IELTS Reading: Ảnh Hưởng Của Nền Tảng Số Đến Lựa Chọn Người Tiêu Dùng – Đề Thi Mẫu Có Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Mở Bài

Trong kỷ nguyên số hóa, việc hiểu cách các nền tảng kỹ thuật số tác động đến quyết định mua sắm của người tiêu dùng đang trở thành một chủ đề quan trọng và thường xuyên xuất hiện trong IELTS Reading. Chủ đề “How Digital Platforms Are Influencing Consumer Choices” không chỉ phổ biến trong các đề thi Cambridge IELTS gần đây mà còn phản ánh xu hướng toàn cầu về thương mại điện tử, tiếp thị số và hành vi tiêu dùng hiện đại.

Bài viết này cung cấp cho bạn một đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh gồm 3 passages với độ khó tăng dần từ Easy đến Hard, bao gồm 40 câu hỏi đa dạng theo đúng format thi thật. Bạn sẽ được luyện tập với các dạng câu hỏi phổ biến như Multiple Choice, True/False/Not Given, Matching Headings, và Summary Completion. Đặc biệt, mỗi câu hỏi đều có đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích cụ thể về vị trí thông tin và kỹ thuật paraphrase.

Đề thi này phù hợp cho học viên từ band 5.0 trở lên, giúp bạn làm quen với văn phong học thuật, mở rộng vốn từ vựng chuyên ngành về công nghệ và thương mại, đồng thời rèn luyện kỹ năng đọc hiểu và quản lý thời gian hiệu quả. Hãy coi đây như một bài thi thật và tuân thủ nghiêm túc thời gian quy định cho mỗi passage.

Hướng Dẫn Làm Bài IELTS Reading

Tổng Quan Về IELTS Reading Test

IELTS Reading Test kéo dài 60 phút với 3 passages và tổng cộng 40 câu hỏi. Mỗi câu trả lời đúng được tính là 1 điểm, không trừ điểm với câu sai. Độ khó của các passages tăng dần, với Passage 1 thường là dạng descriptive/factual, Passage 2 mang tính analytical, và Passage 3 yêu cầu tư duy phản biện cao.

Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:

• Passage 1: 15-17 phút (dễ nhất, giúp bạn khởi động tốt)
• Passage 2: 18-20 phút (độ khó trung bình, cần đọc kỹ hơn)
• Passage 3: 23-25 phút (khó nhất, dành thời gian nhiều nhất)

Lưu ý quan trọng: Bạn phải tự quản lý thời gian và chuyển đáp án sang phiếu trả lời trong 60 phút. Không có thời gian bổ sung để chép đáp án như phần Listening.

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 – Chọn đáp án đúng từ các phương án cho sẵn
2. True/False/Not Given – Xác định thông tin đúng, sai hay không được đề cập
3. Matching Information – Nối thông tin với đoạn văn tương ứng
4. Sentence Completion – Hoàn thành câu với từ trong bài đọc
5. Matching Headings – Chọn tiêu đề phù hợp cho mỗi đoạn
6. Summary Completion – Điền từ vào bản tóm tắt
7. Short-answer Questions – Trả lời ngắn gọn các câu hỏi

Mỗi dạng câu hỏi đòi hỏi kỹ năng đọc khác nhau: scanning (tìm thông tin cụ thể), skimming (nắm ý chính), và careful reading (đọc kỹ để phân tích).

IELTS Reading Practice Test

PASSAGE 1 – The Rise of E-Commerce Platforms

Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút

Over the past two decades, digital platforms have fundamentally transformed how consumers shop and make purchasing decisions. The emergence of e-commerce giants such as Amazon, Alibaba, and eBay has revolutionized retail by offering unprecedented convenience, variety, and competitive pricing. These platforms have created virtual marketplaces where millions of products are available at the click of a button, eliminating the need for physical store visits and enabling 24/7 shopping from anywhere in the world.

One of the most significant advantages that digital platforms offer is personalized recommendations. Using sophisticated algorithms that analyze browsing history, purchase patterns, and customer preferences, these platforms can suggest products tailored to individual tastes. For instance, when a customer searches for running shoes, the platform might also recommend athletic wear, fitness trackers, or sports nutrition products. This level of customization not only enhances the shopping experience but also increases the likelihood of additional purchases, a phenomenon known as cross-selling.

Customer reviews have emerged as another powerful influence on consumer choices. Unlike traditional retail where shoppers relied primarily on sales staff or advertising, online platforms allow customers to read feedback from hundreds or even thousands of previous buyers. Studies indicate that approximately 93% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase decision, and products with higher ratings consistently outsell those with lower ratings. This democratization of information has shifted power from sellers to buyers, as genuine customer experiences now carry more weight than marketing messages.

The comparison shopping feature available on most digital platforms has also changed consumer behavior dramatically. Shoppers can now compare prices, features, and reviews across multiple sellers within seconds, ensuring they get the best value for their money. Price transparency has intensified competition among retailers, often resulting in lower prices and better deals for consumers. Many platforms even offer price-matching guarantees or alert systems that notify users when prices drop on items they’re interested in.

