Mở Bài
Chủ đề năng lượng tái tạo và tác động của nó đến công nghiệp nhiên liệu hóa thạch là một trong những chủ đề nóng hổi và thường xuyên xuất hiện trong kỳ thi IELTS Reading. Với sự chuyển dịch năng lượng toàn cầu đang diễn ra mạnh mẽ, các bài đọc liên quan đến vấn đề này không chỉ xuất hiện trong phần thi Reading mà còn trong Writing Task 2 và Speaking Part 3.
Qua kinh nghiệm giảng dạy và nghiên cứu các đề thi IELTS thực tế từ Cambridge, British Council và IDP, tôi nhận thấy chủ đề “How Does Renewable Energy Adoption Impact Fossil Fuel Industries?” xuất hiện với tần suất khá cao, đặc biệt trong các bộ đề từ năm 2018 đến nay. Đây là chủ đề đòi hỏi học viên hiểu biết về kinh tế, môi trường và công nghệ.
Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ được luyện tập với một bộ đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh bao gồm:
- 3 passages với độ khó tăng dần từ Easy đến Hard, tổng cộng hơn 2000 từ
- 40 câu hỏi đa dạng dạng giống thi thật 100%
- Đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích cụ thể và vị trí trong bài
- Từ vựng quan trọng được phân loại theo từng passage với phiên âm, nghĩa và cách sử dụng
- Kỹ thuật làm bài thực chiến giúp tối ưu thời gian và độ chính xác
Bộ đề này phù hợp cho học viên có trình độ từ band 5.0 trở lên, đặc biệt hữu ích cho những bạn đang hướng tới mục tiêu band 7.0-8.0.
1. Hướng Dẫn Làm Bài IELTS Reading
Tổng Quan Về IELTS Reading Test
IELTS Reading Test là phần thi kéo dài 60 phút với 3 passages và tổng cộng 40 câu hỏi. Đây là phần thi không có thời gian chuyển đáp án riêng, vì vậy bạn cần quản lý thời gian rất chặt chẽ.
Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:
- Passage 1: 15-17 phút (câu hỏi 1-13) – Độ khó Easy
- Passage 2: 18-20 phút (câu hỏi 14-26) – Độ khó Medium
- Passage 3: 23-25 phút (câu hỏi 27-40) – Độ khó Hard
Lưu ý quan trọng: Nhiều học viên thường dành quá nhiều thời gian cho Passage 1 và 2, dẫn đến không đủ thời gian cho Passage 3. Hãy luôn theo dõi đồng hồ và di chuyển sang passage tiếp theo khi hết thời gian, kể cả khi chưa hoàn thành hết câu hỏi.
Các Dạng Câu Hỏi Trong Đề Này
Bộ đề thi mẫu này bao gồm 7 dạng câu hỏi phổ biến nhất trong IELTS Reading:
- Multiple Choice – Chọn đáp án đúng từ A, B, C, D
- True/False/Not Given – Xác định thông tin đúng/sai/không được đề cập
- Matching Information – Ghép thông tin với đoạn văn tương ứng
- Yes/No/Not Given – Xác định ý kiến/quan điểm của tác giả
- Matching Headings – Ghép tiêu đề với đoạn văn
- Summary Completion – Điền vào chỗ trống trong đoạn tóm tắt
- Multiple Choice (Multiple Answers) – Chọn nhiều đáp án đúng
Mỗi dạng câu hỏi đều có kỹ thuật làm bài riêng, và chúng ta sẽ phân tích chi tiết trong phần giải thích đáp án.
2. IELTS Reading Practice Test
PASSAGE 1 – The Rise of Solar and Wind Power
Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút
The global energy landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past two decades. Solar panels and wind turbines, once considered experimental technologies, have now become mainstream sources of electricity generation. This shift towards renewable energy is not merely a response to environmental concerns but also a result of significant economic advantages that these technologies now offer.
In the early 2000s, generating electricity from solar power was extremely expensive, costing approximately $5 per watt of installed capacity. Traditional fossil fuel power plants, by contrast, could produce electricity at a fraction of that cost. However, through technological innovations, economies of scale, and government subsidies, the cost of solar energy has plummeted by more than 90%. By 2023, solar power had become the cheapest source of electricity in history, according to the International Energy Agency. This dramatic cost reduction has made solar energy competitive with, and often cheaper than, coal and natural gas in many parts of the world.
Wind energy has followed a similar trajectory. Modern wind turbines are vastly more efficient than their predecessors, with larger rotor diameters and taller towers allowing them to capture wind energy more effectively. Offshore wind farms, in particular, have demonstrated enormous potential. Located in coastal waters where winds are stronger and more consistent, these installations can generate electricity with capacity factors exceeding 50%, meaning they produce power more than half the time at their maximum rated output.
The rapid expansion of renewable energy has created significant employment opportunities. The solar and wind sectors now employ millions of people worldwide in manufacturing, installation, and maintenance roles. In the United States alone, solar installers and wind turbine technicians are among the fastest-growing occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This job creation stands in stark contrast to the fossil fuel industries, which have been experiencing workforce reductions due to automation and declining demand.
