thành tóm tắt)
• Sentence Completion (Hoàn thành câu)

Mỗi dạng yêu cầu kỹ năng đọc hiểu khác nhau, từ scanning (đọc lướt tìm thông tin) đến skimming (đọc lấy ý chính) và detailed reading (đọc kỹ).

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2. IELTS Reading Practice Test

PASSAGE 1 – The Rise of Social Shopping

Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút

Over the past decade, social media platforms have fundamentally transformed the way consumers discover and purchase products. What began as simple networking sites have evolved into powerful shopping destinations where billions of users browse, compare, and buy products daily. This phenomenon, known as “social commerce,” represents one of the most significant shifts in retail history.

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest are no longer just places to share photos or connect with friends. These platforms have integrated shopping features that allow users to complete purchases without ever leaving the app. Instagram’s “Shop” tab, for instance, enables businesses to create digital storefronts where customers can browse products, read reviews, and make instant purchases. Similarly, TikTok’s partnership with Shopify has made it possible for creators to sell products directly through their videos.

The influence of social media on buying decisions begins with product discovery. Research shows that 54% of social media users browse these platforms specifically to research products before making a purchase. Influencers and content creators play a crucial role in this process. When a popular beauty influencer demonstrates a skincare routine using specific products, their followers often rush to purchase the same items. This phenomenon has given birth to the term “influencer marketing,” which has become a multi-billion dollar industry.

User-generated content (UGC) is another powerful factor driving purchases on social media. When ordinary consumers post photos or videos featuring products they love, these authentic testimonials often carry more weight than traditional advertising. A study by Nielsen found that 92% of consumers trust recommendations from friends and family over any other type of advertising. Social media has essentially turned every user into a potential brand advocate.

The psychological mechanisms behind social media shopping are fascinating. Platforms use sophisticated algorithms to show users products aligned with their interests and previous browsing behavior. This personalized approach creates a sense that the platform “understands” the user’s preferences, making product recommendations feel more relevant and trustworthy. Additionally, features like “limited-time offers” and “only 3 items left” create a sense of urgency that encourages immediate purchases.

Social proof is perhaps the most powerful psychological driver in social commerce. When users see that a product has thousands of positive reviews or that their friends have purchased and endorsed an item, they feel more confident making the same purchase. This herd mentality is amplified on social media, where popularity metrics are constantly visible. A post with millions of likes or comments signals quality and desirability, even if the viewer has never heard of the product before.

The convenience factor cannot be overlooked. One-click purchasing, saved payment information, and integrated checkout systems have removed traditional barriers to online shopping. In the past, consumers might abandon their shopping carts due to lengthy checkout processes. Now, purchasing a product seen on social media can take just seconds. This frictionless experience significantly increases impulse buying.

Demographics play an important role in social media shopping behavior. Younger generations, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, are far more likely to make purchases through social media than older consumers. Studies indicate that 70% of Gen Z consumers have purchased products directly through social media platforms, compared to just 15% of Baby Boomers. This generational divide is gradually narrowing as older users become more comfortable with digital shopping.

However, social media shopping is not without challenges. Privacy concerns have emerged as platforms collect vast amounts of data about user preferences and browsing habits. Many consumers worry about how their information is being used and whether targeted advertising crosses ethical boundaries. Additionally, the authenticity of reviews is often questionable, with some businesses paying for fake positive reviews or competitors posting false negative ones.

Despite these concerns, the trend shows no signs of slowing down. Industry analysts predict that social commerce will account for nearly 20% of all e-commerce sales by 2025, representing hundreds of billions of dollars in transactions. As technology improves and more businesses recognize the potential, social media platforms will likely become even more central to the shopping experience, blurring the lines between social networking and retail commerce.

Questions 1-6

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Passage 1?

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

1. Social media platforms were originally designed as shopping websites.
2. More than half of social media users research products on these platforms before buying.
3. User-generated content is considered more trustworthy than recommendations from friends and family.
4. Social media algorithms show users products based on their interests and browsing history.
5. Gen Z consumers are more likely to shop on social media than Baby Boomers.
6. Social commerce is expected to decline by 2025 due to privacy concerns.

Questions 7-10

Complete the sentences below.

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

7. Instagram’s __ allows businesses to create digital storefronts within the app.
8. The term __ describes the practice of using popular content creators to promote products.
9. Features showing limited availability create a __ that encourages quick purchases.
10. The easy purchasing process on social media is described as a __ that increases impulse buying.

Questions 11-13

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

11. According to the passage, what percentage of consumers trust recommendations from friends and family most?

• A. 54%
• B. 70%
• C. 92%
• D. 15%

12. Which factor is described as “perhaps the most powerful psychological driver” in social commerce?

• A. Personalized recommendations
• B. Social proof
• C. Convenience
• D. Influencer marketing

13. What is mentioned as a challenge for social media shopping?

• A. Limited payment options
• B. Slow checkout processes
• C. Questionable review authenticity
• D. Lack of product variety

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PASSAGE 2 – The Psychology Behind Social Media Purchasing

Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút

The intersection of social media and consumer psychology has created a fascinating landscape where traditional marketing principles collide with cutting-edge digital strategies. Understanding why consumers make purchasing decisions on social platforms requires examining both cognitive biases and emotional triggers that these platforms expertly exploit. Researchers in behavioral economics and consumer neuroscience have identified several key mechanisms that drive what has become known as “social commerce behavior.”

