IELTS Reading: Xu Hướng Làm Việc Từ Xa Toàn Cầu – Đề Thi Mẫu Có Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Mở bài

Trong những năm gần đây, làm việc từ xa (remote work) đã trở thành một hiện tượng toàn cầu, thay đổi căn bản cách thức vận hành của lực lượng lao động hiện đại. Chủ đề này xuất hiện ngày càng thường xuyên trong các kỳ thi IELTS Reading, đặc biệt từ năm 2020 đến nay, khi mà xu hướng làm việc linh hoạt đã trở thành tâm điểm của nhiều cuộc thảo luận về kinh tế, xã hội và công nghệ.

Bài viết này cung cấp cho bạn một bộ đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với chủ đề “How Is The Rise Of Remote Work Influencing Global Workforce Trends?”. Bạn sẽ được luyện tập với ba passages có độ khó tăng dần từ Easy đến Hard, bao gồm 40 câu hỏi đa dạng giống như thi thật. Mỗi câu hỏi đều có đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích, giúp bạn hiểu rõ cách tiếp cận và 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 các dạng câu hỏi thường gặp như Multiple Choice, True/False/Not Given, Matching Headings, và Summary Completion. Hãy dành đủ 60 phút để hoàn thành bài test trong điều kiện tương tự như phòng thi thật để có được kết quả đánh giá chính xác nhất.

Hướng Dẫn Làm Bài IELTS Reading

Tổng Quan Về IELTS Reading Test

IELTS Reading Test được thiết kế để đánh giá khả năng đọc hiểu của bạn qua ba passages với độ khó tăng dần. Bạn có tổng cộng 60 phút để hoàn thành 40 câu hỏi mà không có thời gian phụ để chuyển đáp án sang phiếu trả lời (khác với bài Listening).

Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:

• Passage 1: 15-17 phút (13 câu hỏi – Easy)
• Passage 2: 18-20 phút (13 câu hỏi – Medium)
• Passage 3: 23-25 phút (14 câu hỏi – Hard)

Lưu ý rằng không có thời gian dư để viết đáp án, vì vậy bạn cần ghi đáp án trực tiếp vào Answer Sheet ngay trong quá trình làm bài.

Các Dạng Câu Hỏi Trong Đề Này

Đề thi mẫu này bao gồm 7 dạng câu hỏi phổ biến nhất trong IELTS Reading:

1. Multiple Choice – Câu hỏi trắc nghiệm nhiều lựa chọn
2. True/False/Not Given – Xác định thông tin đúng, sai hoặc không được đề cập
3. Matching Information – Nối thông tin với đoạn văn tương ứng
4. Matching Headings – Chọn tiêu đề phù hợp cho các đoạn văn
5. Summary Completion – Hoàn thành đoạn tóm tắt
6. Matching Features – Nối đặc điểm với nhóm hoặc người được đề cập
7. Short-answer Questions – Trả lời câu hỏi ngắn

IELTS Reading Practice Test

PASSAGE 1 – The New Era of Working From Home

Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút

The concept of working from home has transformed dramatically over the past decade, evolving from a rare perk reserved for a select few employees to a mainstream working arrangement embraced by millions worldwide. This shift has been accelerated by advances in technology, changing employee expectations, and, most notably, the global pandemic that began in 2020. Today, remote work is no longer viewed as an alternative working style but rather as a legitimate and often preferred method of employment.

Historically, the traditional office environment has been the cornerstone of professional life since the Industrial Revolution. Workers would commute daily to centralized locations where they would perform their duties under direct supervision. However, the rise of the internet and digital communication tools in the 1990s and 2000s began to challenge this model. Email, video conferencing, and cloud-based software made it increasingly possible for employees to complete their work from virtually anywhere with an internet connection.

Despite these technological capabilities, many companies remained hesitant to adopt remote work policies. Concerns about productivity, communication challenges, and the difficulty of maintaining company culture kept most organizations tethered to traditional office spaces. Managers worried that without direct oversight, employees might become less efficient or engaged with their work. These fears, however, have been largely disproven by recent studies and real-world experience.

The COVID-19 pandemic served as an unprecedented experiment in remote work. Companies across all sectors were forced to send their employees home, often with little preparation or infrastructure in place. Surprisingly, many organizations discovered that their workers were not only maintaining their productivity levels but in some cases actually improving them. Employees reported benefits such as elimination of commute time, better work-life balance, and increased flexibility in managing personal responsibilities alongside professional obligations.

This mass adoption of remote work has revealed several key advantages. First, companies can access a much broader talent pool when geographic location is no longer a constraint. A business based in London can now hire the best candidate from Manchester, Edinburgh, or even internationally without requiring relocation. Second, organizations can reduce overhead costs associated with maintaining large office spaces, including rent, utilities, and office supplies. Third, many employees report higher job satisfaction when given the flexibility to work remotely, which can lead to improved retention rates.

However, remote work is not without its challenges. Some employees struggle with feelings of isolation and the blurring of boundaries between work and personal life. The lack of spontaneous interactions that occur naturally in office settings can hinder creativity and collaboration. Additionally, not all jobs are suitable for remote work; positions requiring physical presence, such as healthcare workers, factory operators, and retail staff, cannot be performed from home.

