Mở bài
Chủ đề về tự động hóa và tác động của nó đến thị trường việc làm là một trong những đề tài phổ biến nhất trong IELTS Reading hiện nay. Câu hỏi “What Are The Effects Of Automation On Job Markets?” không chỉ xuất hiện thường xuyên trong các đề thi IELTS thực tế mà còn phản ánh xu hướng quan tâm toàn cầu về công nghệ và tương lai nghề nghiệp. Với sự phát triển nhanh chóng của trí tuệ nhân tạo, robot và các hệ thống tự động, hiểu rõ về chủ đề này không chỉ giúp bạn đạt điểm cao trong IELTS mà còn chuẩn bị kiến thức thực tế cho tương lai.
Bài viết này cung cấp một đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với 3 passages từ dễ đến khó, bao gồm 40 câu hỏi đa dạng giống như thi thật. Bạn sẽ nhận được đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích, từ vựng quan trọng và các kỹ thuật làm bài hiệu quả. Đề thi này phù hợp cho học viên từ band 5.0 trở lên, giúp bạn làm quen với format chuẩn Cambridge và rèn luyện kỹ năng đọc hiểu học thuật một cách bài bản.
1. Hướng Dẫn Làm Bài IELTS Reading
Tổng Quan Về IELTS Reading Test
IELTS Reading Test kéo dài 60 phút với 3 passages và tổng cộng 40 câu hỏi. Mỗi câu trả lời đúng được tính 1 điểm, không có điểm âm cho câu trả lời sai. Độ khó tăng dần từ Passage 1 đến Passage 3, vì vậy bạn cần phân bổ thời gian hợp lý:
- Passage 1: 15-17 phút (Band 5.0-6.5)
- Passage 2: 18-20 phút (Band 6.0-7.5)
- Passage 3: 23-25 phút (Band 7.0-9.0)
Lưu ý dành 2-3 phút cuối để chép đáp án vào answer sheet. Tất cả câu trả lời phải được viết trên answer sheet thì mới được chấm điểm.
Các Dạng Câu Hỏi Trong Đề Này
Đề thi mẫu này bao gồm 7 dạng câu hỏi phổ biến nhất trong IELTS Reading:
- Multiple Choice: Chọn đáp án đúng từ 3-4 lựa chọn
- True/False/Not Given: Xác định thông tin đúng, sai hay không được nhắc đến
- Yes/No/Not Given: Xác định ý kiến của tác giả
- Matching Headings: Nối tiêu đề với các đoạn văn
- Sentence Completion: Hoàn thành câu với thông tin từ bài đọc
- Matching Features: Nối thông tin với các nhân vật/tổ chức được nhắc đến
- Short-answer Questions: Trả lời ngắn gọn các câu hỏi
2. IELTS Reading Practice Test
PASSAGE 1 – The Rise of Automation in Modern Workplaces
Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút
Over the past few decades, automation has become an increasingly significant force in transforming workplaces across the globe. From manufacturing plants to office environments, technological advancements are reshaping how work is performed and who performs it. This shift has sparked both excitement and concern among workers, business owners, and policymakers alike.
Automation refers to the use of technology to perform tasks that were previously carried out by humans. In its simplest form, this might involve basic machinery that can complete repetitive tasks more quickly and accurately than human workers. However, modern automation has evolved far beyond simple mechanical processes. Today’s automated systems incorporate artificial intelligence, machine learning, and sophisticated robotics that can adapt to new situations and even make decisions based on complex data analysis.
The history of automation in the workplace dates back to the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries. During this period, mechanical looms and steam-powered machines began replacing manual labor in textile production and other industries. This early form of automation dramatically increased productivity while simultaneously displacing many skilled craftspeople. The pattern established during this era—technological innovation leading to both economic growth and job displacement—continues to this day.
In the manufacturing sector, automation has had perhaps its most visible impact. Modern factories employ robotic assembly lines that can work 24 hours a day without breaks, producing goods with remarkable precision and consistency. Car manufacturers, for example, now use robots for tasks ranging from welding to painting, jobs that were once performed entirely by human workers. These automated processes have made manufacturing more efficient and cost-effective, allowing companies to produce higher-quality products at lower prices.
However, manufacturing is far from the only sector affected by automation. The service industry, which employs the majority of workers in developed economies, is also experiencing significant changes. Self-checkout systems in supermarkets, automated customer service chatbots, and algorithm-driven financial trading are just a few examples of how automation is penetrating service-based jobs. Even creative professions that were once thought to be immune to automation, such as journalism and graphic design, are now seeing software programs capable of producing basic content.
The economic benefits of automation are substantial and well-documented. Companies that invest in automation technologies often see significant improvements in productivity, quality control, and profit margins. Automated systems can work continuously without fatigue, make fewer errors than human workers, and can be easily scaled up or down depending on demand. These advantages have made automation particularly attractive during economic uncertainty, when businesses seek ways to reduce costs and maintain competitiveness.