One of the most significant factors is the concept of “parasocial relationships” – the one-sided connections that followers develop with influencers and content creators. Unlike traditional celebrity endorsements, social media influencers share intimate details of their daily lives, creating an illusion of friendship with their audience. When an influencer recommends a product, their followers don’t perceive it as advertising but rather as advice from a trusted friend. Dr. Sarah Mitchell, a consumer psychologist at Stanford University, explains: “The boundaries between authentic recommendation and paid promotion have become increasingly blurred, making it difficult for consumers to maintain their critical judgment.”

The scarcity principle operates with particular effectiveness on social media. When platforms display messages such as “selling fast” or show real-time purchase notifications from other users, they trigger fear of missing out (FOMO), a psychological phenomenon especially prevalent among younger demographics. This anxiety is amplified by the visibility of others’ purchasing behavior. Seeing multiple friends or influencers acquire the same product creates a bandwagon effect, where the fear of being left out overrides rational decision-making processes.

Visual storytelling represents another powerful tool in the social commerce arsenal. Human brains process visual information 60,000 times faster than text, making platforms like Instagram and TikTok ideal for impulse purchasing. Unlike traditional e-commerce websites that rely primarily on product descriptions and static images, social media presents products within lifestyle contexts. A handbag isn’t just displayed against a white background; it’s shown as part of an aspirational lifestyle that users want to emulate. This contextual presentation helps consumers envision how products fit into their own lives, significantly increasing purchase likelihood.

The gamification of shopping experiences on social media has introduced elements typically associated with gaming into the purchasing process. Features like flash sales, limited-time discounts, and reward programs trigger the brain’s dopamine response – the same neurological reaction associated with gambling and gaming. Each purchase becomes a small victory, and the anticipation of finding the next great deal keeps users engaged and scrolling. Marketing professor Dr. James Chen notes that “the intermittent reinforcement schedule used by social media platforms – where users occasionally find excellent deals among regular posts – is identical to the psychological mechanism that makes slot machines addictive.”

Social validation mechanisms extend beyond simple “likes” and comments. Modern social commerce platforms employ sophisticated credibility indicators including verified purchase badges, detailed user reviews with photos, and seller ratings. These trust signals help overcome the natural skepticism consumers feel when shopping online. However, this system has its vulnerabilities. The proliferation of fake reviews and manipulated ratings has created an arms race between platforms trying to maintain authenticity and bad actors seeking to game the system.

The personalization algorithms employed by social media platforms represent perhaps their most sophisticated psychological tool. These algorithms don’t merely track what users explicitly search for; they analyze engagement patterns, including how long users view certain posts, which profiles they visit, and even which products they pause on while scrolling. This creates an increasingly accurate psychological profile of each user, allowing platforms to serve precisely targeted product advertisements at moments when users are most likely to convert. The effectiveness of this targeting is remarkable – conversion rates for algorithmically-targeted ads can be ten times higher than traditional digital advertising.

The endowment effect – the psychological principle that people value things more highly once they feel ownership – has been ingeniously adapted for social media. Features like virtual try-on using augmented reality or “save for later” wish lists create a sense of psychological ownership before any purchase occurs. Studies show that users who virtually “try on” products are 94% more likely to complete a purchase than those who don’t. This is because the brain begins to feel ownership of the item during the virtual experience, making it psychologically harder to abandon the purchase.

Peer pressure operates with particular intensity in social media environments. The public nature of these platforms means that purchasing decisions – or the failure to make them – are often visible to one’s social network. Conspicuous consumption has evolved from physical displays of wealth to digital ones, where users post “haul videos” or tag brands in photos. This creates a social currency where the products one owns signal group membership and social status. For younger consumers especially, purchasing certain brands or products becomes a way of maintaining social belonging and demonstrating shared values with their peer group.

The concept of “social listening” has enabled brands to tap into real-time consumer conversations and respond with targeted marketing. When users discuss wanting or needing specific types of products, brands can quickly insert themselves into these conversations with personalized offers. This creates an impression of serendipity – users feel they’ve discovered products organically rather than being targeted by advertising. The psychological impact of this perceived organic discovery is substantially stronger than traditional advertising approaches.

However, increasing awareness of these psychological manipulation techniques has sparked a consumer backlash. Privacy advocates and consumer protection groups have raised concerns about the ethical implications of such targeted psychological marketing. Some countries have introduced regulations requiring clearer disclosure of sponsored content and limitations on data collection. Nevertheless, as long as social media platforms remain free to users, the advertising-driven business model will likely continue to prioritize engagement and conversion over user autonomy.