Energy storage technology has emerged as a crucial complement to renewable energy sources. One of the traditional criticisms of solar and wind power was their intermittent nature – the sun doesn’t always shine, and the wind doesn’t always blow. However, advances in battery technology, particularly lithium-ion batteries, have made it increasingly feasible to store excess renewable energy generated during peak production times and release it when demand is high or generation is low. The cost of battery storage has declined by nearly 90% since 2010, making grid-scale storage economically viable.
Government policies have played a pivotal role in accelerating renewable energy adoption. Many countries have implemented feed-in tariffs, which guarantee renewable energy producers a fixed price for the electricity they generate, ensuring a predictable return on investment. Renewable portfolio standards require utilities to source a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable sources. Tax incentives and direct subsidies have further reduced the financial barriers to renewable energy development. The European Union, for instance, has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, with massive investments in renewable energy infrastructure forming the cornerstone of this strategy.
Despite these advances, the transition to renewable energy faces several challenges. The existing energy infrastructure, including power grids and transmission lines, was designed for centralized fossil fuel power plants rather than distributed renewable energy sources. Upgrading this infrastructure requires substantial investment. Additionally, while renewable energy costs have declined dramatically, the initial capital requirements for large-scale solar farms or wind installations remain significant, potentially limiting adoption in developing countries with limited access to financing.
The fossil fuel industry has responded to the rise of renewables in various ways. Some companies have begun diversifying their portfolios by investing in renewable energy projects, while others have focused on improving the efficiency and reducing the emissions of their existing operations. However, the overall trend is clear: renewable energy is steadily claiming an increasing share of the global energy market, and this shift appears irreversible.
Questions 1-13
Questions 1-5: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
-
According to the passage, what was the main reason solar power was not widely adopted in the early 2000s?
A. Lack of suitable locations
B. High production costs
C. Environmental concerns
D. Government regulations -
What does the passage say about offshore wind farms?
A. They are less efficient than land-based turbines
B. They produce electricity less than 50% of the time
C. They benefit from stronger and more consistent winds
D. They are more expensive than solar power -
Which statement best describes employment trends in renewable energy versus fossil fuels?
A. Both sectors are creating equal numbers of jobs
B. Fossil fuel jobs are increasing while renewable jobs decline
C. Renewable energy is creating jobs while fossil fuel employment decreases
D. Neither sector is experiencing significant employment changes -
What has made grid-scale energy storage economically viable?
A. Government regulations
B. Declining battery costs
C. Improved solar panels
D. International agreements -
According to the passage, what is a major infrastructure challenge for renewable energy?
A. Lack of skilled workers
B. High maintenance costs
C. Grid systems designed for centralized power plants
D. Limited availability of suitable land
Questions 6-9: True/False/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?
Write:
- TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
- FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
- NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
-
By 2023, solar power had become cheaper than all other forms of electricity generation.
-
Wind turbine technicians are experiencing declining job prospects in the United States.
-
The European Union plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
-
Developing countries have completely stopped investing in fossil fuel infrastructure.
Questions 10-13: Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
-
In the early 2000s, solar power cost approximately _____ per watt of installed capacity.
-
Modern wind turbines have larger _____ and taller towers than older models.
-
Feed-in tariffs guarantee renewable energy producers a _____ for their electricity.
-
Some fossil fuel companies have responded to renewable energy growth by _____ their portfolios.
PASSAGE 2 – Economic Disruption in the Fossil Fuel Sector
Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút
The accelerating adoption of renewable energy technologies is fundamentally restructuring the global energy economy, creating profound implications for traditional fossil fuel industries. This transformation extends far beyond simple market competition; it represents a systemic shift that affects everything from corporate valuations to geopolitical power dynamics.
The financial markets have begun to reflect growing concerns about the long-term viability of fossil fuel investments. The concept of “stranded assets” – fossil fuel reserves and infrastructure that may lose economic value before the end of their expected productive life – has become a central concern for investors. Research by the think tank Carbon Tracker suggests that up to $900 billion in fossil fuel assets could become stranded if the world successfully limits global warming to 2°C above pre-industrial levels, as outlined in the Paris Agreement. This risk has prompted major institutional investors, including pension funds and sovereign wealth funds, to begin divesting from fossil fuel companies. Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global, one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, announced plans to divest billions of dollars from oil and gas exploration companies, citing climate risk and financial prudence.
The coal industry has been particularly hard hit by the renewable energy transition. In the United States, coal consumption for electricity generation has fallen by more than half since its peak in 2007, driven primarily by competition from cheaper natural gas and increasingly cost-competitive renewable energy. More than 100 coal-fired power plants have been retired in the past decade, and many more closures are planned. The economic consequences for coal-mining regions have been severe, with job losses, reduced tax revenues, and declining property values creating significant socioeconomic challenges. Countries like Germany have implemented “just transition” programs aimed at supporting workers and communities affected by coal phase-outs, providing retraining opportunities, economic diversification initiatives, and financial compensation.
