Trong bối cảnh chi phí sinh hoạt ngày càng tăng cao, khả năng quản lý ngân sách và tiết kiệm chi tiêu mua sắm trở thành kỹ năng thiết yếu. Chủ đề “How To Save Money On Groceries” thường xuyên xuất hiện trong IELTS Reading với tần suất cao, đặc biệt trong các bài đọc về kinh tế gia đình, lối sống bền vững và hành vi tiêu dùng thông minh.
Bài viết này cung cấp một bộ đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với ba passages có độ khó tăng dần từ Easy đến Hard. Bạn sẽ được luyện tập với đầy đủ các dạng câu hỏi phổ biến trong kỳ thi thật, từ Multiple Choice, True/False/Not Given đến Matching và Summary Completion. Mỗi passage được thiết kế cẩn thận để mô phỏng chính xác độ khó và phong cách của Cambridge IELTS, kèm theo đáp án chi tiết và giải thích cụ thể giúp bạn hiểu rõ phương pháp làm bài.
Đề thi này phù hợp với học viên từ band 5.0 trở lên, giúp bạn làm quen với cấu trúc bài thi, rèn luyện kỹ năng đọc hiểu và quản lý thời gian hiệu quả. Ngoài ra, bạn còn được trang bị vốn từ vựng phong phú về chủ đề tài chính cá nhân và tiêu dùng thông minh – những kiến thức không chỉ hữu ích cho kỳ thi mà còn áp dụng được trong cuộc sống hàng ngày.
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. Độ khó tăng dần từ Passage 1 đến Passage 3, yêu cầu thí sinh vừa đọc hiểu vừa quản lý thời gian hợp lý.
Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:
- Passage 1: 15-17 phút (độ khó Easy, band 5.0-6.5)
- Passage 2: 18-20 phút (độ khó Medium, band 6.0-7.5)
- Passage 3: 23-25 phút (độ khó Hard, band 7.0-9.0)
Lưu ý quan trọng: Không có thời gian bổ sung để chép đáp án, vì vậy bạn cần ghi đáp án trực tiếp vào Answer Sheet trong 60 phút.
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 các lựa chọn cho sẵn
- True/False/Not Given – Xác định thông tin đúng, sai hay không được đề cập
- Yes/No/Not Given – Xác định ý kiến của tác giả
- Matching Information – Nối thông tin với đoạn văn tương ứng
- Matching Headings – Chọn tiêu đề phù hợp cho mỗi đoạn
- Summary Completion – Điền từ vào chỗ trống để hoàn thành tóm tắt
- Short-answer Questions – Trả lời câu hỏi bằng từ ngắn gọn
IELTS Reading Practice Test
PASSAGE 1 – Smart Shopping Strategies for Modern Families
Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút
The rising cost of living has made grocery shopping one of the most significant expenses for households worldwide. According to recent surveys, an average family of four spends approximately 10-15% of their monthly income on food and household supplies. However, with strategic planning and mindful purchasing habits, families can reduce their grocery bills by up to 30% without compromising on quality or nutrition.
One of the most effective ways to save money is through meal planning. Before heading to the supermarket, successful shoppers spend 20-30 minutes each week planning their meals. This simple practice helps them create a precise shopping list and avoid impulse purchases – items bought without prior planning that often end up unused. Research shows that shoppers who use detailed lists spend 23% less than those who shop spontaneously. Additionally, meal planning reduces food waste, as families buy only what they need for specific recipes.
Timing your shopping trips strategically can also lead to substantial savings. Many supermarkets offer discounted prices on certain days of the week, typically mid-week when stores are less crowded. Shopping during these periods not only saves money but also provides a more relaxed experience. Furthermore, visiting stores near closing time can yield significant discounts on perishable items such as fresh bread, meat, and dairy products that need to be sold quickly. Some shoppers report saving up to £50 per month simply by adjusting their shopping schedule.
The choice between brand-name products and generic alternatives represents another opportunity for savings. Many consumers believe that branded items offer superior quality, but blind taste tests conducted by consumer organizations frequently show minimal differences. Generic or store-brand products typically cost 20-40% less than their branded counterparts while meeting the same quality standards. This is particularly true for basic items like flour, sugar, rice, and canned goods. However, for certain products where taste or texture is crucial, such as chocolate or coffee, personal preference should guide the decision.
Bulk buying is a strategy that works well for non-perishable items and products with long shelf lives. Purchasing larger quantities often reduces the unit price significantly. For instance, buying a 5-kilogram bag of rice instead of five 1-kilogram bags can save 15-25%. However, this approach requires careful consideration. Items that expire quickly or that your family doesn’t consume regularly are poor candidates for bulk purchasing. Storage space is another factor to consider, as bulk items require adequate room in pantries or cupboards.