Mobile commerce, or m-commerce, represents the latest evolution in digital shopping. With smartphone penetration reaching over 80% in many developed countries, consumers increasingly use mobile apps to browse and purchase products while commuting, waiting in queues, or relaxing at home. The convenience of one-click purchasing and saved payment information has made impulse buying easier than ever before. Mobile platforms also leverage location-based services to send targeted promotions when users are near physical stores, creating a bridge between online and offline shopping.

However, the dominance of digital platforms has raised concerns about data privacy and consumer manipulation. These platforms collect vast amounts of personal information, including browsing habits, purchase history, location data, and even the time spent viewing specific products. While this data enables personalized experiences, critics argue that it gives companies too much insight into consumer psychology, potentially enabling manipulative marketing practices. The use of dynamic pricing, where prices fluctuate based on user profiles and demand patterns, has particularly drawn scrutiny for potentially discriminating against certain customer segments.

Despite these concerns, the convenience and benefits offered by digital platforms continue to attract consumers worldwide. Global e-commerce sales are projected to reach $6 trillion by 2024, representing nearly 20% of all retail sales. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend significantly, forcing even hesitant consumers to embrace online shopping out of necessity. Many of these new digital shoppers have continued their online habits post-pandemic, suggesting a permanent shift in consumer behavior. As technology advances with innovations like augmented reality for virtual product try-ons and artificial intelligence for even more accurate recommendations, digital platforms are likely to become even more influential in shaping consumer choices in the years ahead.

Questions 1-13

Questions 1-5: Multiple Choice

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

1. According to the passage, what is one main advantage of e-commerce platforms?
   A. They employ more staff than traditional stores
   B. They offer shopping opportunities at any time
   C. They only sell discounted products
   D. They require physical store memberships

2. Personalized recommendations on digital platforms are created by:
   A. Human sales assistants
   B. Random selection processes
   C. Computer algorithms analyzing user data
   D. Customer service representatives

3. What percentage of consumers read online reviews before purchasing?
   A. Around 50%
   B. Exactly 80%
   C. Approximately 93%
   D. Nearly 100%

4. Mobile commerce has become popular primarily because:
   A. Smartphones are free for everyone
   B. It offers convenience and easy payment options
   C. Physical stores have all closed down
   D. It is cheaper than using computers

5. Dynamic pricing has been criticized because it:
   A. Always offers the lowest prices
   B. Never changes product costs
   C. May discriminate against certain customers
   D. Requires too much manual calculation

Questions 6-9: True/False/Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage?

Write:

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

6. Digital platforms have completely replaced all physical retail stores worldwide.

7. Customer reviews on online platforms have more influence than traditional advertising.

8. Price-matching guarantees are offered by all digital shopping platforms.

9. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary increase in online shopping that has since reversed.

Questions 10-13: Sentence Completion

Complete the sentences below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

10. Digital platforms create __ where millions of products can be purchased online.

11. The practice of suggesting additional related products is called __.

12. Location-based services help connect __ and offline shopping experiences.

13. By 2024, global e-commerce is expected to represent about 20% of all __ sales.

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PASSAGE 2 – The Psychology Behind Digital Influence

Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút

The profound impact of digital platforms on consumer decision-making extends far beyond mere convenience; it fundamentally alters the psychological processes underlying how people evaluate options and make choices. Understanding these mechanisms requires examining several interconnected phenomena that have emerged in the digital marketplace, from social proof and scarcity tactics to the role of influencer marketing and algorithmic curation.

A. The concept of social proof, first articulated by psychologist Robert Cialdini, has found its most powerful expression in the digital realm. When consumers encounter a product with thousands of positive reviews or see that millions of people have purchased it, they experience a strong cognitive bias toward assuming the product must be worthwhile. Digital platforms strategically display these social validation signals – ratings, review counts, purchase numbers, and trending labels – to guide consumer behavior. Research conducted by the Spiegel Research Center found that displaying reviews can increase conversion rates by up to 270%, particularly for higher-priced items where purchase decisions carry greater risk. The transparency of peer feedback creates a sense of collective wisdom that individual consumers find difficult to ignore, even when they might otherwise be skeptical.

B. Complementing social proof are carefully engineered scarcity mechanisms that create urgency and drive immediate action. Digital platforms frequently employ countdown timers showing limited-time offers, stock indicators warning that “only 3 items remain,” or notifications that “12 other people are viewing this item right now.” These tactics exploit the psychological principle of loss aversion – the tendency for people to feel the pain of losing an opportunity more intensely than the pleasure of gaining it. From a behavioral economics perspective, this represents a sophisticated application of prospect theory, where the framing of a choice significantly influences decision outcomes. Unlike physical stores where such information might be unavailable or unreliable, digital platforms can display real-time data that amplifies these psychological triggers, making them particularly effective at converting browsing into purchasing.

C. The rise of influencer marketing represents another dimension of digital influence on consumer choices. Does social media have a positive or negative impact on purchasing decisions is a question many researchers are exploring, particularly as social media personalities with dedicated followings have become powerful intermediaries between brands and consumers. Unlike traditional celebrity endorsements, influencers often cultivate parasocial relationships with their audiences – one-sided connections where followers feel genuine intimacy despite the lack of reciprocal interaction. This perceived authenticity and relatability makes influencer recommendations particularly persuasive. A survey by the Digital Marketing Institute found that 49% of consumers depend on influencer recommendations, and the influencer marketing industry has grown to a $16.4 billion market by 2022. The integration of shopping features directly into social media platforms has further shortened the path from discovery to purchase, enabling seamless transactions within the same environment where influence occurs.