The oil and gas sector faces a more complex and gradual transition. Unlike coal, which is used almost exclusively for electricity generation and can be directly replaced by renewable energy, oil is predominantly used for transportation fuel, where substitution is more challenging. However, the rapid advancement of electric vehicle (EV) technology is beginning to threaten oil demand. Major automotive manufacturers have announced plans to electrify their fleets, with some setting deadlines to phase out internal combustion engines entirely. The International Energy Agency projects that if current policy commitments are fully implemented, global oil demand could peak before 2030, marking a historic turning point for the industry that has powered economic growth for more than a century.
Natural gas has occupied an ambiguous position in the energy transition. Proponents argue that natural gas serves as a “bridge fuel” – cleaner than coal and able to provide reliable baseload power to complement intermittent renewable sources. Natural gas power plants can quickly ramp production up or down, making them valuable for grid stability as renewable energy penetration increases. However, critics point out that natural gas is still a fossil fuel that produces greenhouse gas emissions, and that methane leakage throughout the extraction and distribution process can negate its climate advantages over coal. Furthermore, as renewable energy costs continue to decline and energy storage becomes more economical, the argument for natural gas as a necessary transition fuel has weakened considerably.
The geopolitical implications of declining fossil fuel demand are substantial. Countries whose economies are heavily dependent on oil and gas exports – including Russia, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf states – face significant economic challenges. For decades, control over oil reserves has conferred enormous political leverage and economic wealth. The petrostate model, where governments derive a large portion of revenue from hydrocarbon exports, becomes increasingly untenable in a world transitioning to renewable energy. This shift could potentially destabilize regions where oil wealth has been used to maintain political control and fund social programs.
Some fossil fuel companies have attempted to adapt by rebranding themselves as “energy companies” rather than “oil and gas companies” and making investments in renewable energy. BP, for instance, announced plans to reduce oil and gas production by 40% by 2030 while increasing its renewable energy capacity tenfold. Similarly, several European energy companies have made substantial investments in offshore wind development. However, critics argue that these commitments often represent a small fraction of these companies’ overall capital expenditures and may be more about public relations than genuine transformation. The capital-intensive nature of oil and gas extraction, combined with the expertise and infrastructure these companies have built over decades, creates significant organizational inertia that makes pivoting to renewable energy challenging.
The financial performance of fossil fuel companies has diverged significantly in recent years. While oil and gas prices are subject to considerable volatility driven by geopolitical events and supply-demand dynamics, the long-term outlook has become increasingly uncertain. Stock market valuations of renewable energy companies have surged, while many traditional energy companies have underperformed broader market indices. This divergence reflects investor sentiment about the future trajectory of the energy sector and concerns about the regulatory risks facing fossil fuel companies as governments worldwide implement increasingly stringent climate policies.
Biểu đồ xu hướng chuyển đổi từ năng lượng hóa thạch sang năng lượng tái tạo trong IELTS Reading
Questions 14-26
Questions 14-18: Yes/No/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the passage?
Write:
- YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
- NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
- NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
-
The renewable energy transition represents merely a change in market competition rather than a fundamental systemic shift.
-
The concept of stranded assets has become a significant concern for investors in fossil fuel companies.
-
Just transition programs are completely successful in addressing the economic challenges of coal-mining regions.
-
Electric vehicle technology is beginning to pose a threat to oil demand.
-
All fossil fuel companies are making genuine efforts to transform into renewable energy companies.
Questions 19-22: Matching Information
Match the following statements with the correct sector (A, B, C, or D).
Write the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
A. Coal industry
B. Oil sector
C. Natural gas industry
D. Renewable energy sector
-
This sector is predominantly used for transportation fuel, making substitution more challenging.
-
This sector has experienced more than 100 plant closures in the United States over the past decade.
-
This sector is sometimes promoted as a bridge fuel that can complement intermittent renewable sources.
-
This sector’s stock market valuations have surged in recent years.
Questions 23-26: Summary Completion
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
The accelerating adoption of renewable energy is creating significant challenges for fossil fuel industries. The concept of (23) refers to fossil fuel reserves that may lose value before the end of their productive life. Countries heavily dependent on oil exports, known as (24) , face economic challenges as the world transitions to renewable energy. Some fossil fuel companies have attempted to adapt by (25) as energy companies rather than oil and gas companies. However, the (26) of oil and gas extraction creates significant challenges in pivoting to renewable energy.
PASSAGE 3 – Systemic Transformation and the Future Energy Paradigm
Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)
Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút
The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources represents not merely an incremental technological substitution but rather a fundamental reconfiguration of the entire energy system – encompassing production, distribution, consumption patterns, and the institutional frameworks that govern these processes. This paradigmatic shift presents both unprecedented opportunities and formidable challenges that extend well beyond the purely technical or economic domains, touching upon issues of social equity, international relations, and the very structure of modern industrial civilization.