Questions 14-18

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

14. According to the passage, parasocial relationships differ from traditional celebrity endorsements because:

• A. They cost less money for companies
• B. They create a sense of personal friendship
• C. They reach larger audiences
• D. They are more regulated by law

15. The passage suggests that visual information is processed:

• A. More slowly than text
• B. At the same speed as text
• C. 60,000 times faster than text
• D. Through a different part of the brain than text

16. What does Dr. James Chen compare to the psychological mechanism of slot machines?

• A. Virtual try-on features
• B. User review systems
• C. Intermittent reinforcement schedules
• D. Parasocial relationships

17. According to the passage, users who use virtual try-on features are:

• A. 10% more likely to purchase
• B. 94% more likely to purchase
• C. 60% more likely to purchase
• D. Equally likely to purchase

18. The passage indicates that some countries have responded to psychological manipulation by:

• A. Banning social media advertising completely
• B. Requiring users to pay for social media
• C. Introducing regulations on data collection
• D. Eliminating influencer marketing

Questions 19-23

Complete the summary below.

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

Social media platforms use various psychological techniques to influence purchasing behavior. The concept of (19) __ describes the one-sided connections followers feel with influencers. Platforms also exploit the (20) __, displaying messages about limited availability that trigger anxiety. The use of (21) __ in shopping experiences triggers dopamine responses similar to gambling. Additionally, (22) __ analyze user behavior to create psychological profiles for targeted advertising. Features like virtual try-on create (23) __ of products before purchase, making users more likely to complete transactions.

Questions 24-26

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Passage 2?

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

24. Social media platforms intentionally make it difficult for users to distinguish between genuine recommendations and paid advertisements.
25. The gamification of shopping is more effective with older consumers than younger ones.
26. The advertising-driven business model of social media platforms will probably continue despite consumer concerns.

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PASSAGE 3 – The Socioeconomic and Cultural Dimensions of Social Media Commerce

Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)

Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút

The proliferation of social commerce represents far more than a mere technological innovation in retail; it constitutes a fundamental restructuring of the relationship between consumer identity, economic participation, and social interaction. Academic discourse across disciplines – from sociology and anthropology to critical media studies and behavioral economics – has increasingly focused on understanding how social media platforms have become what philosopher Byung-Chul Han terms “digital agoras,” spaces where economic transactions are inextricably intertwined with social performance and identity construction. This phenomenon necessitates examination through multiple theoretical lenses to fully comprehend its multifaceted implications for contemporary society.

From a sociological perspective, social media commerce embodies what Pierre Bourdieu conceptualized as “cultural capital” in the digital age. Purchasing decisions on these platforms are rarely purely utilitarian; rather, they serve as symbolic markers of taste, sophistication, and group affiliation. The conspicuous consumption that Thorstein Veblen identified in the late 19th century has evolved into what sociologist Dr. Elena Rodriguez calls “algorithmically-mediated status signaling.” Users curate their purchases not merely for personal satisfaction but as performative acts witnessed and judged by their social networks. This introduces a recursive feedback loop wherein purchasing behavior both reflects and shapes social identity, with algorithmic amplification intensifying the visibility of certain consumer choices while obscuring others.

The democratization narrative surrounding social commerce – the claim that these platforms level economic playing fields by giving small businesses access to global markets – warrants critical scrutiny. While it is true that barriers to entry for sellers have decreased substantially, research by economists at the London School of Economics reveals a highly stratified marketplace where success correlates strongly with existing social capital, technical literacy, and financial resources for advertising. Far from displacing traditional power asymmetries, social commerce often replicates and even amplifies them. The algorithm-driven “attention economy” favors those who can invest in professional content creation, search engine optimization, and paid promotion, effectively creating what critical theorists term a “participation gap” that disadvantages marginalized communities.

Neoliberal ideology permeates social commerce in subtle yet pervasive ways. The platforms encourage what sociologist Dr. Marcus Fleming describes as “entrepreneurial subjectivity” – the notion that every individual can and should monetize their social relationships and personal brand. This commodification of social connections transforms authentic interpersonal relationships into potential revenue streams, fundamentally altering the nature of online sociality. Users become simultaneously consumers, marketers, and products, engaging in what Shoshana Zuboff terms “surveillance capitalism,” where personal data and behavioral patterns become extractable resources for platform profit maximization.

The cross-cultural dimensions of social commerce reveal significant variations in adoption patterns and consumer behavior. Research comparing social commerce practices across East Asian, Western European, and North American markets demonstrates that cultural values regarding privacy, collectivism versus individualism, and trust in digital transactions profoundly influence engagement patterns. In markets characterized by high-context communication and collectivist orientation, such as South Korea and China, social commerce integration has been far more seamless than in individualistic cultures with stronger privacy concerns. These variations challenge universalist assumptions about digital consumer behavior and highlight the need for culturally-situated analysis.