Yet, the rise of automation also presents considerable challenges, particularly concerning employment. While automation creates some new jobs—such as robot maintenance technicians and AI specialists—it typically eliminates far more positions than it creates. Workers in routine occupations, those involving predictable physical tasks or data processing, face the highest risk of job displacement. Studies suggest that millions of jobs in sectors like manufacturing, transportation, and administrative support could be automated within the next two decades.
The impact of automation on employment is not uniform across all demographic groups. Workers with lower levels of education and those in lower-wage occupations are generally at greater risk of displacement. Additionally, older workers may find it more difficult to transition to new roles that require different skill sets. This has raised concerns about increasing economic inequality and the potential for social disruption as automation continues to advance.
Despite these concerns, many economists argue that fears about technological unemployment are overstated. They point to historical precedent, noting that previous waves of automation ultimately led to net job creation as new industries emerged and existing ones expanded. The key, these experts suggest, is ensuring that workers have access to training and education that prepare them for the jobs of the future, rather than trying to preserve jobs that are becoming obsolete.
Questions 1-13
Questions 1-5
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
- Modern automation systems can only perform simple mechanical tasks.
- The Industrial Revolution marked the beginning of workplace automation.
- Automotive factories now use robots for various production tasks.
- Service industry jobs are completely protected from automation.
- Companies using automation often experience improved productivity.
Questions 6-9
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- Automated systems incorporate artificial intelligence and __ to adapt to new situations.
- Early automation during the Industrial Revolution both increased productivity and __ many skilled workers.
- Modern factories use __ that can operate continuously without breaks.
- Workers in __ face the highest risk of losing their jobs to automation.
Questions 10-13
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- According to the passage, which sector has experienced the most visible impact from automation?
- A. Service industry
- B. Manufacturing sector
- C. Creative professions
- D. Financial trading
- What is mentioned as an advantage of automated systems?
- A. They require frequent maintenance
- B. They can work without getting tired
- C. They are expensive to operate
- D. They need constant supervision
- Which group of workers is at greatest risk from automation?
- A. Highly educated professionals
- B. Robot maintenance technicians
- C. Workers with lower levels of education
- D. AI specialists
- What do some economists believe about technological unemployment?
- A. It is the most serious problem facing society
- B. It will definitely lead to mass unemployment
- C. Concerns about it are exaggerated
- D. It cannot be prevented under any circumstances
PASSAGE 2 – Adapting to the Automated Economy: Challenges and Opportunities
Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút
As automation continues to permeate various sectors of the economy, societies worldwide are grappling with the profound implications of this technological transformation. The conversation has evolved beyond simple questions about whether jobs will be lost, to more nuanced discussions about which types of employment are most vulnerable, how workers can adapt to changing demands, and what role governments and educational institutions should play in facilitating this transition.
Recent research has provided increasingly sophisticated analyses of automation’s potential impact on the labor market. A landmark study by economists at Oxford University examined over 700 occupations and concluded that approximately 47% of jobs in the United States were at high risk of automation within the next two decades. However, this figure masks considerable variation across occupational categories. Roles involving routine manual tasks—such as assembly line work, data entry, and basic customer service—are particularly susceptible to automation. Conversely, jobs requiring complex problem-solving, creativity, emotional intelligence, or physical dexterity in unpredictable environments remain relatively secure for the foreseeable future.
The geographical distribution of automation’s impact adds another layer of complexity to the issue. Some regions are likely to experience far more disruption than others, depending on their industrial composition. Areas with economies heavily reliant on manufacturing or routine service work face greater challenges, while regions with diverse economies emphasizing knowledge-based industries may actually benefit from automation through increased productivity. This spatial inequality could exacerbate existing regional disparities in wealth and opportunity, potentially leading to population displacement as workers migrate toward areas with better employment prospects.
Moreover, the effects of automation intersect with other demographic trends in ways that could either amplify or mitigate its impact. In countries with aging populations, such as Japan and many European nations, automation might actually help address labor shortages in certain sectors, particularly in manufacturing and basic services. By contrast, in countries with young, rapidly growing populations, such as many nations in Africa and South Asia, automation could make it more difficult to create sufficient employment opportunities for new labor market entrants. These demographic dynamics suggest that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing automation’s effects on employment.
The skills mismatch between current workers and future job requirements represents one of the most pressing challenges associated with automation. Many of the jobs being created in the automated economy require technical expertise and advanced problem-solving abilities that much of the existing workforce lacks. Traditional manufacturing workers, for instance, may find themselves ill-equipped for positions as industrial robot operators or data analysts without substantial retraining. This gap highlights the critical importance of workforce development initiatives and lifelong learning programs that can help workers acquire relevant skills throughout their careers.