Central to understanding the impact of renewable energy adoption on fossil fuel industries is the recognition that energy systems exhibit path dependency – a concept from institutional economics suggesting that decisions made in the past constrain present options and future trajectories. The existing energy infrastructure, having evolved over more than a century of fossil fuel dominance, embodies massive sunk costs and has shaped urban planning, transportation networks, industrial processes, and even geopolitical alliances. This lock-in effect creates substantial inertia against systemic change, as transitions require not only replacing physical infrastructure but also transforming regulatory frameworks, market mechanisms, professional expertise, and cultural norms associated with energy production and consumption.
The techno-economic characteristics of renewable energy fundamentally differ from those of fossil fuels in ways that have profound implications for industrial organization and market structure. Fossil fuel energy systems are characterized by high energy density, storability, controllability, and economies of scale that favor large, centralized production facilities owned by capital-intensive corporations. Renewable energy sources, particularly solar and wind, exhibit low power density, variability, geographical dispersion, and modularity, characteristics that favor distributed generation and potentially more democratized ownership structures. This inherent difference in technological attributes suggests that the energy transition may not simply replace one set of energy companies with another but could fundamentally alter the industrial structure of the energy sector itself.
The concept of creative destruction, articulated by economist Joseph Schumpeter, provides a useful framework for analyzing the impact of renewable energy on fossil fuel industries. Schumpeter argued that economic innovation inherently involves the destruction of old industries and economic structures as new ones emerge. From this perspective, the decline of fossil fuel industries represents a necessary, indeed inevitable, consequence of technological progress and economic dynamism. However, the social costs of this destruction – including unemployment, community disruption, and the devaluation of skills and capital – are distributed unevenly, often concentrated in specific regions and demographic groups. This raises profound questions of distributive justice: how should the costs and benefits of the energy transition be allocated, and what obligations do societies have to those disadvantaged by structural economic changes driven by climate imperatives?
The political economy of the energy transition reveals complex dynamics of institutional resistance and adaptation. Fossil fuel industries, having accumulated substantial political influence through decades of economic importance, have deployed various strategies to slow or shape the energy transition. These include lobbying against climate policies, funding climate skepticism, investing in marginal efficiency improvements in fossil fuel technologies, and, increasingly, engaging in strategic positioning within emerging renewable energy markets. Simultaneously, pro-transition coalitions comprising renewable energy companies, environmental organizations, and some forward-looking political leaders have gained influence, though they face the challenge of coordinating diverse interests and overcoming collective action problems inherent in addressing global environmental challenges.
The financial architecture supporting energy systems is undergoing profound transformation. Traditional project finance models developed for large-scale fossil fuel infrastructure projects, characterized by long payback periods, substantial upfront capital requirements, and revenue streams from commodity sales, must adapt to the different risk profiles and economic characteristics of renewable energy projects. The rise of green bonds, climate-related financial disclosure requirements, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing reflects a broader recalibration of financial markets to incorporate climate risk and support the energy transition. However, access to low-cost capital remains highly uneven globally, with developing countries often facing financing constraints that impede renewable energy deployment despite favorable renewable resources.
The international dimension of the energy transition introduces additional complexity. The global fossil fuel trade has long shaped international relations, with oil and gas flows linking producing and consuming nations in relationships characterized by economic interdependence and sometimes political leverage. The transition to renewables, which are typically consumed near where they are produced (with the exception of hydrogen and synthetic fuels, which may become tradeable), could potentially reduce the geopolitical significance of energy trade. However, the critical minerals required for renewable energy technologies and batteries – including lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements, and others – are concentrated in specific countries, potentially creating new forms of resource dependency. China’s dominant position in solar panel manufacturing, wind turbine production, and battery supply chains has raised concerns about energy security and economic competitiveness in the United States and Europe, prompting efforts to develop domestic supply chains and diversify sources.
The pace and trajectory of the energy transition remain subjects of considerable uncertainty and debate. Techno-optimists point to the rapid cost declines in renewable energy and battery storage, arguing that the transition will accelerate as renewables become unambiguously cheaper than fossil fuels, even without considering environmental externalities. This perspective suggests that fossil fuel industries face inevitable decline as market forces increasingly favor cleaner alternatives. Skeptics, by contrast, emphasize the technical challenges of achieving very high renewable energy penetration rates, the political obstacles to implementing necessary policies, and the inertia of existing systems. Some analysts suggest that rather than a rapid wholesale replacement, the energy transition may involve a prolonged period of coexistence between fossil fuels and renewables, with the relative shares shifting gradually over decades.
Emerging evidence suggests that tipping points may accelerate the transition in ways that linear projections fail to capture. As renewable energy technologies improve and costs decline, positive feedback loops may emerge: increased deployment leads to further cost reductions through learning-by-doing, attracting more investment, accelerating innovation, and expanding deployment further. Simultaneously, as fossil fuel demand weakens, the economic viability of existing fossil fuel infrastructure deteriorates, potentially leading to premature retirements and reduced investment in new capacity. These self-reinforcing dynamics could potentially accelerate the transition beyond current expectations, though the exact timing and extent remain uncertain.