The future of work appears to be heading toward a hybrid model, where employees split their time between home and office. This approach aims to capture the benefits of both environments: the flexibility and focus of remote work combined with the collaboration and social connection of in-person interaction. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Apple have announced hybrid policies that allow employees to work from home for part of the week while requiring office presence on certain days.

As we move forward, the question is no longer whether remote work will continue but rather how it will be integrated into the fabric of professional life. Organizations are investing in new technologies and management strategies to support distributed teams. Skills such as digital literacy, self-motivation, and virtual communication are becoming increasingly valuable. The rise of remote work represents not just a temporary adjustment but a fundamental reimagining of how, where, and when work gets done.

Questions 1-6

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

Write:

• TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
• FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
• NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

1. Remote work was common practice for most companies before 2020.
2. The Industrial Revolution established the traditional office as the center of professional activity.
3. Email and video conferencing made remote work technically feasible before it became widespread.
4. Most managers’ concerns about productivity in remote work have been proven correct.
5. Remote work allows companies to hire talented employees from different geographical locations.
6. All employees prefer working from home to working in an office environment.

Questions 7-10

Complete the sentences below.

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

7. Many employees working from home reported an improvement in their __ between professional and personal life.
8. Companies can save money by reducing __ associated with maintaining physical office spaces.
9. Some remote workers experience feelings of __ due to lack of in-person contact.
10. The __ is an approach that combines home and office work.

Questions 11-13

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

11. According to the passage, what was the main factor that accelerated the adoption of remote work?

    • A. Employee demands for flexibility
    • B. Advances in internet technology
    • C. The COVID-19 pandemic
    • D. Rising office rental costs

12. Which challenge of remote work is mentioned in the passage?

    • A. Increased employee turnover
    • B. Higher salary expectations
    • C. Difficulty in creative collaboration
    • D. Lack of qualified workers

13. What does the passage suggest about the future of work?

    • A. All companies will return to traditional offices
    • B. Remote work will completely replace office work
    • C. A combination of remote and office work will be common
    • D. Only technology companies will offer remote work

---

PASSAGE 2 – Economic and Social Implications of Remote Work

Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút

The proliferation of remote work has triggered far-reaching consequences that extend well beyond individual companies and their employees. Economists, sociologists, and urban planners are increasingly examining how this paradigm shift is reshaping economic structures, social dynamics, and the very landscape of our cities. The implications are both profound and multifaceted, touching nearly every aspect of modern life.

A. Economic Restructuring

From an economic perspective, the rise of remote work is catalyzing significant changes in how value is created and distributed. Traditional business districts, once the epicenters of economic activity, are experiencing decreased foot traffic, which has a ripple effect on surrounding businesses. Coffee shops, restaurants, dry cleaners, and other services that catered primarily to office workers are facing unprecedented challenges. Some have been forced to close, while others are adapting by shifting their focus to residential neighborhoods where remote workers are now based.

Conversely, suburban and rural areas are experiencing an economic renaissance. With the ability to earn urban salaries while living in lower-cost areas, many workers are relocating from expensive city centers to more affordable regions. This demographic shift is bringing new economic vitality to previously stagnant communities. Local businesses in these areas are benefiting from increased patronage, and real estate markets are booming as demand for larger homes with dedicated office spaces rises.

The commercial real estate sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Office buildings in major cities are facing vacancy rates not seen in decades, leading property owners to reconsider their investments. Some are converting office spaces into residential apartments, while others are reimagining them as flexible workspaces or mixed-use developments. This recalibration represents billions of dollars in economic value being redistributed across different sectors and geographies.

B. Social and Psychological Dimensions

The social implications of remote work are equally substantial. The traditional workplace has long served not just as a location for productivity but as a crucial space for social interaction, identity formation, and professional networking. Remote work disrupts these social functions in ways that researchers are only beginning to understand.

Studies have revealed a paradox in remote workers’ experiences: while many report increased satisfaction with their work-life balance, they simultaneously express concerns about diminished social connections and reduced opportunities for spontaneous collaboration. The water cooler conversations and impromptu brainstorming sessions that characterize office life are difficult to replicate virtually. This loss of informal interaction can have tangible consequences for both innovation and employee morale.

Furthermore, remote work has exposed and, in some cases, exacerbated existing inequalities. Not all workers have access to suitable home workspaces, reliable internet connections, or the freedom from domestic responsibilities that conducive remote work requires. Parents, particularly mothers, have borne a disproportionate burden of juggling childcare alongside professional obligations. Additionally, younger workers and new employees may find it more challenging to learn organizational culture and build professional relationships in virtual environments.

C. Urban Planning and Environmental Impact

Urban planners are grappling with how cities should evolve in response to remote work trends. The traditional model of dense urban cores surrounded by residential suburbs was built on the assumption of daily commuting. With this pattern disrupted, cities face questions about how to reconfigure infrastructure, public transportation systems, and zoning regulations.

One potentially positive outcome is environmental. Reduced commuting means fewer vehicles on the road, leading to decreased carbon emissions and improved air quality. During the height of the pandemic, many cities experienced their cleanest air in decades. However, experts caution that these benefits may be offset if workers relocating to suburban areas increase their overall travel distances for other activities or if decentralized living patterns lead to more sprawl and car dependency.