Cognitive capitalism theory provides another valuable framework for understanding social commerce. Unlike industrial capitalism, which primarily extracted physical labor, cognitive capitalism extracts immaterial labor – the creative, affective, and social contributions of users. Every product review, influencer post, or shared shopping experience generates value for platforms without traditional employment relationships or compensation structures. This represents what autonomist Marxist theorists call “free labor,” where users voluntarily create content that drives platform engagement and profitability. The exploitation is subtle because users derive perceived benefits – social connection, entertainment, or minor financial gains – that obscure the asymmetric value extraction occurring.

The psychological architecture of social commerce platforms reflects what B.F. Skinner termed “operant conditioning” operating at population scale. Variable ratio reinforcement schedules – where rewards arrive unpredictably – create the most persistent behavioral patterns, explaining the compulsive scrolling behavior observed in users. Neuroimaging studies conducted at the Max Planck Institute have demonstrated that exposure to targeted product advertisements on social media activates the brain’s nucleus accumbens, the region associated with reward anticipation and desire, even before conscious product evaluation occurs. This suggests that purchasing impulses may be triggered at a preconscious level, complicating traditional notions of consumer autonomy and rational choice.

Privacy paradoxes emerge when examining user behavior regarding data sharing. Despite widespread concern about data privacy, users continue to engage with platforms that require extensive personal information disclosure. This apparent contradiction can be explained through hyperbolic discounting – the tendency to prioritize immediate gratification over long-term consequences – and learned helplessness, wherein users feel powerless to resist data collection practices they perceive as ubiquitous and inevitable. Additionally, the opacity of algorithmic systems means users rarely comprehend the full extent of data harvesting and behavioral analysis occurring in the background.

The intergenerational transmission of digital consumer behaviors presents concerning implications for financial literacy and impulse control among younger demographics. Developmental psychologists note that exposure to frictionless purchasing during critical periods of neurological development may impair the formation of delayed gratification capacity and critical evaluation skills. Dr. Sarah Chen’s longitudinal study following Gen Z consumers found significantly higher rates of consumer debt and buyer’s remorse compared to previous generations at similar ages, correlating with increased social media shopping frequency.

Regulatory frameworks have struggled to keep pace with the rapid evolution of social commerce. The jurisdictional ambiguity inherent in transnational digital platforms complicates enforcement of consumer protection laws. Moreover, the technical complexity of algorithmic targeting systems makes it difficult for regulators to identify and prove deceptive practices or manipulative design features. Some scholars advocate for “algorithmic transparency” requirements that would mandate disclosure of how personalization systems function, while others argue for more radical interventions, including treating dominant platforms as public utilities subject to greater regulatory oversight.

The environmental externalities of social commerce warrant consideration as well. The acceleration of consumption cycles driven by constantly refreshed social media feeds contributes to resource depletion and waste generation. Fast fashion brands, in particular, leverage social media marketing to promote disposable consumption patterns that environmental economists recognize as fundamentally unsustainable. The hidden ecological costs – manufacturing emissions, transportation impacts, packaging waste – rarely feature in the curated aesthetic presentations that drive social commerce engagement.

Looking forward, emerging technologies such as augmented reality shopping, virtual reality marketplaces, and artificial intelligence-driven personal shopping assistants promise to further blur boundaries between digital social interaction and commercial transaction. Whether these developments represent consumer empowerment through enhanced choice and convenience, or intensified commodification of human experience, remains a contested question. What seems certain is that social commerce has fundamentally altered the landscape of consumer culture, creating new forms of social stratification, identity performance, and economic participation whose long-term consequences remain incompletely understood.

Ảnh hưởng của mạng xã hội đến hành vi mua sắm và thói quen tiêu dùng của người dùng hiện đại

Questions 27-31

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-H, below.

27. Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital in the digital age
28. The democratization narrative surrounding social commerce
29. The notion of entrepreneurial subjectivity
30. Cross-cultural research on social commerce
31. Neuroimaging studies at the Max Planck Institute

A. encourages individuals to monetize their personal relationships and social connections.

B. demonstrates significant variations based on cultural values and communication styles.

C. has been proven completely accurate by recent economic research.

D. suggests purchasing behavior serves as symbolic markers of taste and group affiliation.

E. shows that product advertisements trigger brain regions associated with desire before conscious thought.

F. requires critical examination as it may replicate existing power asymmetries.

G. eliminates all barriers between sellers and consumers in global markets.

H. proves that social media shopping is harmful to mental health.

Questions 32-36

Choose FIVE letters, A-J.

Which FIVE of the following are mentioned in Passage 3 as concerns or negative aspects of social commerce?

A. Algorithms favor users with more resources for content creation and advertising

B. Social relationships become commodified and transformed into potential revenue sources

C. Users generate valuable content for platforms without proper compensation

D. Social commerce is more popular in Asian countries than Western ones

E. Younger generations may develop impaired impulse control and critical evaluation skills

F. Regulatory frameworks cannot effectively address algorithmic manipulation

G. Social media platforms charge excessive fees to small businesses

H. Accelerated consumption patterns contribute to environmental damage

I. Augmented reality technology is too expensive for most consumers

J. Social commerce improves financial literacy among teenagers

Questions 37-40

Answer the questions below.