The normative question of how the energy transition should proceed, distinct from the positive question of how it is proceeding, involves fundamental value judgments about intergenerational equity, international justice, and the relative prioritization of economic, environmental, and social objectives. Should the transition be accelerated through aggressive policy interventions, accepting short-term economic disruptions in pursuit of climate goals? Or should it proceed more gradually, prioritizing economic stability and allowing technological development to drive change organically? Should wealthier nations, having historically contributed most to cumulative greenhouse gas emissions, bear greater costs in the transition and provide financial support to developing countries? These normative questions lack purely technical answers and require democratic deliberation about collective priorities and values.
Sơ đồ phân tích tác động của năng lượng tái tạo đến ngành công nghiệp nhiên liệu hóa thạch
Questions 27-40
Questions 27-31: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
-
According to the passage, what does “path dependency” suggest about energy systems?
A. Future energy choices are completely independent of past decisions
B. Past decisions in energy infrastructure limit present and future options
C. Renewable energy is impossible to implement due to existing infrastructure
D. Fossil fuel industries can easily transition to renewable energy -
How do the techno-economic characteristics of renewable energy differ from fossil fuels?
A. Renewable energy favors centralized production like fossil fuels
B. Renewable energy has higher energy density than fossil fuels
C. Renewable energy is more suitable for distributed generation
D. Renewable energy requires larger corporations to manage -
What does Schumpeter’s concept of “creative destruction” suggest about the energy transition?
A. The decline of fossil fuel industries is an inevitable part of economic progress
B. Fossil fuel industries will never be replaced
C. Renewable energy cannot compete with fossil fuels economically
D. Economic innovation has no social costs -
According to the passage, what is a potential new form of resource dependency in the renewable energy era?
A. Oil and gas trade relationships
B. Coal exports between countries
C. Critical minerals required for renewable technologies
D. Traditional energy commodities -
What do “techno-optimists” believe about the energy transition?
A. It will take centuries to complete
B. It will accelerate as renewables become cheaper than fossil fuels
C. It is impossible without massive government intervention
D. It will never fully replace fossil fuels
Questions 32-36: Matching Sentence Endings
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-H, below.
- The existing energy infrastructure creates substantial inertia against systemic change because
- The social costs of creative destruction are distributed unevenly and often
- Fossil fuel industries have deployed various strategies including
- The rise of green bonds and ESG investing reflects
- China’s dominant position in renewable energy manufacturing has raised concerns about
A. lobbying against climate policies and funding climate skepticism.
B. energy security and economic competitiveness in Western countries.
C. transitions require replacing both physical infrastructure and regulatory frameworks.
D. the financial benefits of investing in fossil fuel companies.
E. concentrated in specific regions and demographic groups.
F. broader recalibration of financial markets to incorporate climate risk.
G. the superiority of fossil fuel technologies over renewables.
H. the importance of maintaining coal production levels.
Questions 37-40: Short-answer Questions
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
-
What type of energy generation do the characteristics of solar and wind favor instead of large centralized facilities?
-
What concept from institutional economics suggests that past decisions constrain future options?
-
What type of feedback loops may emerge as renewable energy technologies improve and costs decline?
-
What type of deliberation is required to answer normative questions about how the energy transition should proceed?
3. Answer Keys – Đáp Án
PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13
- B
- C
- C
- B
- C
- TRUE
- FALSE
- TRUE
- NOT GIVEN
- $5 / five dollars
- rotor diameters
- fixed price
- diversifying
PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26
- NO
- YES
- NOT GIVEN
- YES
- NO
- B
- A
- C
- D
- stranded assets
- petrostates
- rebranding themselves
- capital-intensive nature
PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40
- B
- C
- A
- C
- B
- C
- E
- A
- F
- B
- distributed generation
- path dependency
- positive feedback loops
- democratic deliberation
4. Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết
Passage 1 – Giải Thích
Câu 1: B – High production costs
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: early 2000s, solar power, not widely adopted
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 1-3
- Giải thích: Bài đọc nói rõ “In the early 2000s, generating electricity from solar power was extremely expensive, costing approximately $5 per watt”. Đây là paraphrase của “high production costs” trong đáp án B. Các đáp án khác không được đề cập như lý do chính.
Câu 2: C – They benefit from stronger and more consistent winds
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: offshore wind farms
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 3-5
- Giải thích: Passage nói “Located in coastal waters where winds are stronger and more consistent, these installations can generate electricity”. Đây chính xác là ý của đáp án C.
Câu 3: C – Renewable energy is creating jobs while fossil fuel employment decreases
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: employment trends, renewable energy, fossil fuels
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4
- Giải thích: Bài viết nói “solar installers and wind turbine technicians are among the fastest-growing occupations” và “This job creation stands in stark contrast to the fossil fuel industries, which have been experiencing workforce reductions”. Đây là sự tương phản rõ ràng giữa hai xu hướng.