D. The Digital Divide

The shift to remote work has also highlighted the critical importance of digital infrastructure. Regions with robust broadband access and reliable electricity are positioned to attract remote workers and the economic benefits they bring. Conversely, areas lacking these fundamentals risk being left behind in this new economic landscape. This disparity is creating new forms of geographic inequality that transcend traditional urban-rural divides.

Governments are responding by increasing investments in digital infrastructure, recognizing that connectivity is now as essential as roads and bridges once were. The ability to support remote work is becoming a key factor in regional competitiveness and economic development strategies.

The rise of remote work, therefore, represents not merely a change in where people work but a comprehensive reconfiguration of economic relationships, social structures, and spatial arrangements. As this transformation continues to unfold, policymakers, businesses, and individuals must navigate both the opportunities and challenges it presents. The long-term consequences will depend largely on how thoughtfully we address the emerging issues while capitalizing on the potential benefits.

Sự biến đổi của không gian đô thị khi làm việc từ xa trở nên phổ biến với các tòa nhà văn phòng và khu dân cư

Questions 14-19

The passage has four sections, A-D. Which section contains the following information?

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

14. Information about how remote work affects different generations and family situations differently
15. A discussion of the transformation happening in property markets
16. Mention of the positive environmental effects of reduced commuting
17. Details about businesses that traditionally served office workers
18. The role of internet infrastructure in regional development
19. Research findings about remote workers’ conflicting feelings

Questions 20-23

Complete the summary below.

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

Remote work is causing major changes to city centers and surrounding areas. Traditional business districts are seeing less 20. __, which negatively impacts local businesses. Meanwhile, suburban and rural areas are experiencing an economic 21. __ as workers relocate from expensive cities. The commercial real estate sector is facing high 22. __ and property owners are considering converting offices into residential spaces or 23. __. This represents a massive redistribution of economic value.

Questions 24-26

Choose THREE letters, A-G.

Which THREE challenges of remote work are mentioned in the passage?

A. Increased employee salaries
B. Loss of informal workplace interactions
C. Difficulties for younger workers in learning company culture
D. Higher costs for companies
E. Inadequate home workspaces for some employees
F. Reduced productivity levels
G. Excessive government regulation

---

PASSAGE 3 – The Future Landscape of Global Workforce Dynamics

Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)

Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút

The ascendancy of remote work represents not merely an ephemeral response to extraordinary circumstances but rather a watershed moment in the evolution of labor organization. This transformation is precipitating a reconceptualization of fundamental assumptions about productivity, organizational structure, and the relationship between employers and employees. As we venture further into this new era, the implications become increasingly nuanced and multidimensional, demanding sophisticated analysis that transcends simplistic narratives of liberation or alienation.

The theoretical underpinnings of this shift can be traced to several convergent trends in economic and technological development. Post-industrial economies have witnessed a progressive decoupling of value creation from physical location. The ascendance of knowledge work—where the primary input is cognitive rather than manual labor—has rendered the spatial constraints of traditional manufacturing increasingly obsolete. This dematerialization of work has been facilitated by exponential advances in information and communication technologies, creating what some scholars term the “geography of nowhere“—a professional landscape where physical proximity becomes incidental rather than essential to collaborative endeavor.

However, the relationship between technological capability and organizational adoption is far from deterministic. Despite the technical feasibility of remote work existing for decades, widespread implementation was impeded by what organizational theorists identify as institutional inertia—the tendency of established systems to resist change even when alternatives may offer superior outcomes. The prevailing management paradigm, rooted in Taylorist principles of direct supervision and standardized processes, privileged physical co-location as a mechanism for monitoring and control. This predilection for visual management reflects deeper anxieties about agency problems in principal-agent relationships, where employers fear that unsupervised workers may shirk responsibilities.

The abrupt necessitation of remote work during the global pandemic served as a natural experiment of unprecedented scale, effectively neutralizing these institutional barriers and compelling organizations to test assumptions that had previously gone unexamined. The results have been revelatory. Empirical data from numerous studies challenges the presupposition that productivity requires proximate supervision. Research conducted by Stanford economist Nicholas Bloom and colleagues found that remote workers demonstrated productivity increases of approximately 13%, attributable to fewer breaks, shorter breaks, and more minutes worked per shift due to elimination of commute time. Moreover, employee attrition decreased by 50% among remote workers, suggesting significant improvements in job satisfaction.

Yet these aggregate findings obscure considerable heterogeneity in outcomes across different contexts and demographics. The benefits of remote work are not distributed equitably. Workers in senior positions with established professional networks and dedicated home offices report substantially different experiences than junior employees in shared living situations struggling to delineate professional and personal spheres. This disparity has given rise to what researchers term “pandemic inequality“—the exacerbation of existing socioeconomic stratification through differential access to the benefits of flexible work arrangements.

The ramifications extend to fundamental questions about organizational design and competitive strategy. Companies embracing remote work gain access to global talent markets unencumbered by geographic restrictions, potentially creating significant competitive advantages through superior human capital acquisition. However, this same dynamic intensifies competition for workers, who can now entertain employment opportunities from anywhere in the world. This globalization of labor markets has paradoxical effects: while it may depress wages in high-cost regions through competition with lower-cost areas, it simultaneously elevates compensation in regions that were previously economically marginalized.