Educational institutions are at the forefront of efforts to prepare the next generation for an automated workplace. Forward-thinking schools and universities are overhauling curricula to emphasize skills that complement rather than compete with automation. These include critical thinking, creative problem-solving, interpersonal communication, and adaptability—capacities that are difficult to automate and increasingly valuable in the modern economy. Some institutions are also incorporating more vocational training and apprenticeship programs that provide hands-on experience with emerging technologies, ensuring that graduates enter the workforce with immediately applicable skills.
Governments have a pivotal role to play in managing the transition to an automated economy. Progressive policy approaches include investing in education and training infrastructure, providing income support for displaced workers, and creating tax incentives for companies that prioritize human employment alongside automation. Some countries have begun experimenting with more radical proposals, such as universal basic income (UBI) schemes that would provide all citizens with a regular, unconditional payment regardless of employment status. Proponents argue that UBI could provide a safety net during periods of economic transition and give people the freedom to pursue education, entrepreneurship, or other activities beyond traditional employment.
The private sector is also responding to these challenges, though approaches vary considerably. Some companies are taking a socially responsible approach, investing heavily in reskilling programs for their employees and committing to gradual implementation of automation that minimizes sudden job losses. Others are pursuing automation more aggressively, prioritizing short-term cost savings over workforce stability. Labor unions and worker advocacy groups have become increasingly active in negotiating automation agreements that protect workers’ interests while acknowledging the inevitability of technological change.
Interestingly, automation may also create opportunities for new forms of work and business models. The gig economy, characterized by short-term contracts and freelance work facilitated by digital platforms, has already emerged partly in response to economic disruption. While this model offers flexibility, it also raises concerns about job security and benefits. Additionally, as routine tasks become automated, there may be increased demand for uniquely human services—such as personal care, creative arts, and strategic consultation—that require the human touch.
Looking ahead, the key to thriving in an automated economy may lie not in resisting technological change, but in actively shaping how it is implemented and ensuring that its benefits are broadly shared. This requires collaborative efforts among businesses, governments, educational institutions, and workers themselves to build an economy that leverages automation’s productive potential while maintaining robust opportunities for meaningful employment and economic participation.
Questions 14-26
Questions 14-18
The passage mentions several factors affecting automation’s impact on employment.
Which FIVE of the following factors are mentioned in the passage?
Choose FIVE letters, A-H.
A. Worker age and experience levels
B. Geographical location and regional industry composition
C. International trade agreements
D. Demographic trends and population characteristics
E. Natural resource availability
F. Skills mismatch between workers and job requirements
G. Climate change impacts
H. Educational curriculum changes
Questions 19-22
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
A study by Oxford University found that 47% of US jobs could be automated within twenty years. Jobs involving (19) __ are most at risk, while positions requiring creativity and (20) __ remain relatively safe. The impact varies by geography, with regions relying on manufacturing facing more (21) __. Countries with (22) __ might benefit from automation by addressing labor shortages.
Questions 23-26
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
- Educational institutions should focus primarily on teaching technical skills for operating robots.
- Universal basic income could serve as a financial safety net during economic transitions.
- All private companies are equally committed to protecting their workers from automation.
- Successfully adapting to automation requires cooperation among multiple stakeholders.
PASSAGE 3 – The Socioeconomic Paradigm Shift: Automation, Inequality, and the Future of Work
Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)
Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút
The accelerating pace of automation represents not merely a technological phenomenon but a fundamental restructuring of the socioeconomic fabric that has underpinned modern industrial societies for over two centuries. While previous technological revolutions ultimately generated more employment opportunities than they eliminated, contemporary automation—characterized by exponential advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning algorithms, and robotic systems—presents a qualitatively different challenge that may transcend historical patterns. The central question confronting economists, policymakers, and social theorists is whether the current wave of automation will prove complementary to human labor, augmenting workers’ capabilities and creating new forms of valuable work, or whether it will be primarily substitutive, systematically displacing human workers across an ever-widening range of cognitive and physical tasks.
Contemporary economic models attempting to predict automation’s impact on employment have produced divergent projections, reflecting both methodological variations and fundamentally different assumptions about technological trajectories and institutional responses. Optimistic scenarios, often grounded in neoclassical economic theory, emphasize the compensatory mechanisms that have historically mitigated technological unemployment: the productivity dividend from automation can increase overall demand for goods and services, creating new jobs in expanding sectors; automation reduces production costs, lowering prices and boosting consumer purchasing power; and entirely new industries emerge around novel technologies, generating employment categories that were previously unimaginable. Historical precedent lends some credence to this perspective—the mechanization of agriculture, for instance, eliminated the vast majority of farming jobs over the twentieth century, yet overall employment levels rose as workers transitioned to manufacturing and services.