Câu 6: TRUE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: 2023, solar power, cheapest
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 5-6
- Giải thích: “By 2023, solar power had become the cheapest source of electricity in history” – câu này khớp hoàn toàn với statement trong câu hỏi.
Câu 7: FALSE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: wind turbine technicians, declining job prospects
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4
- Giải thích: Passage nói “solar installers and wind turbine technicians are among the fastest-growing occupations”, điều này trực tiếp mâu thuẫn với “declining job prospects”.
Câu 10: $5 / five dollars
- Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
- Từ khóa: early 2000s, solar power, cost, per watt
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 1
- Giải thích: “costing approximately $5 per watt of installed capacity” – cần điền chính xác số tiền.
Câu 13: diversifying
- Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
- Từ khóa: fossil fuel companies, responded
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn cuối, dòng 2
- Giải thích: “Some companies have begun diversifying their portfolios by investing in renewable energy projects” – từ “diversifying” là đáp án chính xác.
Passage 2 – Giải Thích
Câu 14: NO
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: merely a change in market competition, fundamental systemic shift
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 1-3
- Giải thích: Passage nói rõ “This transformation extends far beyond simple market competition; it represents a systemic shift”. Đây trực tiếp phủ nhận quan điểm rằng đây chỉ là thay đổi cạnh tranh thị trường đơn thuần.
Câu 15: YES
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: stranded assets, concern for investors
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2
- Giải thích: “The concept of ‘stranded assets’… has become a central concern for investors” – tác giả rõ ràng đồng ý với quan điểm này.
Câu 16: NOT GIVEN
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: just transition programs, completely successful
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3
- Giải thích: Passage chỉ đề cập đến việc các chương trình just transition được triển khai nhưng không đánh giá chúng có “completely successful” hay không.
Câu 19: B – Oil sector
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
- Từ khóa: predominantly used for transportation fuel
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 2-3
- Giải thích: “oil is predominantly used for transportation fuel, where substitution is more challenging”.
Câu 23: stranded assets
- Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
- Từ khóa: fossil fuel reserves, lose value
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2
- Giải thích: Đây là định nghĩa chính xác của “stranded assets” được đưa ra trong passage.
Passage 3 – Giải Thích
Câu 27: B – Past decisions in energy infrastructure limit present and future options
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: path dependency
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 1-3
- Giải thích: “path dependency – a concept from institutional economics suggesting that decisions made in the past constrain present options and future trajectories”. Đây là paraphrase chính xác của đáp án B.
Câu 28: C – Renewable energy is more suitable for distributed generation
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: techno-economic characteristics, differ
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3
- Giải thích: Passage nêu rõ renewable energy exhibits “geographical dispersion” and “modularity”, characteristics that favor “distributed generation” – khác hoàn toàn với fossil fuels ưu tiên centralized production.
Câu 29: A – The decline of fossil fuel industries is an inevitable part of economic progress
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: Schumpeter, creative destruction
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4
- Giải thích: “the decline of fossil fuel industries represents a necessary, indeed inevitable, consequence of technological progress and economic dynamism” – đây chính là ý chính của creative destruction.
Câu 32: C – transitions require replacing both physical infrastructure and regulatory frameworks
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Sentence Endings
- Từ khóa: infrastructure, inertia, systemic change
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2
- Giải thích: “transitions require not only replacing physical infrastructure but also transforming regulatory frameworks, market mechanisms, professional expertise, and cultural norms”.
Câu 37: distributed generation
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
- Từ khóa: solar and wind, characteristics, favor
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, cuối đoạn
- Giải thích: “characteristics that favor distributed generation and potentially more democratized ownership structures”.