D. Perhaps most subtly powerful is the role of algorithmic curation in shaping what consumers see and, consequently, what they desire. Digital platforms employ machine learning models that predict user preferences with increasing accuracy, creating personalized storefronts that differ for each individual. This filter bubble effect means that two people visiting the same platform might encounter entirely different product selections, prices, and promotional messages based on their digital footprints. While this personalization can enhance user experience by reducing information overload, it also raises questions about consumer autonomy. Are people making truly independent choices, or are their decisions preemptively shaped by algorithms designed to maximize platform revenue? The opacity of these systems – users rarely understand why they’re shown particular products – creates an asymmetry of knowledge that favors platforms over consumers.

E. The phenomenon of decision fatigue in digital environments presents another psychological dimension worth examining. Paradoxically, while digital platforms offer unprecedented choice variety, this abundance can overwhelm consumers and degrade decision quality. Psychologist Barry Schwartz’s research on the “paradox of choice” demonstrates that excessive options can lead to anxiety, decision paralysis, and reduced satisfaction even after a purchase is made. Digital platforms have responded by implementing choice architecture features – curated collections, “bestseller” lists, and AI-powered recommendations – that simplify decisions by pre-filtering options. However, this solution creates a circular dependency: platforms solve the problem of overwhelming choice that they themselves created, while simultaneously gaining more control over which products receive consumer attention.

F. The integration of gamification elements into digital shopping experiences represents yet another psychological lever. Many platforms incorporate features borrowed from video games – progress bars, achievement badges, loyalty points, and tier-based memberships – that tap into intrinsic human desires for achievement and status. These mechanisms trigger dopamine responses in the brain, creating habit-forming patterns that encourage repeated platform engagement. The Chinese platform Pinduoduo has particularly mastered this approach, incorporating social gaming features where users can get discounts by recruiting friends or participating in group-buying activities, effectively turning shopping into an interactive social experience rather than a mere transaction.

The cumulative effect of these psychological mechanisms is a digital marketplace where consumer agency is simultaneously enhanced and constrained. While platforms provide tools for more informed decisions – comparison features, detailed specifications, community reviews – they also deploy sophisticated techniques to influence those decisions in ways that may not align with consumer interests. Recognizing these influences represents the first step toward more mindful consumption in the digital age, though achieving genuine autonomy requires ongoing critical awareness of how platforms shape our choices.

Ảnh hưởng của các yếu tố tâm lý trên nền tảng số đến quyết định mua sắm của người tiêu dùng hiện đại

Questions 14-26

Questions 14-18: Matching Headings

The passage has six paragraphs labeled A-F. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-F from the list of headings below.

List of Headings:
i. The role of limited availability in purchasing decisions
ii. How excessive options can harm consumer satisfaction
iii. The integration of game-like features in shopping
iv. Social media personalities as trusted advisors
v. The power of collective customer feedback
vi. Hidden algorithms controlling product visibility
vii. Traditional advertising versus modern techniques
viii. Price comparison tools and their benefits
ix. The future of artificial intelligence in retail

14. Paragraph B
15. Paragraph C
16. Paragraph D
17. Paragraph E
18. Paragraph F

Questions 19-23: Yes/No/Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the passage?

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

19. Social proof is more effective for expensive products than for cheaper ones.

20. Influencer marketing has completely replaced traditional celebrity endorsements.

21. Algorithms on digital platforms always show the same products to all users.

22. Having too many choices can lead to less satisfaction with purchases.

23. Gamification features are only used by Chinese shopping platforms.

Questions 24-26: Summary Completion

Complete the summary below using words from the box.

Word Box: autonomy, transparent, amplifies, conversion, scarcity, relationships, revenue, anxiety, reciprocal

Digital platforms use several psychological techniques to influence purchases. Scarcity tactics create (24) __ by showing limited stock or time offers. Influencers build (25) __ with followers that feel authentic despite lacking mutual interaction. Algorithmic curation raises concerns about consumer (26) __ because these systems are designed to maximize platform profits rather than serve user interests.

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PASSAGE 3 – Ethical Implications and Regulatory Responses

Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)

Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút

The ascendancy of digital platforms as primary arbiters of consumer choice has precipitated vigorous debate among policymakers, ethicists, and technologists regarding the appropriate normative boundaries for algorithmic influence and data-driven persuasion. This discourse intersects with fundamental questions about consumer sovereignty, informational asymmetry, and the extent to which market participants should be protected from their own cognitive vulnerabilities. As these platforms have evolved from passive marketplaces into active architects of preference, traditional regulatory frameworks predicated on principles of caveat emptor and perfect information have proven inadequate, necessitating novel approaches to safeguarding consumer welfare while preserving the legitimate benefits of digital innovation.