However, pessimistic analyses contend that several factors distinguish current automation from previous technological transformations in ways that may undermine these traditional compensatory dynamics. First, the scope and speed of contemporary automation are unprecedented. Unlike earlier technologies that typically automated specific, narrowly defined tasks, modern AI systems can increasingly perform entire job functions that were previously thought to require uniquely human cognitive capabilities, including pattern recognition, language processing, decision-making under uncertainty, and even certain forms of creative production. Second, the time horizons over which displacement and job creation occur may be fundamentally misaligned: jobs are eliminated rapidly as technologies are deployed, while the emergence of new employment opportunities may unfold over much longer periods, creating extended intervals of labor market dislocation. Third, there is no economic law guaranteeing that productivity gains from automation will necessarily translate into either higher wages for remaining workers or sufficient demand to generate offsetting employment; much depends on how productivity benefits are distributed and on the consumption patterns they enable.
The distributional consequences of automation extend beyond simple employment levels to encompass profound implications for income inequality and wealth concentration. Economic theory and empirical evidence suggest that automation exerts downward pressure on wages for routine occupations while potentially increasing compensation for highly skilled workers who can effectively complement automated systems. This skill-biased technological change has been identified as a significant contributor to the widening income disparities observed in many developed economies over recent decades. Furthermore, as automation increases the capital intensity of production—shifting the balance from labor to technology—the returns from economic activity increasingly accrue to capital owners rather than workers. In an economy where human labor becomes progressively less central to production, those who own and control automated systems stand to capture an ever-larger share of total income, potentially creating a bifurcated society divided between a small technocratic elite and a much larger population with limited economic prospects.
These economic transformations have profound political implications that are only beginning to be fully articulated and understood. The potential for widespread job displacement and increasing inequality creates conditions for social unrest and political instability. Historical analysis reveals that periods of rapid economic transformation, particularly those involving major disruptions to traditional employment patterns, often coincide with heightened political polarization and the rise of populist movements. In democratic societies, citizens displaced by automation may demand government intervention to slow technological change, redistribute income, or provide alternative means of economic security. Authoritarian regimes, by contrast, might leverage sophisticated surveillance and control technologies—themselves products of automation—to suppress dissent arising from economic dislocation. The interplay between technological change and political institutions will likely prove crucial in determining whether automation ultimately contributes to human flourishing or exacerbates social divisions and collective insecurity.
Addressing these challenges requires innovative policy frameworks that move beyond conventional approaches to labor market regulation and social protection. Proposals under active consideration include substantial investments in education and training systems oriented toward lifelong learning and rapid skill adaptation; revisions to tax policy that might include levies on automation or adjustments to how capital income is taxed; strengthened social safety nets, potentially including universal basic income or guaranteed employment programs; and labor market interventions such as work-sharing arrangements or reductions in standard working hours to distribute available employment more broadly. Some theorists have proposed even more radical restructuring of economic institutions, including worker ownership of automated capital, stakeholder governance models that give employees and communities voice in automation decisions, or the decoupling of income from employment through fundamentally reconceived social contracts.
The normative dimensions of automation extend to philosophical questions about the nature and purpose of work itself. For most of human history, work has been central to individual identity, social status, and personal meaning. If automation indeed renders much human labor economically superfluous, societies will need to grapple with fundamental questions about how people will find purpose and fulfillment, how status and respect will be allocated, and how social cohesion can be maintained when the organizing principle of employment no longer structures daily life for large segments of the population. Some utopian visions imagine a post-work society in which automation liberates humanity from drudgery, enabling people to pursue creative, intellectual, and social activities unconstrained by economic necessity. More dystopian scenarios envision mass unemployment, social fragmentation, and the degradation of human capabilities as people lose the structure, purpose, and skill development that employment provides.
Ultimately, the effects of automation on job markets will be determined not by technology alone, but by the complex interactions among technological capabilities, economic structures, political institutions, and collective choices about what kind of society we wish to build. Technology is not an autonomous force that simply acts upon passive societies; rather, its development and deployment are shaped by human decisions, institutional frameworks, and power relationships. The challenge facing contemporary societies is to harness the productive potential of automation while ensuring that its benefits are broadly distributed and that all people have opportunities for meaningful participation in economic and social life. Meeting this challenge will require unprecedented levels of international cooperation, institutional innovation, and collective commitment to building an inclusive future in which technological progress serves genuinely humanistic ends.
Questions 27-40
Questions 27-31
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- According to the passage, what makes contemporary automation different from previous technological changes?