Modern technology has revolutionized the way savvy shoppers save money. Price comparison apps allow consumers to check prices across multiple retailers instantly, ensuring they get the best deals. Some applications even track price history, alerting users when items reach their lowest prices. Digital coupons and loyalty programs offered by supermarket chains provide additional savings, with some programs offering personalized discounts based on shopping habits. Studies indicate that regular users of these digital tools save an average of £200-300 annually.
Seasonal shopping is another principle that experienced shoppers follow religiously. Fruits and vegetables are significantly cheaper when purchased in season, as supply is abundant and transportation costs are lower. For example, strawberries cost 40-60% less in summer than in winter. Buying seasonal produce not only saves money but also guarantees fresher, more flavorful ingredients. Many families extend their savings by preserving seasonal items through freezing, canning, or drying for use throughout the year.
Finally, understanding supermarket psychology can prevent overspending. Retailers deliberately place expensive items at eye level and essential products like milk and bread at the back of the store, forcing customers to walk through multiple aisles where they’re exposed to more products. Being aware of these tactics helps shoppers maintain focus on their lists. Additionally, avoiding shopping when hungry prevents emotional purchasing – studies show that hungry shoppers spend up to 64% more than those who shop after eating.
Chiến lược mua sắm thông minh giúp gia đình tiết kiệm chi phí hàng tháng
Questions 1-13
Questions 1-5: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
-
According to the passage, what percentage of monthly income does an average family spend on groceries?
A. 5-10%
B. 10-15%
C. 15-20%
D. 20-25% -
How much less do shoppers with detailed lists spend compared to spontaneous shoppers?
A. 15%
B. 20%
C. 23%
D. 30% -
Generic products typically cost how much less than branded items?
A. 10-20% less
B. 20-40% less
C. 40-60% less
D. 50-70% less -
How much can regular users of digital tools save annually?
A. £100-200
B. £200-300
C. £300-400
D. £400-500 -
Hungry shoppers spend how much more than those who shop after eating?
A. up to 40%
B. up to 50%
C. up to 64%
D. up to 75%
Questions 6-9: True/False/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage?
Write:
- TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
- FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
- NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
- Meal planning takes most families about one hour each week.
- Shopping near closing time can provide discounts on perishable items.
- All store-brand products taste identical to branded products.
- Supermarkets intentionally place milk and bread at the back of stores.
Questions 10-13: Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- Buying larger quantities of products reduces the __ significantly.
- Price comparison apps can track __ to alert users about the best deals.
- Fruits and vegetables have lower __ when purchased in season.
- Retailers place expensive products at __ to increase sales.
PASSAGE 2 – The Psychology and Economics of Grocery Spending
Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút
The contemporary consumer landscape has evolved dramatically over the past two decades, fundamentally altering the dynamics of grocery shopping and household budgeting. While previous generations relied primarily on physical store visits and word-of-mouth recommendations, today’s consumers navigate a complex ecosystem of digital platforms, subscription services, and algorithmic suggestions. This transformation has created both unprecedented opportunities for savings and new challenges in maintaining fiscal discipline.
Behavioral economics research reveals that consumer decision-making in supermarkets is far less rational than traditional economic theory suggests. The concept of “decision fatigue” plays a crucial role in grocery spending patterns. As shoppers progress through their shopping trips, their capacity for making calculated choices diminishes, leading to increased susceptibility to impulse purchases toward the end of their visit. This phenomenon explains why checkout areas are strategically stocked with high-margin items like magazines, candy, and beverages. Studies conducted by consumer psychologists indicate that the average shopper makes approximately 150 decisions during a typical grocery trip, with cognitive depletion setting in after the first 20-30 minutes.
The architecture of modern supermarkets represents a sophisticated application of environmental psychology. Store layouts are meticulously designed to maximize customer exposure to products while creating an atmosphere that encourages prolonged browsing. Ambient factors such as lighting, music tempo, and even scent are carefully calibrated to influence purchasing behavior. Research has demonstrated that slower background music correlates with increased dwell time and higher transaction values. Similarly, the strategic use of warm lighting in produce sections enhances the perceived freshness of fruits and vegetables, while cooler lighting in seafood areas suggests cleanliness and hygiene. For those interested in understanding broader financial management principles, financial security strategies can complement smart shopping habits to build long-term economic stability.
Dynamic pricing strategies employed by retailers add another layer of complexity to the shopping experience. Unlike traditional fixed-price models, many stores now implement variable pricing based on factors such as time of day, inventory levels, and even local competition. Electronic shelf labels enable retailers to adjust prices in real-time, responding to supply and demand fluctuations instantaneously. While this practice can benefit consumers who shop strategically, it also creates an environment where prices lack transparency and consistency. Consumer advocacy groups have raised concerns about algorithmic price discrimination, where different customers may be offered different prices for identical products based on their shopping history and demographic profile.
The proliferation of loyalty programs has fundamentally restructured the relationship between retailers and consumers. These programs, which now boast participation rates exceeding 80% in many markets, serve multiple functions beyond simple rewards. They generate vast amounts of consumer data, enabling retailers to develop detailed behavioral profiles and implement personalized marketing strategies. While participants enjoy points accumulation and exclusive discounts, they simultaneously grant retailers unprecedented insight into their purchasing habits, family size, dietary preferences, and price sensitivity. This data-driven approach allows supermarkets to optimize their inventory management, promotional timing, and even store layouts based on aggregated consumer behavior patterns.