The epistemological challenge inherent in regulating algorithmic influence stems partly from the opaque nature of modern machine learning systems. Unlike traditional advertising, where persuasive intent is generally transparent and techniques are observable, algorithmic recommendation systems operate through complex neural networks whose decision-making processes resist human interpretation even by their creators – a phenomenon known as the “black box problem.” This opacity creates what legal scholar Frank Pasquale terms “algorithmic accountability gaps,” wherein consumers cannot meaningfully assess whether they are being treated fairly, prices are discriminatory, or recommendations genuinely serve their interests. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) attempted to address this through provisions requiring “meaningful information about the logic involved” in automated decision-making, yet implementing these transparency mandates has proven technically formidable. Algorithmic systems trained on billions of data points through iterative processes cannot easily generate human-comprehensible explanations for individual recommendations, creating tension between the technical realities of artificial intelligence and the regulatory aspiration for procedural transparency.

The question of manipulative design – often characterized pejoratively as “dark patterns” – represents another contentious regulatory frontier. These are interface design choices deliberately structured to exploit cognitive biases and heuristic processing, steering users toward decisions that benefit platforms at potential cost to consumer welfare. Examples include pre-checked boxes for opt-in marketing, deliberately confusing cancellation procedures, disguised advertisements resembling organic content, and confirmshaming language that psychologically pressures users into choices they might otherwise avoid. While some argue these techniques constitute legitimate persuasive engineering no different from traditional retail practices, critics contend they represent exploitative manipulation that undermines autonomous decision-making. The distinction between persuasion and manipulation has ancient philosophical roots, with thinkers from Aristotle to Kant attempting to demarcate the boundaries of ethically permissible influence. In the digital context, this distinction acquires practical urgency: should platforms be permitted to employ any technique that increases engagement and sales, or do certain methods cross ethical lines warranting regulatory prohibition?

Regulatory responses have varied considerably across jurisdictions, reflecting different cultural attitudes toward paternalism, market intervention, and technological innovation. The European approach has emphasized comprehensive ex-ante regulation, exemplified by the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, which impose extensive obligations regarding transparency, fairness, and consumer protection on large platforms. These regulations embody a precautionary principle that seeks to anticipate and prevent harms before they become entrenched, even at the cost of potentially constraining beneficial innovation. How does renewable energy adoption impact the geopolitical landscape? demonstrates similar proactive regulatory approaches in other sectors, where policymakers address systemic changes before full impacts materialize. Conversely, the United States has traditionally favored sectoral regulation and ex-post enforcement, relying on agencies like the Federal Trade Commission to address specific harms as they arise rather than establishing comprehensive prophylactic rules. This divergence reflects contrasting philosophical premises: European regulation tends to prioritize collective welfare and social solidarity, while American approaches emphasize individual liberty and market efficiency.

The behavioral economics perspective offers valuable insights into optimal regulatory design for digital platforms. Scholars like Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein advocate for “libertarian paternalism” – regulatory interventions that preserve freedom of choice while steering people toward decisions likely to enhance their welfare. Applied to digital platforms, this might involve mandating default settings that protect privacy unless users actively choose otherwise, requiring prominent disclosure of algorithmic personalization, or implementing cooling-off periods for certain purchases. Such approaches acknowledge that perfectly rational decision-making is a fiction contradicted by decades of psychological research, while avoiding heavy-handed prohibition that eliminates choice entirely. However, critics from both ideological directions challenge this framework: libertarians object to any paternalistic intervention as infantilizing consumers and usurping individual autonomy, while progressive critics argue that modest behavioral nudges cannot counterbalance the sophisticated manipulation deployed by well-resourced platforms.

The phenomenon of regulatory arbitrage complicates enforcement efforts, as platforms can exploit jurisdictional differences to avoid stringent rules. A company might locate its data servers in countries with lax privacy protections, incorporate in tax havens, or selectively roll out features based on regulatory environments. The inherently transnational character of digital platforms creates coordination problems resistant to resolution through unilateral national action. Some scholars advocate for international harmonization of digital platform regulation through multilateral treaties, though achieving consensus among nations with divergent interests and values presents formidable challenges. The extraterritorial application of regulations like GDPR demonstrates one approach – asserting jurisdiction over any entity processing data of EU residents regardless of physical location – though this raises sovereignty concerns and risks regulatory fragmentation as different jurisdictions assert conflicting requirements.

Emerging technological solutions offer potential complementary approaches to regulatory challenges. Privacy-enhancing technologies such as differential privacy, federated learning, and homomorphic encryption enable platforms to provide personalized services without requiring centralized collection of raw personal data, potentially alleviating privacy concerns while maintaining functionality. Algorithmic auditing tools could provide independent verification of platform claims regarding fairness and transparency, creating accountability mechanisms less reliant on regulatory capacity. Interoperability mandates requiring platforms to allow data portability and service integration could foster competition and reduce user lock-in effects that currently insulate dominant platforms from competitive discipline. However, these technical solutions face implementation challenges and may create new vulnerabilities; privacy-enhancing technologies often involve computational costs and accuracy trade-offs, while interoperability requirements might compromise security or enable free-riding on platform investments.