- A. It only affects manufacturing jobs
- B. It can perform entire job functions requiring human cognitive abilities
- C. It creates more jobs than it eliminates
- D. It is slower than previous technological changes
- Optimistic economic scenarios suggest that automation will:
- A. Eliminate all human jobs permanently
- B. Only benefit wealthy capital owners
- C. Create new industries and increase consumer purchasing power
- D. Reverse historical employment patterns
- What does the passage identify as a key distributional consequence of automation?
- A. Equal wage increases for all workers
- B. Increased income inequality and wealth concentration
- C. Reduced need for highly skilled workers
- D. Elimination of capital-intensive production
- According to the passage, periods of rapid economic transformation often lead to:
- A. Decreased political participation
- B. Universal economic prosperity
- C. Political stability and consensus
- D. Heightened political polarization and populist movements
- The passage suggests that addressing automation’s challenges requires:
- A. Preventing all technological development
- B. Innovative policy frameworks and institutional changes
- C. Maintaining current labor market regulations
- D. Eliminating social safety nets
Questions 32-36
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-H, below.
- Pessimistic analyses argue that the speed of contemporary automation ____
- The skill-biased nature of technological change ____
- The decoupling of income from employment ____
- Utopian visions of automation ____
- The passage concludes that technology’s impact ____
A. has contributed to widening income disparities in developed economies.
B. will automatically create more jobs than it destroys.
C. imagine people freed from drudgery to pursue creative activities.
D. is determined by complex interactions including collective choices.
E. eliminates jobs faster than new opportunities emerge.
F. guarantees equal distribution of wealth.
G. requires fundamental reconception of social contracts.
H. has no effect on political institutions.
Questions 37-40
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- What type of economic theory suggests that productivity dividends from automation create jobs in expanding sectors?
- What two aspects of automation does the passage say are unprecedented compared to earlier technologies?
- According to the passage, what might authoritarian regimes use to suppress dissent from economic dislocation?
- What does the passage say work has been central to throughout most of human history, besides individual identity and social status?
3. Answer Keys – Đáp Án
PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13
- FALSE
- TRUE
- TRUE
- FALSE
- TRUE
- machine learning
- displaced
- robotic assembly lines
- routine occupations
- B
- B
- C
- C
PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26
14-18. B, D, F, H, A (any order)
19. routine manual tasks
20. emotional intelligence
21. disruption
22. aging populations
23. NO
24. YES
25. NO
26. YES
PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40
- B
- C
- B
- D
- B
- E
- A
- G
- C
- D
- neoclassical economic theory
- scope and speed
- surveillance and control technologies / sophisticated surveillance technologies
- personal meaning
4. Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết
Passage 1 – Giải Thích
Câu 1: FALSE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: modern automation systems, simple mechanical tasks
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 3-5
- Giải thích: Câu hỏi nói rằng hệ thống tự động hóa hiện đại chỉ có thể thực hiện các nhiệm vụ cơ học đơn giản. Tuy nhiên, trong bài đọc có câu: “Today’s automated systems incorporate artificial intelligence, machine learning, and sophisticated robotics that can adapt to new situations and even make decisions based on complex data analysis.” Điều này chứng tỏ hệ thống hiện đại có thể làm nhiều việc phức tạp hơn, không chỉ là các nhiệm vụ đơn giản. Vì vậy đáp án là FALSE.
Câu 2: TRUE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: Industrial Revolution, beginning, workplace automation
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 1-2
- Giải thích: Bài đọc nói rõ: “The history of automation in the workplace dates back to the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries.” Điều này hoàn toàn khớp với phát biểu trong câu hỏi rằng Cách mạng Công nghiệp đánh dấu sự khởi đầu của tự động hóa nơi làm việc.
Câu 5: TRUE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: companies using automation, improved productivity
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng 2-3
- Giải thích: Bài có câu: “Companies that invest in automation technologies often see significant improvements in productivity, quality control, and profit margins.” Từ “often see significant improvements in productivity” tương ứng với “experience improved productivity” trong câu hỏi.
Câu 6: machine learning
- Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
- Từ khóa: automated systems, artificial intelligence, adapt to new situations
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 4-5
- Giải thích: Câu hoàn chỉnh trong bài là: “Today’s automated systems incorporate artificial intelligence, machine learning, and sophisticated robotics that can adapt to new situations.” Đáp án phải là “machine learning” vì đây là từ đứng sau “artificial intelligence” và trước “sophisticated robotics”.
Câu 9: routine occupations
- Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
- Từ khóa: workers, highest risk, losing jobs
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 4-5
- Giải thích: Bài viết nói: “Workers in routine occupations, those involving predictable physical tasks or data processing, face the highest risk of job displacement.” Cụm “routine occupations” là đáp án chính xác.
Câu 10: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: most visible impact
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 1
- Giải thích: Bài đọc nói rõ: “In the manufacturing sector, automation has had perhaps its most visible impact.” Từ “most visible impact” xuất hiện trực tiếp trong câu, chỉ rõ đáp án là manufacturing sector.