Câu 40: democratic deliberation
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
- Từ khóa: normative questions, how transition should proceed
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn cuối, câu cuối
- Giải thích: “These normative questions lack purely technical answers and require democratic deliberation about collective priorities and values”.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| remarkable transformation | noun phrase | /rɪˈmɑːkəbl ˌtrænsfəˈmeɪʃn/ | sự biến đổi đáng kể | The global energy landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation | undergo a remarkable transformation |
| solar panels | noun | /ˈsəʊlə ˈpænlz/ | tấm pin mặt trời | Solar panels, once considered experimental technologies | install solar panels |
| renewable energy | noun | /rɪˈnjuːəbl ˈenədʒi/ | năng lượng tái tạo | This shift towards renewable energy is not merely a response | renewable energy sources |
| fossil fuel | noun | /ˈfɒsl fjuːəl/ | nhiên liệu hóa thạch | Traditional fossil fuel power plants could produce electricity | fossil fuel industries |
| economies of scale | noun phrase | /ɪˈkɒnəmiz əv skeɪl/ | hiệu quả quy mô | Through economies of scale, the cost has plummeted | achieve economies of scale |
| capacity factors | noun | /kəˈpæsəti ˈfæktəz/ | hệ số công suất | These installations can generate electricity with capacity factors exceeding 50% | high capacity factors |
| intermittent nature | noun phrase | /ˌɪntəˈmɪtənt ˈneɪtʃə/ | tính chất gián đoạn | One criticism was their intermittent nature | overcome intermittent nature |
| grid-scale storage | noun phrase | /ɡrɪd skeɪl ˈstɔːrɪdʒ/ | lưu trữ quy mô lưới điện | Making grid-scale storage economically viable | grid-scale storage systems |
| feed-in tariffs | noun | /fiːd ɪn ˈtærɪfs/ | chính sách giá cố định | Many countries have implemented feed-in tariffs | introduce feed-in tariffs |
| carbon neutrality | noun | /ˈkɑːbən njuːˈtræləti/ | trung hòa carbon | The EU has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 | achieve carbon neutrality |
| distributed renewable energy | noun phrase | /dɪˈstrɪbjuːtɪd rɪˈnjuːəbl ˈenədʒi/ | năng lượng tái tạo phân tán | Designed for distributed renewable energy sources | distributed renewable energy systems |
| initial capital requirements | noun phrase | /ɪˈnɪʃl ˈkæpɪtl rɪˈkwaɪəmənts/ | yêu cầu vốn ban đầu | The initial capital requirements remain significant | high initial capital requirements |
Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| restructuring | verb/noun | /ˌriːˈstrʌktʃərɪŋ/ | tái cơ cấu | Fundamentally restructuring the global energy economy | economic restructuring |
| stranded assets | noun | /ˈstrændɪd ˈæsets/ | tài sản bị mắc kẹt | The concept of stranded assets has become a central concern | risk of stranded assets |
| divesting | verb | /daɪˈvestɪŋ/ | rút vốn, thoái vốn | Begin divesting from fossil fuel companies | divesting from fossil fuels |
| just transition | noun phrase | /dʒʌst trænˈzɪʃn/ | chuyển đổi công bằng | Germany implemented just transition programs | just transition programs |
| electric vehicle | noun | /ɪˈlektrɪk ˈviːɪkl/ | xe điện | The rapid advancement of electric vehicle technology | electric vehicle adoption |
| internal combustion engines | noun | /ɪnˈtɜːnl kəmˈbʌstʃən ˈendʒɪnz/ | động cơ đốt trong | Plans to phase out internal combustion engines | replace internal combustion engines |
| bridge fuel | noun phrase | /brɪdʒ fjuːəl/ | nhiên liệu cầu nối | Natural gas serves as a bridge fuel | natural gas as bridge fuel |
| baseload power | noun | /ˈbeɪsləʊd ˈpaʊə/ | công suất nền | Able to provide reliable baseload power | reliable baseload power |
| grid stability | noun | /ɡrɪd stəˈbɪləti/ | sự ổn định lưới điện | Making them valuable for grid stability | maintain grid stability |
| geopolitical implications | noun phrase | /ˌdʒiːəʊpəˈlɪtɪkl ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃnz/ | hàm ý địa chính trị | The geopolitical implications are substantial | geopolitical implications of energy |
| petrostate model | noun | /ˈpetrəʊsteɪt ˈmɒdl/ | mô hình quốc gia dầu mỏ | The petrostate model becomes increasingly untenable | petrostate economies |
| organizational inertia | noun phrase | /ˌɔːɡənaɪˈzeɪʃənl ɪˈnɜːʃə/ | quán tính tổ chức | Creates significant organizational inertia | overcome organizational inertia |
| regulatory risks | noun | /ˈreɡjələtəri rɪsks/ | rủi ro pháp lý | Concerns about the regulatory risks facing companies | regulatory and policy risks |
| stock market valuations | noun phrase | /stɒk ˈmɑːkɪt ˌvæljuˈeɪʃnz/ | định giá thị trường chứng khoán | Stock market valuations have surged | stock market valuations increase |
| capital expenditures | noun | /ˈkæpɪtl ɪkˈspendɪtʃəz/ | chi tiêu vốn | A small fraction of overall capital expenditures | reduce capital expenditures |
Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fundamental reconfiguration | noun phrase | /ˌfʌndəˈmentl riːkənˌfɪɡjəˈreɪʃn/ | sự tái cấu hình cơ bản | Represents a fundamental reconfiguration of the entire energy system | fundamental reconfiguration of systems |
| paradigmatic shift | noun phrase | /ˌpærədɪɡˈmætɪk ʃɪft/ | sự chuyển dịch mô thức | This paradigmatic shift presents unprecedented opportunities | paradigmatic shift in thinking |
| institutional frameworks | noun | /ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənl ˈfreɪmwɜːks/ | khung thể chế | The institutional frameworks that govern these processes | institutional frameworks and regulations |
| path dependency | noun | /pɑːθ dɪˈpendənsi/ | sự phụ thuộc quỹ đạo | Energy systems exhibit path dependency | path dependency in development |
| sunk costs | noun | /sʌŋk kɒsts/ | chi phí chìm | Embodies massive sunk costs | minimize sunk costs |
| lock-in effect | noun phrase | /lɒk ɪn ɪˈfekt/ | hiệu ứng khóa chặt | This lock-in effect creates substantial inertia | technological lock-in effects |
| techno-economic characteristics | noun phrase | /ˌteknəʊ ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪks/ | đặc điểm kinh tế-kỹ thuật | The techno-economic characteristics fundamentally differ | techno-economic characteristics analysis |
| distributed generation | noun phrase | /dɪˈstrɪbjuːtɪd ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn/ | phát điện phân tán | Characteristics that favor distributed generation | distributed generation systems |
| creative destruction | noun phrase | /kriˈeɪtɪv dɪˈstrʌkʃn/ | phá hủy sáng tạo | The concept of creative destruction provides a framework | creative destruction process |
| distributive justice | noun phrase | /dɪˈstrɪbjətɪv ˈdʒʌstɪs/ | công bằng phân phối | Raises profound questions of distributive justice | distributive justice principles |
| political economy | noun | /pəˈlɪtɪkl ɪˈkɒnəmi/ | kinh tế chính trị | The political economy of the energy transition | political economy analysis |
| collective action problems | noun phrase | /kəˈlektɪv ˈækʃn ˈprɒbləmz/ | vấn đề hành động tập thể | Overcoming collective action problems | collective action problems in policy |
| ESG investing | noun | /iː es dʒiː ɪnˈvestɪŋ/ | đầu tư ESG (môi trường-xã hội-quản trị) | The rise of ESG investing reflects transformation | ESG investing strategies |
| critical minerals | noun | /ˈkrɪtɪkl ˈmɪnərəlz/ | khoáng sản quan trọng | Critical minerals required for renewable technologies | critical minerals supply chain |
| resource dependency | noun phrase | /rɪˈsɔːs dɪˈpendənsi/ | sự phụ thuộc tài nguyên | Creating new forms of resource dependency | reduce resource dependency |
| tipping points | noun | /ˈtɪpɪŋ pɔɪnts/ | điểm bùng phát | Tipping points may accelerate the transition | reach critical tipping points |
| positive feedback loops | noun phrase | /ˈpɒzətɪv ˈfiːdbæk luːps/ | vòng phản hồi tích cực | Positive feedback loops may emerge | positive feedback loops in systems |
| intergenerational equity | noun phrase | /ˌɪntədʒenəˈreɪʃənl ˈekwəti/ | công bằng liên thế hệ | Involves fundamental value judgments about intergenerational equity | intergenerational equity concerns |
Kết Bài
Chủ đề “How does renewable energy adoption impact fossil fuel industries?” không chỉ là một trong những chủ đề quan trọng nhất trong IELTS Reading hiện nay mà còn phản ánh một trong những vấn đề cấp thiết nhất của thế kỷ 21. Qua bộ đề thi mẫu này, bạn đã được trải nghiệm một bài thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với đầy đủ các yếu tố của kỳ thi thực tế.
Ba passages trong đề thi này đã đưa bạn từ những kiến thức cơ bản về sự gia tăng của năng lượng mặt trời và gió (Passage 1 – Easy), đến việc phân tích sự gián đoạn kinh tế trong ngành nhiên liệu hóa thạch (Passage 2 – Medium), và cuối cùng là khám phá sâu sắc về chuyển đổi hệ thống và mô hình năng lượng tương lai (Passage 3 – Hard). Độ khó tăng dần một cách tự nhiên này giúp bạn làm quen với cấu trúc thực tế của bài thi.
Với 40 câu hỏi đa dạng từ Multiple Choice, True/False/Not Given, Yes/No/Not Given, Matching Information, Matching Headings, Matching Sentence Endings, Summary Completion đến Short-answer Questions, bạn đã có cơ hội luyện tập tất cả các dạng câu hỏi quan trọng nhất trong IELTS Reading. Đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích vị trí và paraphrase sẽ giúp bạn hiểu rõ tại sao một đáp án đúng và làm thế nào để xác định nó trong thời gian ngắn.
Phần từ vựng với hơn 40 từ và cụm từ quan trọng được phân loại theo độ khó, kèm phiên âm, nghĩa tiếng Việt, ví dụ từ bài và collocation, sẽ là nguồn tài liệu quý giá giúp bạn không chỉ cải thiện vốn từ vựng cho IELTS Reading mà còn cho cả Writing và Speaking.
Hãy nhớ rằng, để đạt band điểm cao trong IELTS Reading, bạn cần luyện tập đều đặn với các chủ đề đa dạng, nắm vững các dạng câu hỏi, và phát triển kỹ năng quản lý thời gian hiệu quả. Đề thi mẫu này chỉ là bước khởi đầu trong hành trình chinh phục IELTS của bạn.
Chúc bạn học tập hiệu quả và đạt được band điểm mong muốn trong kỳ thi IELTS sắp tới!