Ultimately, addressing the ethical challenges posed by digital platform influence requires acknowledging fundamental tensions between competing values – innovation versus precaution, efficiency versus fairness, personalization versus privacy, and commercial freedom versus consumer protection. No regulatory approach can fully resolve these tensions, instead requiring ongoing calibration as technologies evolve and social norms shift. What remains clear is that the laissez-faire approach assuming market forces and individual rationality will naturally produce optimal outcomes has been definitively discredited by both empirical evidence and theoretical advancement in behavioral economics. The question is not whether to regulate digital platforms’ influence on consumer choice, but how to do so in ways that preserve genuine benefits while constraining exploitative practices and protecting those most vulnerable to manipulation. This remains one of the defining governance challenges of the digital age, with implications extending far beyond consumer protection to encompass democratic discourse, mental health, and the distribution of economic and political power in increasingly platform-mediated societies.

Vấn đề đạo đức và các quy định pháp lý về ảnh hưởng của nền tảng số đến người tiêu dùng toàn cầu

Questions 27-40

Questions 27-31: Multiple Choice

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

27. According to the passage, the “black box problem” refers to:
    A. Physical storage devices used by platforms
    B. The difficulty in understanding how algorithms make decisions
    C. A type of unethical business practice
    D. Security breaches in digital systems

28. Dark patterns are described as design choices that:
    A. Use black backgrounds to save energy
    B. Protect consumer privacy effectively
    C. Deliberately exploit psychological weaknesses
    D. Simplify the shopping experience

29. The European Union’s regulatory approach can best be characterized as:
    A. Reactive and sectoral
    B. Comprehensive and preventive
    C. Minimal and market-focused
    D. Identical to American regulations

30. Libertarian paternalism advocates for:
    A. Complete government control over platform operations
    B. No regulation whatsoever
    C. Guiding choices while preserving freedom
    D. Eliminating all digital platforms

31. Regulatory arbitrage allows platforms to:
    A. Negotiate better prices with suppliers
    B. Avoid strict rules by operating across jurisdictions
    C. Improve customer service internationally
    D. Develop better algorithms

Questions 32-36: Matching Features

Match each regulatory approach or concept (Questions 32-36) with the correct description (A-H).

Regulatory Approaches/Concepts:
32. GDPR transparency provisions
33. Dark patterns
34. Libertarian paternalism
35. Privacy-enhancing technologies
36. Interoperability mandates

Descriptions:
A. Require platforms to explain automated decision-making logic
B. Force companies to share all customer data publicly
C. Interface designs that exploit cognitive biases
D. Complete prohibition of personalized advertising
E. Balance consumer protection with freedom of choice
F. Enable personalization without centralized data collection
G. Require platforms to allow data portability between services
H. Eliminate all forms of algorithmic recommendations

Questions 37-40: Short-answer Questions

Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

37. What Latin term does the passage use to describe the traditional principle of “buyer beware”?

38. What type of networks make algorithmic decisions difficult to interpret?

39. According to the passage, what philosophical tradition attempted to define boundaries of ethical influence?

40. What kind of learning allows AI systems to train on distributed data without centralizing it?

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Answer Keys – Đáp Án

PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13

1. B
2. C
3. C
4. B
5. C
6. FALSE
7. TRUE
8. NOT GIVEN
9. FALSE
10. virtual marketplaces
11. cross-selling
12. online
13. retail

PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26

14. i
15. iv
16. vi
17. ii
18. iii
19. YES
20. NOT GIVEN
21. NO
22. YES
23. NO
24. urgency
25. relationships
26. autonomy

PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40

27. B
28. C
29. B
30. C
31. B
32. A
33. C
34. E
35. F
36. G
37. caveat emptor
38. neural networks
39. ancient philosophical
40. federated learning

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Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Passage 1 – Giải Thích

Câu 1: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: main advantage, e-commerce platforms
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 3-5
• Giải thích: Bài đọc nêu rõ “enabling 24/7 shopping from anywhere in the world” là một lợi ích quan trọng. Đáp án B paraphrase “24/7 shopping” thành “shopping opportunities at any time”, hoàn toàn chính xác. Các đáp án khác không được đề cập hoặc sai sự thật.

Câu 3: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice – specific detail
• Từ khóa: percentage, consumers, read online reviews
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 3-4
• Giải thích: Bài viết nêu rõ con số “approximately 93% of consumers read online reviews”, đáp án C chính xác theo thông tin này.

Câu 6: FALSE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: completely replaced, all physical retail stores
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn cuối, dòng 2-3
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói e-commerce chiếm “nearly 20% of all retail sales”, nghĩa là 80% vẫn là bán lẻ truyền thống. Câu khẳng định đã thay thế hoàn toàn là SAI.

Câu 7: TRUE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: customer reviews, more influence, traditional advertising
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 1-2 và cuối đoạn
• Giải thích: Bài viết nêu “genuine customer experiences now carry more weight than marketing messages”, khẳng định đánh giá khách hàng có ảnh hưởng lớn hơn quảng cáo truyền thống.

Câu 9: FALSE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: COVID-19, temporary increase, reversed
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 3-5
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói “Many of these new digital shoppers have continued their online habits post-pandemic, suggesting a permanent shift”, nghĩa là xu hướng KHÔNG đảo ngược mà trở thành thay đổi lâu dài. Đáp án FALSE.