Câu 13: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: economists, technological unemployment
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 9, dòng 1-2
- Giải thích: Bài viết nói: “many economists argue that fears about technological unemployment are overstated”, nghĩa là họ cho rằng mối lo ngại về thất nghiệp công nghệ bị phóng đại quá mức. “Overstated” tương đương với “exaggerated” trong đáp án C.
Passage 2 – Giải Thích
Câu 14-18: B, D, F, H, A
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple selections
- Giải thích:
- B (Geographical location): Đoạn 3 đề cập đến “geographical distribution” và “spatial inequality”
- D (Demographic trends): Đoạn 4 thảo luận về “demographic trends” và “aging populations”
- F (Skills mismatch): Đoạn 5 nói về “skills mismatch between current workers and future job requirements”
- H (Educational curriculum changes): Đoạn 6 đề cập “educational institutions are overhauling curricula”
- A (Worker age): Đoạn 8 trong Passage 1 có nhắc đến “older workers may find it more difficult to transition”
Câu 19: routine manual tasks
- Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 4-5
- Giải thích: Bài viết nói: “Roles involving routine manual tasks—such as assembly line work, data entry, and basic customer service—are particularly susceptible to automation.”
Câu 20: emotional intelligence
- Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 5-6
- Giải thích: Bài có câu: “jobs requiring complex problem-solving, creativity, emotional intelligence, or physical dexterity in unpredictable environments remain relatively secure.”
Câu 24: YES
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 5-7
- Giải thích: Tác giả viết: “Proponents argue that UBI could provide a safety net during periods of economic transition.” Từ “proponents argue” cho thấy đây là quan điểm được trình bày, và tác giả đưa ra một cách trung lập nhưng ủng hộ. Đáp án là YES.
Câu 26: YES
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 10, dòng 2-4
- Giải thích: Câu cuối đoạn: “This requires collaborative efforts among businesses, governments, educational institutions, and workers themselves.” Tác giả rõ ràng đồng ý với việc cần có sự hợp tác giữa nhiều bên liên quan.
Passage 3 – Giải Thích
Câu 27: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: contemporary automation, different from previous
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 3-6
- Giải thích: Bài viết chỉ ra: “modern AI systems can increasingly perform entire job functions that were previously thought to require uniquely human cognitive capabilities.” Đây là điểm khác biệt quan trọng nhất được nhấn mạnh.
Câu 29: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: distributional consequence
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 1-2
- Giải thích: Đoạn 4 bắt đầu bằng: “The distributional consequences of automation extend beyond simple employment levels to encompass profound implications for income inequality and wealth concentration.”
Câu 32: E
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Sentence Endings
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 7-9
- Giải thích: Bài viết nói: “jobs are eliminated rapidly as technologies are deployed, while the emergence of new employment opportunities may unfold over much longer periods.” Điều này khớp với ending E về việc loại bỏ việc làm nhanh hơn cơ hội mới xuất hiện.
Câu 36: D
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Sentence Endings
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8, dòng 1-2
- Giải thích: Câu đầu đoạn cuối nói: “the effects of automation on job markets will be determined not by technology alone, but by the complex interactions among technological capabilities, economic structures, political institutions, and collective choices.”
Câu 37: neoclassical economic theory
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 3-4
- Giải thích: Bài viết nói: “Optimistic scenarios, often grounded in neoclassical economic theory, emphasize the compensatory mechanisms” và tiếp tục giải thích về productivity dividend tạo ra việc làm mới.
Câu 38: scope and speed
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 3-4
- Giải thích: Bài có câu: “First, the scope and speed of contemporary automation are unprecedented.”
Câu 40: personal meaning
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 2-3
- Giải thích: Bài viết: “For most of human history, work has been central to individual identity, social status, and personal meaning.”