Online grocery shopping has emerged as a significant disruptor in the retail sector, particularly accelerating during the global pandemic. E-commerce platforms offer distinct advantages for budget-conscious consumers: the ability to compare prices effortlessly, transparent tracking of total spending before checkout, and elimination of visual merchandising temptations present in physical stores. However, research presents mixed findings regarding whether online shopping genuinely reduces overall spending. While some studies report savings of 10-15%, others note that delivery fees, minimum order requirements, and the tendency to order convenience items can offset these benefits. Additionally, the inability to physically inspect produce quality remains a significant concern for many consumers.
The concept of “shrinkflation” – where product sizes decrease while prices remain constant – represents a subtle yet pervasive challenge for consumers attempting to monitor their spending. This practice has become increasingly common across numerous product categories, from chocolate bars to toilet paper. Unlike overt price increases, shrinkflation exploits consumers’ tendency to focus on unit prices rather than quantity adjustments. A detailed analysis by consumer watchdog organizations revealed that over 2,500 products in UK supermarkets underwent shrinkflation between 2019 and 2022, effectively representing hidden price increases averaging 8-12%. Vigilant shoppers must therefore pay attention not only to nominal prices but also to unit measurements and price-per-weight calculations.
Sustainable consumption movements are increasingly influencing grocery shopping behaviors, creating an intersection between economic and ethical considerations. Many consumers now prioritize locally sourced products, organic options, and items with minimal packaging, even when these choices carry premium prices. This shift reflects changing values, particularly among younger demographics, where environmental impact and social responsibility factor significantly into purchasing decisions. Retailers have responded by expanding their sustainable product lines, though debates persist regarding whether these offerings represent genuine commitment or merely “greenwashing” – marketing tactics that exaggerate environmental credentials.
Tâm lý và hành vi tiêu dùng trong môi trường siêu thị hiện đại
Questions 14-26
Questions 14-18: Yes/No/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer?
Write:
- YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
- NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
- NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
- Modern consumers have fewer opportunities to save money than previous generations.
- Shoppers make approximately 150 decisions during a typical grocery shopping trip.
- Slower background music in stores leads to customers spending more money.
- All loyalty program participants are satisfied with how their data is used.
- Online grocery shopping always results in lower overall spending than in-store shopping.
Questions 19-22: Matching Information
Match the following statements (19-22) with the correct paragraph (A-H).
A. Paragraph on behavioral economics
B. Paragraph on supermarket architecture
C. Paragraph on dynamic pricing
D. Paragraph on loyalty programs
E. Paragraph on online shopping
F. Paragraph on shrinkflation
G. Paragraph on sustainable consumption
H. Opening paragraph
- Retailers can change prices instantly based on various market factors.
- Product sizes have been reduced while maintaining the same prices.
- Consumer choices are influenced by store ambiance and sensory elements.
- Digital technology has fundamentally changed how people shop for groceries.
Questions 23-26: Summary Completion
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Supermarkets use various psychological techniques to influence shopping behavior. The phenomenon of 23. __ causes shoppers to make poorer decisions as they continue shopping. Stores carefully control 24. __ such as lighting and music to encourage spending. Meanwhile, 25. __ collect detailed information about customer habits in exchange for discounts. Additionally, the practice of 26. __ involves reducing product sizes while keeping prices unchanged, effectively raising costs without consumers noticing.
PASSAGE 3 – Economic Rationality and Consumer Behavior in Food Retail Markets
Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)
Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút
The neoclassical economic paradigm traditionally posited that consumers operate as rational actors who systematically maximize utility within the constraints of their budgetary limitations. However, contemporary research in behavioral economics and consumer psychology has fundamentally challenged this idealized model, revealing that grocery purchasing decisions are profoundly influenced by cognitive biases, heuristic shortcuts, and contextual factors that deviate substantially from purely rational calculation. This theoretical recalibration has significant implications not only for understanding consumer behavior but also for developing effective strategies to promote economically optimal and nutritionally sound food purchasing patterns.
The anchoring effect, a well-documented cognitive bias, exerts considerable influence on price perception in retail environments. When consumers encounter an initial reference price – whether through manufacturer’s suggested retail prices, “was/now” pricing displays, or even arbitrary numerical information – their subsequent valuation of products becomes systematically tethered to this anchor. Experimental studies have demonstrated that even manifestly irrelevant anchors, such as the last two digits of shoppers’ social security numbers, can significantly affect their willingness to pay for grocery items. Retailers exploit this psychological phenomenon through various pricing architectures, including comparative pricing displays that juxtapose current prices with inflated “original” prices, thereby creating an illusory perception of substantial savings. The magnitude of this effect is considerable: research indicates that strategic anchoring can increase consumers’ perceived value by 25-40%, even when the reference price bears little relation to actual market value or historical pricing data.