Furthermore, the shift toward remote work is catalyzing the emergence of new intermediary organizations and business models. Digital nomad visas, co-working memberships, and “work-from-anywhere” programs represent nascent institutional forms attempting to codify and facilitate location-independent work. These developments suggest that remote work may not culminate in atomized individuals working in isolation but rather in new forms of professional congregation that are voluntaristic and temporary rather than obligatory and permanent.

The environmental calculus of remote work similarly defies simple characterization. While reduced commuting unquestionably diminishes transportation-related emissions, the systemic effects are more ambiguous. Some research suggests that residential energy consumption increases as homes become dual-function spaces, potentially offsetting some transportation savings. Moreover, if remote work facilitates migration to suburban and exurban areas where car dependency is higher, the long-term sustainability benefits become less certain. The environmental trajectory will depend critically on complementary policy interventions regarding urban planning, building energy efficiency, and transportation infrastructure.

Perhaps most profoundly, the rise of remote work is provoking a philosophical reassessment of work’s role in human flourishing. The traditional workplace has served not merely instrumental functions but also existential ones—providing structure, purpose, and social belonging. The potential dissolution of these anchors creates both liberation and anxiety. Workers gain autonomy and flexibility but may lose the incidental benefits of collegial relationships and organizational culture that emerge from shared physical space. The challenge for individuals and organizations alike is to deliberately construct the social and psychological scaffolding that previously arose organically from co-location.

The trajectory of remote work thus embodies a quintessential challenge of contemporary society: harnessing technological capability to enhance human welfare while mitigating unintended consequences. As this transformation progresses, it will require continuous calibration—balancing efficiency with equity, flexibility with structure, and individual autonomy with collective cohesion. The future of work is not predetermined by technological imperatives but will be shaped by the choices that stakeholders at all levels make in navigating this complex and evolving landscape.

Questions 27-31

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

27. According to the passage, what is the primary reason that remote work has become more feasible?

    • A. Changes in government policies
    • B. The shift from manual to knowledge-based work
    • C. Reduced costs of office spaces
    • D. Demands from younger workers

28. What does the author mean by “institutional inertia” in paragraph 3?

    • A. The physical tiredness of office workers
    • B. The slow speed of internet connections
    • C. The resistance of established systems to change
    • D. The lack of technological infrastructure

29. The research by Nicholas Bloom found that remote workers

    • A. worked fewer hours than office workers
    • B. were more likely to leave their jobs
    • C. required more supervision
    • D. showed increased productivity levels

30. The term “pandemic inequality” refers to

    • A. unequal access to healthcare during COVID-19
    • B. the worsening of existing social divisions through remote work
    • C. differences in salary between remote and office workers
    • D. geographic differences in pandemic severity

31. What does the author suggest about the environmental impact of remote work?

    • A. It is unquestionably positive
    • B. It has no measurable effect
    • C. It is more complex than it initially appears
    • D. It is entirely negative

Questions 32-36

Complete the sentences below.

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

32. Before the pandemic, management practices based on __ emphasized the need for direct employee supervision.
33. The pandemic functioned as a __ that forced companies to test their assumptions about remote work.
34. Companies that adopt remote work can access __ without geographic limitations.
35. New business models like co-working memberships represent __ that support location-independent work.
36. Traditional workplaces have provided not only practical benefits but also __ such as purpose and social connection.

Questions 37-40

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Passage 3?

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

37. The benefits of remote work are experienced equally by all employees regardless of their position or circumstances.
38. Remote work is causing increased competition among employers for talented employees.
39. Government policies are the most important factor in determining whether remote work succeeds.
40. The future of work will be determined by the decisions that various stakeholders make rather than by technology alone.

Answer Keys – Đáp Án

PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13

1. FALSE
2. TRUE
3. TRUE
4. FALSE
5. TRUE
6. NOT GIVEN
7. work-life balance
8. overhead costs
9. isolation
10. hybrid model
11. C
12. C
13. C

PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26

14. B
15. A
16. C
17. A
18. D
19. B
20. foot traffic
21. renaissance
22. vacancy rates
23. flexible workspaces
24. B
25. C
26. E

PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40

27. B
28. C
29. D
30. B
31. C
32. Taylorist principles
33. natural experiment
34. global talent markets
35. nascent institutional forms
36. existential ones / existential functions
37. NO
38. YES
39. NOT GIVEN
40. YES

Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Passage 1 – Giải Thích

Câu 1: FALSE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: remote work, common practice, before 2020
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, câu đầu tiên
• Giải thích: Bài đọc nói rõ làm việc từ xa “evolving from a rare perk reserved for a select few employees” (phát triển từ một đặc quyền hiếm hoi dành cho một số ít nhân viên). Điều này mâu thuẫn với việc nó là “common practice” (thực hành phổ biến).

Câu 2: TRUE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Industrial Revolution, traditional office, center of professional activity
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, câu đầu
• Giải thích: Bài viết khẳng định “the traditional office environment has been the cornerstone of professional life since the Industrial Revolution” – cornerstone (nền tảng) được paraphrase thành center (trung tâm).