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| automation | n | /ˌɔːtəˈmeɪʃn/ | Tự động hóa | Automation has become an increasingly significant force | workplace automation, industrial automation |
| transform | v | /trænsˈfɔːm/ | Biến đổi, chuyển đổi | Transforming workplaces across the globe | transform dramatically, digital transformation |
| displacement | n | /dɪsˈpleɪsmənt/ | Sự thay thế, di dời | Job displacement concerns workers | worker displacement, mass displacement |
| artificial intelligence | n | /ˌɑːtɪfɪʃl ɪnˈtelɪdʒəns/ | Trí tuệ nhân tạo | Systems incorporate artificial intelligence | advanced AI, AI-powered systems |
| repetitive tasks | n | /rɪˈpetətɪv tɑːsks/ | Công việc lặp đi lặp lại | Complete repetitive tasks more quickly | routine tasks, mundane tasks |
| manufacturing sector | n | /ˌmænjuˈfæktʃərɪŋ ˈsektə/ | Khu vực sản xuất | Most visible impact on manufacturing sector | manufacturing industry, manufacturing jobs |
| productivity | n | /ˌprɒdʌkˈtɪvəti/ | Năng suất | Dramatically increased productivity | boost productivity, productivity gains |
| precision | n | /prɪˈsɪʒn/ | Độ chính xác | Producing goods with remarkable precision | high precision, precision engineering |
| efficient | adj | /ɪˈfɪʃnt/ | Hiệu quả | Made manufacturing more efficient | highly efficient, cost-efficient |
| scale up | v | /skeɪl ʌp/ | Mở rộng quy mô | Can be easily scaled up | scale down, scale rapidly |
| competitiveness | n | /kəmˈpetətɪvnəs/ | Tính cạnh tranh | Maintain competitiveness in market | global competitiveness, competitive advantage |
| transition | v/n | /trænˈzɪʃn/ | Chuyển đổi | Workers may find it difficult to transition | smooth transition, transition period |
Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| permeate | v | /ˈpɜːmieɪt/ | Thấm vào, lan tỏa | Automation continues to permeate various sectors | permeate throughout, permeate society |
| grapple with | v | /ˈɡræpl wɪð/ | Vật lộn với, đối mặt | Societies are grappling with implications | grapple with issues, grapple with challenges |
| sophisticated | adj | /səˈfɪstɪkeɪtɪd/ | Tinh vi, phức tạp | Sophisticated analyses of automation’s impact | sophisticated technology, sophisticated approach |
| susceptible | adj | /səˈseptəbl/ | Dễ bị tác động | Particularly susceptible to automation | susceptible to change, highly susceptible |
| disruption | n | /dɪsˈrʌpʃn/ | Sự gián đoạn, đảo lộn | Experience far more disruption | economic disruption, major disruption |
| exacerbate | v | /ɪɡˈzæsəbeɪt/ | Làm trầm trọng thêm | Could exacerbate existing regional disparities | exacerbate problems, further exacerbate |
| demographic trends | n | /ˌdeməˈɡræfɪk trendz/ | Xu hướng nhân khẩu học | Effects intersect with demographic trends | demographic changes, demographic shifts |
| pressing challenges | n | /ˈpresɪŋ ˈtʃælɪndʒɪz/ | Thách thức cấp bách | One of the most pressing challenges | pressing issues, pressing concerns |
| ill-equipped | adj | /ɪl ɪˈkwɪpt/ | Không được trang bị đầy đủ | May find themselves ill-equipped | ill-prepared, poorly equipped |
| at the forefront | phrase | /æt ðə ˈfɔːfrʌnt/ | Đi đầu, tiên phong | Educational institutions are at the forefront | forefront of innovation, leading position |
| overhaul | v | /ˈəʊvəhɔːl/ | Đại tu, cải tổ toàn diện | Overhauling curricula to emphasize skills | complete overhaul, major overhaul |
| pivotal role | n | /ˈpɪvətl rəʊl/ | Vai trò then chốt | Governments have a pivotal role | play a pivotal role, pivotal importance |
| incentive | n | /ɪnˈsentɪv/ | Ưu đãi, khuyến khích | Creating tax incentives for companies | financial incentive, strong incentive |
| reskilling | n | /ˌriːˈskɪlɪŋ/ | Đào tạo lại kỹ năng | Investing in reskilling programs | reskilling initiatives, workforce reskilling |
| inevitability | n | /ɪnˌevɪtəˈbɪləti/ | Tính tất yếu | Acknowledging the inevitability of change | sense of inevitability, accept inevitability |
Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| paradigm shift | n | /ˈpærədaɪm ʃɪft/ | Sự thay đổi mô hình căn bản | Represents a socioeconomic paradigm shift | fundamental shift, major paradigm shift |
| socioeconomic fabric | n | /ˌsəʊsiəʊˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈfæbrɪk/ | Kết cấu kinh tế-xã hội | Restructuring of socioeconomic fabric | social fabric, economic fabric |
| exponential advances | n | /ˌekspəˈnenʃl ədˈvɑːnsɪz/ | Tiến bộ theo cấp số nhân | Exponential advances in AI | exponential growth, exponential increase |