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

37. What term does philosopher Byung-Chul Han use to describe social media platforms where economic and social activities merge?

38. According to autonomist Marxist theorists, what term describes unpaid user-generated content that benefits platforms?

39. What psychological phenomenon explains why users prioritize immediate benefits over long-term privacy concerns?

40. What do some scholars suggest platforms should be classified as to enable greater regulatory oversight?

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3. Answer Keys – Đáp Án

PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13

1. FALSE
2. TRUE
3. FALSE
4. TRUE
5. TRUE
6. FALSE
7. Shop tab
8. influencer marketing
9. sense of urgency
10. frictionless experience
11. C
12. B
13. C

PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26

14. B
15. C
16. C
17. B
18. C
19. parasocial relationships
20. scarcity principle
21. gamification
22. personalization algorithms
23. psychological ownership
24. YES
25. NOT GIVEN
26. YES

PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40

27. D
28. F
29. A
30. B
31. E
    32-36. A, B, C, E, H (any order)
32. digital agoras
33. free labor
34. hyperbolic discounting
35. public utilities

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4. Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Passage 1 – Giải Thích

Câu 1: FALSE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: originally designed, shopping websites
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 1-2
• Giải thích: Bài đọc nói rõ “What began as simple networking sites” – nghĩa là ban đầu được thiết kế như các trang mạng xã hội, không phải trang mua sắm. Câu hỏi mâu thuẫn với thông tin này nên đáp án là FALSE.

Câu 2: TRUE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: 54%, research products
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 2-3
• Giải thích: Bài viết nêu rõ “54% of social media users browse these platforms specifically to research products before making a purchase” – khớp chính xác với câu hỏi.

Câu 3: FALSE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: user-generated content, more trustworthy than friends
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 3-4
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói “92% of consumers trust recommendations from friends and family over any other type of advertising” – nghĩa là lời khuyên từ bạn bè/gia đình được tin tưởng HƠN các loại quảng cáo khác (bao gồm UGC), không phải ngược lại.

Câu 4: TRUE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: algorithms, interests, browsing history
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng 2-3
• Giải thích: Câu “Platforms use sophisticated algorithms to show users products aligned with their interests and previous browsing behavior” paraphrase chính xác nội dung câu hỏi.

Câu 5: TRUE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Gen Z, more likely, Baby Boomers
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8, dòng 3-5
• Giải thích: Bài viết cung cấp số liệu cụ thể: 70% Gen Z mua hàng qua mạng xã hội so với chỉ 15% Baby Boomers, chứng minh Gen Z có khả năng cao hơn nhiều.

Câu 6: FALSE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: decline by 2025, privacy concerns
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 10, dòng 1-3
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói “social commerce will account for nearly 20% of all e-commerce sales by 2025” và “the trend shows no signs of slowing down” – nghĩa là sẽ tăng mạnh, không phải giảm.

Câu 7: Shop tab

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: Instagram, digital storefronts
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 3-4
• Giải thích: “Instagram’s ‘Shop’ tab…enables businesses to create digital storefronts” – đáp án là “Shop tab”.

Câu 8: influencer marketing

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: term, content creators, promote products
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 5-6
• Giải thích: Câu cuối đoạn 3 giới thiệu thuật ngữ “influencer marketing” để mô tả hiện tượng này.

Câu 9: sense of urgency

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: limited availability, encourages purchases
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng 5-6
• Giải thích: “Features like ‘limited-time offers’ and ‘only 3 items left’ create a sense of urgency that encourages immediate purchases.”

Câu 10: frictionless experience

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: easy purchasing, impulse buying
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 4-5
• Giải thích: “This frictionless experience significantly increases impulse buying” – cụm từ này mô tả quy trình mua hàng dễ dàng.

Câu 11: C (92%)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: percentage, trust, friends and family
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 3-4
• Giải thích: Nielsen study được trích dẫn với con số chính xác 92%.

Câu 12: B (Social proof)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: most powerful psychological driver
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng 1
• Giải thích: Câu mở đầu đoạn 6 nói rõ “Social proof is perhaps the most powerful psychological driver in social commerce.”

Câu 13: C (Questionable review authenticity)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: challenge, social media shopping
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 9, dòng 2-4
• Giải thích: Đoạn 9 liệt kê các thách thức, trong đó có “the authenticity of reviews is often questionable.”

Passage 2 – Giải Thích

Câu 14: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: parasocial relationships differ
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 3-5
• Giải thích: “Unlike traditional celebrity endorsements, social media influencers share intimate details…creating an illusion of friendship” – điểm khác biệt chính là tạo cảm giác bạn bè thân thiết.

Câu 15: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: visual information processed
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 1-2
• Giải thích: Câu trích dẫn trực tiếp: “Human brains process visual information 60,000 times faster than text.”