Câu 3: TRUE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Email, video conferencing, technically feasible, before widespread
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2
• Giải thích: Bài đọc nói “Email, video conferencing, and cloud-based software made it increasingly possible for employees to complete their work from virtually anywhere” nhưng sau đó đoạn 3 nói rằng “many companies remained hesitant to adopt” – chứng tỏ công nghệ đã có nhưng chưa được áp dụng rộng rãi.

Câu 4: FALSE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: managers’ concerns, productivity, proven correct
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, câu cuối
• Giải thích: “These fears, however, have been largely disproven by recent studies” – các lo ngại đã bị bác bỏ, không phải được chứng minh là đúng.

Câu 5: TRUE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: companies, hire, different geographical locations
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5
• Giải thích: “companies can access a much broader talent pool when geographic location is no longer a constraint” – broader talent pool được paraphrase thành talented employees from different locations.

Câu 6: NOT GIVEN

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: all employees, prefer, working from home
• Giải thích: Bài đọc đề cập đến benefits và challenges nhưng không bao giờ nói TẤT CẢ nhân viên đều thích làm từ xa. Đoạn 6 thậm chí nói về những thách thức như isolation.

Câu 7: work-life balance

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: employees, improvement, professional and personal life
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4
• Giải thích: “better work-life balance” xuất hiện trong danh sách các lợi ích mà nhân viên báo cáo.

Câu 8: overhead costs

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: save money, maintaining physical office
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5
• Giải thích: “organizations can reduce overhead costs associated with maintaining large office spaces”.

Câu 9: isolation

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: remote workers, feelings, lack of in-person contact
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6
• Giải thích: “Some employees struggle with feelings of isolation” – từ này xuất hiện chính xác trong bài.

Câu 10: hybrid model

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: approach, combines home and office work
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7
• Giải thích: “The future of work appears to be heading toward a hybrid model, where employees split their time between home and office”.

Câu 11: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: main factor, accelerated, adoption
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1
• Giải thích: “most notably, the global pandemic that began in 2020” – đây là yếu tố chính được nhấn mạnh nhất trong việc thúc đẩy làm việc từ xa.

Câu 12: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: challenge, mentioned
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6
• Giải thích: “The lack of spontaneous interactions that occur naturally in office settings can hinder creativity and collaboration” – đây chính là đáp án C về difficulty in creative collaboration.

Câu 13: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: future of work
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7
• Giải thích: “The future of work appears to be heading toward a hybrid model” – kết hợp cả hai hình thức.

Passage 2 – Giải Thích

Câu 14: B (Section B)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
• Từ khóa: different generations, family situations, differently
• Giải thích: Section B đề cập “younger workers and new employees may find it more challenging” và “Parents, particularly mothers, have borne a disproportionate burden”.

Câu 15: A (Section A)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
• Từ khóa: transformation, property markets
• Giải thích: Section A có đoạn “The commercial real estate sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation” và thảo luận chi tiết về thị trường bất động sản.

Câu 16: C (Section C)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
• Từ khóa: positive environmental effects, reduced commuting
• Giải thích: Section C nói “Reduced commuting means fewer vehicles on the road, leading to decreased carbon emissions and improved air quality”.

Câu 17: A (Section A)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
• Từ khóa: businesses, traditionally served office workers
• Giải thích: Section A đề cập “Coffee shops, restaurants, dry cleaners, and other services that catered primarily to office workers”.

Câu 18: D (Section D)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
• Từ khóa: internet infrastructure, regional development
• Giải thích: Section D có tiêu đề “The Digital Divide” và thảo luận về “digital infrastructure” và “regional competitiveness”.

Câu 19: B (Section B)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
• Từ khóa: research findings, conflicting feelings
• Giải thích: Section B nói về “a paradox in remote workers’ experiences” – họ vừa hài lòng vừa lo lắng về các vấn đề xã hội.

Câu 20: foot traffic

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Từ khóa: business districts, seeing less
• Vị trí trong bài: Section A, đoạn 2
• Giải thích: “business districts…are experiencing decreased foot traffic”.

Câu 21: renaissance

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Từ khóa: suburban and rural areas, economic
• Vị trí trong bài: Section A, đoạn 3
• Giải thích: “suburban and rural areas are experiencing an economic renaissance”.

Câu 22: vacancy rates

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Từ khóa: commercial real estate, facing high
• Vị trí trong bài: Section A, đoạn 4
• Giải thích: “Office buildings in major cities are facing vacancy rates not seen in decades”.

Câu 23: flexible workspaces

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Từ khóa: converting offices, or
• Vị trí trong bài: Section A, đoạn 4
• Giải thích: “converting office spaces into residential apartments…or reimagining them as flexible workspaces”.

Câu 24-26: B, C, E

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice (chọn 3 đáp án)
• Giải thích:
  • B: Section B nói về “loss of informal interaction”
  • C: Section B đề cập “younger workers and new employees may find it more challenging to learn organizational culture”
  • E: Section B nói “Not all workers have access to suitable home workspaces”

Passage 3 – Giải Thích

Câu 27: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: primary reason, more feasible
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2
• Giải thích: “The ascendance of knowledge work—where the primary input is cognitive rather than manual labor—has rendered the spatial constraints of traditional manufacturing increasingly obsolete.”

Câu 28: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: institutional inertia, meaning
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3
• Giải thích: “institutional inertia—the tendency of established systems to resist change even when alternatives may offer superior outcomes.”