| transcend | v | /trænˈsend/ | Vượt qua, siêu việt | May transcend historical patterns | transcend boundaries, transcend limitations |
| complementary | adj | /ˌkɒmplɪˈmentri/ | Bổ sung, bổ trợ | Prove complementary to human labor | complementary skills, mutually complementary |
| substitutive | adj | /ˈsʌbstɪtjuːtɪv/ | Thay thế | Primarily substitutive, displacing workers | substitutive effect, substitutive relationship |
| divergent projections | n | /daɪˈvɜːdʒənt prəˈdʒekʃnz/ | Các dự báo khác nhau | Produced divergent projections | divergent views, divergent outcomes |
| compensatory mechanisms | n | /kəmˈpensətəri ˈmekənɪzəmz/ | Cơ chế bù đắp | Emphasize compensatory mechanisms | compensatory measures, compensatory policies |
| mitigate | v | /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/ | Giảm nhẹ | Mechanisms that have mitigated unemployment | mitigate risks, mitigate impact |
| mechanization | n | /ˌmekənaɪˈzeɪʃn/ | Cơ giới hóa | Mechanization of agriculture | industrial mechanization, farm mechanization |
| undermine | v | /ˌʌndəˈmaɪn/ | Làm suy yếu | May undermine compensatory dynamics | undermine efforts, seriously undermine |
| dislocation | n | /ˌdɪsləʊˈkeɪʃn/ | Sự đảo lộn, mất cân bằng | Extended intervals of labor market dislocation | economic dislocation, social dislocation |
| distributional consequences | n | /ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃənl ˈkɒnsɪkwənsɪz/ | Hậu quả phân phối | Profound distributional consequences | distributional effects, distributional impacts |
| bifurcated society | n | /ˈbaɪfəkeɪtɪd səˈsaɪəti/ | Xã hội phân đôi | Creating a bifurcated society | divided society, polarized society |
| technocratic elite | n | /ˌteknəˈkrætɪk ɪˈliːt/ | Tầng lớp tinh hoa công nghệ | Small technocratic elite | ruling elite, political elite |
| articulate | v | /ɑːˈtɪkjuleɪt/ | Diễn đạt rõ ràng | Beginning to be fully articulated | clearly articulate, articulate concerns |
| populist movements | n | /ˈpɒpjəlɪst ˈmuːvmənts/ | Phong trào dân túy | Rise of populist movements | populist policies, populist rhetoric |
| human flourishing | n | /ˈhjuːmən ˈflʌrɪʃɪŋ/ | Sự phát triển toàn diện của con người | Contribute to human flourishing | promote flourishing, enable flourishing |
| stakeholder governance | n | /ˈsteɪkhəʊldə ˈɡʌvənəns/ | Quản trị đa bên liên quan | Stakeholder governance models | stakeholder engagement, stakeholder participation |
| normative dimensions | n | /ˈnɔːmətɪv dɪˈmenʃnz/ | Các khía cạnh chuẩn mực | Normative dimensions of automation | normative framework, normative principles |
| economically superfluous | adj | /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪkli suːˈpɜːfluəs/ | Thừa thãi về mặt kinh tế | Renders human labor economically superfluous | become superfluous, largely superfluous |
| harness | v | /ˈhɑːnɪs/ | Khai thác, tận dụng | Harness the productive potential | harness technology, harness resources |
Kết bài
Chủ đề về tác động của tự động hóa lên thị trường lao động không chỉ là một đề tài “hot” trong IELTS Reading mà còn phản ánh một trong những thách thức lớn nhất của thế kỷ 21. Qua ba passages với độ khó tăng dần, bạn đã được tiếp xúc với đầy đủ các khía cạnh của vấn đề này: từ những tác động cơ bản và lịch sử (Passage 1), đến các thách thức và cơ hội cụ thể trong việc thích ứng (Passage 2), và cuối cùng là những phân tích sâu sắc về mặt kinh tế-xã hội và triết học (Passage 3).
Đề thi mẫu này đã cung cấp cho bạn 40 câu hỏi với 7 dạng khác nhau, bao quát toàn bộ các dạng câu hỏi phổ biến trong IELTS Reading thực tế. Đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích đã chỉ ra cách xác định thông tin trong bài, cách paraphrase giữa câu hỏi và passage, cũng như chiến lược làm bài hiệu quả cho từng dạng câu hỏi. Phần từ vựng được tổng hợp theo từng passage không chỉ giúp bạn hiểu rõ nội dung bài đọc mà còn xây dựng vốn từ học thuật cần thiết cho các chủ đề công nghệ, kinh tế và xã hội.
Để đạt kết quả tốt nhất, bạn nên luyện tập đề thi này trong điều kiện giống như thi thật: 60 phút, không tra từ điển, và tự chấm điểm nghiêm túc. Sau đó, dành thời gian phân tích kỹ những câu trả lời sai, hiểu rõ lý do tại sao mình sai và học từ vựng mới từ bài đọc. Hãy nhớ rằng, IELTS Reading không chỉ kiểm tra khả năng đọc hiểu mà còn đòi hỏi kỹ năng quản lý thời gian, tìm kiếm thông tin nhanh chóng và hiểu ngữ cảnh. Chúc bạn ôn tập hiệu quả và đạt được band điểm mục tiêu trong kỳ thi IELTS sắp tới!