Câu 16: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: Dr. James Chen, slot machines
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng 5-7
• Giải thích: Dr. Chen so sánh “intermittent reinforcement schedule” với cơ chế tâm lý của máy đánh bạc.

Câu 17: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: virtual try-on, percentage
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8, dòng 3-4
• Giải thích: “Users who virtually ‘try on’ products are 94% more likely to complete a purchase.”

Câu 18: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: countries responded
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 11, dòng 3-4
• Giải thích: “Some countries have introduced regulations requiring clearer disclosure…and limitations on data collection.”

Câu 19: parasocial relationships

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 1
• Giải thích: Thuật ngữ được giới thiệu để mô tả mối quan hệ một chiều giữa người theo dõi và influencer.

Câu 20: scarcity principle

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 1
• Giải thích: Nguyên lý khan hiếm được đề cập khi nói về thông điệp “selling fast.”

Câu 21: gamification

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng 1
• Giải thích: “The gamification of shopping experiences” là chủ đề chính của đoạn 5.

Câu 22: personalization algorithms

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 1
• Giải thích: “The personalization algorithms…analyze engagement patterns” để tạo hồ sơ tâm lý người dùng.

Câu 23: psychological ownership

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8, dòng 2-3
• Giải thích: Virtual try-on creates “a sense of psychological ownership before any purchase occurs.”

Câu 24: YES

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 5-6
• Giải thích: “The boundaries between authentic recommendation and paid promotion have become increasingly blurred” – điều này ngụ ý là có chủ đích, và tác giả đồng ý với quan điểm này qua cách diễn đạt.

Câu 25: NOT GIVEN

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Giải thích: Bài viết không so sánh hiệu quả của gamification giữa các độ tuổi khác nhau, chỉ đề cập đến FOMO phổ biến ở người trẻ.

Câu 26: YES

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 11, dòng 5-6
• Giải thích: “As long as social media platforms remain free to users, the advertising-driven business model will likely continue” – tác giả rõ ràng đồng ý với quan điểm này.

Passage 3 – Giải Thích

Câu 27: D

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Sentence Endings
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 2-4
• Giải thích: Bourdieu’s cultural capital được liên kết với việc “purchasing decisions…serve as symbolic markers of taste, sophistication, and group affiliation.”

Câu 28: F

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Sentence Endings
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 1-2
• Giải thích: “The democratization narrative…warrants critical scrutiny” và sau đó nói về việc nó có thể tái tạo các bất bình đẳng quyền lực.

Câu 29: A

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Sentence Endings
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 2-4
• Giải thích: Entrepreneurial subjectivity được mô tả là “the notion that every individual can and should monetize their social relationships.”

Câu 30: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Sentence Endings
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5
• Giải thích: Cross-cultural research “demonstrates that cultural values…profoundly influence engagement patterns” – cho thấy sự khác biệt đáng kể.

Câu 31: E

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Sentence Endings
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 3-5
• Giải thích: Neuroimaging studies “demonstrated that exposure to targeted product advertisements…activates the brain’s nucleus accumbens…associated with reward anticipation and desire.”

Câu 32-36: A, B, C, E, H

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Selection
• Giải thích:
  • A: Đoạn 3 – algorithms favor those with resources
  • B: Đoạn 4 – commodification of social connections
  • C: Đoạn 6 – “free labor” concept
  • E: Đoạn 9 – impaired delayed gratification capacity
  • H: Đoạn 11 – environmental externalities

Câu 37: digital agoras

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short Answer
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 4-5
• Giải thích: Byung-Chul Han terms them “digital agoras.”

Câu 38: free labor

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short Answer
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng 5-6
• Giải thích: “Autonomist Marxist theorists call ‘free labor’.”

Câu 39: hyperbolic discounting

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short Answer
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8, dòng 3-4
• Giải thích: “This apparent contradiction can be explained through hyperbolic discounting.”

Câu 40: public utilities

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short Answer
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 10, dòng 5-6
• Giải thích: “Treating dominant platforms as public utilities subject to greater regulatory oversight.”