Câu 29: D

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: Nicholas Bloom, found
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4
• Giải thích: “remote workers demonstrated productivity increases of approximately 13%”.

Câu 30: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: pandemic inequality, refers to
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5
• Giải thích: “pandemic inequality—the exacerbation of existing socioeconomic stratification through differential access to the benefits of flexible work arrangements.”

Câu 31: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: environmental impact
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8
• Giải thích: “The environmental calculus of remote work similarly defies simple characterization” – tác giả nói rằng tác động môi trường phức tạp hơn vẻ ngoài ban đầu.

Câu 32: Taylorist principles

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion (3 words max)
• Từ khóa: management practices, emphasized, direct supervision
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3
• Giải thích: “The prevailing management paradigm, rooted in Taylorist principles of direct supervision”.

Câu 33: natural experiment

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion (3 words max)
• Từ khóa: pandemic, functioned as, forced companies
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4
• Giải thích: “The abrupt necessitation of remote work during the global pandemic served as a natural experiment of unprecedented scale”.

Câu 34: global talent markets

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion (3 words max)
• Từ khóa: companies, access, without geographic limitations
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6
• Giải thích: “Companies embracing remote work gain access to global talent markets unencumbered by geographic restrictions”.

Câu 35: nascent institutional forms

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion (3 words max)
• Từ khóa: new business models, co-working, represent
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7
• Giải thích: “Digital nomad visas, co-working memberships…represent nascent institutional forms”.

Câu 36: existential ones / existential functions

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion (3 words max)
• Từ khóa: traditional workplaces, provided, practical benefits, also
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 9
• Giải thích: “The traditional workplace has served not merely instrumental functions but also existential ones”.

Câu 37: NO

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: benefits, experienced equally, all employees
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5
• Giải thích: “Yet these aggregate findings obscure considerable heterogeneity in outcomes” và “The benefits of remote work are not distributed equitably” – tác giả rõ ràng nói lợi ích KHÔNG được phân phối đồng đều.

Câu 38: YES

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: increased competition, employers, talented employees
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6
• Giải thích: “However, this same dynamic intensifies competition for workers, who can now entertain employment opportunities from anywhere in the world” – tác giả đồng ý rằng cạnh tranh tăng lên.

Câu 39: NOT GIVEN

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: government policies, most important factor
• Giải thích: Mặc dù đoạn 8 đề cập đến “complementary policy interventions”, tác giả không bao giờ nói rằng chính sách chính phủ là yếu tố QUAN TRỌNG NHẤT.

Câu 40: YES

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: future, determined by decisions, stakeholders, rather than technology
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn cuối
• Giải thích: “The future of work is not predetermined by technological imperatives but will be shaped by the choices that stakeholders at all levels make” – tác giả đồng ý rằng quyết định của con người, không phải công nghệ, sẽ định hình tương lai.

Chiến lược làm bài IELTS Reading hiệu quả với các dạng câu hỏi về làm việc từ xa và xu hướng lao động toàn cầu

Từ Vựng Quan Trọng Theo Passage

Passage 1 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
transform	v	/trænsˈfɔːm/	biến đổi, chuyển đổi	The concept has transformed dramatically	transform dramatically, digital transformation
perk	n	/pɜːk/	đặc quyền, phúc lợi	a rare perk reserved for employees	job perks, employee perks
legitimate	adj	/ləˈdʒɪtɪmət/	hợp pháp, chính đáng	a legitimate method of employment	legitimate concern, legitimate business
centralized	adj	/ˈsentrəlaɪzd/	tập trung hóa	centralized locations	centralized system, centralized control
hesitant	adj	/ˈhezɪtənt/	do dự, ngần ngại	companies remained hesitant	hesitant about, be hesitant to
tethered	adj	/ˈteðəd/	bị buộc chặt, gắn liền	tethered to traditional offices	tethered to, remain tethered
efficient	adj	/ɪˈfɪʃnt/	hiệu quả	become less efficient	highly efficient, cost-efficient
unprecedented	adj	/ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd/	chưa từng có	unprecedented experiment	unprecedented scale, unprecedented crisis
elimination	n	/ɪˌlɪmɪˈneɪʃn/	sự loại bỏ	elimination of commute time	elimination of waste, process of elimination
overhead costs	n phrase	/ˈəʊvəhed kɒsts/	chi phí vận hành	reduce overhead costs	reduce overhead, overhead expenses
retention	n	/rɪˈtenʃn/	sự giữ chân (nhân viên)	improved retention rates	employee retention, retention strategy
isolation	n	/ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃn/	sự cô lập	feelings of isolation	social isolation, work in isolation
spontaneous	adj	/spɒnˈteɪniəs/	tự phát, tự nhiên	spontaneous interactions	spontaneous reaction, spontaneous conversation
hinder	v	/ˈhɪndə/	cản trở	hinder creativity	hinder progress, hinder development
hybrid model	n phrase	/ˈhaɪbrɪd ˈmɒdl/	mô hình lai	heading toward a hybrid model	hybrid approach, hybrid system

Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
proliferation	n	/prəˌlɪfəˈreɪʃn/	sự gia tăng nhanh	the proliferation of remote work	nuclear proliferation, proliferation of technology
far-reaching	adj	/ˌfɑː ˈriːtʃɪŋ/	có tác động sâu rộng	far-reaching consequences	far-reaching effects, far-reaching implications
paradigm shift	n phrase	/ˈpærədaɪm ʃɪft/	sự thay đổi mô hình tư duy	this paradigm shift	undergo paradigm shift, major paradigm shift
catalyze	v	/ˈkætəlaɪz/	xúc tác, thúc đẩy	catalyzing significant changes	catalyze growth, catalyze innovation
epicenter	n	/ˈepɪsentə/	tâm chấn, trung tâm	epicenters of economic activity	epicenter of crisis, cultural epicenter
ripple effect	n phrase	/ˈrɪpl ɪˌfekt/	hiệu ứng lan tỏa	has a ripple effect	create ripple effect, ripple effect throughout
cater	v	/ˈkeɪtə/	phục vụ, cung cấp	catered primarily to office workers	cater to, cater for
renaissance	n	/rɪˈneɪsns/	sự phục hưng	economic renaissance	cultural renaissance, experience renaissance
relocate	v	/ˌriːləʊˈkeɪt/	di dời, chuyển chỗ	workers are relocating	relocate to, relocate from
demographic shift	n phrase	/ˌdeməˈɡræfɪk ʃɪft/	sự thay đổi nhân khẩu	this demographic shift	major demographic shift, demographic shift toward
vacancy rate	n phrase	/ˈveɪkənsi reɪt/	tỷ lệ bỏ trống	facing vacancy rates	high vacancy rate, rising vacancy rate
recalibration	n	/ˌriːˌkælɪˈbreɪʃn/	sự điều chỉnh lại	represents recalibration	require recalibration, economic recalibration
paradox	n	/ˈpærədɒks/	nghịch lý	revealed a paradox	central paradox, apparent paradox
diminish	v	/dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/	giảm bớt, suy giảm	diminished social connections	diminish over time, steadily diminish
exacerbate	v	/ɪɡˈzæsəbeɪt/	làm trầm trọng thêm	exacerbated existing inequalities	exacerbate problem, exacerbate situation
disproportionate	adj	/ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʃənət/	không cân xứng, bất cân đối	disproportionate burden	disproportionate impact, disproportionate share
conducive	adj	/kənˈdjuːsɪv/	thuận lợi cho	conducive remote work requires	conducive to, conducive environment
grapple	v	/ˈɡræpl/	vật lộn, đấu tranh	planners are grappling with	grapple with issue, grapple with problem
sprawl	n	/sprɔːl/	sự lan rộng bừa bãi	lead to more sprawl	urban sprawl, suburban sprawl
broadband	n	/ˈbrɔːdbænd/	băng thông rộng	robust broadband access	broadband connection, broadband infrastructure

Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
ascendancy	n	/əˈsendənsi/	sự thống trị, vượt trội	the ascendancy of remote work	rise to ascendancy, maintain ascendancy
ephemeral	adj	/ɪˈfemərəl/	phù du, ngắn ngủi	not merely an ephemeral response	ephemeral nature, ephemeral phenomenon
watershed	n	/ˈwɔːtəʃed/	bước ngoặt quan trọng	a watershed moment	watershed moment, watershed event
precipitate	v	/prɪˈsɪpɪteɪt/	gây ra đột ngột	precipitating a reconceptualization	precipitate crisis, precipitate change
nuanced	adj	/ˈnjuːɑːnst/	nhiều sắc thái, tinh tế	increasingly nuanced	nuanced understanding, nuanced view
transcend	v	/trænˈsend/	vượt qua, siêu việt	transcends simplistic narratives	transcend boundaries, transcend limitations
theoretical underpinnings	n phrase	/ˌθɪəˈretɪkəl ˌʌndəˈpɪnɪŋz/	nền tảng lý thuyết	theoretical underpinnings of this shift	theoretical underpinning of theory
convergent	adj	/kənˈvɜːdʒənt/	hội tụ	convergent trends	convergent evolution, convergent thinking
decoupling	n	/diːˈkʌplɪŋ/	sự tách rời	decoupling of value creation	economic decoupling, decoupling from
obsolete	adj	/ˈɒbsəliːt/	lỗi thời	increasingly obsolete	become obsolete, render obsolete
dematerialization	n	/ˌdiːməˌtɪərɪəlaɪˈzeɪʃn/	phi vật chất hóa	dematerialization of work	digital dematerialization
deterministic	adj	/dɪˌtɜːmɪˈnɪstɪk/	mang tính định trước	far from deterministic	deterministic view, deterministic approach
institutional inertia	n phrase	/ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənl ɪˈnɜːʃə/	quán tính thể chế	impeded by institutional inertia	overcome institutional inertia
Taylorist	adj	/ˈteɪlərɪst/	theo trường phái Taylor	rooted in Taylorist principles	Taylorist management, Taylorist approach
co-location	n	/kəʊ ləʊˈkeɪʃn/	cùng địa điểm	privileged physical co-location	require co-location, benefits of co-location
predilection	n	/ˌpriːdɪˈlekʃn/	sự ưa thích	predilection for visual management	predilection for, have predilection
agency problem	n phrase	/ˈeɪdʒənsi ˈprɒbləm/	vấn đề ủy quyền	anxieties about agency problems	principal-agent problem, address agency problem
shirk	v	/ʃɜːk/	trốn tránh (trách nhiệm)	workers may shirk responsibilities	shirk duty, shirk responsibility
revelatory	adj	/ˌrevəˈleɪtəri/	mang tính khám phá	results have been revelatory	revelatory moment, revelatory experience
empirical	adj	/ɪmˈpɪrɪkl/	thực nghiệm	empirical data	empirical evidence, empirical research
presupposition	n	/ˌpriːsʌpəˈzɪʃn/	giả định trước	challenges the presupposition	basic presupposition, underlying presupposition
attrition	n	/əˈtrɪʃn/	sự mài mòn (nhân sự)	employee attrition decreased	staff attrition, attrition rate
aggregate	adj	/ˈæɡrɪɡət/	tổng hợp	aggregate findings	aggregate data, in aggregate
heterogeneity	n	/ˌhetərədʒəˈniːəti/	tính không đồng nhất	considerable heterogeneity	cultural heterogeneity, heterogeneity in outcomes
stratification	n	/ˌstrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/	sự phân tầng	socioeconomic stratification	social stratification, class stratification
ramification	n	/ˌræmɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/	hệ quả, tác động	ramifications extend to	legal ramifications, wider ramifications
unencumbered	adj	/ˌʌnɪnˈkʌmbəd/	không bị cản trở	unencumbered by restrictions	unencumbered by, unencumbered access
paradoxical	adj	/ˌpærəˈdɒksɪkl/	nghịch lý	paradoxical effects	paradoxical situation, seem paradoxical
nascent	adj	/ˈnæsnt/	mới nảy sinh	nascent institutional forms	nascent industry, nascent stage
atomized	adj	/ˈætəmaɪzd/	bị chia nhỏ, bị phân tán	not culminate in atomized individuals	atomized society, atomized workforce
voluntaristic	adj	/ˌvɒlənˈtærɪstɪk/	tự nguyện	voluntaristic and temporary	voluntaristic action
ambiguous	adj	/æmˈbɪɡjuəs/	mơ hồ, không rõ ràng	systemic effects are ambiguous	ambiguous statement, remain ambiguous
existential	adj	/ˌeɡzɪˈstenʃl/	thuộc về sự tồn tại	existential functions	existential crisis, existential question
dissolution	n	/ˌdɪsəˈluːʃn/	sự tan rã	potential dissolution	dissolution of marriage, facing dissolution
collegial	adj	/kəˈliːdʒiəl/	thân thiện đồng nghiệp	collegial relationships	collegial atmosphere, collegial support
quintessential	adj	/ˌkwɪntɪˈsenʃl/	tinh túy, đặc trưng nhất	quintessential challenge	quintessential example, quintessential characteristic
calibration	n	/ˌkælɪˈbreɪʃn/	sự điều chỉnh cân bằng	require continuous calibration	careful calibration, calibration of instruments

Kết bài

Chủ đề về xu hướng làm việc từ xa đang ảnh hưởng đến lực lượng lao động toàn cầu là một trong những chủ đề nóng hổi và xuất hiện thường xuyên trong các kỳ thi IELTS Reading hiện nay. Việc nắm vững kiến thức về chủ đề này không chỉ giúp bạn tự tin hơn khi gặp các bài đọc tương tự mà còn mở rộng hiểu biết về một hiện tượng đang định hình lại cách thức làm việc của thế giới hiện đại.

Bộ đề thi mẫu này đã cung cấp cho bạn ba passages với độ khó tăng dần, từ Easy (Passage 1) giới thiệu các khái niệm cơ bản về remote work, đến Medium (Passage 2) phân tích các tác động kinh tế và xã hội, và cuối cùng là Hard (Passage 3) đi sâu vào các phân tích học thuật phức tạp về động lực lao động toàn cầu. 40 câu hỏi đa dạng bao gồm tất cả các dạng bài phổ biến trong IELTS Reading, giúp bạn luyện tập toàn diện các kỹ năng cần thiết.

Phần đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích đã chỉ ra cách xác định từ khóa, vị trí thông tin trong bài, và kỹ thuật paraphrase – những yếu tố then chốt để đạt điểm cao trong IELTS Reading. Hãy chú ý đặc biệt đến cách các từ vựng và cụm từ trong câu hỏi được diễn đạt lại trong bài đọc, đây là kỹ năng quan trọng giúp bạn tìm đáp án chính xác.

Từ vựng được tổng hợp theo từng passage với phiên âm, nghĩa tiếng Việt và collocations sẽ là nguồn tài liệu quý giá để bạn mở rộng vốn từ vựng học thuật. Đừng chỉ học thuộc nghĩa mà hãy chú ý đến cách sử dụng các từ này trong ngữ cảnh cụ thể.

Hãy nhớ rằng, việc luyện tập thường xuyên với các đề thi mẫu chất lượng như thế này là chìa khóa để cải thiện band điểm Reading của bạn. Mỗi lần làm bài, hãy phân tích kỹ những câu trả lời sai để hiểu rõ lý do và tránh mắc lỗi tương tự trong tương lai. Chúc bạn ôn tập hiệu quả và đạt được band điểm mục tiêu trong kỳ thi IELTS sắp tới!