Temporal discounting represents another fundamental deviation from rational economic behavior that profoundly impacts grocery spending. This cognitive tendency causes individuals to disproportionately value immediate consumption over future benefits, leading to suboptimal intertemporal choices. In the context of grocery shopping, temporal discounting manifests in the preference for convenience foods and prepared meals over raw ingredients that require time investment but offer superior economic efficiency and nutritional value. Despite understanding that purchasing whole foods and cooking from scratch would yield both financial savings and health benefits, consumers frequently prioritize immediate convenience, accepting significant cost premiums – often 200-300% above the cost of equivalent home-prepared meals. This behavioral pattern intensifies among time-constrained demographics, particularly dual-income households and single parents, who face genuine opportunity costs in meal preparation time.
The phenomenon of mental accounting, articulated comprehensively in Thaler’s behavioral economics framework, elucidates seemingly irrational patterns in consumer spending across different product categories. Consumers do not treat all expenditures as fungible but instead maintain cognitive categories with different spending thresholds and justification criteria. For instance, shoppers who meticulously compare prices for staple items like bread or milk may simultaneously purchase premium specialty products without price consideration, categorizing the latter as discretionary indulgences subject to different mental budgetary constraints. This compartmentalized approach to spending can lead to systematic inconsistencies in value-seeking behavior. A consumer might spend fifteen minutes deliberating over a £2 price difference in bulk rice purchases while impulsively adding a £5 specialty cheese without reflection, despite the latter representing a higher proportional expenditure. Such behavior reflects not deficient rationality but rather the cognitive architecture humans employ to manage the overwhelming complexity of daily economic decisions.
Social comparison theory provides crucial insights into how relative consumption concerns influence grocery spending, particularly regarding status-signaling products. Consumers derive utility not solely from the intrinsic properties of goods but also from their positional value – what purchases communicate about their social identity and economic standing. This dynamic is particularly salient in the contemporary proliferation of premium grocery brands and artisanal products that serve as markers of cultural capital and sophisticated consumption practices. The willingness to pay substantial premiums for products like organic produce, free-range eggs, or craft beverages often exceeds any objective functional differences, instead reflecting consumers’ desire to align their purchasing behavior with aspirational identities or peer group norms. Sociological research indicates that food choices have become increasingly identity-constitutive, with grocery purchases serving as material expressions of values related to health consciousness, environmental stewardship, or cosmopolitan sophistication.
The digital transformation of retail markets has introduced novel dimensions to consumer behavior while amplifying certain pre-existing tendencies. Algorithmic recommendation systems employed by online grocery platforms utilize machine learning models trained on vast datasets to predict and influence purchasing decisions. These systems can identify purchase patterns, product complementarities, and price sensitivities with remarkable granularity, enabling hyper-personalized marketing interventions. While such personalization can genuinely enhance shopping efficiency by surfacing relevant products, it simultaneously creates filter bubbles that may limit price discovery and product exploration. Moreover, the opacity of algorithmic pricing and recommendation introduces new forms of information asymmetry between retailers and consumers. Unlike traditional retail environments where pricing strategies were relatively transparent and uniform, digital platforms can implement individualized pricing based on behavioral profiles, purchase history, and inferred price sensitivity, raising both economic and ethical concerns about discriminatory practices.
The concept of “food deserts” – geographic areas with limited access to affordable, nutritious food – illuminates how structural factors beyond individual choice constrain economically optimal food purchasing. Research in urban geography and public health has documented that residents of low-income neighborhoods frequently lack proximate access to full-service supermarkets, instead relying on convenience stores and small-format retailers that typically charge price premiums of 10-25% while offering limited selection of fresh produce and healthy options. This spatial inequality in food retail access creates a regressive economic burden, where those with the least financial resources face the highest prices and most constrained choices. The situation is further complicated by transportation barriers, as households without personal vehicles face additional time costs and logistical challenges in accessing distant supermarkets, even when those stores offer better prices. Consequently, policy interventions aimed at promoting economical food purchasing must address not only individual behavior but also these systemic structural constraints.
Nudge theory, drawing from behavioral insights, has emerged as a promising approach to steering consumers toward more economically rational and nutritionally beneficial purchasing decisions without restricting choice or significantly altering economic incentives. Choice architecture interventions – such as strategic product placement, default options, and simplified information displays – can substantially influence behavior while preserving consumer autonomy. For example, placing healthier, lower-cost options at eye level while relocating premium processed foods to less prominent positions has been shown to increase sales of the former by 15-30%. Similarly, displaying unit pricing information prominently enables easier value comparisons, helping consumers identify genuinely economical options amid the confusion of varied package sizes and promotional pricing. However, the ethical dimensions of nudge interventions remain contested, with critics arguing that even libertarian paternalism represents a form of manipulation that may serve retailer interests as readily as consumer welfare.