Câu 10: virtual marketplaces

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: Digital platforms create, millions of products
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 3
• Giải thích: Câu gốc trong bài: “These platforms have created virtual marketplaces where millions of products are available”. Đáp án chính xác là “virtual marketplaces”.

Câu 11: cross-selling

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: suggesting additional related products
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng cuối
• Giải thích: Bài viết định nghĩa rõ ràng: “increases the likelihood of additional purchases, a phenomenon known as cross-selling”.

Passage 2 – Giải Thích

Câu 14: i

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
• Từ khóa: Paragraph B discusses scarcity, urgency
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn B toàn bộ
• Giải thích: Đoạn B tập trung vào “scarcity mechanisms” và cách chúng tạo ra “urgency”. Heading i “The role of limited availability in purchasing decisions” phản ánh chính xác nội dung này.

Câu 15: iv

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
• Từ khóa: Paragraph C về influencer marketing
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn C toàn bộ
• Giải thích: Đoạn này thảo luận về “influencer marketing” và cách influencers trở thành “powerful intermediaries”. Heading iv “Social media personalities as trusted advisors” khớp hoàn hảo.

Câu 19: YES

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: social proof, more effective, expensive products
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn A, dòng 4-5
• Giải thích: Bài viết nêu “displaying reviews can increase conversion rates by up to 270%, particularly for higher-priced items”, xác nhận social proof hiệu quả hơn với sản phẩm đắt tiền.

Câu 21: NO

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: algorithms, same products, all users
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn D, dòng 2-4
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói rõ “two people visiting the same platform might encounter entirely different product selections”, nghĩa là KHÔNG hiển thị sản phẩm giống nhau cho mọi người.

Câu 22: YES

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: too many choices, less satisfaction
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn E, dòng 2-3
• Giải thích: Đoạn E trích dẫn nghiên cứu của Barry Schwartz về “paradox of choice” cho thấy “excessive options can lead to… reduced satisfaction”. Đây chính xác là quan điểm của tác giả.

Câu 24: urgency

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Từ khóa: scarcity tactics create
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn B, dòng 2
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói “scarcity mechanisms that create urgency”, từ “urgency” phù hợp ngữ cảnh tóm tắt.

Câu 25: relationships

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Từ khóa: influencers build, with followers
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn C, dòng 3-4
• Giải thích: Bài đọc sử dụng cụm “parasocial relationships”, trong tóm tắt rút gọn thành “relationships” vẫn giữ đúng ý nghĩa.

Câu 26: autonomy

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Từ khóa: algorithmic curation, concerns, consumer
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn D, dòng 5-6
• Giải thích: Bài viết đặt câu hỏi về “consumer autonomy” khi algorithms định hình quyết định. Từ “autonomy” xuất hiện rõ ràng trong văn cảnh này.

Passage 3 – Giải Thích

Câu 27: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: black box problem, refers to
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 2-4
• Giải thích: Bài viết định nghĩa rõ ràng: “decision-making processes resist human interpretation… a phenomenon known as the ‘black box problem'”. Đáp án B chính xác mô tả điều này.

Câu 28: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: dark patterns, design choices
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 2-3
• Giải thích: Bài viết mô tả dark patterns là “interface design choices deliberately structured to exploit cognitive biases”, đúng với đáp án C.

Câu 29: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: European Union, regulatory approach
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 2-4
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói EU sử dụng “comprehensive ex-ante regulation” và “precautionary principle”, đáp án B “Comprehensive and preventive” paraphrase chính xác.

Câu 31: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: regulatory arbitrage, allows platforms
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng 1-2
• Giải thích: Bài viết giải thích “platforms can exploit jurisdictional differences to avoid stringent rules”, đáp án B diễn đạt đúng ý này.

Câu 32: A

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 6-7
• Giải thích: GDPR được mô tả là yêu cầu “meaningful information about the logic involved in automated decision-making”, khớp với mô tả A.

Câu 33: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 2-3
• Giải thích: Dark patterns được định nghĩa là “interface design choices deliberately structured to exploit cognitive biases”, chính xác là mô tả C.

Câu 37: caveat emptor

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer (3 words maximum)
• Từ khóa: Latin term, buyer beware
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 5-6
• Giải thích: Bài viết sử dụng cụm Latin “caveat emptor” khi nhắc đến nguyên tắc truyền thống về trách nhiệm người mua.

Câu 38: neural networks

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer (3 words maximum)
• Từ khóa: type of networks, difficult to interpret
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 3
• Giải thích: Bài viết nêu “complex neural networks whose decision-making processes resist human interpretation”, đáp án là “neural networks”.

Câu 40: federated learning

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer (3 words maximum)
• Từ khóa: learning, train on distributed data
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 2
• Giải thích: Bài viết liệt kê “federated learning” như một privacy-enhancing technology cho phép training trên dữ liệu phân tán.