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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
social commerce	n	/ˈsəʊʃəl ˈkɒmɜːs/	thương mại xã hội	This phenomenon, known as “social commerce,” represents one of the most significant shifts	engage in social commerce, social commerce platform
influencer	n	/ˈɪnfluənsə(r)/	người có ảnh hưởng, người ảnh hưởng	Influencers and content creators play a crucial role in this process	beauty influencer, social media influencer
user-generated content	n	/ˈjuːzə ˈdʒenəreɪtɪd ˈkɒntent/	nội dung do người dùng tạo	User-generated content is another powerful factor driving purchases	create user-generated content, authentic user-generated content
brand advocate	n	/brænd ˈædvəkət/	người ủng hộ thương hiệu	Social media has essentially turned every user into a potential brand advocate	become a brand advocate, passionate brand advocate
sense of urgency	n phrase	/sens əv ˈɜːdʒənsi/	cảm giác cấp bách	Features like “limited-time offers” create a sense of urgency	create a sense of urgency, convey urgency
social proof	n	/ˈsəʊʃəl pruːf/	bằng chứng xã hội	Social proof is perhaps the most powerful psychological driver	provide social proof, leverage social proof
frictionless	adj	/ˈfrɪkʃənləs/	không ma sát, suôn sẻ	This frictionless experience significantly increases impulse buying	frictionless experience, frictionless process
impulse buying	n	/ˈɪmpʌls ˈbaɪɪŋ/	mua hàng bốc đồng	One-click purchasing increases impulse buying	encourage impulse buying, impulse buying behavior
generational divide	n	/ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃənl dɪˈvaɪd/	khoảng cách thế hệ	This generational divide is gradually narrowing	bridge the generational divide, widen the divide
authenticity	n	/ˌɔːθenˈtɪsəti/	tính xác thực	The authenticity of reviews is often questionable	question authenticity, verify authenticity
algorithm	n	/ˈælɡərɪðəm/	thuật toán	Platforms use sophisticated algorithms to show users products	recommendation algorithm, complex algorithm
demographic	n	/ˌdeməˈɡræfɪk/	nhóm nhân khẩu học	Demographics play an important role in shopping behavior	target demographic, key demographic

Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
cognitive bias	n	/ˈkɒɡnətɪv ˈbaɪəs/	thiên kiến nhận thức	Understanding why consumers make decisions requires examining cognitive biases	unconscious cognitive bias, common cognitive bias
parasocial relationship	n	/ˌpærəˈsəʊʃəl rɪˈleɪʃnʃɪp/	mối quan hệ giả xã hội	Parasocial relationships are one-sided connections followers develop with influencers	develop parasocial relationships, parasocial relationship phenomenon
illusion	n	/ɪˈluːʒn/	ảo tưởng, ảo ảnh	Creating an illusion of friendship with their audience	create an illusion, shatter the illusion
scarcity principle	n	/ˈskeəsəti ˈprɪnsəpl/	nguyên lý khan hiếm	The scarcity principle operates with particular effectiveness	apply scarcity principle, scarcity principle marketing
FOMO	n (acronym)	/ˈfəʊməʊ/	nỗi sợ bỏ lỡ	They trigger fear of missing out (FOMO)	experience FOMO, capitalize on FOMO
bandwagon effect	n	/ˈbændwæɡən ɪˈfekt/	hiệu ứng đám đông	Seeing others purchase creates a bandwagon effect	bandwagon effect influences, join the bandwagon
impulse purchasing	n	/ˈɪmpʌls ˈpɜːtʃəsɪŋ/	mua hàng bốc đồng	Visual platforms are ideal for impulse purchasing	reduce impulse purchasing, impulse purchasing behavior
gamification	n	/ˌɡeɪmɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/	trò chơi hóa	The gamification of shopping experiences has introduced game elements	implement gamification, gamification strategy
dopamine response	n	/ˈdəʊpəmiːn rɪˈspɒns/	phản ứng dopamine	Features trigger the brain’s dopamine response	stimulate dopamine response, dopamine response mechanism
intermittent reinforcement	n	/ˌɪntəˈmɪtənt ˌriːɪnˈfɔːsmənt/	củng cố ngắt quãng	Intermittent reinforcement schedule is identical to slot machine psychology	intermittent reinforcement schedule, use intermittent reinforcement
credibility indicator	n	/ˌkredəˈbɪləti ˈɪndɪkeɪtə(r)/	chỉ số uy tín	Platforms employ sophisticated credibility indicators	credibility indicators include, establish credibility indicators
trust signal	n	/trʌst ˈsɪɡnəl/	tín hiệu tin cậy	These trust signals help overcome consumer skepticism	display trust signals, trust signal effectiveness
endowment effect	n	/ɪnˈdaʊmənt ɪˈfekt/	hiệu ứng sở hữu	The endowment effect has been adapted for social media	leverage endowment effect, endowment effect explains
conspicuous consumption	n	/kənˈspɪkjuəs kənˈsʌmpʃn/	tiêu dùng phô trương	Conspicuous consumption has evolved to digital displays	engage in conspicuous consumption, conspicuous consumption patterns
serendipity	n	/ˌserənˈdɪpəti/	sự tình cờ may mắn	This creates an impression of serendipity	sense of serendipity, serendipitous discovery

Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
proliferation	n	/prəˌlɪfəˈreɪʃn/	sự tăng sinh nhanh	The proliferation of social commerce represents more than innovation	nuclear proliferation, rapid proliferation
inextricably	adv	/ˌɪnɪkˈstrɪkəbli/	không thể tách rời	Economic transactions are inextricably intertwined with social performance	inextricably linked, inextricably bound
multifaceted	adj	/ˌmʌltiˈfæsɪtɪd/	đa diện, nhiều khía cạnh	Understanding its multifaceted implications for society	multifaceted approach, multifaceted problem
cultural capital	n	/ˈkʌltʃərəl ˈkæpɪtl/	vốn văn hóa	Bourdieu conceptualized cultural capital in the digital age	accumulate cultural capital, cultural capital theory
symbolic marker	n	/sɪmˈbɒlɪk ˈmɑːkə(r)/	dấu hiệu biểu tượng	Purchases serve as symbolic markers of taste	function as symbolic markers, symbolic marker of status
performative act	n	/pəˈfɔːmətɪv ækt/	hành động biểu diễn	Users curate purchases as performative acts	engage in performative acts, performative act witnessed
recursive feedback loop	n	/rɪˈkɜːsɪv ˈfiːdbæk luːp/	vòng phản hồi đệ quy	This introduces a recursive feedback loop	create recursive feedback loop, recursive feedback mechanism
democratization	n	/dɪˌmɒkrətaɪˈzeɪʃn/	dân chủ hóa	The democratization narrative warrants critical scrutiny	democratization of technology, democratization process
stratified	adj	/ˈstrætɪfaɪd/	phân tầng	Research reveals a highly stratified marketplace	stratified society, highly stratified system
power asymmetry	n	/ˈpaʊə(r) əˈsɪmətri/	bất cân xứng quyền lực	Social commerce often amplifies power asymmetries	address power asymmetries, existing power asymmetries
commodification	n	/kəˌmɒdɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/	thương phẩm hóa	The commodification of social connections transforms relationships	resist commodification, cultural commodification
surveillance capitalism	n	/səˈveɪləns ˈkæpɪtəlɪzəm/	chủ nghĩa tư bản giám sát	Users engage in what Zuboff terms surveillance capitalism	surveillance capitalism era, surveillance capitalism practices
immaterial labor	n	/ˌɪməˈtɪəriəl ˈleɪbə(r)/	lao động phi vật chất	Cognitive capitalism extracts immaterial labor	immaterial labor contribution, compensate immaterial labor
operant conditioning	n	/ˈɒpərənt kənˈdɪʃnɪŋ/	điều kiện hóa tác động	Psychological architecture reflects operant conditioning at scale	operant conditioning principles, operant conditioning techniques
hyperbolic discounting	n	/ˌhaɪpəˈbɒlɪk ˈdɪskaʊntɪŋ/	chiết khấu phóng đại	This can be explained through hyperbolic discounting	exhibit hyperbolic discounting, hyperbolic discounting tendency
opacity	n	/əʊˈpæsəti/	tính mờ đục, không rõ ràng	The opacity of algorithmic systems means users rarely comprehend	algorithmic opacity, opacity of processes
jurisdictional ambiguity	n	/ˌdʒʊərɪsˈdɪkʃənl æmbɪˈɡjuːəti/	sự mơ hồ về thẩm quyền	Jurisdictional ambiguity complicates enforcement	jurisdictional ambiguity issues, resolve jurisdictional ambiguity
ecological externality	n	/ˌiːkəˈlɒdʒɪkl ˌekstɜːˈnæləti/	tác động sinh thái bên ngoài	The environmental externalities warrant consideration	negative ecological externalities, account for externalities

Chiến lược học và luyện tập IELTS Reading hiệu quả cho người Việt Nam chuẩn bị thi

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Kết bài

Chủ đề “Social media influence on buying habits” không chỉ phản ánh xu hướng tiêu dùng hiện đại mà còn là một trong những topic thường xuyên xuất hiện trong các đề thi IELTS Reading gần đây. Qua bộ đề thi hoàn chỉnh này với 3 passages có độ khó tăng dần, bạn đã được trải nghiệm đầy đủ các dạng câu hỏi từ cơ bản đến nâng cao, giống như trong kỳ thi thực tế.

Passage 1 giúp bạn làm quen với các khái niệm cơ bản về social commerce, influencer marketing và các yếu tố tâm lý đơn giản. Passage 2 đi sâu hơn vào các cơ chế tâm lý phức tạp như parasocial relationships, gamification và algorithmic targeting. Passage 3 yêu cầu khả năng phân tích học thuật cao với các lý thuyết xã hội học, kinh tế học và những vấn đề đạo đức liên quan đến social commerce.

Phần đáp án chi tiết không chỉ cung cấp đáp án đúng mà còn giải thích rõ ràng cách xác định thông tin trong bài, kỹ thuật paraphrase và chiến lược làm bài cho từng dạng câu hỏi. Bảng từ vựng với hơn 40 từ quan trọng kèm phiên âm, nghĩa và collocation sẽ giúp bạn mở rộng vốn từ học thuật đáng kể.

Để tối đa hóa hiệu quả luyện tập, hãy làm lại bộ đề này ít nhất 2-3 lần, tập trung vào việc cải thiện tốc độ đọc và độ chính xác. Phân tích kỹ những câu trả lời sai để hiểu rõ điểm yếu của mình. Đừng quên thực hành các kỹ thuật skimming và scanning để quản lý thời gian hiệu quả hơn trong phòng thi. Chúc bạn đạt band điểm mong muốn trong kỳ thi IELTS sắp tới!