Mô hình kinh tế hành vi và quyết định mua sắm của người tiêu dùng thực phẩm
Questions 27-40
Questions 27-31: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
-
According to the passage, the anchoring effect can increase perceived value by:
A. 10-20%
B. 15-30%
C. 25-40%
D. 40-50% -
Prepared meals typically cost what percentage more than equivalent home-cooked meals?
A. 50-100%
B. 100-150%
C. 150-200%
D. 200-300% -
What is the typical price premium in convenience stores compared to supermarkets in food deserts?
A. 5-15%
B. 10-25%
C. 25-35%
D. 30-40% -
According to the passage, placing healthier options at eye level can increase their sales by:
A. 5-15%
B. 10-20%
C. 15-30%
D. 20-40% -
The primary criticism of nudge theory mentioned in the passage is that it:
A. is too expensive to implement
B. represents a form of manipulation
C. violates consumer privacy
D. reduces product diversity
Questions 32-36: Matching Features
Match each theoretical concept (32-36) with the correct description (A-H).
Theoretical Concepts:
32. Anchoring effect
33. Temporal discounting
34. Mental accounting
35. Social comparison theory
36. Nudge theory
Descriptions:
A. Consumers value immediate benefits more than future advantages
B. Using strategic placement to influence behavior without restricting choice
C. Initial reference prices affect subsequent product valuations
D. Different spending categories have different psychological budgets
E. Purchases communicate social identity and status
F. Retailers adjust prices based on supply and demand
G. Consumers always seek the lowest possible prices
H. Shopping behavior is entirely rational
Questions 37-39: Short-answer Questions
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- What type of products serve as markers of cultural capital in modern grocery shopping?
- What creates information asymmetry between retailers and consumers in digital platforms?
- What geographic concept describes areas with limited access to affordable nutritious food?
Question 40: Sentence Completion
Complete the sentence below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- Critics argue that nudge interventions may serve __ as much as consumer welfare.
Answer Keys – Đáp Án
PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13
- B
- C
- B
- B
- C
- FALSE
- TRUE
- NOT GIVEN
- TRUE
- unit price
- price history
- transportation costs
- eye level
PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26
- NO
- YES
- YES
- NOT GIVEN
- NO
- C
- F
- B
- H
- decision fatigue
- ambient factors
- loyalty programs
- shrinkflation
PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40
- C
- D
- B
- C
- B
- C
- A
- D
- E
- B
- premium/artisanal products (hoặc premium grocery brands)
- algorithmic pricing (hoặc opacity)
- food deserts
- retailer interests
Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết
Passage 1 – Giải Thích
Câu 1: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: percentage, monthly income, average family, groceries
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 2-3
- Giải thích: Bài đọc nêu rõ “an average family of four spends approximately 10-15% of their monthly income on food and household supplies.” Đáp án B (10-15%) trùng khớp chính xác với thông tin này.
Câu 2: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: shoppers with detailed lists, spend less, spontaneous shoppers
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 4-5
- Giải thích: Câu “Research shows that shoppers who use detailed lists spend 23% less than those who shop spontaneously” cung cấp con số chính xác là 23%.
Câu 5: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: hungry shoppers, spend more
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8, dòng cuối
- Giải thích: Đoạn văn cuối cùng đề cập “hungry shoppers spend up to 64% more than those who shop after eating,” xác nhận đáp án C.
Câu 6: FALSE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: meal planning, one hour, each week
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 1-2
- Giải thích: Bài viết nói “successful shoppers spend 20-30 minutes each week planning their meals,” không phải một giờ. Do đó câu này sai (FALSE).
Câu 7: TRUE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: shopping near closing time, discounts, perishable items
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 3-5
- Giải thích: Bài viết khẳng định “visiting stores near closing time can yield significant discounts on perishable items such as fresh bread, meat, and dairy products.” Hoàn toàn đúng.
Câu 9: TRUE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: supermarkets, place milk and bread, back of stores
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8, dòng 2-3
- Giải thích: Đoạn cuối nêu rõ “Retailers deliberately place…essential products like milk and bread at the back of the store.” Đây là chiến lược có chủ đích.
Câu 10: unit price
- Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
- Từ khóa: buying larger quantities, reduces
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng 2
- Giải thích: Câu “Purchasing larger quantities often reduces the unit price significantly” cung cấp chính xác cụm từ cần điền.
Câu 13: eye level
- Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
- Từ khóa: retailers place expensive products
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8, dòng 2
- Giải thích: “Retailers deliberately place expensive items at eye level” là thông tin trực tiếp cho câu trả lời này.
Passage 2 – Giải Thích
Câu 14: NO
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: modern consumers, fewer opportunities, save money
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng cuối
- Giải thích: Đoạn mở đầu nêu “This transformation has created both unprecedented opportunities for savings,” mâu thuẫn với câu khẳng định “fewer opportunities.” Đáp án là NO.