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Từ Vựng Quan Trọng Theo Passage

Passage 1 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
digital platforms	n	/ˈdɪdʒɪtl ˈplætfɔːmz/	nền tảng số	Digital platforms have fundamentally transformed how consumers shop	online/e-commerce platforms
e-commerce giants	n	/ˈiːkɒmɜːs ˈdʒaɪənts/	những gã khổng lồ thương mại điện tử	E-commerce giants such as Amazon and Alibaba	tech/retail giants
personalized recommendations	n	/ˈpɜːsənəlaɪzd ˌrekəmenˈdeɪʃnz/	gợi ý được cá nhân hóa	Platforms offer personalized recommendations using algorithms	product/content recommendations
algorithms	n	/ˈælɡərɪðəmz/	thuật toán	Algorithms analyze browsing history and purchase patterns	sophisticated/complex algorithms
cross-selling	n	/krɒs ˈselɪŋ/	bán chéo, bán kèm	This increases cross-selling opportunities	effective cross-selling
customer reviews	n	/ˈkʌstəmə rɪˈvjuːz/	đánh giá của khách hàng	Customer reviews influence purchase decisions significantly	online/product reviews
comparison shopping	n	/kəmˈpærɪsn ˈʃɒpɪŋ/	so sánh mua sắm	Comparison shopping features change consumer behavior	easy/convenient comparison shopping
price transparency	n	/praɪs trænsˈpærənsi/	tính minh bạch về giá	Price transparency intensifies competition among retailers	greater/complete transparency
mobile commerce	n	/ˈməʊbaɪl ˈkɒmɜːs/	thương mại di động	Mobile commerce represents the latest evolution	growing mobile commerce
data privacy	n	/ˈdeɪtə ˈprɪvəsi/	quyền riêng tư dữ liệu	Concerns about data privacy have increased	protect/ensure data privacy
dynamic pricing	n	/daɪˈnæmɪk ˈpraɪsɪŋ/	định giá động	Dynamic pricing has drawn regulatory scrutiny	implement/use dynamic pricing
virtual marketplaces	n	/ˈvɜːtʃuəl ˈmɑːkɪtpleɪsɪz/	chợ ảo, thị trường trực tuyến	Platforms create virtual marketplaces for millions of products	online/digital marketplaces

Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
psychological processes	n	/ˌsaɪkəˈlɒdʒɪkl ˈprəʊsesɪz/	các quá trình tâm lý	Digital platforms alter psychological processes underlying choices	cognitive/mental processes
social proof	n	/ˈsəʊʃl pruːf/	bằng chứng xã hội	Social proof has found powerful expression in digital realm	strong/powerful social proof
cognitive bias	n	/ˈkɒɡnətɪv ˈbaɪəs/	thiên kiến nhận thức	Consumers experience cognitive bias toward popular products	unconscious/inherent cognitive bias
conversion rates	n	/kənˈvɜːʃn reɪts/	tỷ lệ chuyển đổi	Reviews can increase conversion rates by up to 270%	improve/boost conversion rates
scarcity mechanisms	n	/ˈskeəsəti ˈmekənɪzəmz/	cơ chế khan hiếm	Platforms employ scarcity mechanisms to create urgency	effective/powerful mechanisms
loss aversion	n	/lɒs əˈvɜːʃn/	ác cảm mất mát	Tactics exploit the principle of loss aversion	strong loss aversion
influencer marketing	n	/ˈɪnfluənsə ˈmɑːkɪtɪŋ/	tiếp thị người ảnh hưởng	Influencer marketing has grown to a $16.4 billion market	authentic/effective influencer marketing
parasocial relationships	n	/ˌpærəˈsəʊʃl rɪˈleɪʃnʃɪps/	mối quan hệ giả xã hội	Influencers cultivate parasocial relationships with audiences	develop/build parasocial relationships
algorithmic curation	n	/ˌælɡəˈrɪðmɪk kjʊəˈreɪʃn/	sắp xếp bằng thuật toán	Algorithmic curation shapes what consumers see	personalized/automated curation
filter bubble	n	/ˈfɪltə ˈbʌbl/	bong bóng lọc	Personalization creates a filter bubble effect	escape/burst the filter bubble
decision fatigue	n	/dɪˈsɪʒn fəˈtiːɡ/	mệt mỏi quyết định	Excessive choice leads to decision fatigue	avoid/overcome decision fatigue
paradox of choice	n	/ˈpærədɒks əv tʃɔɪs/	nghịch lý của sự lựa chọn	Research demonstrates the paradox of choice	illustrate/experience paradox of choice
gamification elements	n	/ˌɡeɪmɪfɪˈkeɪʃn ˈelɪmənts/	các yếu tố trò chơi hóa	Platforms incorporate gamification elements like badges	integrate/add gamification elements
habit-forming patterns	n	/ˈhæbɪt ˈfɔːmɪŋ ˈpætənz/	các mẫu hình thành thói quen	These create habit-forming patterns encouraging engagement	establish/develop habit-forming patterns
consumer agency	n	/kənˈsjuːmə ˈeɪdʒənsi/	quyền tự chủ của người tiêu dùng	Digital marketplace enhances and constrains consumer agency	protect/preserve consumer agency

Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
arbiters	n	/ˈɑːbɪtəz/	người trọng tài, người quyết định	Platforms as primary arbiters of consumer choice	independent/neutral arbiters
normative boundaries	n	/ˈnɔːmətɪv ˈbaʊndəriz/	ranh giới chuẩn mực	Debate regarding normative boundaries for algorithmic influence	establish/define normative boundaries
consumer sovereignty	n	/kənˈsjuːmə ˈsɒvrənti/	quyền tự chủ của người tiêu dùng	Questions about consumer sovereignty arise	protect/maintain consumer sovereignty
informational asymmetry	n	/ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃənl ˌeɪsɪˈmetri/	bất cân xứng thông tin	Informational asymmetry between platforms and users	reduce/address informational asymmetry
cognitive vulnerabilities	n	/ˈkɒɡnətɪv ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪlətiz/	điểm yếu nhận thức	Protecting consumers from cognitive vulnerabilities	exploit/target cognitive vulnerabilities
caveat emptor	n	/ˌkæviæt ˈemptɔː/	người mua tự chịu trách nhiệm	Traditional frameworks based on caveat emptor	principle of caveat emptor
epistemological challenge	n	/ɪˌpɪstɪməˈlɒdʒɪkl ˈtʃælɪndʒ/	thách thức nhận thức luận	The epistemological challenge of regulating algorithms	fundamental/core epistemological challenge
opaque nature	n	/əʊˈpeɪk ˈneɪtʃə/	bản chất mờ đục, không minh bạch	The opaque nature of machine learning systems	inherently opaque nature
neural networks	n	/ˈnjʊərəl ˈnetwɜːks/	mạng nơ-ron	Algorithms operate through complex neural networks	artificial/deep neural networks
black box problem	n	/blæk bɒks ˈprɒbləm/	vấn đề hộp đen	This creates the black box problem	address/solve the black box problem
algorithmic accountability	n	/ˌælɡəˈrɪðmɪk əˌkaʊntəˈbɪləti/	trách nhiệm giải trình thuật toán	Gaps in algorithmic accountability exist	ensure/demand algorithmic accountability
dark patterns	n	/dɑːk ˈpætənz/	các mẫu thiết kế đen tối	Dark patterns exploit cognitive biases deliberately	identify/ban dark patterns
manipulative design	n	/məˈnɪpjələtɪv dɪˈzaɪn/	thiết kế thao túng	Questions about manipulative design arise	unethical/deceptive manipulative design
confirmshaming	n	/kənˈfɜːmʃeɪmɪŋ/	gây xấu hổ để xác nhận	Confirmshaming pressures users psychologically	use/employ confirmshaming
precautionary principle	n	/prɪˈkɔːʃənri ˈprɪnsəpl/	nguyên tắc phòng ngừa	EU regulations embody precautionary principle	apply/adopt precautionary principle
libertarian paternalism	n	/ˌlɪbəˈteəriən pəˈtɜːnəlɪzəm/	chủ nghĩa gia trưởng tự do	Scholars advocate libertarian paternalism approach	concept/framework of libertarian paternalism
regulatory arbitrage	n	/ˈreɡjələtəri ˈɑːbɪtrɑːʒ/	lách luật pháp quy	Platforms exploit regulatory arbitrage opportunities	prevent/address regulatory arbitrage
extraterritorial application	n	/ˌekstrəteriˈtɔːriəl ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃn/	áp dụng ngoài lãnh thổ	GDPR demonstrates extraterritorial application	assert/claim extraterritorial application

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Kết Bài

Chủ đề “How digital platforms are influencing consumer choices” không chỉ phản ánh hiện thực thương mại toàn cầu mà còn là dạng bài thường xuất hiện trong IELTS Reading với nhiều góc độ khác nhau: công nghệ, tâm lý học, kinh tế và pháp lý. Đề thi mẫu này đã cung cấp cho bạn trải nghiệm hoàn chỉnh với 3 passages tăng dần độ khó, từ bài giới thiệu cơ bản về e-commerce, đến phân tích tâm lý người tiêu dùng, và cuối cùng là thảo luận học thuật về đạo đức và quy định.

Với 40 câu hỏi đa dạng qua 7 dạng khác nhau, bạn đã được thực hành toàn diện các kỹ năng cần thiết: scanning để tìm thông tin cụ thể, skimming để nắm ý chính, và careful reading để phân tích chi tiết. Đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích vị trí và kỹ thuật paraphrase sẽ giúp bạn hiểu rõ cách tiếp cận từng loại câu hỏi, đặc biệt với những dạng khó như Matching Headings và Summary Completion.

Từ vựng được tổng hợp theo từng passage không chỉ giúp bạn mở rộng vốn từ mà còn cung cấp collocations thực tế để áp dụng trong Writing và Speaking. Các thuật ngữ như “algorithmic curation”, “parasocial relationships”, và “regulatory arbitrage” là những từ vựng học thuật quan trọng thường gặp trong đề thi band 7.0 trở lên.

Hãy thực hành đề thi này nhiều lần, đặc biệt chú ý đến quản lý thời gian và kỹ thuật làm bài. Đối với những câu sai, hãy quay lại đọc kỹ giải thích để hiểu rõ lý do và tránh mắc lỗi tương tự. Với sự luyện tập bài bản và nhận thức rõ ràng về các kỹ thuật ảnh hưởng trong bài đọc, bạn sẽ tự tin đạt band điểm mục tiêu trong kỳ thi IELTS Reading thực tế.