Câu 15: YES
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: 150 decisions, typical grocery shopping trip
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 6-7
- Giải thích: Bài viết nêu rõ “the average shopper makes approximately 150 decisions during a typical grocery trip.” Thông tin khớp chính xác.
Câu 16: YES
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: slower background music, customers spending more
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 5-6
- Giải thích: “Slower background music correlates with increased dwell time and higher transaction values” xác nhận rằng nhạc chậm dẫn đến chi tiêu nhiều hơn.
Câu 18: NO
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: online grocery shopping, always, lower overall spending
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng 4-5
- Giải thích: Bài viết đề cập “research presents mixed findings” và “delivery fees…can offset these benefits,” cho thấy online shopping không phải lúc nào cũng tiết kiệm hơn. Đáp án là NO.
Câu 19: C (Dynamic pricing paragraph)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
- Từ khóa: change prices instantly, market factors
- Giải thích: Đoạn về dynamic pricing nêu rõ “Electronic shelf labels enable retailers to adjust prices in real-time.”
Câu 20: F (Shrinkflation paragraph)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
- Từ khóa: product sizes reduced, same prices
- Giải thích: Đoạn về shrinkflation định nghĩa hiện tượng này là “product sizes decrease while prices remain constant.”
Câu 23: decision fatigue
- Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
- Từ khóa: shoppers make poorer decisions
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 3
- Giải thích: “The concept of decision fatigue plays a crucial role” và giải thích sau đó về việc khả năng ra quyết định giảm dần.
Câu 26: shrinkflation
- Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
- Từ khóa: reducing product sizes, keeping prices unchanged
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 1
- Giải thích: Đây là định nghĩa chính xác của shrinkflation được đề cập trong passage.
Passage 3 – Giải Thích
Câu 27: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: anchoring effect, increase perceived value
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng cuối
- Giải thích: “Strategic anchoring can increase consumers’ perceived value by 25-40%” cung cấp con số chính xác.
Câu 28: D
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: prepared meals, cost more, home-cooked meals
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 6-7
- Giải thích: Bài viết nêu “accepting significant cost premiums – often 200-300% above the cost of equivalent home-prepared meals.”
Câu 30: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: healthier options, eye level, increase sales
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8, dòng 4-5
- Giải thích: “Placing healthier, lower-cost options at eye level…has been shown to increase sales of the former by 15-30%.”
Câu 31: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: criticism, nudge theory
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8, dòng cuối cùng
- Giải thích: “Critics arguing that even libertarian paternalism represents a form of manipulation” chỉ ra phê bình chính là về tính thao túng (manipulation).
Câu 32: C – Anchoring effect
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
- Giải thích: Đoạn 2 giải thích anchoring effect là hiện tượng “initial reference price” ảnh hưởng đến “subsequent valuation.”
Câu 33: A – Temporal discounting
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
- Giải thích: Đoạn 3 định nghĩa temporal discounting là “disproportionately value immediate consumption over future benefits.”
Câu 37: premium/artisanal products
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
- Từ khóa: markers of cultural capital
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng 5-6
- Giải thích: “Premium grocery brands and artisanal products that serve as markers of cultural capital” cung cấp đáp án.
Câu 39: food deserts
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
- Từ khóa: geographic concept, limited access, affordable nutritious food
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 1
- Giải thích: Đoạn văn mở đầu với định nghĩa rõ ràng về food deserts.
Câu 40: retailer interests
- Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
- Từ khóa: critics argue, nudge interventions, serve
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8, dòng cuối
- Giải thích: “Manipulation that may serve retailer interests as readily as consumer welfare” chỉ ra rằng các can thiệp có thể phục vụ lợi ích nhà bán lẻ.
Từ Vựng Quan Trọng Theo Passage
Passage 1 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| strategic planning | noun phrase | /strəˈtiːdʒɪk ˈplænɪŋ/ | lập kế hoạch chiến lược | with strategic planning and mindful purchasing habits | strategic approach, strategic decision |
| impulse purchase | noun phrase | /ˈɪmpʌls ˈpɜːtʃəs/ | mua hàng theo cảm tính | avoid impulse purchases | impulse buying, impulse shopping |
| perishable items | noun phrase | /ˈperɪʃəbl ˈaɪtəmz/ | hàng dễ hỏng | discounts on perishable items | perishable goods, perishable food |
| brand-name product | noun phrase | /brænd neɪm ˈprɒdʌkt/ | sản phẩm thương hiệu | choice between brand-name products | brand loyalty, brand recognition |
| generic alternative | noun phrase | /dʒəˈnerɪk ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv/ | sản phẩm thay thế không nhãn hiệu | generic alternatives typically cost less | generic brand, generic version |
| bulk buying | noun phrase | /bʌlk ˈbaɪɪŋ/ | mua số lượng lớn | bulk buying is a strategy | buy in bulk, bulk purchase |
| unit price | noun phrase | /ˈjuːnɪt praɪs/ | giá đơn vị | reduces the unit price significantly | unit cost, price per unit |
| price comparison | noun phrase | /praɪs kəmˈpærɪsn/ | so sánh giá | price comparison apps | price matching, compare prices |
| seasonal shopping | noun phrase | /ˈsiːznəl ˈʃɒpɪŋ/ | mua sắm theo mùa | seasonal shopping is another principle | seasonal produce, seasonal items |
| transportation costs | noun phrase | /ˌtrænspɔːˈteɪʃn kɒsts/ | chi phí vận chuyển | transportation costs are lower | transportation expenses, shipping costs |
| emotional purchasing | noun phrase | /ɪˈməʊʃənl ˈpɜːtʃəsɪŋ/ | mua sắm theo cảm xúc | prevents emotional purchasing | emotional buying, emotional spending |
| loyalty program | noun phrase | /ˈlɔɪəlti ˈprəʊɡræm/ | chương trình khách hàng thân thiết | loyalty programs offered by chains | customer loyalty, rewards program |
Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| consumer landscape | noun phrase | /kənˈsjuːmə ˈlændskeɪp/ | bối cảnh tiêu dùng | contemporary consumer landscape | retail landscape, market landscape |
| behavioral economics | noun phrase | /bɪˈheɪvjərəl ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪks/ | kinh tế học hành vi | behavioral economics research | behavioral science, economic behavior |
| decision fatigue | noun phrase | /dɪˈsɪʒn fəˈtiːɡ/ | mệt mỏi khi ra quyết định | concept of decision fatigue | mental fatigue, cognitive fatigue |
| cognitive depletion | noun phrase | /ˈkɒɡnətɪv dɪˈpliːʃn/ | suy giảm nhận thức | cognitive depletion setting in | mental depletion, cognitive resources |
| environmental psychology | noun phrase | /ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmentl saɪˈkɒlədʒi/ | tâm lý môi trường | application of environmental psychology | psychological factors, environmental design |
| ambient factors | noun phrase | /ˈæmbiənt ˈfæktəz/ | yếu tố môi trường xung quanh | ambient factors such as lighting | ambient conditions, atmospheric factors |
| dwell time | noun phrase | /dwel taɪm/ | thời gian lưu lại | increased dwell time | customer dwell time, browsing time |
| dynamic pricing | noun phrase | /daɪˈnæmɪk ˈpraɪsɪŋ/ | định giá linh hoạt | dynamic pricing strategies | variable pricing, flexible pricing |
| algorithmic discrimination | noun phrase | /ˌælɡəˈrɪðmɪk dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃn/ | phân biệt đối xử bằng thuật toán | algorithmic price discrimination | algorithmic bias, price discrimination |
| behavioral profile | noun phrase | /bɪˈheɪvjərəl ˈprəʊfaɪl/ | hồ sơ hành vi | develop detailed behavioral profiles | consumer profile, customer profile |
| shrinkflation | noun | /ʃrɪŋkˈfleɪʃn/ | giảm kích cỡ sản phẩm nhưng giữ nguyên giá | concept of shrinkflation | hidden inflation, package downsizing |
| greenwashing | noun | /ˈɡriːnwɒʃɪŋ/ | tẩy xanh (quảng cáo giả về môi trường) | merely greenwashing | environmental claims, false marketing |
| sustainable consumption | noun phrase | /səˈsteɪnəbl kənˈsʌmpʃn/ | tiêu dùng bền vững | sustainable consumption movements | ethical consumption, conscious consumption |
| e-commerce platform | noun phrase | /ˈiː kɒmɜːs ˈplætfɔːm/ | nền tảng thương mại điện tử | e-commerce platforms offer advantages | online platform, digital marketplace |
| visual merchandising | noun phrase | /ˈvɪʒuəl ˈmɜːtʃəndaɪzɪŋ/ | trưng bày hàng hóa trực quan | elimination of visual merchandising | product display, store layout |
Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| neoclassical paradigm | noun phrase | /ˌniːəʊˈklæsɪkl ˈpærədaɪm/ | mô hình tân cổ điển | neoclassical economic paradigm | classical theory, economic paradigm |
| rational actor | noun phrase | /ˈræʃnəl ˈæktə/ | chủ thể lý trí | consumers operate as rational actors | rational behavior, rational choice |
| cognitive bias | noun phrase | /ˈkɒɡnətɪv ˈbaɪəs/ | thiên kiến nhận thức | influenced by cognitive biases | unconscious bias, systematic bias |
| heuristic shortcut | noun phrase | /hjʊəˈrɪstɪk ˈʃɔːtkʌt/ | đường tắt tư duy | heuristic shortcuts | mental shortcut, rule of thumb |
| anchoring effect | noun phrase | /ˈæŋkərɪŋ ɪˈfekt/ | hiệu ứng neo đậu | anchoring effect exerts influence | anchoring bias, reference point |
| reference price | noun phrase | /ˈrefrəns praɪs/ | giá tham chiếu | encounter an initial reference price | benchmark price, comparison price |
| temporal discounting | noun phrase | /ˈtempərəl dɪsˈkaʊntɪŋ/ | chiết khấu thời gian | temporal discounting represents deviation | time preference, future discounting |
| intertemporal choice | noun phrase | /ˌɪntəˈtempərəl tʃɔɪs/ | lựa chọn liên thời gian | suboptimal intertemporal choices | time-based decision, future choice |
| mental accounting | noun phrase | /ˈmentl əˈkaʊntɪŋ/ | kế toán tâm lý | phenomenon of mental accounting | psychological accounting, cognitive categorization |
| fungible | adjective | /ˈfʌndʒəbl/ | có thể thay thế lẫn nhau | do not treat expenditures as fungible | interchangeable, substitutable |
| social comparison theory | noun phrase | /ˈsəʊʃl kəmˈpærɪsn ˈθɪəri/ | lý thuyết so sánh xã hội | social comparison theory provides insights | peer comparison, status comparison |
| status-signaling | adjective | /ˈsteɪtəs ˈsɪɡnəlɪŋ/ | báo hiệu địa vị | status-signaling products | status symbol, prestige indicator |
| positional value | noun phrase | /pəˈzɪʃənl ˈvæljuː/ | giá trị vị thế | derive utility from positional value | relative value, social value |
| cultural capital | noun phrase | /ˈkʌltʃərəl ˈkæpɪtl/ | vốn văn hóa | markers of cultural capital | social capital, symbolic capital |
| algorithmic recommendation | noun phrase | /ˌælɡəˈrɪðmɪk ˌrekəmenˈdeɪʃn/ | gợi ý bằng thuật toán | algorithmic recommendation systems | automated suggestion, personalized recommendation |
| filter bubble | noun phrase | /ˈfɪltə ˈbʌbl/ | bong bóng lọc thông tin | creates filter bubbles | echo chamber, information bubble |
| information asymmetry | noun phrase | /ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃn əˈsɪmətri/ | bất cân xứng thông tin | introduces new forms of information asymmetry | knowledge gap, unequal information |
| food desert | noun phrase | /fuːd ˈdezət/ | sa mạc thực phẩm | concept of food deserts | food insecurity, food access |
| structural constraint | noun phrase | /ˈstrʌktʃərəl kənˈstreɪnt/ | rào cản cấu trúc | structural factors constrain choice | systematic barrier, institutional limitation |
| nudge theory | noun phrase | /nʌdʒ ˈθɪəri/ | lý thuyết thúc đẩy | nudge theory has emerged | behavioral intervention, choice architecture |
| choice architecture | noun phrase | /tʃɔɪs ˈɑːkɪtektʃə/ | kiến trúc lựa chọn | choice architecture interventions | decision design, option framing |
| libertarian paternalism | noun phrase | /ˌlɪbəˈteəriən pəˈtɜːnəlɪzəm/ | chủ nghĩa gia trưởng tự do | even libertarian paternalism | soft paternalism, guided choice |
Kết Bài
Việc tiết kiệm chi phí mua sắm không chỉ đơn thuần là một kỹ năng tài chính mà còn phản ánh sự hiểu biết sâu sắc về tâm lý tiêu dùng, chiến lược bán lẻ và các yếu tố kinh tế vĩ mô. Qua ba passages với độ khó tăng dần, bạn đã được tiếp cận với chủ đề “How to save money on groceries” từ nhiều góc độ khác nhau – từ những chiến thuật thực tế cơ bản đến những phân tích học thuật phức tạp về hành vi người tiêu dùng.
Passage 1 cung cấp nền tảng với những chiến lược dễ áp dụng như lập kế hoạch bữa ăn, mua hàng theo mùa và tận dụng công nghệ so sánh giá. Passage 2 đào sâu vào tâm lý học tiêu dùng, giúp bạn nhận ra các “bẫy” mà các siêu thị sử dụng để tăng doanh thu. Cuối cùng, Passage 3 mang đến góc nhìn học thuật về kinh tế hành vi, lý thuyết so sánh xã hội và những bất bình đẳng cấu trúc trong hệ thống phân phối thực phẩm.
Bộ đề thi này không chỉ giúp bạn luyện tập các dạng câu hỏi IELTS Reading phổ biến mà còn xây dựng vốn từ vựng chuyên ngành phong phú. Những thuật ngữ như “decision fatigue,” “shrinkflation,” “anchoring effect” hay “food deserts” sẽ trở nên quen thuộc và có thể xuất hiện trong nhiều bài đọc khác về kinh tế, xã hội học hay tâm lý học tiêu dùng.
Hãy xem đáp án chi tiết để hiểu rõ phương pháp paraphrase, cách xác định thông tin trong đoạn văn và kỹ thuật phân tích câu hỏi. Đây là những kỹ năng thiết yếu giúp bạn đạt band điểm mong muốn trong kỳ thi IELTS Reading thực tế. Chúc bạn luyện tập hiệu quả và đạt kết quả cao!
